Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit
In an emergency, you may need a supply kit at home or to take with you in an evacuation. Prepare your kit and keep it handy. Make sure everyone at home knows where it is. Replace food, water, medical supplies, and batteries as needed.
The Basics
Water
One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation (bottled water or tap water in clean air-tight containers).
Food
At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Supplies with long shelf life, like canned, dried, and packaged foods that do not require cooking. Include:
- Comfort foods: cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereal, instant coffee/tea bags
- Crackers
- Fruits
- Granola bars
- Juices
- Meats
- Milk
- Peanut butter/jelly
- Salt/pepper
- Soup
- Sugar
- Trail mix
- Vegetables
Baby supplies
- Formula
- Diapers
- Baby food
First Aid
- Medicines
- Have a 2- to 3-day supply of your prescription medicines. Put them in child-proof bottles, and label them with your name and expiration date. You might ask your doctor for extra medicine for your emergency kit. Check the expiration dates every 6 months.
- Non-prescription drugs
- Antacid
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Laxative
- Vitamins
Safety and Communication
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries.
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Dust mask or, if sheltering in place, plastic sheeting and duct tape to help filter contaminated air
- ABC fire extinguisher
- Contact your local Fire Department for training
Other Supplies
- Cash in small denominations
- Can opener (if kit contains canned food)
- Camping-type supplies
- Aluminum foil
- Compass
- Duct tape
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Medicine dropper
- Plastic sheeting
- Sewing kit
- Signal flare
- Tent
- Whistle
- Extra car keys
- Glasses
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, and utensils
- Prescription Medicines
- Have a 2- to 3-day supply of your prescription medicines. Put them in child-proof bottles, and label them with your name and expiration date. You might ask your doctor for extra medicine for your emergency kit. Check the expiration dates every 6 months.
- Non-prescription drugs
- Antacid
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Laxative
- Vitamins
- Tools: Rope, pliers, and tool kit (include a gas shut-off wrench)
Sanitation
- Disinfectant
- Feminine supplies
- Household chlorine bleach
- Liquid detergent
- Plastic bucket with a tight lid
- Plastic garbage bags/ties
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Towelettes
Standard first-aid kit
- 2- and 3-inch sterile roller bandages
- 2- and 4-inch gauze pads
- Antiseptic
- Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
- Latex gloves
- Moistened towelettes
- Needles
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Soap
- Sterile adhesive bandages
- Sunscreen
- Thermometer
- Tongue depressor
- Triangular bandages
- Tube petroleum jelly
- Tweezers
Comfort & Convenience
- Change of clothing and sturdy shoes or work boots for each person, thermal underwear, rain gear, sunglasses, hat/gloves
- Credit and debit cards
- Dust masks
- Electronic charging cables
- Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses/supplies, denture needs, hearing aids and batteries
- Food for elderly person or special diets
- Hand sanitizer and lotion
- Important family documents (keep records in a waterproof/portable container)
- Contracts
- Deeds
- Immunization records
- Insurance policies
- Passports
- Social security cards
- Stocks/bonds
- Will
- Out-of-town contact list
- Paper, pencils, books, and games
- Pet food (shelters do not allow pets)
- Recent family photos for identification purposes-make sure faces can be seen
- Sheets, blankets, sleeping bags
- Utility knife
