When an emergency strikes your family may be without power or access to grocery stores, running water or other day-to-day necessities. The best way to prepare for that is to build a Family Emergency Kit. The Kit should have some basic items, but should match you and your family - like a fingerprint, no two kits will look exactly alike.
The Kit will be helpful whether you are staying at home or you have to leave on short notice. The links below point to several different checklists for emergency kits, so make sure to check them out for different ideas!
72-HOUR DISASTER KIT
Ensure a minimum three-day supply for each person and any household pets. Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. The kit should be in portable containers or durable bags (backpacks) for possible evacuation or relocation to an emergency shelter.
- Battery-operated radio/TV, flashlights and extra batteries
- Drinking water (1 gallon per person per day), stored in clean plastic containers with tight-fitting screw-cap lids, and other drinks
- Canned food, manual can opener, can of cooking fuel (sterno)
- Medications and prescriptions, list of family physicians
- Special food and supplies for infants, elderly people, etc.
- First-aid kit and first-aid manual
- Fire extinguisher
- Bedding supplies, sanitary supplies (toilet paper, feminine supplies)
- Cards, books, small games, road maps
- Clothing, rain gear, sturdy shoes, extra pair of glasses
- Credit cards and cash, extra set of car keys, insurance policy numbers
- Picture ID
- List of important family information, style and serial numbers of medical devices, such as pacemaker
- Food, water, medications, toys and carriers for all household pets
