You will need a portable first aid kit for each backpack.  This can be purchased at the grocery store or pharmacy.  They are lightweight and easy to carry.  You might consider having at least one comprehensive first aid kit that can be kept with one of the family members or in the car.  Fishing tackle boxes work great for this.  Your kit might include flares, waterproof matches, and anything else you may want to include.  Each pack should be specific to the family creating it.  You can purchase emergency kits for the car that will include flares.  It might just save your life in a car accident that includes you going off the road during a storm. 

You will need water.  We can live a lot longer without food than we can without water.  As we saw in Katrina, it was the heat and lack of water that was creating the crisis we viewed.  People were stranded on top of bridges for days without water.  Having your own water supply could help you survive the first few hours or days of a crisis.

You should always carry at least three days supply of any medications you take on a regular basis.  This is not difficult to do if you tell the doctor what you want it for.  They will usually provide you with either samples or a prescription for an emergency supply.  Keep them in their prescription bottle so that they can be refilled later even if you have been dislocated from your community.  Along with prescriptions, you will need aspirin or Tylenol, or both.  adhesive bandages, (all sizes and shapes).  The fabric ones stay on longer because, like Velcro, the fibers cling to each other.  The plastic ones come off easily and may not work in wet conditions.  You will need an Ace bandage for injuries such as breaks and sprains.  You will need peroxide, alcohol, thermometer, (digital preferred or the ones that attach to the forehead are easy).  There are the more professional one that are taken from the ear.  They are simple, but remember that they too are battery operated.  You may want to include either a rectal or oral thermometer.

You may want to take along packages of gator aid powder to mix with water.  It can be beneficial to keep the body hydrated.  You will want to have some kind of mechanical clock.  A small compact travel alarm works well.  You will want latex gloves, masks, sewing needles and thread, tweezers, water proof matches, a couple of pinecones dipped in candle wax to be used as a fire starter.  Make sure you store them in sturdy storage bags to prevent leaking if the wax melts from the heat.  In fact, they now have large storage bags that can house a lot of your emergency supplies so that they can be stored almost anywhere.

You should pack a brimmed hat for everyone.  It will help keep the sun off your face.  You should have at least one long sleeved shirt incase the nights get cold and to help from getting mosquito bites and sunburn.  You can interchange these according to the season.  Everyone needs as least one change of clothes.  This includes at least one pair of long pants, good sturdy walking shoes, or hunting boots.  There should have at least one individual blanket for each person.  The small fleece kind that you wrap around you when watch TV is light weight and small enough to not take up too much room.  You can also get small children's size pillows to keep in the car.  You should always have a large blanket that can be used to huddle under if the weather is chilly. This can be stored in the car and makes a good picnic blanket.

Leather work gloves are important incase you have to rough it.  Insect repellant, sun block, Benedryll, Gold Bond type powder, poison ivy cream, vitamins, lip balms, tooth brushes, tooth paste, Mouth wash slips that can be put into the mouth and melt are perfect for this purpose.  Believe it or not, Kotex pads work great for pressure bandages for severe injuries.  The thicker, the better.  Don't forget the feminine products.  You never know when  your cycle will be starting!

You will need basic tools which should include a shovel.  Besides this, you might want to include a pick, axe, hatchet, car repair tools such as wrenches, hammer, duct tape for repairing broken water hoses, etc.  Oh, and don't forget a few bottles of oil just in case.  You may need screwdrivers, pliers, nails, and hand saws.

Don't forget your rain gear. Dress according to the weather and the season.

You will need pencils, pens, paper, office supplies, postage stamps, at least one bucket in case you have to use it to fight a fire or haul water.  You will need a hot water bottle or chemical ice bags.  The invention of chemical heat packs that you just peel and attach to back or arm or leg with the adhesive tabs is great for injuries.  Don't forget your camera and film.  This is when a 35 mm camera comes in handy.  Doesn't need batteries, though you might have to have extras for the flash etc.

You might want to pack plastic silverware and paper plates and cups.  Don't forget a few garbage bags.  You may want to include a manual air pump incase of a flat tire or leak.  Don't forget the hand sanitizers.  Don't leave out the Toilet Tissue! 

As far as the clothes are concerned...keep your emergency bag updated for the seasons.  Thrift store finds are great for this.  In an emergency you don't need to look like you just walked out of the pages of a fashion magazine.

Include pre-moistened towelettes, shampoo and conditioners, deodorant, Kleenex, Infant supplies, (if you have one), eye glasses and lens cleaning solution, spray bottle, (can be used for spit baths), Vaseline, mineral oil, sterile gauze dressings, Teflon non-sticking pads, gauze rolls, eye pads, muslin triangular bandages to be used as a tourniquet, sling or bandage, and safety glasses.

Neosporin is important, as is scissors, cervical collars, splints, tongue blades to use as splints or to check throats, saline solution, Phisoderm, for cleaning wounds, safety pins, and Q-tips.  Oh, don't forget cooking utensils!  Fill up your beverage cooler with fresh water and ice!  Fill up your food cooler with juice pouches and any other foods you may want like baby formulas etc.  If you have water, the powdered kind works well.

Now, what food should be taken?  We, as a family, have talked about this at length.  It needs to be lightweight, easy for even a child to carry and needs no cooking.  We have included energy bars and cereal bars, dehydrated fruits and nuts, small cans of beanie weenie, cans of sardines or kippered snacks for those who like them, juice packets, Ritz type crackers, hot cocoa packets, spiced cider packets,  instant soup in their own Styrofoam cups, foil pouches of tuna or the pop top cans. Jerky, Slim Jims...I am sure you can think up more ideas according to your families likes and dislikes....oh, and don't forget the peanut butter and jelly that comes in one jar.  It's great on crackers.

These are but a few suggestions to include in your emergency kits.  Tailor it to your needs and likes.  But don't put this off much longer.  Who knows what lies ahead.  We should all be prepared!

Plan emergency routes ahead of time.  Know where you will be going before you need it.  Always have your cell phone chargers and accessories handy and keep your phone charged.  You should not only have a wall charge unit, but a car charge unit.  Plan escape routes in all four directions incase roads are closed or impassable.  Have maps that help you when you are traveling.

Keep copies of important documents in a place that is easy to get to and store them in a waterproof bag.  There are some pretty good ones out there now. Don't forget SS#, bank account numbers and access codes and any other documents.  Military discharge papers are important as well as insurance and car information.

Always have a list of important friends and family that you will notify in an emergency.  People need to know if there is an emergency, what your needs are, what your plans are, where you are headed, what time you are leaving and what time you expect to arrive.  Send text messages instead of actual phone calls because you can save a lot of time that way.  And you save your batteries.  Call when you get to your location.

Take your animals with you.  You may not be able to get back to take care of them.  If it is not convenient to have them in the car over an extended stay, board them when you get where you are headed.