Since most survival situations do not last longer than 3 to 7 days it is prudent to start your preparations here. Your primary items, although intended to be used for 3-7 days, need to have long shelf-lives in adverse conditions. They are not selected to provide variety, but essential sustenance in the smallest and lightest package.

• Water: Most important of all! You will die without water in less than 5 days! Prepackaged water pouches & boxes are designed to be drinkable up to 5 years. They are small and relatively light weight. Water bags and bottles that have oxygen based water purifier added will keep for up to 5 years and are safe to drink in large quantities. Your short-term survival kit should include a minimum of 50 ounces of water per person. In addition it should include some form of germicidal tablets (oxygen or iodine based) and/or a portable water purifier to purify additional water needs. NOTE: Be cautious, many 'survival kits' on the market do not include enough water or ways to purify water. Food: Food is very important, especially in cold weather situations or when you are in a constantly wet condition. Your body needs calories to 'burn' to keep warm. Your body also needs the strength that food fuels to remain safe, procure additional food, provide rescue efforts and leave disaster areas under your own 'steam.' Short-term rations should be high in carbohydrates and low in protein. This will keep you from being thirsty in low water accessibility conditions and will give you increased fuel to burn. Proteins are healthier, but provoke thirst and give relatively short fuel durations.
  Short term survival rations are the optimum way to supply your survival food needs. They come in two forms: Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) used by the military as a field ration and Survival Food Bar Rations. If you can afford them MRE's are a great way to go, they have a long shelf life and can add variety to your diet. But MRE's have several draw backs: They are expensive (Typically $6-8.00 per meal), they are in a wet state which means that they do not need water or even to be cooked, but that means you need to carry more of these 'non-condensed' meals.
  Survival Food Bars are a special high calorie short bread type food bar. They are designed to have a shelf life of 5 years. They are also designed to not provoke thirst when eaten, something very important in a survival situation. A typical food bar has 2400 - 3600 calories! They are compact and easy to store. They are designed to withstand being left outside in temperatures up to 149F! Although a typical person requires over 2000 calories a day I recommend 1200 calories per day per person if using these concentrated bars. NOTE: Most 'survival kits' only contain enough bars for 800 calories per day per person! Please make sure to store more than this. ADDITIONAL NOTE: Please turn to 'survival candy' as a last resort. They offer little nutritionally and can send a person who hasn't eaten for an extended period of time into insulin shock. They are kind of like a rocket; A quick hot burn and then you come down fast! Shelter: You may assume you will have your house, other buildings or your car to shelter in case of a disaster, but many disaster victims are often unable to find shelter from these sources because the very nature of the disaster may have destroyed accessible shelter. Shielding your body from the elements is nearly as important as water and food. You must attempt to stay dry and out of the wind.
  Your short-term kit should contain, at a minimum, a basic plastic sheet or tarp. A rain poncho or thermal blanket can also serve as quick wind/rain protection.
  You may want to consider bundling a small camping tent with your kit. They are heavier and more costly, but offer better protection from the elements and will last long-term should the need arise. Remember to plan enough shelter for every person you anticipate will be with you. Warmth: In other than tropical climates you will need to find warmth, particularly at night and when wet. There is some movement by market forces to include hand warmers in survival kits. These 'warmers' are great and when you're cold any warmth will do. But, after saying that, I must advise against them. They take up room, only last a short time and only serve to add cost to your kit.
  Fire, as most of you understand, is the best way to not only stay warm, but to dry out wet clothes, signal potential rescuers and cook food. There are a number of ways to approach starting a fire. Whatever your choice, include a backup and remember that it needs to serve you when it is soaked, you are soaked and your fuel is soaked! A good and inexpensive start is waterproof matches. But don't overstock them. They tend to get old and the match heads seem to disintegrate with age and/or a lot of movement (the expensive varieties may differ, but there are better ways to start fires for the money). There is a growing selection of magnesium alloy fire starters on the market these days and most will do the job even when subjected to moisture. When buying one, price is of a secondary consideration to ease of use. I consider them essential to every survival kit! They will keep lighting fires long after your matches are gone.
  Lighters, butane or other, are not recommended. They are susceptible to moisture and may leak in your kit. To overcome these hurdles requires more money than I would advise spending.
  Your method of starter is only half complete until you add tinder to your kit. Tinder is the finest material used at the beginning of your fire. It must be dry and very fine. It must ignite quickly from a spark and burn just long and hot enough to start the progressively larger materials you will build your fire with. Some people are enterprising and resourceful and have devised a way of preparing their own tinder for their kits. One method for homemade tinder is to take cotton balls and load them lightly with petroleum jelly. This will provide an easily combustible tinder that initially resists moisture. Some have made numerous tiny tinder swabs and packed them into drinking straws and then plugging the ends with untreated cotton for storage in their kits.
  If you prefer to buy some tinder on the market there are some very good products to choose from. Some of these products actually burn while floating in water! First Aid: A first aid kit being a must in a disaster goes without saying, but what should be in it? Unless we are speaking of a bare-bones pocket or fannypack survival kit then please make sure to have more than the basic 'bandaid' box. On the other end of the spectrum you don't need a paramedics first aid kit unless you have a large party depending on it. Most manufacturers put together passable first aid kits. Choose one that will fit the size party you anticipate. Don't buy based on price, but quality!
• Essential medication: Anyone in your party who is dependent on medicine for their life should have extra medication stored in the kit and rotated regularly with fresh medicine. Being away from medicine sources for an extended period of time could be severe. Remember, we must do what we can, but should you become separated from your medicine or other necessities in a disaster, God will still be your sufficiency when you seek refuge in him.
  

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