What is emergency preparedness?

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When an emergency happens and you have just minutes to leave your home and get to safety, having a go-bag ready can keep you—and your family—safe and ready to go at a moment's notice.  

Think about what you’ll need to get through a disaster safely and efficiently:

1. What disasters are common in my area? 
2. If I have to evacuate, who will be with me and what will they need? 
3. What paper documents will you need if there is no internet and your phone doesn't work? 
4. If something were to happen, what would you need to put your life back together? 

Work through these questions with your family. Decide what matters most and what you’ll need if you’re away from home.

Make sure that your emergency kit has enough supplies to support you and your family for a minimum of three days. It should cover your basic needs like food, water, and medical items. It should also include tools to help keep you safe and informed. 

Include basic survival items in your emergency bag, along with anything specific that your family needs. First, let’s start with the basics:

Food & Water

• Bottled water: A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Water purification tablets and/or manual water filters can give you additional options if you run out.
• Water purification tablets and/or water filters: If water supplies are contaminated, these tools will ensure your access to safe drinking water.
• Non-perishable food: Focus on foods that don’t require cooking. Think about nutrition and calorie count.
• Manual can opener: For access to food supplies if power is out. 

Emergency Materials

• Cash: When credit cards don’t work, cash is always reliable.
• Safety equipment: You never know what you’ll come across during a disaster. Keeping emergency blankets and whistles, a fire extinguisher, and first aid kit on hand will help keep you safe in most scenarios.
• Tools: Basic tools like wrenches, pliers, or Swiss Army knives will help you make minor repairs, cut through debris or open cans.
• Waterproof containers: To protect important documents, electronics and valuables from water damage.
• Backups for the backups: Pack extra bulbs and batteries for a flashlight and portable power banks to keep your mobile devices charged for communication. Just in case those don’t work, hand-crank radios and flashlights are reliable and don’t need a power source.

Personal Items

• Emergency contact list: Include phone numbers for family, friends, neighbors and emergency services.
• Personal documents: Keep copies of important documents (IDs, insurance policies, medical records—anything you would need to put your life back together) in a waterproof container.
• Personal hygiene and sanitation items: Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, garbage bags and other hygiene products to keep yourself and your environment clean.
• Books, games and entertainment: If you are stuck inside, non-electronic entertainment will help pass the time.

Choose a container that will work whether you are staying at home or evacuating. Think about the logistics clear plastic totes make it easier to find something but backpacks are easier to carry. Group items that you will use together in smaller bags, this will also help to protect them from the weather, moisture and potential damage.

It is recommended that you write down an inventory of what is in the kit and putting it in a Ziploc bag for protection. Put your family’s name on your emergency supply kit just in case you end up in an emergency shelter with others.

 Make it a regular event to practice using your supply kit with your family. Simulate an evacuation or lockdown period, follow your emergency plan, and practice using the items in your emergency bag.

• Regular checks: Frequently check out your kit to keep all items in working order, replacing any expired or broken items.
• Accessibility: Keep your emergency supply bag easily accessible for all family members.
• Customization: Customize your kit to your family's specific needs, adding necessary medications and specialty items for elderly family members or pets.
• Practice drills: Hold regular family drills to make sure everyone knows how to use the emergency kit and what to do in the event of a disaster. 

The more familiar you and your family are with your emergency supplies, the more prepared you will be when a real disaster happens.