Planning for the Unexpected

Build a Basic Emergency Kit

Every home should have an emergency supply kit stored somewhere easy to reach. Use a plastic tote, backpack, or sealed container so you can grab it quickly if you need to leave.

Check the kit every six months and replace expired food, dead batteries, old medicine, or anything that has been used.

Your kit should include:

• One gallon of water per person, per day, for at least three days
• At least three days of nonperishable food
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight with fresh batteries for each person
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Extra batteries in different sizes
• First aid kit
• Personal hygiene items
• Hand soap and sanitizer
• Multi-purpose tool, scissors, and knife
• Matches or grill lighter
• Duct tape
• Garbage bags
• Plastic tarp for temporary shelter
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Extra clothing for each person
• Towels
• Face masks
• Over-the-counter medications
• Extra keys for your car and home
• Whistle

Make a Household Plan

Supplies matter, but a plan matters just as much. In an emergency, people do not always think clearly. Talk through the plan before something happens so everyone in the house knows what to do.

Your emergency plan should include:

• A map showing the safest exit from each room
• A meeting place outside the home in case of fire
• A second meeting place away from the neighborhood in case of evacuation
• An out-of-area emergency contact person
• A printed contact card for each household member
• A plan for pets, including who is responsible for them
• A schedule to practice the plan twice a year
• One person assigned to grab the emergency kit

Do not assume everyone knows the plan. Walk through it. Practice it. Update it when your household changes.

Prepare for Power Outages

When the power goes out, simple decisions can help protect food, keep people safe, and make the situation easier to handle.

During an outage:

• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible
• Use coolers with ice if the outage lasts a long time
• Keep frozen ice packs ready before storm season
• Use a thermometer to check cooler and refrigerator temperatures
• Throw out food if it becomes unsafe
• Use flashlights instead of candles when possible
• Keep extra batteries and power banks charged
• Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup
• Know where nearby heating or cooling centers are located

If it is cold, choose a south-facing room and keep the household together. Open shades during the day to let sunlight warm the room, then close them at night to hold in heat.

Keep Your Vehicle Ready

Emergencies do not always happen while you are at home. A breakdown, evacuation, accident, or bad weather can leave you stuck on the road.

Keep these items in your vehicle:

• Spare tire
• Jumper cables
• Basic tool kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Reflective vest and warning triangles
• Road flares
• Small first aid kit
• Nonperishable snacks
• Drinking water
• Fire extinguisher
• Duct tape
• Shovel
• Snow brush or ice scraper, if needed for your area
• Extra clothing or jacket
• Blanket
• Sand or salt for traction, if needed

Do Not Forget the Small Stuff

Some of the most important emergency items are not flashy. They are the things that help you function when the normal systems stop working.

• Sign up for local emergency alerts
• Keep some cash on hand in case card systems are down
• Store copies of important documents in one easy-to-grab place
• Keep birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, and insurance papers together
• Have games, books, or cards for children
• Inspect gutters, roof areas, and overhanging branches before storm season