September 2020 National Preparedness Month - Week #2

9/6/2020 (Permalink)

September 2020 National Preparedness Month

Week #2 – September 6^th-12^th, Goal: Build A Kit  

After last weeks look at individual needs for each family member, the goal of this week is to build your family emergency kit! The goal of this kit is to help your family survive without assistance for at least three days. Here is a list of items to include in this kit:

Basic Kit Items:

• Water (for each person)
• Food (for each person)
• Hand crank can opener
• Dust masks & cloth masks
• Battery operated radio and/or weather radio
• Flashlights
• Extra batteries
• Wipes
• Local area map
• Cell phone chargers & a backup, portable battery
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Trash bags
• Wrench & pliers
• Plastic sheeting & duct tape

Additional items to consider including:

• Cash
• Copies of important family documents, in waterproof container or saved electronically
• Disposable paper products
• Prescription & over the counter medication
• Sleeping bag or blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing for each person (including comfortable shoes)
• Fire extinguisher
• Activities for any children
• Soap & hand sanitizer
• Matches (make sure to store in a waterproof container!)
• Personal hygiene products
• If applicable: Contact lens solution
• If applicable: formula, bottles, diapers, wipes & diaper rash cream
• If applicable: pet food & water

Maintaining Your Home Kit:

Now that your kit is stocked and ready to go, you will need to update and maintain it regularly. It is a good idea to update the kit each time you go over or update your emergency plan you created last week. This ensures it is kept up to date with current family needs, and all items are in date.

Other Kits:

While you are packing your emergency kits, consider making a smaller kit for work, and to keep in your vehicle.

Your Work Kit should prepare you to comfortably stay at work for at least 24 hours. Another note to add is that you will need to include a comfortable pair of walking shoes in this kit, as you may not be wearing comfortable shoes at work when an emergency takes place.

Your Car Kit should be in all cars you may have. The kit should include jumper cables, flares or reflective triangles, an ice scraper, extra cell phone charger (with a car charger port), a warm blanket, map and either cat litter or sand (to help you gain traction if stuck).