This next piece of your emergency kit is frequently forgotten. It can be difficult to think about comfort in the midst of a crisis, however, being thoughtful ahead of time will ensure that your group is as happy and comfortable as possible in the event of a stressful emergency. So, let’s get started!
Visions of fluffy blankets, hot cocoa and cozy slippers come to mind when I think of comfort items. But in an emergency scenario, you probably aren’t going to have the space or time to grab all of that. It’s important to think outside the box.
Choose things that are easily carried and will provide hours, days and sometimes weeks’ worth of entertainment. It’s also helpful if your choices have multiple uses in order to cut down on how much space they take in your kit. As you are probably beginning to notice, your emergency bin only has so much space. Every inch is valuable real estate!
Here is a list of a few things that I have added to our family’s emergency kit:
Cards:
Oh, so many cards! I still have young children, so my card games might look a little different than some of yours. Some of our favorites include Go Fish, Memory, Uno, Slap Jack and more. We also added a few classic sets for games like solitaire, which is especially helpful for that down time.
Mini games and puzzles:
The dollar store has scaled down versions of Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble and Battleship that are lightweight and portable.
Magazines:
Try and choose options that multiple members of your household would enjoy.
Books:
Choose one for each member of your group. This is a great time to ask your family members to get involved. Ask for their ideas and requests. That way it will be a welcome surprise if the time comes.
Play Doh, Silly Putty, Kinetic Sand:
This isn’t only fun for preschoolers! You would be surprised how long even your teenagers will be kept busy. Consider getting small containers that are easier to store. Some favorites in my house include Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty and Dream Sand.
Journals:
Giving everyone a small journal not only helps to stave off boredom, but it’s also really helpful for anxiety and stress relief. Plus, you can go back and read it once the emergency is over.
Drawing and/or coloring supplies:
This one will depend on the ages of your group. But having the ability to draw, doodle or color will help keep everyone distracted and busy.
Again, this list is not exhaustive. Your children or family members will have their own “favorites” and preferences. Whatever you decide to include, try and remember that your family may not be in your home when disaster strikes. So, being able to provide a little bit of comfort when things seem out of control will be such a gift.
Next time, we will be going over specialty kits (car, work, power outage, pet, shelter in place, pandemic, etc.) that can act as supplements to your main emergency kit. See you then!
Johnna Masterson is owner of Inspired and Organized, and a Central Park resident.
