Friday, July 9, 2010

Are You Prepared?

It seems as though every part of the world has been rocking and rolling lately!  Yesterday's quake reminded me that I need to get an emergency disaster kit together for my home and family.  I researched suggestions on what to pack, and here are some helpful items to include.

1. Water
  • 1 gallon of water per person, per day.  Be prepared for a 72-hour period.  Two or three gallons of water per person (don't forget pets).
2.  Food
  • Ready-to-eat canned juice, fruits, meats, vegetables, milk.  
  • Jar of Peanut Butter or non-salted nuts.
  • Dried cereals, crackers, granola bars (avoid foods that make you thirsty).
  • Baby food/formula or pet food if needed.
  • A non-electric can opener.
3.  First Aid Kit and Manual
  • Pain relievers, laxatives, sunscreen.
4.  Two flashlights and batteries
5.  Battery-operated radio and batteries
6.  Tools
  • A pipe wrench for turning off gas and water valves.
  • Matches in a waterproof container.
  • A whistle.
7.  Some cash and important documents
  • Passports, insurance cards, financial records, copies of ID cards.
8. Clothing and Bedding
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • Sturdy shoes.
  • Spare eyeglasses/sunglasses.
  • Warm-clothes (depending on the weather in your area).
9.  Special Needs
  • Medications, contact lens solutions, diapers, toilet paper, sanitation and hygiene items.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/earthquakes/archive/ready.dtl
itmattersareyouprepared.org/images/EQSAFETYCHECKLIST.pdf
American Red Cross

4 comments:

CourtneyV said...

If you're going to pack cans, don't forget a can opener! I've also heard to go through your supplies yearly to check expiration dates on food and snacks.

Apple Jacs said...

Thanks for posting this! After one of our recent quakes, I put together an emergency kit, since I hadn't recreated one since we moved in 2 years ago, but I'm missing several things!

One being diapers! Not life or death, but boy would that be messy!

Also, my husband wants to invest in a generator. People may want to purchase these since they can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and could be an immense help during a natural disaster.

Little Monkey said...

Or just make sure you have a friend with a generator ;)

Chantal said...

I had the exact same thought as Little Monkey :)