After a disaster, local officials and many rescue and relief workers may not be able to reach everyone immediately. Help may not come for hours, or even days. Are you and your family prepared to cope with an emergency until help arrives?
Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. When disaster strikes, there may not be much time to respond. A highway spill of hazardous material could mean instant evacuation. A winter storm could confine your family at home. An ice storm, flood, tornado-like winds, or any other disaster could cut off basic services, such as gas, water, electricity, and telephones for days.
It is very important that your family be prepared for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supply Kit. Once a disaster hits, you will not have time to shop or search for supplies. However, if you gather supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.
Attached are two lists to get you started:
• a condensed list of essential supplies
• a more comprehensive list of supplies
DISASTER SUPPLIES CHECKLIST
The following short list is to help you determine what to include in your disaster supplies kit that will meet your family’s needs. Please remember infants, family members with special needs and or disabilities.
Essential Supplies
___ Battery-powered radio w/ batteries
___ Two flashlights or battery-powered lantern w/ batteries
___ Water to last three days, at least one gallon per person per day
___ Prescription medications (if you take them)
___ Towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer
___ Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable items (canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter, crackers)
___ A manual can opener
___ First aid supplies (sterile gauze and bandages, safety pins, tweezers, a needle, scissors, antiseptic ointment and sunscreen)
___ A watertight, portable container for important papers.
Other Supplies
___ Blankets ___ Signal flare
___ Infant formula, diapers and ___ Garbage bags
wipes (for those with babies)
___ Whistle
___ Pet supplies
___ Non-prescription drugs (pain relievers, ___ Matches in a waterproof
antacids, antidiarrheals, etc.) container
___ Toilet paper ___ Jumper cables
___ Paper towels ___ Maps
___ Bleach (16 drops of bleach will disinfect ___ Change of clothes
a gallon of water)
___ Disinfectant ___ Extra eyeglasses /contacts
___ Personal hygiene supplies ___ Basic tools
___ Feminine hygiene supplies ___Toys and games for kids
Disaster Supplies Checklist
The following list is to help you determine what to include in your disaster supplies kit that will meet your family’s needs. Please remember infants, family members with special needs and or disabilities.
|
Supplies
|
Home (√)
|
Vehicle (√)
|
Work (√)
|
|
Adhesive bandages, various sizes
|
|
|
|
|
5” x 9” sterile dressing
|
|
|
|
|
Conforming roller gauze bandage
|
|
|
|
|
Triangular bandages
|
|
|
|
|
3” x 3” sterile gauze pads
|
|
|
|
|
4” x 4” sterile gauze pads
|
|
|
|
|
Roll 3” cohesive bandage
|
|
|
|
|
Germicidal hand wipes or waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer
|
|
|
|
|
Antiseptic wipes
|
|
|
|
|
Box large medical grade, non-latex gloves
|
|
|
|
|
Tongues depressor blades
|
|
|
|
|
Adhesive tape 2” width
|
|
|
|
|
Antibacterial ointment
|
|
|
|
|
Cold pack
|
|
|
|
|
2 pairs scissors (small, personal)
|
|
|
|
|
Tweezers
|
|
|
|
|
Assorted sizes safety pins
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol and peroxide
|
|
|
|
|
Cotton balls
|
|
|
|
|
Thermometer
|
|
|
|
|
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
|
|
|
|
|
Sunscreen
|
|
|
|
|
CPR breathing barrier
|
|
|
|
|
First aid manual
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Prescription and Prescription Medicine Kit Supplies
|
|
Supplies
|
Home (√)
|
Vehicle (√)
|
Work (√)
|
|
Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever
|
|
|
|
|
Anti-diarrhea medication
|
|
|
|
|
Antacid (for stomach upset)
|
|
|
|
|
Laxative
|
|
|
|
|
Vitamins
|
|
|
|
|
Prescriptions
|
|
|
|
|
Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
|
|
|
|
|
Supplies
|
Home (√)
|
Vehicle (√)
|
Work (√)
|
|
Water (3 day supply per person)
|
|
|
|
|
Ready-to-eat meats, fruits, and vegetables
|
|
|
|
|
Canned or boxed juices, milk, and soup
|
|
|
|
|
High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, and trail mix
|
|
|
|
|
Special foods for infants
|
|
|
|
|
Cookies, hard candy
|
|
|
|
|
Instant coffee
|
|
|
|
|
Cereals
|
|
|
|
|
Powdered milk
|
|
|
|
|
Item
|
(√)
|
|
Canned or powdered formula
|
|
|
Diapers and wipes
|
|
|
Bottles and nipples
|
|
|
Medications and ointments
|
|
|
Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies
|
|
Item
|
(√)
|
Item
|
(√)
|
|
Washcloths and towels
|
|
Heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and ties for personal sanitation uses and toilet paper
|
|
|
Towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer
|
|
Medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid
|
|
|
Tooth paste, toothbrushes
|
|
Disinfectant and household chlorine bleach (16 drops of bleach will disinfect a gallon of water)
|
|
|
Shampoo, comb, and brush
|
|
Small shovel for digging a latrine
|
|
|
Deodorants
|
|
Toilet paper
|
|
|
Razor, shaving cream
|
|
Lip balm, insect repellent
|
|
|
Contact lens solution
|
|
Mirror
|
|
|
Feminine supplies
|
|
|
|
Telephone lines may still be operational even if the power goes out. There is a possibility that portable phones will not work without electricity, therefore, keep one non-portable in your home for emergency situations. Cellular and digital phone systems may even be operational without electricity. Make sure you have fully charged backup batteries available. Plan for the situation that all telephones will not be working in the event of a major disaster.
