The following article has been contributed by a fellow blogger named Mary Kate. It has been published with permission of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of PreppingToSurvive.com.
It’s never easy to think about natural disasters, but as everyone knows, preparation is the key to survival. The problem many of us face is trying to stop ourselves from packing too much. After all, if this is our only chance to prepare for a hurricane, a massive power outage, tornado, earthquake, or TEOTWAWKI, wouldn’t we be annoyed if we forgot something important? If we pack too much, we’ll be burdened with too much stuff, and that can be a problem on its own.
The solution, of course, is to make sure that you prepare by packing “multitaskers”, or items that have more than one purpose. Here are a few ideas that you can use to make sure your preparations focus on covering all of the bases without going overboard.
Candles and Matches – These multitaskers are more important than you might think. Candles are important because matches burn out so quickly and easily. Candles can be used for light, for lighting other things, and for making things such as string and paper waterproof. Melted wax can seal be used to seal a bottle or to keep water out of a piece of equipment. Don’t forget the box of matches to light them.
Smooth Edge Can Opener – Can openers are vitally important for any survivalist. Canned foods are often part of survival supplies, and if a disaster strikes your town, canned foods will be the only ones safe to eat. Spend a few extra dollars on a can opener that creates smooth instead of sharp edges, and you can reuse the cans safely for any purpose.
Tarps – A waterproof tarp is one of the most versatile tools in your survival arsenal. You can use it to create an instant shelter, wrap yourself in it to protect yourself from elements, or put it on your home to instantly seal a hole in a window or roof. You can use it in your car, or house, inside or outside. It is lightweight, can be folded up small, and doesn’t have an expiration date.
Bungee Cords and Rope – These are another survival must-have. Rope has hundreds of uses, but tarps and bungee cords go together like mac and cheese. You can use the cords to temporarily attach a tarp in order to make a shelter, or to attach bags to your car. They have a bouncy stretch that rope doesn’t have, making them more useful in some situations.
Duct Tape – What can’t duct tape do? You can patch leaks, seal windows and doors to keep out water or chemical gasses, even use it in makeshift first aid applications.
Combine these supplies, and you can make almost anything for protection, travel, and survival in the direst of circumstances. You don’t need a lot of supplies to survive, you just need the right ones.
These items can all fit in one bag, and you’ll still have room for food and clothes. Hopefully you’ll never find yourself in the midst of a disaster, but if you have these items, you’ll know you have the best security possible.
PreppingToSurvive.com 
September 6, 2012
Bugging Out