Build A Kit
It's not the government's job - it is YOUR responsibility to ensure your family’s well-being during times of crisis, and emergency kits are essential tools for meeting that challenge.
Keep a kit at home, and consider having kits in your car and at work. These kits will enable you and your family to respond to an emergency more quickly. Your various emergency kits will be useful whether you have to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Be sure to rotate your items periodically, ensuring nothing is expired when the need comes.
Suggested basic items to consider for a home emergency kit:
Water—at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days
Food—nonperishable food for at least three days, consider items that do not require cooking and will maintain freshness for several months such as energy bars, freeze dried foods and dehydrated foods
Formula and diapers for any infants
Food, water, other supplies and documents for any pets
Manual can opener
Flashlight, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) battery-powered weather radio, battery-powered cellphone charger and extra batteries or hand crank powered devices
First aid kit and prescription medications
Sanitation supplies such as moist towelettes, disinfectant and garbage bags
Important documents in watertight packaging—personal, financial and insurance—store copies in a separate location (safety deposit box, relatives, or trusted friend)
Your family emergency plan, local maps and other information
5-Gallon bucket with plastic bags for use as a portable toilet
Cash in small denominations
Other items that could prove helpful:
Fire extinguisher
Any tools needed to turn off utilities
Matches in a waterproof container
Metal or plastic bowls
Coats and rain gear
Sleeping bags or other bedding
A weather-appropriate change of clothes for each person
Books, games, puzzles, toys and other activities for children
Batteries and cell phone chargers
For more philosophy and survival tips, check out MacWelch’s New York Times Bestselling survival books:
Prepare For Anything
Hunting and Gathering Survival Manual
How To Survive Anything
And if that’s not enough, you can:
Follow Tim on Twitter @timmacwelch
Take one of his survival classes at www.advancedsurvivaltraining.com
and check out more of MacWelch’s outdoor skills and survival articles at Outdoor Life Magazine’s survival site, The Survivalist.