Being Prepared at Home for Emergencies and Disasters

Being prepared at home for emergencies and disasters before they happen because you just may need to survive on your own after a disaster.  This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days.  Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.  You could get help in hours, or it might take days.

Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.  Or, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you.  You probably will not have the opportunity to shop or search for the supplies you need.

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items that members of a household may need in the event of a disaster.

Emergency kit locations

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and vehicles.

Home

• Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days.
• Keep this kit in a desig­nated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
• Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks.  

Also consider

All family members should have their own kit in addition to the larger kit for the family. Store contents in a carry bag, make sure it is easy to manage in both weight and size and is equipped with shoulder straps.

First aid kits

All kits, home, work, car and personal should be equipped with a first aid kit. A larger more complete pack should be included with the home kit and a smaller basic kit for the personal bag will do.

Water

You should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking.

Additionally, in determining adequate quantities, take the following into account:

• Individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate.
• Children, nursing mothers, and ill people need more water.
• Very hot temperatures can double the amount of water needed.
• A medical emergency might require additional water.

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water.  If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Avoid foods that will make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content.

Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:

• Manual can opener
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
• Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
• Staples--sugar, salt, pepper
• High energy foods--peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
• Vitamins
• Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons with special dietary needs 
• Comfort/stress foods--cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

Review and check your emergency supplies every six months, check expiration dates of foods and medicines.