Emergency Kit

Preparing Your Kit – Store your Emergency Kit in one location that is easily accessible in case evacuation is required. Store items in a large container such as a plastic tub with a lid, a suitcase, a duffel bag, or footlocker. Keep only essential supplies in the kit. Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles instead of containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more. Store one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation/sanitation).

Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household. 

Suggestions and Reminders: Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Emergency Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in airtight plastic bags and in convenient movable containers.Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh.Rotate your stored food every six months.Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and use little or no water. Include a selection of the following foods in your Emergency Kit.

  • Ready-to-eat canned meats
  • Canned fruits & vegetables
  • Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water). 

Staples – sugar, salt, pepper High energy foods –

  • Trail Mix
  • Granola Bars
  • Peanut butter & Jelly
  • crackers
  • Vitamins
  • Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets 

Comfort/stress foods

  • Cookies
  • Hard candy
  • Sweetened cereals
  • Lollipops
  • Instant coffee & Tea Bags 

First Aid Kit

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first aid kit should include:

  • Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
  • 2 & 4 inch sterile gauze pads
  • (4-6) Hypoallergenic adhesive tape Triangular bandages
  • 2 & 3 inch sterile roller bandages
  • Scissors Tweezers Needle
  • Moistened towelettes
  • Antiseptic
  • Thermometer Tongue blades
  • Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
  • Assorted sizes of safety pins
  • Cleansing agent/soap Latex gloves (2 pair)
  • Sunscreen Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Antacid Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
  • Laxative Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center). 

Tools and Supplies

  • Mess kits or paper cups
  • plates and plastic utensils
  • Emergency preparedness manual Battery operated radio
  • Flashlight
  • Extra batteries
  • Cash or Traveler’s Checks
  • Non-electric can opener
  • Utility knife
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Small canister, ABC type
  • Tube tent
  • Pliers
  • Tape
  • Compass
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic storage containers
  • Signal flare
  • Paper, pencil
  • Needles, thread
  • Medicine dropper
  • Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
  • Whistle
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Map of the area (for locating shelters). 

Sanitation

  • Toilet paper
  • Towelettes
  • Soap
  • Liquid detergent
  • Feminine products
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Plastic garbage bags
  • Ties (for personal sanitation use)
  • Plastic bucket with tight lid
  • Disinfectant/Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding

  • Change of clothing and footwear
  • Sturdy shoes or work boots
  • Rain Gear
  • Blankets or sleeping bags
  • Pillows
  • Hats, gloves and sunglasses
  • Thermal underwear
  • Special Items For Baby
    • Formula, Diapers, Bottles, Powdered milk
  • Medications For Adults
  • Heart and High blood pressure medication
  • Insulin
  • Prescription drugs
  • Denture needs
  • Contact lenses and supplies
  • Extra eye glasses
  • Entertainment Games and books. 

Important Family Documents

  • Waterproof portable container for documents
  • Insurance policies
  • Family will
  • Contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
  • Passports
  • Social security cards
  • Immunization Records
  • Bank account numbers and informtaion
  • Inventory of valuable household goods
  • Important telephone numbers
  • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).