Prepare Your Kit

Tips for Your Disaster Supplies Kit

• Keep a smaller Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of each car. If you become stranded or are not able to return home, having some items will help you to be more comfortable until help arrives.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags. This will help protect them from damage or spoiling.
• Replace stored food and water every six months. Replacing your food and water supplies will help ensure their freshness.
• Rethink your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications. It may be difficult to obtain prescription medications during a disaster because stores may be closed or supplies may be limited.
• Use an easy-to-carry container for the supplies you would most likely need for an evacuation. Label it clearly. Possible containers include:
  • A large, covered trash container.
  • A camping backpack.
  • A duffel bag.
  • A cargo container that will fit on the roof of your vehicle.

Disaster Supplies Kit Basics

• A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and first aid manual.
• Supply of prescription medications.
• Credit card and cash.
• Personal identification.
• An extra set of car keys.
• Matches in a waterproof container.
• Signal flare.
• Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go.
• Special needs, for example, diapers or formula, prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions, hearing aid batteries, spare wheelchair battery, spare eyeglasses, or other physical needs.

Evacuation Supplies Kit

Disaster Supplies Kit basics.

• Three gallons of water per person.
• Three-day supply of nonperishable food.
• Kitchen accessories: manual can opener; mess kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic/disposable utensils; utility knife; a can of cooking fuel if food must be cooked; household liquid bleach to treat drinking water; sugar, salt, pepper; aluminum foil; plastic resealable bags.
• One complete change of clothing and footwear for each family member, sturdy shoes or workboots, raingear, hat and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses.
• Blankets or sleeping bag for each family member.
• Tools and other accessories: paper, pencil; needles and thread; pliers, shut-off wrench, shovels, and other useful tools; tape; medicine dropper; whistle; plastic sheeting; small canister, A-B-C-type fire extinguisher; emergency preparedness manual; tube tent; compass.
• Sanitation and hygiene items: toilet paper, towelettes; soap, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent; feminine supplies; personal items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm; plastic garbage bags (heavy-duty) and ties (for personal sanitation uses); medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant; household chlorine bleach; small shovel for digging an expedient latrine.
• Entertainment, such as games and books.

• For baby: formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications.
• For adults: heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.

To Build a Makeshift Toilet

Line a bucket with a garbage bag and make a toilet seat out of two boards placed parallel to each other across the bucket. After each use, pour a disinfectant such as bleach (1 part liquid chlorine bleach to 10 parts water) into the garbage bag. This will help avoid infection and stop the spread of disease. Cover the bucket tightly when it is not in use.

Bury garbage and human waste to avoid the spread of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit two to three feet deep and at least 50 feet downhill or away from any well, spring, or water supply.

Home Disaster Supplies Kit

• Wrench to turn off household gas and water. Keep it near the shut-off valves.
• A week’s supply of food and water.
• Additional blankets and sleeping bags.

Water

• Store water in plastic containers, such as soft drink plastic bottles. Seal containers tightly, label them and store in a cool, dark place. Replace water every six months. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water, or a minimum of three gallons per person. It is strongly recommended to have more if possible. Use one-half gallon per day for drinking, and one-half gallon for cooking and sanitation. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more. Store your three-day supply in a handy place. You need to have water packed and ready in case there is no time to fill water bottles when disaster strikes.

• Boiling is the safest method of treating water. Strain water through a clean cloth to remove bulk impurities. Bring water to a rolling boil for about one full minute, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
• You can use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir, and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes. If it still does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source of water. Other chemicals, such as iodine or water treatment products sold in camping or surplus stores that do not contain 5.25 percent hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not recommended and should not be used.
• Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt or other solid impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang rightside up when the lid is upside down (make sure the cup is not touching the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
• Melt ice cubes or use water from undamaged hot water tanks, toilet tanks (not the bowl), and water pipes if you need additional water.
• If you need to find water outside of your home, you can use rainwater; streams, rivers, and other moving bodies of water; ponds and lakes; and natural springs. If you question its purity, be sure to treat the water first. Avoid water with floating material, an odor, or a dark color. Use saltwater only if you distill it first. Do NOT drink flood water.

Food

• Pack at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water, and store it in a handy place. You need to have these items packed and ready in case there is no time to gather food from the kitchen when disaster strikes.
• Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, and little or no water. Foods that are compact and lightweight are easy to store and carry.
• If you must heat food, pack a can of cooking fuel.
• Try to eat salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned food with high liquid content.

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables.
• Canned juice, milk, and soup (if powdered, store extra water).
• High-energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, and trail mix.
• Comfort foods, such as hard candy, sweetened cereals, candy bars, and cookies.
• Instant coffee, tea bags.
• Foods for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets, if necessary.

