You can’t go but a day or two without turning on the news and hearing about a disaster. Sometimes these are natural disasters such as floods and wildfires, and other times they are man-made disasters such as hazardous material spills and industrial accidents. Because disasters are common and no geographic location is immune to them, it is beneficial for all of us to maintain basic disaster preparedness kits that will enable us to make it through the initial aftermath of a disaster.
I’ve made it my habit to address at least one disaster preparedness topic each year in September, which is National Preparedness Month. You can view my previous posts here. The topic I am addressing today—assembling a basic disaster preparedness kit—is one I initially addressed a decade ago. I’m revisiting and updating the information I shared previously.
As I noted above, the purpose of a disaster preparedness kit is survival during the initial aftermath of a disaster. I’m not a “prepper,” so you are not going to find information here about building a doomsday bunker or storing enough food to feed your family for a decade. However, you will find commonsense tips for assembling the supplies you will need to be safe and relatively comfortable until common disasters pass and life begins returning to normal.
Experts recommend that we store sufficient supplies to care for our families for a minimum of three days. Based on my experience, I suggest storing supplies to care for your family for at least a week. I know this is easier said than done. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you don’t have money to purchase extra food and bottled water. I understand this. Likewise, if you are living in a small apartment, you may not have space to store the supplies. The topics of how to afford and store supplies are beyond the scope of today’s post, but I’ll address them later. For now, here are items to include in a basic disaster preparedness kit.
Essential items to include in an emergency kit
Water
Water is essential for survival, so don’t skimp on this! To meet hydration and hygiene needs, each family member needs roughly one gallon of water per day. You may want to store a little more than this if you live in a particularly hot climate. If you have pets, don’t forget to store extra water for them!
Food
Shelf-stable foods that are ready to eat or require minimal preparation are best to keep in an emergency kit. Examples include granola bars, dried fruits, canned fruits/veggies, nut butters, canned meats/meat jerky, crackers, and fruit leathers. Though they tend to cost a little more than the foods I just listed, freeze-dried foods are nutritious, have a long shelf life (usually 10-15 years), and are easy to store. These are great to keep on hand for emergencies! As I noted above in regards to water, don’t forget to store extra food for your pets.
Flashlights and batteries
So that each family member will always have a light source available, I suggest storing at least one flashlight or small lantern per member of the family. Batteries don’t last forever, so be sure to store at least one set of spare batteries for each flashlight. If you are able to do so, it is incredibly useful to have a couple of large battery-powered lanterns (to illuminate larger spaces) and headlamps (to wear while preparing dinner or completing other tasks with your hands).
Emergency radio
When a disaster is underway, you want to remain aware of what is happening. One of the best ways to get information during a disaster is to listen to an emergency radio. A wide variety of these are available. I suggest choosing one that can utilize various power sources (battery, solar, and crank) so you are always able to power the radio.
First aid kit
First aid kits range from basic to complex. They are widely available, and many are affordable. In our emergency kit, I keep a basic one that I’ve supplemented with specific supplies.
Medications
If you take prescription medications, you’ll want to have a minimum of a seven-day supply on hand. If any of your medications are refrigerated, you’ll want to have a plan for how to keep them cool in the event that you lose power.
Dare to Prepare: How to Store Refrigerated Medications During a Disaster
Plastic sheeting, duct tape, and masks
Several disasters could leave you with a need to shelter in place, to build an impromptu shelter, or to cover broken windows. It’s easier to do these things if you have plastic sheeting and duct tape on hand. It is especially important to have these on hand if you live in an area prone to industrial or technological accidents (near a railway, chemical factory, nuclear power plant, etc.).
Hygiene items
As unpleasant as it is to think about, you need a plan for using the restroom if you have no running water. I know it sounds extreme, but this happens. It happened to us a couple of years ago after the big freeze, and residents in Jackson, MS were just dealing with it. A simple bucket with a seat, plastic bags, kitty litter, and toilet paper will help you manage this for short periods of time. Other hygiene items to keep on hand include alcohol-based hand sanitizer, tampons/pads, wet wipes, toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap, and latex or nitrile gloves.
