Make an Emergency Supply Kit

Building an emergency preparedness kit is step three in making yourself and your family prepared for the next emergency. When preparing your kit, take into account your unique needs. Do you have children? If so, you probably will want to put items in there that will occupy their time such as toys and coloring books. Does someone in your family take prescriptions? Ask your doctor about stockpiling medications for your preparedness kit. These are the types of things that will be personal to you when preparing your kit.

There are some items that every kit will need. Water and food are two of the primary ones. The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends one gallon per person per day for drinking and hygiene. As for food, stockpile non-perishable foods in cans, or items such as granola bars, peanuts, crackers, and electrolyte drinks. Don’t forget your can opener for the canned food!

Other items which you will find useful include a flashlight with batteries, battery powered or crank radio, changes of clothing, and personal care items. These are items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper. You may also consider putting important documents such as deeds, insurance policies, and bank account information in your kit. Some people have suggested that having cash in your kit is a good idea, due to the possibility of banks being closed and ATMs not working. Visit www.adph.org/get10 for some great information on preparing an emergency preparedness kit.

Looking at our two examples, the Blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Katrina, you can see how having these items would have helped those affected during these emergencies. It also underlies the fact that when a major emergency occurs, help may not be immediately available. Many of us remember being without power for days after the Blizzard of 1993. Roads were closed and nearly impossible to navigate in most areas. An emergency preparedness kit could have limited the suffering for many people during this event.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of the residents of New Orleans who didn’t get to evacuate were facing major crisis. Those who didn’t face immediate dangers from the flooding were still without fresh water and food for quite a while. Unfortunately, some people did not make it. A good emergency preparedness kit would have helped those who so desperately needed fresh water, food, and medications.

Preparing an emergency preparedness kit that can last up to 72 hours is one of the most important things you can do in being prepared. If your kit is too large to take with you if you have to evacuate, prepare a small kit that you can take with you. Don’t forget to check your kit every six months. Having expired foods and medications in your kit will do you no good. As shown by the examples in the Blizzard of 1993 and Hurricane Katrina, you may have to take care of yourself and your family for up to 72 hours after an emergency. Are you ready to do that if necessary?