What Outstanding Tools Make Quality Disaster Survival Kits?

What outstanding tools make quality disaster survival kits? These tools should be in your home emergency disaster kit. The change of seasons is upon us. The severe weather that marks the shift from winter to spring is here. Are you prepared for tornados, flooding, or severe thunderstorms? The seasonal severe weather the affects our nation makes it prudent to consider the tools that we have available in our home emergency kits.

1. Chain Saw

The number one tool that you should have in your home disaster emergency kit is a chain saw. The chain saw is a top recommendation by the disaster survival experts. The advantage that you have with a chain saw is excellent. A chain saw helps cut through fallen trees, doors, plywood panels, and dry wall. Additionally, it will help cut through wood framing of fallen homes to recover or rescue someone.

 

Several companies sell reliable chain saws: Poulan, Stihl, Husqvarna, Craftsman, and Black & Decker. Chain saws come in three types: gas, electric, and lithium battery. The experts advise keeping a battery powered one. However, a gas powered chainsaw is a good second option. People have their individual preferences on chain saw brands. So do some research and shop around for the chain saw and brand that fits your knowledge, experience, and budget.

 

Recommended Chain Saw

Husqvarna 120i 40 Chainsaw ($299.94, Lowe’s Home Improvement)

Manufacturers Description

Looking for the perfect small chainsaw? The Husqvarna 120i is a lightweight, easy-to-use battery saw that’s ideal for pruning branches and felling small trees. The intuitive keypad makes getting starting a breeze, while an inertia chain brake promises problem-free handling. The power-conserving savE™ mode ensures you won’t run out of battery, and low noise levels let you work without disturbing the neighbors. (https://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/chainsaws/120i/967098102/). 

2. Fireman’s Ax

Another essential tool to keep in your home emergency disaster kit is a Fireman’s Ax. The fireman’s ax is the standard tool in use with most fire departments. The fireman’s ax has a distinctive head. The ax head has a single-bit blade on one side and a pick poll opposite the blade. This kind of blade bit is a combination bit called a pickhead. Firefighters use the ax to breach doors and walls to rescue people inside a burning building. A fireman’s ax is excellent for chopping wood when necessary, such as fallen trees.

Recommended Fireman’s Ax: 

Leatherhead Tools 6 lb. Pick Axes with Fiberglass Handles (USA Made) ($44.95, Feld Fire)

Manufacturers Description: 

This rugged Axe is perfect for ventilation, forcible entry or
overhaul. Handle construction is solid Hi-Viz pultruded fiberglass with
non-slip grip. Yellow handle construction is a strong pultruded fiberglass
core with injection molded jacket for added strength. The Axe heads are bonded to the fiberglass handle with strong two part epoxy. The Axe heads are drop forged with high carbon steel (http://leatherheadtools.com/axes). 

3. Limb Saw

A third tool that emergency preparedness experts recommend keeping in your kit is a reliable limb saw. The advantage of having a limb saw after an emergency is clearing brush . The chain saw helps cut the large diameter tree trunks and limbs. However, a good limb saw can effectively cut the smaller diameter limbs not practical for cutting with a chain saw.

There are several styles and brands of limb saws. The most well-known are the folding limb saws in use by outdoorsman. However, the limb saws that will be practical for use in the wake of a weather disaster are the larger bow or pruning saws. The are several types and brands of limb saws. The best brands on the market are Silky and Fiskars. Black & Decker and some other companies make powered limb saws. They look like miniature chain saws on the end of a long pole. Thus, whichever style and brand of limb saw you choose, they are a great tool to keep in your kit.

 

Recommended Limb Saw

Bahco Tools 10-30-51 – Bow Saw ($34.99 Amazon Prime)

Manufacturers Description

Bowsaw frame developed according to the scientific ERGO™ process. ERGO™ handle with knuckle protector gives ergonomic comfort and safety. Heavy duty bowsaw made from high-quality steel and protected from rust and corrosion by a coating of high-impact enamel paint. Designed for demanding applications and tough environments. (https://www.bahco.com/en/p/bow-saw-green-and-dry-wood/2d-76-71-54-e1-b3-f2-95-88-68-cc-46-fc-cb-f2-82/). 

4. Utilities Shut-Off Wrench

The utility shut-off wrench is one of the more essential tools to hold in one’s home disaster emergency kit. These wrenches will shut off the main valves for water and gas on your home. One of these tools is essential in a post-disaster scenario. The wrench will help you turn off water and gas that may be escaping from a fallen house after a storm. There are many styles of these wrenches. Be sure to purchase one that can shut off both water and gas.

