The List

Snacks - Good for the body and soul.

Can Opener - Especially if you're using cans. Get a dimunitive P38 and learn how to use it for maximum weight and space savings.

Two-Way Radio - Lots of folks suggest these, but what that really means is a lot of people will have them and you might find that the airwaves are too "crowded" to be effective. Great in rural areas, though.

Work Gloves - Gonna probably have to be handling a lot of wood, stone, who knows what else. Protect your hands.

Tarp / Tent - Tents are ideal but expensive both for space and money. A tarp is an easy substitute, though you'll more likely end up on the ground. Another tip: 2 man tents aren't!! (Try it sometime.) You can find inexpensive tarps at the dollar store!

Utensils - Great depending on how your food is stored, if you're heating it, etc. Find "sporks" to cover your bases and to reduce multiple tools.

Duck Tape / Tenacious Tape - Great for repairs on the trail. I've repaired tents, backpacks, even clothes with tenacious tape - can't say enough good about it.

Hatchet - Optional depending on your circumstances but a much friendlier way of gathering wood than using your knife to hack at things.

Bug Repellant - In the woods, everything will try to bite you.

Comfort Toys - Super important! If you have younger kids, this will be stressful for them. Find a comfort toy that you can put in their kit to help them get through.

Portable Games / Cards - Adults need to relax during emergencies, too. A deck of cards goes a long way as long as you know some games. Travel-sized games can be great, too.

Nylon Cord (Paracord) or Webbing - 25-50' should do nicely and is very multi-purpose. Webbing gets tangled less easily and is just as useful.

Collapsible Shovel - We recommend getting a good, military-issue entrenching tool.

Paper Map of the Area - If you can't navigate without GPS, this is super helpful. If you're without internet access and don't know where the shelter is, you could may have problems.

Compass - To read the map, of course. Don't spend a lot on these. A simple orienteering one is plenty.

Balaclava / Shemagh - Multipurpose wonder! Good for keeping the sun off your head, wetting to keep cool, warm in the winter, a face covering for dust, etc. There's a reason so many of our military friends have these. I have (and love) this one, but if you shop around you can sometimes find 2-3 for around $10.

Gum - Just keep mint away from there rest of your food.

Legal Docs - Titles, marriage certificates, insurance policies, etc. Anything you could live with out but would prefer not to.

Moist Wipes - Great for freshening up when water is at a premium. If they dry out, use a tiny bit of water to rehydrate the whole pack.

Glow Sticks - Great for keeping a persistent light when you don't want to wear down your batteries. Helps keep kids entertained. Great for hiking at night to keep track of each other. We prefer Cyalume sticks in green. We've had the best luck with those being brightest/longest lasting.

Powdered Sports Drink - Great for keeping up your salt levels if you're needing to do a lot of manual labor. Also takes the boring out of water. Prefer single-use pouches since you don't have to worry about managing large amounts. OR use small canisters to divide it up.

Hiking Cook Stove - Something small and light but that you can use to quickly boil some water or heat some MREs (or those cans of beans you packed.) Best to find one that can use multiple fuels (wood, gas, etc.) Avoid anything that uses fuel in tanks. I recommend something similar to this Solo Stove kit due to the fact they're compact, lightweight, and extremely efficient. They are pricy, so shop around for something that fits your budget.

Camelbak or Similar Water Bladder - Sure you can re-use your bottled water bottles, but these are a great way to carry a lot of water fairly easily. When I was on the mountain emergency team, I wore one on my chest opposite my backpack and loved it. If you select a backpack with a hydration pocket, you can just buy the bladder and save some monehy.

Whistle - Some folks swear that these are a necessity. If you are planning on going out in the woods, that might be the case. Or, if you're making a "shelter in place" kit, they might be useful if you get trapped. (Using a whistle is much easier for long periods than yelling.)

Notebook & Pen/Pencil - You might be surprised how often you might want to write something down - even if it's just your own thoughts. Standard school pencils can be sharpened with a knife, while pens you'll have to be careful about checking regularly to make sure they work. Fisher Space Pens are a good option for pens. Bonus points for getting a waterproof notebook / pencil set.