#Person1#: Hi, Tim. So, are you doing some last-minute shopping before the weekend?
#Person2#: Well, actually, I'm looking for supplies to put together 72-hour kits for each member of my family.
#Person1#: [A] 72-hour kit? What's that?
#Person2#: Basically, a 72-hour kit contains emergency supplies you would need to sustain yourself for three days in case of an emergency, like an earthquake.
#Person1#: An earthquake?! We haven't had an earthquake in years.
#Person2#: Well, you never know; you have to be prepared. Hey, if earthquakes don't get you, it could be a flood, hurricane, snowstorm, power outage, fire, alien attack. [Alien attack!] Well, you never know. Think of any situation in which you might find yourself without the basic necessities of life, including shelter, food, and water, for over a period of time.
#Person1#: Hum. So, what do you keep in a 42-hour, um, ... I mean 72-kit?
#Person2#: Well, you should have enough food and water to last you three days, and you might want to pack a basic water filter or water purification tablets in case your only water source turns out to be a murky pool of bug-infested water. [Ugh!] Hey, sometimes you don't have a choice, and as for food, you should keep it simple: food that requires no preparation and that doesn't spoil. And no canned goods because they are often too heavy and bulky. [Okay, that makes sense.] And unless you have a can opener or the can has a pull-tab lid, you'll have to use a rock or something to open them. [Ah, instant mashed green beens.] Yeah, and oh, energy bars, beef jerky, and a mix of nuts, raisins, and chocolate are possibilities.
#Person1#: Huh, the food might be nasty, but I guess you could survive ... barely.
#Person2#: Well, the food doesn't have to taste bad; just select things that are easy to prepare, and you might want to include some basic comfort foods like a couple of candy bars. Then, you have to decide on the type of shelter you might need.
#Person1#: A hotel sounds nice.
#Person2#: Yeah, but that's really not an option. The reality is that you might have to evacuate to a shelter, possibly with hundreds or thousands of other people.
#Person1#: That doesn't sound very fun ... everyone packed together like sardines in a can. Unsanitary conditions. Disease.
#Person2#: Ah, now you're sounding paranoid, but if a shelter isn't available, you might be completely on your own, so I always pack an emergency sleeping bag or small, lightweight tent in the event that I have to survive on the street or in a park.
#Person1#: Wow.
#Person2#: And among other things, you should pack a flashlight, portable radio, extra batteries, a small first-aid kit, personal items like a toothbrush or toothpaste ... Having a change of clothing is also important.
#Person1#: What about money? I have a credit card.
#Person2#: Right. Like that's going to help when the power is out. You'd better be prepared with coins and cash, and having small bills is a must.
#Person1#: So, what do you do to communicate with other family members in case you get separated?
#Person2#: Oh, in that case? I always pack two-way radios to communicate with the group. You can never depend on cell phones. [Okay.] Plus, you should decide on a meeting point in case your family gets separated.
#Person1#: Well, that sounds like a detailed plan, definitely.
#Person2#: Oh, that's not all. You never know what weather conditions you might encounter, so packing a rain poncho, a jacket, and something to start a fire with could be very useful.
#Person1#: Like Matches?
#Person2#: Matches? If You drop those in a puddle of water, you're toast. You need to pack at least three forms of fire starter: a magnifying glass, a high-quality lighter, and waterproof matches.
#Person1#: Wow. I never thought about those either. So, what do you do if you have small kids? They'd probably go stir-crazy under such conditions.
#Person2#: You're exactly right, so a little extra preparation for them is needed. If you have to evacuate to a shelter to wait out a disaster, kids soon will be bored out of their minds, so you have to pack small card games, paper, or something like pencils or crayons to draw with.
#Person1#: You know, preparing a 72-hour kit makes perfect sense ...
#Person2#: Yeah, but most people thinking about it after it is too late.
Tim tells #Person1# that he is putting together 72-hour kits for his family in case of emergencies. They discuss what to prepare for a 72-hour kit, like food, water, shelter, fire starters, things for little kids, etc. #Person1# thinks a 72-hour kit makes perfect sense but #Person1# seems to believe it unnecessary, but Tim insists on its importance.
a 72-hour kit