You could be in a community shelter for a few days. Wouldn't it be nice to have a toothbrush, some soap and a comb? You might find those things in a shelter, but maybe not. Wouldn't it be nice to have some things to entertain the kids for a few days? Extra batteries for those portable electronics they are obsessed with could save a lot of grief!
Your phone charger! Don't forget the phone charger!
In a panic situation will you even have the presence of mind to think of all of this?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends building a 72-hour disaster kit just in case the worst ever happens to you. Here is the list of things they recommend you have on hand in the event of an emergency.
FEMA 72-hour Kit List
Family Supply List
Ready Kids & The Federal Emergency Management Agency present:
Family Supply List
Emergency Supplies:
Water, food, and clean air are important things to have if an emergency happens. Each family or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula.
It should also be customized to include important family documents.
Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First Aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Clothing and Bedding:
If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes.
One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:
- A jacket or coat
- Long pants
- A long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy shoes
- A hat and gloves
- A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Family Supply List
Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.
- Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book or a print out of the information on www.ready.gov
- Rain gear
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Cash or traveler's checks, change
- Paper towels
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
- Compass
- Matches in a waterproof container*
- Signal flare*
- Paper, pencil
- Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies
- Disinfectant*
- Household chlorine bleach* - You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Medicine dropper
- Important Family Documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
G.W. and I each have a kit prepared. We use large backpacks to carry everything and we keep them in the basement in a place that's easy to get to. We refer to them as Go Bags or Bug Out Bags. They have just about everything on this list in them, plus a few things unique to our situation and personalities.
We also have a bag with supplies for our cats. Our three horses will need to be evacualted as well. Their travel papers are in a binder in the horse trailer. I just pray that I will be able to get the trailer hooked up and the horses loaded with no problems! I should probably practice those things now just in case. I know that my horse Kipp can be a handful getting into a trailer on a good day. I can't even imagine how he'd be if there was a wildfire roaring down the side of the mountain! Yikes!
It doesn't take a lot of time or money to put together a 72-hour kit for the people in your family. You may have a lot of the items on hand already. A 72-hour kit with the basics would make a very practical gift, too!
Having a kit like this doesn't make you a preparedness freak who expects the zombie apocalypse to begin at any moment. It makes you a smart person who realizes that disasters can happen to any of us no matter where we live. Better to be prepared for it and never need it than need it and not be prepared!
Family Supply List
Emergency Supplies:
Water, food, and clean air are important things to have if an emergency happens. Each family or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula.
It should also be customized to include important family documents.
Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First Aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Clothing and Bedding:
If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes.
One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:
- A jacket or coat
- Long pants
- A long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy shoes
- A hat and gloves
- A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Family Supply List
Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.
- Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book or a print out of the information on www.ready.gov
- Rain gear
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Cash or traveler's checks, change
- Paper towels
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
- Compass
- Matches in a waterproof container*
- Signal flare*
- Paper, pencil
- Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies
- Disinfectant*
- Household chlorine bleach* - You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Medicine dropper
- Important Family Documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
G.W. and I each have a kit prepared. We use large backpacks to carry everything and we keep them in the basement in a place that's easy to get to. We refer to them as Go Bags or Bug Out Bags. They have just about everything on this list in them, plus a few things unique to our situation and personalities.
We also have a bag with supplies for our cats. Our three horses will need to be evacualted as well. Their travel papers are in a binder in the horse trailer. I just pray that I will be able to get the trailer hooked up and the horses loaded with no problems! I should probably practice those things now just in case. I know that my horse Kipp can be a handful getting into a trailer on a good day. I can't even imagine how he'd be if there was a wildfire roaring down the side of the mountain! Yikes!
It doesn't take a lot of time or money to put together a 72-hour kit for the people in your family. You may have a lot of the items on hand already. A 72-hour kit with the basics would make a very practical gift, too!
Having a kit like this doesn't make you a preparedness freak who expects the zombie apocalypse to begin at any moment. It makes you a smart person who realizes that disasters can happen to any of us no matter where we live. Better to be prepared for it and never need it than need it and not be prepared!
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