I scoured the market searching for the ideal emergency kit only to be short changed and disappointed. I thought I was prepared after buying a top of the line family of four emergency kit. I was mistaken. I still had to add on to customize it, buy specific  gear and long term food options from other sites, take multiple trips searching for basic supplies, go to the grocery store looking for expiration dates, search the house and then figure out how to pack and carry it all. It’s supposed to be a GO BAG  not 'how am I going to carry it all bag.' It was more than a struggle with a child, toddler, infant and hurt back  to carry it all. ( What if my husband is at work when disaster strikes.)  Please believe me that I was not just trying to pack everything and the kitchen sink. I was  simply following Red Cross and FEMA’s go bag check lists. After piecing together a kit that could actually save my families life, I was out over $500.00 and two months of time!  I had a  6 bag kit that I couldn’t carry even on wheels and would make me look like a target.

There had to be a better way. So after some research into disaster relief, basic wilderness survival skills, my own logic and input from those that care, I had it figured out. I eagerly shared with all who would listen the urgency of preparing before disaster strikes. Even though most understood the necessity of having a go bag we all lead hectic lives and it is a daunting task once you get started, so many never finish. My mother, being the business minded woman that she is, got sick of me nagging her and suggested I start selling them. After all, I had already started preparing other family and friend’s emergency kits for free. I really enjoyed my little survival obsession and by that time my husband had banned me from buying any more survival gear for ourselves, so once I got the go ahead from him I ran with it. So ……….. Survive and Thrive Emergency Kits was born!