Baby items
If you have an infant or toddler, be sure to keep sufficient diapers and wipes on hand to take care of his or her needs. If you use cloth diapers, you’ll want to have a plan for what to do in the event of an emergency. You may wish to keep a small package of disposable ones on hand just in case. If your baby drinks formula, you’ll want to keep a good supply of this on hand, too.
Cell phone charger
You already have a phone charger, but it may or may not be with you when disaster strikes. Therefore, to have one easily accessible, it’s helpful to keep a spare charger with your emergency supplies.
Basic tools
You may need to shut off utilities or move debris, so it is beneficial to have a small toolkit available. Useful tools include a hammer, pliers, wrench, multi-head screwdriver, and a small ax or hacksaw. Also include a pair of work gloves to protect your hands. If you’d prefer a user-friendly option for shutting off utilities, special tools are available for this job.
Cash
Having a little cash available is useful in case local businesses are unable to process credit or debit cards.
Emergency contact information and important documents
Most of us don’t memorize a whole bunch of phone numbers because the numbers are stored in our phones. Unfortunately, this means we won’t have the numbers for family members, friends, employers, insurance agents, etc. if we get separated from our phones. An easy solution to this problem is to keep a list of essential phone numbers with your emergency supplies. Likewise, it’s also a good idea to keep copies of important documents with your kit. Examples include medical records, utility information, the deed or lease to your home, passports, birth certificates, and copies of insurance policies. If possible, store these in a waterproof document holder.
Maps
In the event you need to evacuate, it can be very helpful to have a map of your city and surrounding areas. I typically use my smartphone to access maps, but there’s always a chance I may not have service, or my phone could get lost or damaged. If one of these things were to happen, then I would be very grateful that I have printed maps.
Blankets and/or a battery-powered fan
If you live in an area that is particularly hot or cold, then you will want to consider how to handle the temperature. During a time of extreme cold or heat, the warmth of blankets or the breeze from a fan can make a huge difference in your comfort and even your survival.
Whistle
If you were to get trapped, a whistle could help rescue workers find you. It is a good idea to keep one with your emergency supplies, especially if you live in an area where tornadoes or earthquakes are common.
Disposable dishes
I like to keep a small stack of paper plates and plasticware in our emergency kit. These disposable dishes are in no way essential to saving life and limb, but they make life a lot easier when running water to clean dishes isn’t available.
Entertainment items
It can be tough to keep family members, especially kids, calm and occupied when the electricity is out and/or conditions outside don’t permit outdoor play. Simple entertainment items (card games, puzzle books, bubbles, etc.) are helpful in these situations.
Important notes
- Have a can opener in your kit. If you have canned foods in your kit, then be sure to include a can opener!
- Consider avoiding foods that must be heated. Many “ready-to-eat” foods must be heated before they can be consumed. Try to avoid stocking these foods unless you have a heat source (such as a camp stove) that can be used when power is out.
- Be cautious with candles. When the electricity goes out, some individuals like using candles for light. Candles should be used with extreme caution. This is because lighting candles can cause an explosion if there is a gas leak. Additionally, they are a fire hazard. Flashlights are a much safer option.
Final thoughts
Many of these items should be kept in a portable container (such as a backpack) so you can grab them and run if you need to evacuate. I’ll address which specific items should be kept in a “go bag” in a future post.
You can print disaster supply checklists from FEMA and the Red Cross. I’ve also included a handy checklist below.
(Click on the image to view and download a larger, printable version of the checklist.)
If you don’t want to assemble a kit yourself, you can take advantage of premade kits. Several companies, including Ready America and Wise Company, offer kits that contain many of the items listed above. A wide variety of kits are available.
Do you maintain a disaster preparedness kit? If so, what additional supplies do you suggest including in a kit?
I love this Shannon thank you!
You’re welcome. I hope it is helpful!