I've lived in a variety of environments that are prone to natural disasters and/or civil unrest. Your emergency pack is a good start. I'd add the following items:

- a radio that is battery powered with extra batteries or even better, a hand cranked one. Depending on where you will be, consider the model carefully for ability to pick up weather and news reports;

- writing equipment - for leaving notes for friends/family; noting key details and, most importantly, for copying key phone numbers from your mobile phone's memory before the phone battery dies;

- in this regard, a pre-printed list of key contacts, emergency contacts and other useful information in the bag will be most useful. You should also email this list, along with copies of your passport's information page and any residency visas etc to a web accessible email service. Remember you might not be at home or your office when disaster strikes, so ensure you can access this information in multiple ways;

- a hat;

- toilet paper;

- cash. if you are living in a disaster prone but less developed area carry both the local currency and a major exchange currency such as the US dollar or the Euro.

Finally, as this is a travel blog two further essentials. Firstly, make sure you have the number of your country's consulate in the country you reside in, plus the number for the consular call centre in your home capital. If the disaster is big enough your local consultate may be out of action, so the more numbers the better.

Finally, consider your evacuation/exit options from the country. If you would normally need a visa to enter the country you are most likely to head to in the event of a disaster, make sure you try to maintain a current visa.

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