Be Prepared – What To Have in an Emergency Preparedness Kit!

With hurricane Irene knocking on our back door, I thought it might be useful to talk about what you should have in an Emergency Preparedness Kit!

You always hear people say “I didn’t think it would happen to me”. That is probably something I would say if disaster struck! So why not get prepared (as much as you can) in advance?

Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.  Put contents in a large, watertight container that you can move easily.

Your basic emergency kit should include:

General

Water – One gallon, per person per day

Food – Ready to eat, non perishable

Cooking/Meal Supplies – Manual can opener, plates, utensils

First Aid Kit

Important Documents – A copy of important documents & phone numbers

Clothes – Clothes & rain gear for each family member

Gloves – Heavy work gloves

Bleach – Unscented liquid bleach & an eye dropper for water purification

Personal Hygiene Items – Toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer, soap

Blankets – Blankets & sleeping bags

Tools – Plastic sheeting, duct tape, & utility knife (to cover broken windows), crowbar, hammer, nails, bungee cords, staple gun

Disaster Kit Bag

Each family member should have their own bag. The bag should be easy to carry in case of evacuation.

Flashlight

Battery Operated Radio

Batteries

Whistle

Dust Masks

Pocket Knife

Emergency cash in small denominations

Sturdy Shoes, clothes, hat

Local Map

Water & Food

Photos of Family Members

List of Emergency Contact Information

List of Allergies to any drug or food

Extra Keys to your house and car

If you have pets, or use medications daily, those things should also be considered when creating your Emergency Kit! It is always better to be safe than sorry!