Create your own emergency survival kit

Your heart is racing, sweat is dripping into your eyes, and you’re trying to hear the sounds of what lies behind the door over the thudding of your heartbeat. The building creeks, rats scurry across the floor, and you can hear screams of terror somewhere in the distance.

Welcome to the Zombie Apocalypse – if you manage to make it out of the basement alive, you’ll probably be one of the few healthy humans who will endure a painful existence of surviving against the odds, on a planet plagued by flesh-eating zombies.

Blink, come back to reality, breathe and take a look at what surrounds you – thankfully, you’re probably sitting at an office desk or on your sofa, and the only sounds of terror are emanating from your television screen or from the YouTube video that you shouldn’t be watching at work.

Dealing with a fire, flood or mudslide comes with its own level of fear and concern, however, it is possible to ensure that you are prepared in the case of an emergency - regardless of the severity.

Take a look at the following guide on how to prepare a survival kit for unexpected elements – zombies included.

• One large hiking-purpose backpack with multiple compartments
• A variety of black and lunch-sized plastic bags
• One pocket/army knife/multi-tool
• Two boxes of matches
• One lighter
• One box of firelighters
• A few bottles of mineral water
• Insect repellent
• Two emergency blankets
• Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• High-calorie energy bars
• One easy-fold, water-resistant raincoat or jacket
• One sleeping bag
• Small vanity case of first aid items – be sure to be thorough
• 20 m of rope
• A selection of canned foods
• Charged portable power bank

1. As you have limited space in which to pack all of the necessary items, begin by placing smaller items into the small lunch-style plastic bags.
2. Next, place the matches, power bank, spare batteries, lighter and firelighters into an air-tight plastic bag. Pop all of the necessary items into the surrounding pockets on the outside of the bag – these would be items that you would need to be able to reach with ease.
3. Ensure that you place the heavier items at the bottom of the bag and work your way up to the lighter items.
4. Once your bag is packed, store it in a spot that is easily accessible in the event of an emergency.

While your home insurance policy doesn’t include cover for the damages incurred during a zombie apocalypse, you can ensure that you’re covered for a variety of other threats and emergencies. Be sure to contact your insurance provider today to ensure that your household insurance is up-to-date – after all, if anything would happen to your basement without the means of patching it up, you’ll have nowhere to hide during Armageddon!  

For more tips and advice on dealing with household emergencies, be sure to download the new Miway eBook entitled ‘The Household Emergencies Handbook’.