Recent weather events have made homeowners get serious about having an up-to-date emergency kit. You may be at home without water or power or need to quickly evacuate. Either way, you’ll want to have the supplies you need ready to go. When you pack or update your emergency kit, you’ll need to factor in the type of event you might be dealing with and stock up accordingly. The following advice covers a basic kit as well as extra items you should have for a hurricane or storm surge, a winter storm, or an evacuation.
Basic Emergency Kit
Here are 15 basics recommended by the Red Cross:
- Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Food: nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Maps of the area
Extra Emergency Supplies for a Hurricane or Storm Surge
Here are extra supplies and actions to take before a hurricane or a storm surge:
- Gather your insurance information and check your coverage. Do this long before a storm strikes.
- Take a photo inventory of your home.
- Download the FEMA app to help you with preparations such as creating a family emergency communications plan. FEMA recommends including the same items as in a basic emergency kit.
- Take a can opener.
- Invest in a generator and make sure you have whatever gas or propane you need to power it. The size of the generator should be based on the amount of wattage you need to power the items you want. Even a small generator can be helpful for necessary appliances such as your cell phone, a CPAP machine, or a small refrigerator to keep medicines cold. If you’re on a limited budget, you can purchase a fairly inexpensive foldable solar panel to charge your phone and some lights.”
- Use your electric car, if you have one, and a wall battery as a power source. And there are ways to run power through an inverter from your car battery and get power from your car to your home.
Extra Emergency Supplies for a Winter Storm
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends having these items on hand, especially if you want to prepare for being at home several days without power. This list includes items in addition to those listed in the basic kit.
- Snow shovels: You’ll need more than one because they can break, and four hands are better than two
- Deicers, preferably the pet-safe type: Some types of deicer that are more environmentally safe include calcium magnesium acetate and sand to improve traction. Stock up early in the season, because they become scarce before a well-publicized storm.
- Wood: store a supply of dry, seasoned wood if you have a working fireplace or wood burning stove with a safe flue or vent, a full propane tank, or a generator.
- Warm bedding and clothes: Clean blankets, pillows, and warm clothing (including hat and mittens) for everyone in the house in case you can't do laundry for a while.
- Build an emergency supply kit for your car including a first aid kit, jumper cables, a full tank of gas, a cell phone and charger, a shovel, an ice scraper, a snow brush, sand/cat litter, warm clothing and blanket, water and snacks, tire chains, tow rope, and flares.
Extra Emergency Supplies and Guidelines for an Evacuation
Here are guidelines and items beyond the basics in case you need to evacuate.
Keep copies of important papers in a plastic, waterproof case. FYI, this stuff is priceless, because you may need to prove who you are and that you own your house. Note that FEMA is now accepting more ways to verify home occupancy or ownership before providing certain types of assistance.
In addition to the documents listed for the basic emergency kit, Include:
- Your driver's license
- Proof of insurance
- Social Security cards
Take these ongoing or preliminary precautions as well:
- Safeguard pets. Make sure they’re microchipped and have identification collars. Create pet grab-and-go kits that include leashes, medications, meal bowls, and three days’ worth of food and water.
- Prep your yard. Maintain your trees and shrubs so diseased or weakened branches won’t fall down and damage your property.
- Know your utility shutoffs. Learn now how to safely shut off all utility services in your home. FEMA has tips for shutting off electricity, water, and gas. Note: To turn off gas you may need a special wrench.
- Stockpile sandbag materials. If you live in a flood prone area, keep sandbags on hand or the materials to make them. It takes 100 sandbags to create a 1-foot-tall wall that’s 20 feet long. If you’re filling bags on the fly, two adults can create the wall in about an hour.
- Protect windows. If you live in an area susceptible to hurricanes, install shutters that are rated to provide protection from windblown debris.
Emergency Kit Storage Locations
Since you can't predict where you'll be during an emergency, it's essential to have a well-prepared home kit:
- Keep your emergency kit in a designated, easily accessible location and ensure it's ready in case you need to leave your home quickly.
- Make sure all family members know where the kit is stored.
Emergency Kit Maintenance
Update your kit as your needs change, and replace food and water approaching its expiration date. You might pick a specific time each year to check, such as before hurricane season in the south or after Thanksgiving if you live in the north.
Once you've put your kit together, it's important to keep it in good condition so it's available when necessary:
- Store canned goods in a cool and dry location.
- Keep boxed foods in airtight plastic or metal containers.
- Regularly check and replace items that have expired.
- Annually reassess your requirements and adjust your kit to accommodate any changes in your family's needs.