THE best book on survival you can have, read it before hand as it's kind of big and kind of heavy to be sticking in a backpack. The US Army Survival Guide is a good backup to this book, but they'll only let me stick so many things on this list.

If there's one idea I could leave with you from this listing, it's that you need a gun & you need to know how to use it. One of the best firearms books out there that will urge you to buy a gun & become proficient in it's use. Don't rely on others to protect you.

Just in case you have to be away from home (maybe your home is now burned down, unsafe, in ruins or flooded). Generally it's better to 'Bug In' than to 'Bug Out to somewhere, but this is just in case you can't stay home. 4 season tent's the way to go.

Keep the rain off you (here that's all I have to worry about/no snow really). Other good jackets are gore tex smocks, parkas and jackets that you'd get from an army surplus store (British DPM Smock, the US ECWCS parka, German Flecktarn/has to be warm and stand up to the rain and cold). Rugged clothing made from denim or canvas is the way to go during a disaster.

If you can't afford a $100 knife, here's an inexpensive alternative. Alot of knife period, especially given how inexpensive they are. They always amaze me how much knife you get for the money with them.

Since you'll need water badly if the water at your home goes out get at least three, five would be better. Make sure and get a water barrel pump to make your life easier.

For signaling, fire starting, sawing through branches of trees etc

Those 3 day survival arks are fine to have in the trunk of your car, but alot of times it takes weeks or sometimes months for an area that's been hit by a disaster to go back to normal. I'd error on the side of caution. Have enough canned good and MRE's to last 3 to 6 months at the very least.

Be able to see a little ways away, it might help you avoid trouble. Steiner and Nikon are two of the best brands out there for well priced clear optics.

Have enough TP, the most overlooked survival item there is.

You're going to need to cook at some point as cold food isn't very good. Cooking over a fire is doable, but it's kind of an art form. Don't forget propane

Stay in touch with what's going on outside your campfire. Don't forget batteries. Even if you forget them it doesn't matter, it has a crank. I'm trying to get you to avoid having to do that though.

Although food storage is the way to go (I'd rather open a can of food/an MRE than catch & eat a turtle because I had to) having a way of fishing and hunting small & large game is always a good idea. Don't forget hooks, lures, lead weights, bait, bobbers and line.

Great battery booster for your vehicle. A roadside kit with a flashlight (I like Maglights), flares, jumper cables, a few hand tools (needle nosed pliers, channel locks etc), wire brush (to scrape your corroded battery), ice scraper, cable ties, rope, duct tape is a good idea.

Don't depend on the GPS too much though, always have maps.

Have a way for two different parties to communicate.