Preparedness Kit

To start with, I believe in a layered system of gear. The first layer is your EDC (everyday carry) kit. These are the items that you should keep on you at all times. This kit is designed to be sufficient to get you to your next level of kit (generally at home, unless traveling, then it should be in the vehicle).
That next level is what is often called a BOB (bug out bag), and should be equipped with all you need (if absolutely necessary) to live off of the land for a considerable time. Not really comfortably, but it should possess all the necessities for clothing, water gathering and purification, food gathering, fire, shelter, personal protection and first aid.

I have a separate list of what all should be in your first aid kit, as this is very important. The only commercially available kits I have found that are worth a shit are way over priced, and honestly, contain a lot of things you will probably not use, ans not enough of the things you will use a lot of.

The last level is the VE (vehicle extraction) kit. This is a very extensive kit that itself is broken down into five categories ( 1- tools 2- food/water 3- clothes 4- gear and 5- guns and ammunition) and will be stored in large tubs (at least six). If time allows for you to grab this kit before leaving, you should have everything you will need to create a good life for yourself regardless of the situation around you.

And of course all these levels of kit are designed to work together. Each being a compliment to the next. There is a good deal of multiples of certain items in the various different levels of kit. This is not an accident. Certain items are so important that the repetition is a necessity. This is along the lines of the old preparedness saying, "Two is one, one is none."

So enough of the introduction, on to the first kit, the EDC.

E D C Bag
(Every Day Carry Bag)

purse (for a woman) or messenger bag or back pack (I prefer the messenger bag, as this choice allows me the option to carry both my EDC and my BOB, which is in a large back pack, if the need should arise) ,
handgun (actually, I would recommend this actually be carried on your person, an inside the waistband holster being ideal),
flashlight,
extra batteries,
pocketknife (also can be carried in a pocket),
multi tool,
cell phone,
2 extra magazines for your handgun,
compass,
change (money),
2 karabeaners,
paracord 20',
P-38 (can opener),
safety whistle,
disposable lighter,
water purification tablets,
water bottle,
asprin/Tylenol,
Space blanket,
heavy duty garbage bag,
10' duct tape.

Of course this is not the end all be all of needed items, this is a place to start. This is the bear minimum you should carry. Feel free to add to it anything you feel might be necessary to you particular situation. In my own EDC I actually carry a 5 inch fixed blade knife, an entire (though small) first aid kit, a couple of lighters as well as some Vaseline soaked cotton balls and a fire starter, three days worth of high calorie food bars (800 calories a day), a pair of work gloves, and I carry a gallon of water with me everywhere. This not only helps me make sure I am drinking enough water a day (I try to drink at least one and a half gallons a day), but ensures I have a reasonable supply of clean drinking water on me at all times (this is in addition to the water bottle that is in my EDC). I also keep my notebook computer as well as a book, and the various cords and headphones for my computer and cell phone in my bag.

Now honestly all of this can get to be rather heavy, but with regular carry, you will quickly become used to it, and will also quickly come to rely on many of it's items in non-emergency situations (though always remember to replenish whatever you use from it regularly). I would be lost without mine anymore.

Anywho, I hope this helps you be a little bit more prepared.

And remember, preparedness is not just for the coming zombies or the anti-government whack-job paranoid types.

It is about recognizing the reality that it is always better to have and not need then to need and not have.

It should be looked as in the same light as keeping a spare tire in the trunk of your car or a fire extinguisher in your home.