Sep 1, 2025
What unusual items do you have in your emergency bag?
In honor of Disaster Prevention Day and further to the preparedness articles I just wrote, I am curious: what item/s do you have in your emergency bag aka disaster preparedness kit, that might not be common nationwide?
Irish, Mom of 4, currently also living beside the In-Laws. 25+ years back and forth between Ireland and Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com
Best Answer
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on Sep 1
Chalk, paper and pens/pencils. The chalk is for sidewalk chalk games like hopscotch, twister, and other games on sidewalks and parking lots to keep people active and distracted. I stock my bag with pens and an A4 notepad to share. Writing is a great outlet when you're under stress. You can use the paper for notes, diaries, and impromptu English lessons...
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on Sep 1
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on Sep 2
@TonetoEdo Chalk is a great idea that I didn't think of for our own kit! I also like that you mentioned writing for stress relief, I think that's a very healthy coping mechanism!
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on Sep 2
@genkidesu Relieving “cabin fever” is high on my list in these situations. A guilty secret in my bag is tobacco. Some people get irritable if they can’t have a smoke. Lending a cigarette can start conversation, too.
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on Sep 3
@TonetoEdo I also love that you're not just thinking of yourself but thinking of others, too. It got me thinking that I should add some stickers/craft supplies to ours. Little things to give out to kiddos who might be feeling anxious in a situation like that.
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on Sep 3
@genkidesu Right, keeping others around you occupied and entertained. I had another thought. Pack some of my WIPs - knitting that doesn't get done unless I'm captive!
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on Sep 8
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on Sep 16
@genkidesu we also have cards in our emergency kit, as well as a dinky little board game pack, with seven games that can be played in a pack no larger than a slice of bread!
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on Sep 16
@TonetoEdo paper and colors we also have, but not chalk, what a great idea. And it can also be used to mark out lines for queues and things like that. When we were in an emergency evacuation center in 2019 they were putting down white tape on the path to mark the lines, chalk would have been so much quicker and easier.
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on Sep 16
@Eli very important. I have allergy meds in the emergency kit for similar reasons.
10 Answers