• Compressed food bars. They store well, are lightweight, taste good, and are nutritious.
• Trail mix. Available prepackaged, or assemble your own.
• Dried foods. They can be nutritious and satisfying, but contain a lot of salt, which promotes thirst.
• Freeze-dried foods. They are tasty and lightweight, but will need water for reconstitution.
• Instant meals. Cups of noodles or cups of soup are a good addition, although they need water for reconstitution.
• Snack-sized canned goods. Good because they generally have pull-top lids or twist-open keys.
• Prepackaged beverages. Those in foil packets and foil-lined boxes are suitable because they are tightly sealed and will keep for a long time.

• Commercially dehydrated foods. They can require a great deal of water for reconstitution and extra effort in preparation.
• Bottled foods. They are generally too heavy and bulky, and break easily.
• Meal-sized canned foods. They are usually bulky and heavy.
• Whole grains, beans, pasta. Preparation could be complicated under the circumstances of a disaster.

First, use perishable food and foods from the refrigerator.
Then, use the foods from the freezer. To minimize the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers (meaning foods are safe to eat) for at least three days.
Finally, begin to use nonperishable foods and staples.

First Aid Kit

Assemble a first aid kit for your Disaster Supplies Kit and one for each car.

• First aid manual.
• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes.
• Assorted sizes of safety pins.
• Cleansing agent/soap.
• Latex gloves (2 pairs).
• Sunscreen.
• 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6).
• 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6).
• Triangular bandages (3).
• Nonprescription drugs.
• 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls).
• 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls).
• Scissors.
• Tweezers.
• Needle.
• Moistened towelettes.
• Antiseptic.
• Thermometer.
• Tongue depressor blades (2).
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant.

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever.
• Antidiarrhea medication.
• Antacid (for stomach upset).
• Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the poison control center).
• Laxative.
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the poison control center).
• Vitamins.

Important Documents

• Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds.
• Passports, social security cards, immunization records.
• Bank account numbers.
• Credit card account numbers and companies.
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers.
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).

Preparing Your Disaster Plan

A disaster can strike at anytime. Chances are good that when disaster does strike, you and your family may not be together. It is important to create a plan for you and your family on how you will contact and communicate with each other in the event of a major emergency. By making a plan, you create a communication link between family members and help reduce the anxiety created by worry. Your plan should cover the following:

KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR AREA

• Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
• Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case. Visit the American Red Crosses Disaster Map to learn what disasters occur in near you. 
• Talk to your neighbors about working together should an emergency disaster strike near you. 

HAVE AN COMMUNICATION PLAN

In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT

You should choose and designate an emergency contact, preferably out-of-state family or a friend who can be contacted by member of your family in the event of a disaster. Make sure everyone knows the number and has a calling card or that your contact accepts collect calls. 

Keep in mind that during a major emergency, telephone systems may not be working or you may have trouble getting through, patience is key. Generally its often easier to call long distance than it is to call locally in the affected area. Family members should call the designated contact and tell what the situation is and where they are at. 

HAVE A DESIGNATED MEETING PLACE

You need to designate place where family members should meet after an emergency or disaster. It can be as simple as a certain light pole or a street corner, etc. Be sure to pick a place that everyone knows how to get to. Choose a secondary or back-up location outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. 

DISCUSS WHAT TO DO IN AN EVACUATION

In the event of an evacuation, authorities will provided you with the location of the temporary shelter set up by authorities and the American Red Cross for residents affected by the evacuation. Follow instructions and routes given to you by emergency personal CAREFULLY!, your life may could depend on it! 

Be sure to take your disaster supply kit including a police scanner or portable radio, flashlight, batteries, and first aid kit with you.   

HAVE A PLAN FOR PETS

Plan to care for pets ahead of time. During an evacuation, shelters do not allow pets because of health regulations. For more information on how to care for your pets, visit our Animal Safety section on the American Red Cross website.

Your Lifeline When Disaster Strikes

In the aftermath of a major disaster, information is key! Remember, after a large quake, your power may be out leaving you to relying on radio broadcasts for information, which will be sketchy at best! Using your police scanner, you can get "real-time" information as events unfold around you including; 

• Earthquake magnitude and epicenter location within minutes
• Vital infrastructure status (police, fire, and hospital services)
• Real-time structural and highway damage assessments
• Rescue operations in progress
• Power outage reports
• Gas main break reports
• Evacuation routes
• Emergency shelter locations
• Road closures
• and much more!

In the event of a wildfire or weather-related event, the first word of pending danger you will receive will most likely be through emergency personnel, by then it may be too late to take action. Again, your scanner can provide you with information you need to know such as; 

• Current conditions of lakes, rivers, streams, flood-control channels, creeks, etc.
• Continuous updates on rising water levels and overflows
• Current weather conditions and advisories 
• The area affected
• Structural damage reports
• Highway damage reports
• Rescue operations in progress
• Road closures due to flooding
• Power outage reports
• Gas main rupture reports
• Evacuation routes
• Emergency shelter locations 
• Vital infrastructure status (police, fire, and hospital services)
• Road Closures
• and much more!