What exactly should you put in your emergency kit?
Here are some suggestions:
- Water - at least one gallon per person, per day for hydration and sanitation.
- Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Manual can opener
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio extra batteries for both
- Hand-crank flashlight or battery-powered with extra batteries
- First Aide Kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust Mask for airborne contaminates and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags
- Local maps
- Fully charged cell phone with chargers (inverter or solar charger)
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Matches in a waterproof container
Just as important as having a kit is keeping it updated. Here are tips to do so:
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life.
- Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented or corroded.
- Use foods before they go bad and replace them with fresh supplies.
- Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in the front.
- Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.
Since you do not know where you will be during an emergency, it's good to have emergency kits in three major places: Home, Work, and Vehicles
For more information visit: http://www.ready.gov/
