Family Disaster Supplies Kit

Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond.

A highway spill of hazardous material could mean instant evacuation

A winter storm could confine your family at home.

An earthquake, flood, tornado or any other disaster could cut off basic services - gas, water, electricity and telephones -- for days.

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives?

Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

TO PREPARE YOUR KIT:

• Review the checklist to follow
• Gather the supplies that are listed. You may need them if your family is confined at home.
• Place the supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in an easy- to-carry container, i.e. trash container, backpack, duffle bag.
• Have extra cash on hand as the banks will be unable to operate unless on generator power due to the loss of electricity.

WATER
Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. 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 one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation/sanitation)*
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household.
• Rotate all water - even commercially prepared bottled "spring" or "drinking" water - at least every six months.
• If you use tap water that is chemically treated (by a commercial water company, for instance) do not add bleach or other agents to the water.
• If you use water that is not chemically treated (water from a well or spring, for example), add two drops of liquid household bleach per gallon of water. The only active ingredient in the bleach should be 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. There should not be any added fragrances.
• If you use commercially prepared "spring" or "drinking" water, keep it in the original sealed container. Once opened, use it. Do not store it again.

Treating Water of Questionable Purity
If you are uncertain how to pure your water source is, you should purify the water before consuming or storing it. To purify water, follow these steps.

• Filter the water to remove as many solids as possible.
  
• Bring the water to a rolling boil for a full ten minutes.
  
• Let the water cool at least 30 minutes.
  
• Add 8 drops of liquid household bleach per gallon of cool water. (Water must be cool or the chlorine will not work. The only active ingredient in the bleach should be 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. There should not be any added soap or fragrances).
  
• Let the water stand at least 30 minutes.
  
• If the water smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add 8 more drops of chlorine bleach, let stand 30 minutes and smell again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If the water does not smell of chlorine this time, discard it and find another water source.

FOOD
Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. *Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables.
• Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
• Staples - sugar, salt, pepper
• High energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix.
• Vitamins
• Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets
• Comfort/stress foods - cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags.

EMERGENCY FOOD & PREPARATION
These normal day-to-day staples are commonly stocked in most homes and lend themselves to emergency menus. Items which you store as an emergency stock should be rotated on a yearly basis.

• Liquid evaporated milk (cans), or powdered milk
• Canned meat, poultry and fish
• Canned mixtures of the above with vegetables, rice, macaroni or noodles
• Dry beans (variety)
• Canned fruit and vegetable juices
• Ready-to-eat cereals
• Macaroni, spaghetti and noodles
• Cheese spreads and peanut butter, honey, catsup and mustard
• Fats and oils which need no refrigeration
• Hard candy, salted nuts and seeds
• Coffee, tea, bouillon
• seasoning and baking powders

IF THE ELECTRICITY IS OFF:

• First use up the perishable food and foods from the refrigerator.
• Second, use up foods from the freezer. Foods in a well-insulated freezer won't begin to spoil for several days.
• Open your freezer as infrequently and for the shortest time possible.
• Third, begin to use non-perishable foods and staples
• For cooking use charcoal, or camp stoves BUT ONLY OUTDOORS. (From the Boy Scout Handbook, make a box oven: Use a sturdy box with separate lid, if possible [copy paper box], line entire box and lid with foil. Straighten hangers and punch through the center of the width of the box to make a shelf. Cut the extra off with wire cutters. Heat about 8-10 charcoal pieces and lay in the bottom of the box. Place on rack the meats, biscuits, etc., and bake as you would normally in an oven).
• Candle warmers, chafing dishes and fondue pots can also be used.
• Canned foods can be heated in the can, after first removing the paper label and opening the can.

FIRST AID KIT
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car, to include:

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

NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea 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)

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils*
• Emergency preparedness manual*
• Battery operated radio and extra batteries*
• Flashlight and extra batteries*
• Cash or traveler's checks, change*
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
• Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Tape
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal Flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of area (for locating shelters)

SANITATION:

• Toilet paper, towelettes*
• Soap, liquid detergent*
• Feminine supplies*
• Personal hygiene items*
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

CLOTHING AND BEDDING

• Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.
• Sturdy shoes or work boots
• Hat and gloves
• Rain gear
• Thermal underwear
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Sunglasses

SPECIAL ITEMS
Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.

FOR BABY:

• Formula / Powdered Milk
• Diapers / Medications
• Bottles

FOR ADULTS:

• Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eye glasses

ENTERTAINMENT - games and books

IMPORTANT FAMILY DOCUMENTS:
Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container

• 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)

SUGGESTIONS AND REMINDERS

• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supply Kit in the trunk of your car
• Your personal kit should contain your personal need items.
• For children their survival kit should contain a personal item, such as, a favorite book, blanket or stuffed animal. This can provide them with some security in an unfamiliar place.
• Keep items in air tight plastic bags
• Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh
• Rotate your stored food every six months
• Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.