Emergency Preparedness advocates know that the “big 3” items for overall emergency prep include emergency food storage, water and shelter supplies. In addition to the “big 3” for overall preparedness there are 3 more important items to remember for your emergency survival kit. These include a high end Multi-Tool or Swiss army knife, a top of the line hunting knife and a firearm.

Multi-Tool: A good quality multi-tool can cost between $50-$100. This will be well worth the cost in case of emergency. Great and proven brands such as Leatherman or Gerber can last for years. A multi-tool can take the place of several different types of tools including a screwdriver, can opener for emergency food storage items, etc.

High Quality Hunting Knife: There are many types of knives on the market. Very large knives can create problems if they are too large to handle easily. Some knives on the market today are created especially for an emergency survival kit. They have hollowed handles for storing matches (which is arguably the fourth most important item for your survival gear) or other small survival items. The stainless steel varieties are a favorite for survival kits because they are will not rust in wet climates.

Firearm: There are debates on what the best survival firearms are. But, there is no debate that they can be extremely useful in emergency situations. A firearm can be used for hunting wildlife, defense, starting fires and signaling across long distances. It is crucial to educate yourself on your emergency firearms and to be comfortable using them.