Needing a can opener is not just a preparedness cliché!

I know you're thinking you already have a can opener at home. And if it's not electric, you're thinking you are covered. But if your can opener is not directly with your disaster kit, you risk it not being there when you need it most.

This picture highlights my two favorite can openers. The larger black one actually un-crimps the lid from the can leaving no sharp edges. It's not any harder to turn, but it takes a few tries learning how to getting started.

The tiny steel can opener is the type that came with military canned MREs. It's called a P-38, although the jury is still out as to how it got its name. It takes considerably more practice and work to open a can, but it costs less than a dollar and fits on your keychain.

Need a few more ways to open a can?  Your regular ole' electric can opener at home certainly counts as your primary way to open cans.  A hole punch can opener can open a can, but it leaves a billion sharp edges in a star shaped opening.  In this video, a can is opened with a spoon, but I've never tried that. Lifehacker.com gives us this Karate Kid can opening solution (wax on, wax off). And I would be remiss if I didn't mention using a knife to hack a can into submission or using a rock and bashing the lid in. Caution, during an emergency no one wants to see blood over a can of tuna.

From your everyday life, to your disaster kit, you should be planning to meet your family's needs at least four  layers deep. Plan to have four separate ways to open that can of soup from your disaster kit  Note: the simplest solution is to own four manual can openers.  And put at least one can opener IN your disaster kit.  You don't know what you'll face or who you might be able to help with the right supplies.

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