Americans agree that preparing for a disaster is important, but only 17 percent are actually prepared. With the possibility of natural disasters, epidemics, and more, would you be able to survive 72 hours without power stuck in your home?
Let’s take a look at emergency kit essentials for your home to get you ready for a disaster. Being prepared is vital to keep your family safe in any situation.
1. Food Supply
Like we mentioned above, you need to be prepared to survive on your own for 72 hours. This means you need a three-day supply of non-perishable food. These are foods that don’t need to be refrigerated and don’t need special preparation.
Try to choose things that are not high in salt because you may have a limited water supply. Looked for canned goods such as fruit packed in juice and not syrup. Don’t forget to have a manual can opener near this supply, so you can open your food.
You will want foods like canned veggies, canned fruits, cereal, granola bars, and trail mix for energy. If you have a baby, don’t forget to consider having some extra formula on hand. Don’t forget about extra pet food and elderly needs as well.
You should rotate your supplies every six months to make sure your food is fresh. Set a date on your calendar to remind you to check and clear out the pantry.
2. Three Day Water Supply
The rule of thumb here is that you need one gallon of water each day per person. Don’t forget to count your pets, too! You will need this water for more than drinking—think about brushing teeth and washing off.
If there is a natural disaster like flood, tornado, or earthquake, your tap water may not be sanitary to drink and it may not even work. This is why you need to have a three-day supply of water stored in your home.
3. Radio
Having a radio is vital in an emergency so you can get important evacuation alerts or weather updates. If there is a natural disaster, you will most likely lose electricity and access to the Internet. You want to find a hand-cranked or solar-powered radio to stay informed.
4. First Aid Kit
Nothing is more important than having a first aid kit stocked with all the necessities. Make sure you have:
- Variety of bandages
- Gauze
- Hand sanitizer
- Pain killers
- Antibiotic ointment
- Tape
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Thermometer
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Antibiotic ointment
- Latex gloves
- Soap
- Sunscreen
You should also keep a supply of toiletries you may need such as contact solution, extra contacts, and feminine products. It’s also a good idea to have some other products like baby wipes, diapers, toilet paper, mouthwash, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
5. Flashlight or Other Light Source
You will definitely need to have one or more light sources. You can choose between a lantern, flashlight, or headlamp. You want to make sure it is hand-cranked or solar-powered.
If it’s battery-powered, make sure you have plenty of extra batteries on hand. Emergency candles are also a good backup source. Be sure to have items in your kit and other places around the house.
Be sure you know how to use all these equipment before disaster strikes. You should also have a fire starting source such as matches. Practice your fire-starting skills next time you grill or go camping, so you are ready.
6. Cash
It’s important to keep a stack of cash around. If the power goes out, you may not be able to use credit cards or get cash out of an ATM. You will need to use cash for any purchases.
Make sure you have some smaller bills available, which are easier to use.
7. Whistle
It’s important to have a whistle, so you can call for help. You can tape it under your desk or have it on a key chain to find it quickly. Blowing a whistle three times in a row is a known signal for help.
8. Prescription Medicines
If you or anyone in your family uses prescription medications, it’s important to have a seven-day supply, so you have them in an emergency. Tell your healthcare provider you need an additional supply for your stockpile.
9. Extra Batteries and Chargers
It’s important to have certain power sources such as extra batteries and chargers in the case of an emergency. You will need these for light and communication.
Make sure you have batteries stored somewhere that is easy to locate in the case of a power outage. It could be hard to find batteries in a dark location.
You should also have a solar cell phone charger or battery-operated charger to charge your phone if the power is out. A high-capacity USB battery pack will help your gadgets stayed charged for a few days at a time, so you may want to have one of these handy.
You may want to consider a generator as another backup. If you want a smaller, portable generator, you can choose between a battery-operated generator or a solar generator. These are generators you can also use outside, camping, and tailgating for a power source.
10. Tools
In addition to all the items mentioned above, there a few extra tools you would find handy including:
- Sewing kit
- Small fire extinguisher
- Swiss army knife (multi-purpose tool)
- Waterproof matches
- Scissors
- Wrench to turn the water on and off
You may also want a map of the area and a compass in case you are looking for shelter.
Get Your Emergency Kit Essentials Ready
It’s important to be prepared for anything. This is why you need to have your emergency kit essentials. You should be able to survive without power for three days.
If you don’t have everything all in the same place, make sure everyone in your family knows where to find everything. You may use some of these essentials in your daily living such as flashlights and extra chargers.
Looking for more advice to help you be prepared for anything? Keep checking out our site. You can find advice on anything from self-improvement to technology.
