OK, been poking around the ETS site the past few weeks. Y’all have done changed my views on preparedness. And I’m wonderin’, am I off to a good start?

My key ring now contains: a paracord-woven fob, a Photon Micro Light, Leatherman Micra and a small pealess Acme whistle. And I now go nowhere without a charged cell phone.

My EDC pocket knife is now a medium-size lightweight Scrhade with black synthetic scales; am waiting for my Ritter Mini to arrive, as well as one of Mr. Ritter’s pocket survival kits.

Cab of the truck already contained a Leatherman Wave, pair of Craftsman Robogrip pliers, Beretta airweight folding knife, multi-head Craftsman screwdriver, 12-foot tape measure, two c-cell machined aluminum flashlights, 1 AA flashlight, user-supplemented wilderness type first-aid kit, can of CLP BreakFree (synthetic lubricant, cleaner). Couple of ball caps, stocking caps, pairs of gloves, Browning Goretex pac jacket. Assortment of bungee cords, some carabiners and split rings, zip ties, binocularss, state gazetteer/atlas, funnel, duct tape. (Most of this fits behind back seat of my crew cab.)

In addition to the already-present tool kit in a Sportsman’s Dry Box in the topper-covered bed, I had a black Contico truck box (held in place with a cargo bar) that carries heavy-gauge jumper cables and a tow strap. Light sleeping bag and fleece-lined cordura poncho now bagged and strapped to top of that box. Also added a rubber-coated lantern-type flashlight with alkaline battery.

I’ve since added to the truck box a 10”x 20” Jansport duffel with the following supplies I’ve gathered:

Light & fire
LED light on carabiner attached to bag zipper
1 2D-Cell Maglite
4 12-hour light sticks
Magnesium flint, carbon steel Boker pocket knife, Coleman tinder sticks
Waterproof matches w/strikers in orange waterproof container
Disposable butane lighter

Medical
1 pretty fair “wilderness type” first-aid kit (larger, user-supplemented kit in cab)

Signaling:
StarFlash mirror
Fox 40 whistle
Both on braided paracord lanyard

Shelter:
10x12 heavy pvc tarp
Heavy duty 54 x 90 pvc poncho
Tube tent
Sportsman’s blanket
Space blanket
50-foot nylon cord
25 foot braided nylon rope

Knives/tools
Fixed-blade knife (Winchester drop point from Wal-Mart; plan to upgrade soon, though it doesn’t seem like a bad blade)
Gerber paraframe folder
Gerber Shortcut mini-tool
Leatherman Super Tool 200
Fiskars snips
Smiths’ 2 step sharpener
Camp saw
Can opener
Heavy pry bar (added under driver’s seat in cab)

Food & water
6 liters bottled water (to be changed out every 6 mos)
2 packs, 9-bars each Mainstay ration bars (5 year life)
6 each of tea bags, individual coffees, sugar packets, beef bullion cubes, chicken bullion cubes (all to be changed out every 6 mos)
6 Gerber breast-milk storage bags for water use
Large stainless steel cup
1 bottle Potable Aqua

Towels, wipes, etc:
1 pack anti-bacterial hand wipes
1 pack Coleman “shower anywhere” wipes
1 pack of 6 disposable synthetic kitchen wipes
1 blaze orange bandana
1 microfiber towel
3 Kleenex pocket packs

Misc:
1 pair wool-blend Rocky hunting socks
1 pair leather-palmed work gloves
1 #2 pencil and 1 dual-tip Sharpie
1 small notebook
1 small AM/FM radio
Packs of spare batteries in D,C, AA, AAA, 9V
1 set earplugs on cord
Spare eye-glasses (polycarbonate shooters lenses)
1 pack 16-inch plastic zip ties
1 travel sewing kit
2 30-gal garbage bags, 3 Ziplock bags each in gallon, quart, pint sizes
1 can Copenhagen