Many emergencies are unpredictable. An emergency may leave you without many amenities, such as electricity and heat. It is very important to have an emergency kit ready in the event an emergency should occur. This kit should contain all the necessities to sustain you and your family for a few days, until local officials can restore utilities. Below you will find a list of the recommended items you should keep handy in the event you are caught in an emergency situation.
Water
Be sure to store supplies of water in plastic containers, trying to avoid containers that may decompose or break, such as milk containers or glass bottles. Store one gallon of water per person in your household per day, making sure that you have at least a three (3) day supply of water in your kit. Ideally, you can use two (2) quarts of water for drinking and the other two (2) quarts for food preparation and/or sanitation.
Food
Store at least a three (3) day supply of non-perishable food. Be sure to select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking. Good examples of these include:
- Canned meat, vegetables and fruits
- Canned juice
- Baby food
- High energy foods, such as granola or energy bars
First Aid Kit
Emergency situations are very unpredictable. It is important to be ready if you suffer an injury during the emergency. Here are a few things to have on hand:
- Bandages
- Gauze bandages of several sizes
- Germicidal hand wipes or hand sanitizer
- Non-latex gloves
- Anti-bacterial ointment
- Ice pack
- Scissors and tweezers
- Aspirin, Tylenol, antacid and any other medications
Tools and Supplies
There are several items that you may find very helpful in the case of a prolonged emergency. If possible, supply yourself with:
- Flashlight, complete with extra batteries
- Cash, traveler's checks, change
- Non-electric can opener
- Small canister fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Compass
- Battery operated radio with extra batteries
For additional information regarding preparing for emergencies for individuals with disabilities.