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Disaster Supplies Kit
Basic Items to Stock
There are six basics you should stock in your home:
- Clothing and Bedding
- First Aid Supplies
- Food
- Special Items
- Tools and Emergency Supplies
- Water
Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. Possible containers include a camping backpack, suitcase, or five gallon bucket with gamma lid.
Recommendations
- Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of your Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car.
- Keep items in air tight plastic bags.
- Change your stored water supply every 6 months.
- Rotate your stored food supply every 6 months.
- Rethink your kit and family needs once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
- Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.
Suggested Items
Water
Store water in containers such as soft drink bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Children, nursing mothers and elderly may need more. Additionally, it is recommended to:
- Store one gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation)
- Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your home
Food
- Canned juices, milk, soup
- Comfort food - cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, tea bags, instant coffee
- Food for infants, elderly or persons on special diets
- High energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
- Staples - sugar, salt, pepper
- Vitamins
First Aid Kit
Assemble or purchase a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. Kits may be purchased at many camping or outdoor outlets.
Tools & Supplies
- Aluminum foil
- Battery operated radio and extra batteries
- Cash including change
- Fire extinguisher
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Manual can opener, utility knife
- Map of the area
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Paper, pencil
- Plastic sheeting
- Plastic storage containers
- Pliers, tape, compass
- Signal Flare
- Tent
- Whistle
- Wrench to turn off household gas and water
Sanitation Items
- Disinfectant
- Feminine supplies
- Household chlorine bleach
- Personal hygiene items
- Plastic bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
- Plastic bucket with tight lid
- Soap, liquid detergent
- Toilet paper, towelettes
Clothing & Bedding
Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Additional items include:
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Hat and gloves
- Rain gear
- Sturdy shoes or work boots
- Sunglasses
- Thermal underwear
Special Items
For Baby
- Diapers
- Formula and bottles
- Medications
For Adults
- Bank account numbers
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Contact lenses / extra eye glasses
- Credit card numbers
- Denture needs
- Entertainment-games/books
- Heart and blood pressure medications
- Important Documents (keep together in a portable, waterproof container)
- Insulin and other prescription drugs
- Passport, social security cards
- Will, deeds, stocks, and bonds