Dare to Prepare: Innovative Disaster Preparedness Tools and Equipment

Do you ever come across a tool or piece of equipment that is so innovative that you think it is pure genius? As I’ve done research for my own family and for these Dare to Prepare posts, I’ve come across some of these products.

I’m going to share a few with you today. You can roll up your sleeves and tackle some as DIY projects, but others are more intricate and must be purchased.

From simple to sophisticated, check out these innovative tools and creations that can aid you in the aftermath of a disaster.

Innovative disaster preparedness creations

• Emergency water storage containers that fill bathtubs. When certain natural disasters (hurricanes, in particular) are forecast, experts recommend filling your bathtub with water so you have extra stores on hand. Unfortunately, the soap film and other grime in a bathtub render this water unsuitable for drinking (though it can still be used for some hygiene purposes). Contraptions like the waterBOB and AquaPodKit offer a pretty affordable solution. These storage containers are food-safe plastic bladders that fill any bathtub and store between 65 and 100 gallons of drinking water. They include convenient pumps so the water can be accessed easily.
• Rocket stoves. Simple, compact rocket stoves are efficient heating and cooking devices. They are easy to store and use, which makes them great tools to have on hand for cooking food or heating small areas when the electricity is out. You can build one of your own out of cans or cement blocks.

  

• Emergency gas and water shutoff tools. When facing a natural disaster, you may need to shut off your natural gas or water supply. You can purchase lightweight, compact tools designed to perform these specific tasks and other general tasks (e.g., digging, prying open doors).

• Makeshift toilets. As you read this, you may wonder if you’d ever really find yourself in a situation where you didn’t have access to a toilet and running water. Believe it or not, it is relatively common for water services to be interrupted after major floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. If a situation like this occurred in your community, you’d be glad to have a makeshift toilet!

• Solar cell phone chargers. After a disaster, you’ll want to contact loved ones to let them know you are safe. You’ll also want to be able to access a local news source. Sometimes the only way to do these things when the electricity is out is with a cell phone. Without power, though, your cell phone (especially if it’s a smartphone) will quickly lose its charge. Subsequently, a solar cell phone charger is a great tool to keep in your emergency kit so you can recharge your phone using sunlight.

• Water filtering straws. If water services become interrupted and you don’t have sufficient water stored, then you’ll need a way to filter water so it is safe for you to drink. There are a number of ways to do this, but one of the most simple and compact approaches is to use a Life Straw. Life Straws are water filtering straws that prevent contaminants larger than 0.2 microns from flowing through.

• Dryer lint fire starters. You can make fire starters for practically free out of things you already have around the house: dryer lint, cardboard egg cartons, and wax. Each fire starter (one individual section of the egg carton) will burn for 15 minutes. Of course, you don’t have to wait for an emergency to use these—they’re great for starting fires while camping, too!

  

Pretty neat, huh? Are you aware of other innovative disaster survival tools? Share about them in the comments section below.

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