​YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED to survive on your own for at least 72 hours after a disaster. You’ll need a kit with all the essentials readily available so you and your family can be safe. The kit, without food and water, should be lightweight. It should be able to be easily lifted by an adult in the family and portable (such as a plastic container with handles or a wheeled suitcase). Contents of the kit can be obtained with relative ease at various retail outlets.