During a disaster, you might not be able to replenish essential household supplies like you normally do. Ideally, you should have enough supplies in your household to last your household for two weeks without outside aid.
As you create your emergency kit, ask yourself these questions: ‘What items do I rely on every day? If my normal access to those items was suddenly cut off, how could I adapt?’
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water: one gallon of water per person in your household for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- NOAA Weather Radio with extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Considerations for your household's medical needs (prescription medications, mobility and accessibility needs, glasses and contacts, diapers, formula, feminine products, etc.)
- Whistle
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener
- Local maps
- Extra cell phone chargers
The items in this list are basics to help you get started on your emergency kit. There are additional recommended items that are good to add on to if you can.
Think about where you spend most of your time. Keeping emergency kits at home, work, school, and in a vehicle will help you be prepared no matter where you are when disaster strikes.
Information adapted from
ready.gov/kit.