There’s a good website that covers surviving disasters at http://www.equipped.com/ They also offer a pocket-sized kit that includes the bare essentials for riding out a disaster, including an instruction pamphlet. I don’t have the kit, but it looks pretty good and is a size you can always have on you.

Also, your disaster kit should be in something that is easy to carry (e.g. a sturdy backpack). And put your kits in a location where you can find it and grab it easily on the way out the door. It’s also a good idea to have a similar kit for each of your vehicles, just in case you happen to be stuck out on the road.

I’d be tempted to leave out toiletries you listed (with the exception of soap) and include toilet paper in the list. You don’t really require a change of clothes, that’s a nice to have, but if you’re going to be on foot, a pair of good shoes (and socks and moleskin) is more important. Similarly, while a weather radio is nice, a simple transistor radio does the job just as well.

I’d also add a tarp (or two), duct tape, a fleece blanket and good length of nylon cord. Someone should have a map and a compass and know how to use them together. Finally, each person should have a good, loud whistle.

I like recycling my camping/backpacking gear as disaster gear. For example, a flashlight is great, but a headlamp is even better since it frees your hands. Similarly, we also have backpacking stoves, a mess kit, and a water filter available to us if needed. Most of our disaster kit resides in a nice internal frame backpack. The downside is that camping and especially backpacking gear are usually more expensive options. The upside is that backpacking gear is generally more compact and lighter.

Another thing we do is to tape the batteries for our emergency electronics (e.g. radio) to the outside of the device. Batteries can corrode while left in a device. Make sure the batteries for emergency use are normal, non-rechargeable ones. NiMH type batteries will self-discharge and lose their charge if left in storage for long periods of time.

I wouldn’t even consider taking a computer, though if I had a free arm, I might scoop up the laptop.

But three items… Take the irreplaceable stuff, like you said. There’s a stuffed animal I’ve had since the day I was born. (My first toy, because I was born early and a shower hadn’t been thrown yet.)

Honestly, I’m not sure beyond that. I really should have a strong box that house important pieces and some irreplaceable pics, plus our wedding certificate and birth certificates.

Oh, and my cat. I suppose we’d have to scoop her up. she hates being in carriers and being picked up. So we’d probably spend a good chunk of time chasing her around and getting scratched up before we could get going.