The 4 a.m. wake-up alarm Angelenoes, including yours truly, received today got me thinking about emergency kits. Specifically, the aesthetics of these cases and what goes in them.
Certainly the red cross--the international symbol of first aid--is so iconic because of its authoritatively bold, blood-colored graphic against pristine white. And the foil bags of water and foodstuff (and most of it is just that) suggest a kind of survivalist mode in space.
But much of what's out there is pedestrian at best. Thankfully, Andy managed to find a coffin-sized lock box in solid black for our home and black fannie packs (chock-a-block with essentials) for our cars.
(Yep, we're as ready as one can be. Perhaps, having grown up in England instead of earthquake country like Southern California like I did, he's a heck of a lot more conscientious about being prepared).

While getting through a disaster is no time to fret about anything but ensuring everyone is safe and sane, it also doesn't hurt to zero in on preparedness essentials that are almost too cool to hide for a rainy day...or worse.
American Red Cross FR300, a hand-crank radio that comes in red or white, and looks cool enough to have on your desk year round.
Eton American Red Cross Solarlink Digital boasting AM/FM/SW/NOAA, weather, flashlight, solar and cell phone charger.
For those with medical conditions, the Macx USB Medical ID Bracelet looks (almost) like future-minded piece of jewelry.
New York-based industrial designer Harry Allen's Reality Series are ongoing best sellers at A+R. But he ventured out of his zone of whimsy to reimagine the first aid kit for Johnson+Johnson, using a space-saving, slim figure-eight form. A built-in handle allows for grab-and-go. No wonder it won I.D. Magazine's best packaging prize in 2009. It would be amazing to see more companies look to the new generation of designers for all their packaging and products--emergency and otherwise.

As for you DIYers, the Red Cross lists the anatomy of an ideal kit. And I found a site the clean, white metal boxes. The First Aid labels are sold separately, so the boxes themselves can come in handy for office supplies, sewing kits and "emergency" needs other than what the universe throws at us.