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DISASTER
SUPPLIES
KIT
Produced by the National Disaster Education
Coalition:
American Red Cross, FEMA, IAEM, IBHS, NFPA, NWS, USDA/CSREES,
and USGS. |
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Why Talk About a
Disaster Supplies Kit?
After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on
the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get
help in hours, or it may take days. Basic services, such as
electricity, gas, water, and telephones, may be cut off, or you may
have to evacuate at a moment’s notice. You probably won’t have time
to shop or search for the supplies you’ll need. Your family will
cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes.
Local officials
and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach
everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take
days...you probably won’t have time to shop or search for the
supplies you’ll need.
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What Is a Disaster
Supplies Kit?
Assembling the supplies you might need following a disaster is an
important part of your Family Disaster
Plan. Following a disaster, having extra supplies at home or
supplies to take with you in the event of an evacuation can help
your family endure evacuation or home confinement. Learn more about
Disaster Supplies Kits by contacting the Brownsville Office of
Emergency Management, your local emergency management agency or your
local American Red Cross chapter. You can also download a
Family Disaster Supplies Calendar, which will divide the
purchases needed for a good supplies kit into weekly purchases over
a six-month period.
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Awareness Information
Involve Children in
Disaster Preparedness.
Ask children to help you remember to keep your kits in working
order by changing the food and water every six months and replacing
batteries as necessary. Children might make calendars or posters
with the appropriate dates marked on them. Ask children to think of
items that they would like to include in their own Disaster Supplies
Kit, such as books or games or appropriate nonperishable food items.
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Prepare Your Kit
Tips for Your Disaster Supplies Kit
- Keep a smaller Disaster
Supplies Kit in the trunk of each car. If you become
stranded or are not able to return home, having some items will
help you to be more comfortable until help arrives.
- Keep items in airtight
plastic bags. This will help protect them from damage or
spoiling.
- Replace stored food and
water every six months. Replacing your food and water
supplies will help ensure their freshness.
- Rethink your kit and
family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries,
update clothes, etc.
- Ask your physician or
pharmacist about storing prescription medications. It may
be difficult to obtain prescription medications during a disaster
because stores may be closed or supplies may be limited.
- Use an easy-to-carry
container for the supplies you would most likely need for an
evacuation. Label it clearly. Possible containers include:
- A large, covered trash container.
- A camping backpack.
- A duffel bag.
- A cargo container that will fit on the roof
of your vehicle.
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Disaster Supplies Kit Basics
The following items might be needed at home or for an evacuation.
Keeping them in an easy-to-carry backpack or duffel bag near your
door would be best in case you need to evacuate quickly, such as in
a tsunami, flash flood, or major chemical emergency. Store your kit
in a convenient place known to all family members. Kit basics are:
- A portable, battery-powered radio or
television and extra batteries.
- Flashlight and extra batteries.
- First aid kit and first aid manual.
- Supply of prescription medications.
- Credit card and cash.
- Personal identification.
- An extra set of car keys.
- Matches in a waterproof container.
- Signal flare.
- Map of the area and phone numbers of places
you could go.
- Special needs, for example, diapers or
formula, prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions,
hearing aid batteries, spare wheelchair battery, spare eyeglasses,
or other physical needs.
If you have additional space, consider adding some of the items
from your Evacuation Supplies Kit.
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Evacuation Supplies Kit
Place in an easy-to-carry container the supplies you would most
likely need if you were to be away from home for several days. Label
the container clearly. Remember to include:
- Disaster Supplies Kit basics
(listed above).
- Three gallons of water per person.
- Three-day supply of nonperishable food.
- Kitchen accessories: manual can opener; mess
kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic/disposable utensils;
utility knife; a can of cooking fuel if food must be cooked;
household liquid bleach to treat drinking water; sugar, salt,
pepper; aluminum foil; plastic resealable bags.
- One complete change of clothing and footwear
for each family member, sturdy shoes or workboots, raingear, hat
and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses.
- Blankets or sleeping bag for each family
member.
- Tools and other accessories: paper, pencil;
needles and thread; pliers, shut-off wrench, shovels, and other
useful tools; tape; medicine dropper; whistle; plastic sheeting;
small canister, A-B-C-type fire extinguisher; emergency
preparedness manual; tube tent; compass.