|
Tools
|
(√)
|
Kitchen Items
|
(√)
|
|
Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
|
|
Manual can opener
|
|
|
NOAA Weather Radio, if appropriate for your area
|
|
Mess kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
|
|
|
Flashlight and extra batteries or wind flashlight
|
|
All-purpose knife
|
|
|
Signal flare
|
|
Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
|
|
|
Matches in a waterproof container (or waterproof matches & lighter)
|
|
Sugar, salt, pepper
|
|
|
Shut-off wrench, pliers, shovel and other tools
|
|
Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
|
|
|
Duct tape and scissors
|
|
Re-sealable plastic bags
|
|
|
Plastic sheeting
|
|
Small cooking stove and a can of cooking fuel (if food must be cooked)
|
|
|
Whistle
|
|
|
|
|
Small canister, ABC-type fire extinguisher
|
|
Comfort Items
|
|
|
Tube tent
|
|
Games
|
|
|
Compass
|
|
Cards
|
|
|
Work gloves
|
|
Books
|
|
|
Compass and map of area
|
|
Toys
|
|
|
Pliers, shut-off wrench
|
|
Foods
|
|
|
Paper, pens, and pencils
|
|
|
|
|
Needles and thread
|
|
|
|
|
Battery-operated alarm travel clock
|
|
|
|
|
Candles, battery operated lamps, lanterns and lantern fuel
|
|
|
|
|
Battery operated smoke alarm
|
|
|
|
|
Medicine dropper
|
|
|
|
|
Battery operated Carbon Monoxide Detector
|
|
|
|
|
Clothes and Bedding Supplies per person
|
|
Item
|
(√)
|
(√)
|
(√)
|
(√)
|
|
Complete changes of clothes
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sturdy shoes or boots
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rain gear
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hat, gloves, and scarf (if necessary)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extra socks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extra underwear
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thermal underwear
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunglasses
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blankets/sleeping bags and pillows
|
|
|
|
|
Make sure these items are kept in a watertight container
|
Item
|
Stored (√)
|
|
Personal Identification
|
|
|
Cash or travelers checks, and coins
|
|
|
Credit cards
|
|
|
Extra set of house and car keys
|
|
|
Names and description of any pets
|
|
|
Copies of the following:
|
|
|
• Birth certificate
|
|
|
• Marriage certificate
|
|
|
• Divorce decrees
|
|
|
• Driver’s license
|
|
|
• Social Security cards
|
|
|
• Passports
|
|
|
• Wills
|
|
|
• Deeds
|
|
|
• Inventory of household goods
|
|
|
• Immunization records
|
|
|
• Bank and credit card addresses and account numbers
|
|
|
• Stocks and bonds
|
|
|
• Retirement accounts name, address and phone numbers
|
|
|
• Citizenship papers
|
|
|
• State and Federal Tax records
|
|
|
• Car title and registration
|
|
|
• Automobile insurance policy
|
|
|
• Health insurance information
|
|
|
• Health records for each family member
|
|
|
• List of medication needed by family members
|
|
|
• List of special needs for any family member
|
|
|
• Life insurance policies
|
|
|
• Fire, homeowners, and renters insurance policies
|
|
|
• Adoption papers (if necessary)
|
|
|
• Veterinarian’s name, address, and phone number
|
|
|
Emergency contact list and phone numbers
|
|
|
Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go
|
|
|
Emergency Preparedness Manual
|
|
Be sure to have extra food and water for your pets in your preparedness plans.