Garrett,

Instead of suggesting additions to your pockets/belt etc. I would suggest a review of your potential daily risks like MiniMe above. For instance, on the drive to work is there a chance you could go off the road into a ravine/ditch/river etc where you would not be seen? At work or at home is there a risk of the building being destroyed by natural or manmade disaster?

With cell phone, knife and lighter, you have some communication and shelter capabilities. Personally I have added more shelter devices and signalling devices than you carry. I have evaluated the risks to being forced out of my worksite and having to set up shelter as moderately high. I have added a whistle, flashlights, small signal mirror in addition to a Ham radio to my kit. I also carry redundant fire kits. Cell phones are great most of the time but in a disaster are not as good as Ham radio. Whistle for trapped but out of sight and signal mirror for the same reason.

I carry both a small hank of paracord, and a plastic tube tent for shelter building.

Another thing to consider that adds nothing to your carry is what do you wear? Do you always have sturdy shoes or boots on, do you always wear a shirt, do you always have a hat and coat either in the car, at your desk etc? Do you always keep your car and house keys on you at all times, do you keep spare keys available, do you keep cash on you at all times, do you have a family plan with emergency contacts, a list of numbers in your pocket (not just stored in the cell phone), do you have a calling card, do you know where your family may be or where they will go in an emergency? Planning in my view beats equipment as you then know how to respond.