- Sanitation and hygiene items: toilet paper,
towelettes; soap, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent; feminine
supplies; personal items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm; plastic garbage bags
(heavy-duty) and ties (for personal sanitation uses); medium-sized
plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant; household chlorine
bleach; small shovel for digging an expedient latrine.
- Entertainment, such as games and books.
- Remember to consider the
needs of very young and older family members, such as infants and
elderly or disabled persons.
- For baby: formula, diapers, bottles,
powdered milk, medications.
- For adults: heart and high blood pressure
medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact
lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid
batteries.
To Build a Makeshift Toilet
Line a bucket with a garbage bag and make a
toilet seat out of two boards placed parallel to each other across
the bucket. After each use, pour a disinfectant such as bleach (1
part liquid chlorine bleach to 10 parts water) into the garbage
bag. This will help avoid infection and stop the spread of
disease. Cover the bucket tightly when it is not in use
.
Bury garbage and human waste to avoid the spread
of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit two to three feet deep
and at least 50 feet downhill or away from any well, spring, or
water supply.
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Home Disaster Supplies Kit
In addition to your Disaster Supplies Kit basics and Evacuation
Supplies Kit, gathering the following items will help your family
endure home confinement, which often happens following disasters and
may include the loss of utilities.
- Wrench to turn off household gas and water.
Keep it near the shut-off valves.
- A week’s supply of food and water.
- Additional blankets and sleeping bags.
Also, consider using a NOAA Weather Radio with the tone-alert
feature in your home. NOAA Weather Radio is the best means for
receiving warnings from the
National Weather
Service. The National Weather Service continuously broadcasts
updated weather warnings and forecasts that can be received by NOAA
Weather Radios sold in many stores. NOAA Weather Radio now
broadcasts warning and postevent information for all types of
hazards--both natural (such as earthquakes and volcanic activity)
and technological (such as chemical releases or oil spills). Working
with other federal agencies and the
Federal Communications
Commission’s new Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio is
an "all hazards" radio network, making it the single source for the
most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to
the public. Your National Weather Service recommends purchasing a
radio that has both a battery backup and a Specific Area Message
Encoder (SAME) feature, which automatically alerts you when a watch
or warning is issued for your county, giving you immediate
information about a life-threatening situation. The average range is
40 miles, depending on topography; the National Weather Radio signal
is a line-of-sight signal, which does not bore through hills or
mountains.
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Water
Having an ample supply of clean water is a top priority in an
emergency.
- Store water in plastic
containers, such as soft drink plastic bottles. Seal
containers tightly, label them and store in a cool, dark place.
Replace water every six months. Avoid using containers that will
decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
- Keep at least a three-day
supply of water, or a minimum of three gallons per person.
It is strongly recommended to have more if possible. Use one-half
gallon per day for drinking, and one-half gallon for cooking and
sanitation. A normally active person needs to drink at least two
quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical
activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and
ill people will need more. Store your three-day supply in a handy
place. You need to have water packed and ready in case there is no
time to fill water bottles when disaster strikes.
- Water needs to be treated
only if it is of questionable purity.
- Boiling is the safest method of treating
water. Strain water through a clean cloth to remove bulk
impurities. Bring water to a rolling boil for about one full
minute, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the
water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if
you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth
between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste
of stored water.
- You can use household liquid bleach to kill
microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that
contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented
bleaches, color-safe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners.
Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir, and let stand
for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor,
repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes. If it still
does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source
of water. Other chemicals, such as iodine or water treatment
products sold in camping or surplus stores that do not contain
5.25 percent hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not
recommended and should not be used.
- Distillation involves boiling water and then
collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed
vapor will not include salt or other solid impurities. To
distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle
on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang rightside up when the
lid is upside down (make sure the cup is not touching the water)
and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the
lid into the cup is distilled.
- Melt ice cubes or use
water from undamaged hot water tanks, toilet tanks (not the bowl),
and water pipes if you need additional water.
- If you need to find water
outside of your home, you can use rainwater; streams, rivers, and
other moving bodies of water; ponds and lakes; and natural
springs. If you question its purity, be sure to treat the water
first. Avoid water with floating material, an odor, or a
dark color. Use saltwater only if you distill it first. Do NOT
drink flood water.
