Emergency Preparedness Kit :

• Flashlights with Extra Batteries
• Well Stocked First Aid Kit
• Warming Blankets
• Candles and Matches (or Lighter) — use these with caution because of a risk of fire
• Drinking Water (for three days) — plan on one gallon of water per person per day (this takes into account for drinking, washing, and cooking)*
• Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food (for three days)*
• Manual Can Opener
• Coolers (to help keep refrigerated food cold) and Ice
• Medicines (both over the counter and prescription medicines needed for your family members)
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Tissues
• Hand Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Personal Hygiene Products
• Work Gloves
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• A Copy of Insurance Documents and Cards
• Scan Important Personal Documents (particularly in case of evacuation)
• If you have pets, keep pictures of you and your pet should you be separated. This picture is great for identification.
• Cell Phone and Chargers (but these are not always reliable)
• A Corded Phone (Portable phones won’t work in a power outage, but phones plugged into the wall will likely work.)
• List of Phone Numbers and Addresses of Friends, Family, and Doctor
• Extra Cash

It is important to be mindful to use the items from your kit that have expiration dates, such as food and medicines, and then replenish them when you use them.  While it is great to have your kit ready in case of emergencies, it won’t be good if you prepare it and don’t need it for years, only to find that most of your food and medicine are well past their expiration.

It is best to occasionally replenish the stock of bottled water as well.

*Three days is a minimum recommendation, and perfect for an evacuation situation.  For home use, it is even better to have a two week supply.

Do you have an emergency kit?