Emergency Supply Kits: 11 Items You Need to Have

08/20/2007
http://enviro.blr.com/

Putting together a complete emergency supply kit is essential to being properly prepared for a hurricane or other disaster. The Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign recommends 11 important items you need to have in your emergency supply kit.

  1. Water. You need 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking and sanitation.
  2. Food. You should have at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food.
  3. Can opener. If your kit contains canned food.
  4. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. Be sure to have extra batteries for both.
  5. Flashlight and extra batteries.
  6. First-aid kit.
  7. Whistle. This is used to signal for help.
  8. Dust mask, plastic sheeting, and duct tape. There are circumstances when you may need to stay put and create a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as "shelter-in-place." You can use these things to tape up windows, doors, and air vents if you need to seal off a room from outside contamination. Consider precutting and labeling these materials to save time in an emergency.
  9. Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties. You'll use these for personal sanitation.
  10. Wrench or pliers. You may need these to turn off utilities.
  11. Local maps.