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Food
Even though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your
food supply for two weeks, you should consider preparing a supply
that will last that long. The easiest way to develop a two-week
stockpile is to increase the amount of basic foods you normally keep
on your shelves. If your water supply is limited, try to avoid foods
that are high in fat and protein, and don’t stock salty foods, since
they will make you thirsty. Familiar foods can lift morale and give
a feeling of security in time of stress. Also, canned foods won’t
require cooking, water, or special preparation. Take into account
your family’s unique needs and tastes. Try to include foods that
they will enjoy and that are also high in calories, protein,
carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
- Pack at least a three-day
supply of nonperishable food and water, and store it in a handy
place. You need to have these items packed and ready in
case there is no time to gather food from the kitchen when
disaster strikes.
- Select foods that require
no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, and little or no water.
Foods that are compact and lightweight are easy to store and
carry.
- If you must heat food,
pack a can of cooking fuel.
- Try to eat salt-free
crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned food with high liquid
content. Recommended foods include:
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and
vegetables.
- Canned juice, milk, and soup (if powdered,
store extra water).
- High-energy foods, such as peanut butter,
jelly, crackers, granola bars, and trail mix.
- Comfort foods, such as hard candy, sweetened
cereals, candy bars, and cookies.
- Instant coffee, tea bags.
- Foods for infants, elderly persons, or
persons on special diets, if necessary.
Also consider:
- Compressed food bars. They store well, are
lightweight, taste good, and are nutritious.
- Trail mix. Available prepackaged, or
assemble your own.
- Dried foods. They can be nutritious and
satisfying, but contain a lot of salt, which promotes thirst.
- Freeze-dried foods. They are tasty and
lightweight, but will need water for reconstitution.
- Instant meals. Cups of noodles or cups of
soup are a good addition, although they need water for
reconstitution.
- Snack-sized canned goods. Good because they
generally have pull-top lids or twist-open keys.
- Prepackaged beverages. Those in foil packets
and foil-lined boxes are suitable because they are tightly
sealed and will keep for a long time.
Food options to avoid:
- Commercially dehydrated foods. They can
require a great deal of water for reconstitution and extra
effort in preparation.
- Bottled foods. They are generally too heavy
and bulky, and break easily.
- Meal-sized canned foods. They are usually
bulky and heavy.
- Whole grains, beans, pasta. Preparation
could be complicated under the circumstances of a disaster.
- If your electricity goes off:
- First, use perishable
food and foods from the refrigerator.
- Then, use the foods
from the freezer. To minimize the number of times you
open the freezer door, post a list of freezer contents on it. In
a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still
have ice crystals in their centers (meaning foods are safe to
eat) for at least three days.
- Finally, begin to use
nonperishable foods and staples.
- Remember to store
nonperishable foods for your pets.
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First
Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your Disaster
Supplies Kit and one for each car.
- The basics for your first aid kit include:
- First aid manual.
- Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes.
- Assorted sizes of safety pins.
- Cleansing agent/soap.
- Latex gloves (2 pairs).
- Sunscreen.
- 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6).
- 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6).
- Triangular bandages (3).
- Nonprescription drugs.
- 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls).
- 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls).
- Scissors.
- Tweezers.
- Needle.
- Moistened towelettes.
- Antiseptic.
- Thermometer.
- Tongue depressor blades (2).
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant.
- Have the following
nonprescription drugs in your Disaster Supplies Kit:
- Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever.
- Antidiarrhea medication.
- Antacid (for stomach upset).
- Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if
advised by the poison control center).
- Laxative.
- Activated charcoal (use if advised by the
poison control center).
- Vitamins.
- Add any necessary
prescription and nonprescription drugs.
- Add special needs for
infants, elderly persons, or anyone with serious allergies.
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Important Documents
- Keep the following
original documents in a safe deposit box if possible, and copies
in a waterproof, fire-resistant portable container:
- Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds,
stocks and bonds.
- Passports, social security cards,
immunization records.
- Bank account numbers.
- Credit card account numbers and companies.
- Inventory of valuable household goods,
important telephone numbers.
- Family records (birth, marriage, death
certificates).
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