The start of the year is a perfect time to check your emergency kit to make sure everything is ready to go if it’s needed. Having an emergency kit that can meet your family’s needs for at least 72 hours following a disaster or emergency is an important part of staying prepared.
Your kit should contain:
- Water
- Non-perishable food
- A manual can opener
- Crank or battery-operated flashlight, with new extra batteries
- Extra keys for your house and car
- A first aid kit
- Cash in small bills
- Important family documents, like birth and marriage certificates, passports, land deeds and insurance
- A copy of your emergency plan
- Personal hygiene items
- Special needs items, like medication or baby formula
Consider including some of these other items as well:
- Scissors and pocket knife
- Change of clothes and footwear for each person
- Plastic sheeting
- Pet food and pet medication
- Garbage bags and twist ties
- A cellphone charger
- Hand sanitizer
- Whistle
- Duct tape
- Toilet paper
- Multi-tool or basic tools like a hammer, screwdriver, etc.
- A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Now that you’ve got your emergency kit, it’s important to make sure that everything is up-to-date! Check your kit once a year and resupply it after every use. Remember to check dates on medication, baby formula and non-perishable food, as well as any extra items you may have included that might expire. Also take a moment to review your emergency plan and update it if any information has changed in the past year.
Putting together your own kit? Download a printable checklist
here.
No time to make a kit? Purchase one
here.