Recommended Utilities Shut-Off Wrench

The On Duty® 4 in 1 Emergency Tool™ ($17.99, Amazon Prime)

Manufacturers Description

The On Duty® 4 in 1 Emergency Tool™ is available on our colorful retail packaging. This full color retail packaging shows the functions of the On Duty® 4 in 1 Emergency Tool™ on a bright and attractive card. The On Duty® 4 in 1 Emergency Tool™ is used conveniently in the Home, Garage, School, Office, Business, Shop, Warehouse, Government Building, Military Building, etc. (http://www.onduty1.com/product.html).

5. Crow or Pry Bar

A tool that is often recommended by emergency preppers for a home disaster kit is a crow or pry bar. They are different tools with different applications. However, they both give a person the ability to pry and lift debris after a disaster. Most hardware stores sell these tools. The significant difference between these tools is their size and appearance.
Typically, a pry bar is no longer than twenty-four inches, has a flat body with a curved end. The crowbar can be longer (up to four or five feet), has a rounded shape, and has a claw hook at one end, similar to a claw hammer. The crowbar is a tool to give leverage to lift heavy objects. A pry bar is a tool used by carpenters for pulling nails, lifting up sheetrock or wall paneling. Pry bars and crowbars can come in lengths that will fit in most tool boxes. They both have flattened ends with notches for pulling nails at each end of their bodies.

 

Recommended Crow Bar

Roughneck 36in. Gorilla Pry Bar, Model# 70-303 ($34.99, Northern Tool & Equipment) 

Recommended Pry Bar

Vaughan Superbar — 21in. Length ($15.48, Lowes Home Improvement)

6. Sledge Hammer

A sledgehammer is a tool that is often recommended by the experts as an essential item in one’s disaster kit. Sledgehammers come with different handle lengths and hammerhead weights. The most common sledgehammer is one with a eight-pound head and twenty-four-inch handle. Sledgehammers also have handles that come in wood, fiberglass, or steel. Sledgehammers are great for breaking concrete, masonry, and sheetrock.

Recommended Sledge Hammer

Roughneck Sledgehammer — 8-Lb. Head ($29.99, Amazon Prime)

7. Bolt Cutters

A tool that is not often in the discussion of tools for home emergency disaster kits is the bolt cutter. Bolt cutters come in a few sizes. The most common bolt cutters in use are thirty-six inches and twenty-four inches in length. However, bolt cutters can be as small as fourteen inches.

Bolt cutters are excellent for cutting through fencing, wire, anchor bolts, and padlock shackles. In the wake of an emergency, using a bolt cutter to free someone may be the difference between a rescue and a recovery.

 

Recommended Bolt Cutter

Klein Steel-Handle Bolt Cutter Model #  63324— 24in. (USA Made) ($108.15, Home Depot)

Manufacturers Description

Handles have heavy vinyl grips with flat grips ends for 90-degree cuts all-purpose, center-cut jaws for soft, medium, and hard metals. Forged, alloy tool steel jaws are precision ground for sure, efficient cutting and long life. Lock plate reinforcement prevents jaw bolts from loosening or turning, keeps jaws in correct alignment. Cutting capacities for soft and medium materials is up to Brinell 300, Rockwell C31. Cutting capacities for hard materials is up to Brinell 400, Rockwell C42 (https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/steel-handled-bolt-cutters/steel-handle-bolt-cutter-24-inch).

More Detailed Description: Product Data Sheet Product Data Sheet

Note: All Klein products are USA Made (https://www.kleintools.com/content/american-manufacturing). 

8. Shovel

The final tool that one should have in their home emergency disaster kit is a shovel. There are two kinds of shovels, a squared end, and round end. They also come with either a wood handle or a fiberglass handle. There are a variety of shovels on the market. The rounded end shovel is primary for digging. The squared end shovel is for scooping. Your situation may require keeping both types in your kit. However, a good shovel will make cleaning up your property or helping others do the same much easier.

Recommended Round Head Shovel

Ames True Temper Razor-Back Digging Shovel, Wood Handle (USA Made) ($24.64, True Value Hardware Store)

Recommended Squared Head Shovel 

Ames True Temper Razor-Back Square Point Shovel, Wood Handle (USA Made) ($24.64, True Value Hardware Stores)

Some Concluding Observations

These eight essential tools for one’s disaster emergency kit are important for post-disaster cleanup and recovery. If you have these tools, they will not only help you; they can help your neighbor also after a weather-related disaster. The severe weather tragedies of the past year demonstrate how communities come together to help those affected. The tools that you keep are instruments that facilitate community building relationships as you assist your neighbors. Remember that your location influences your decision on tools. However, you can not go wrong with a well thought out disaster kit containing the proper tools.