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A personal preparedness checklist: what to stock in the event of an emergency
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| 14 August 2003 |
A personal preparedness checklist: what to stock in the event of an emergency
There are a number of things you can to do to help yourself in the event of a sustained electrical power loss:
- Listen to the advice of emergency response officials
- Be patient
- Prepare to take care of yourself for a period of possibly 48 hours to two weeks
- Restock disaster supplies as soon as possible
- Listen for instructions from your work and/or school
- If you are responsible for children, plan activities to do with them
Disaster kits
When deciding on what items to stock, do not go overboard. Remember water and shelter are the essentials you will need to survive for the short term. Everything else is a luxury. Indeed, there are significant advantages to having food, medical supplies and the other items. If you must prioritise what to gather first, stock water, then food and medical supplies, and then gather other necessities only after you stock the essentials. The following are common items that are included in a kit for home and vehicle to assist individuals and families during and after a disaster:
Home
Food and water
- At least one week of non-perishable, high-protein food
- Three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
- A manual can opener
- Food and water for pets
Clothing and personal items
- One change of clothing and footwear and one blanket or sleeping bag per person
- Contact lenses or an extra pair of eye glasses
- Finances: cash (small denominations) or traveler's checks
- Documents: important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep the originals of important financial and family documents in a safe place. You will need accessible records for tax and insurance purposes.
- Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members
- Sanitation supplies including toilet paper, soap, plastic garbage bags and disinfectant
- Toiletries: toothbrushes and toothpaste, razor, deodorant, tampons, tissue, paper towels
- Basic first-aid kit: prescriptions, medication, multi-vitamins, bandages, antiseptic, thermometer, tweezers, scissors, and anti-bacterial soap that does not require water
Tools
- Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Multi-purpose tool (knife, tweezers, bottle opener)
- Wrench to turn off utilities such as gas and water
- Plastic bucket with tight lid
- Work gloves
- Pencil and paper
- Multi-purpose duct tape
Assemble a smaller emergency 'go-kit' for your vehicle. This kit should have many of the same items that you keep in your home except only in smaller quantities. Try to keep your gas tank full. Items to include in an emergency vehicle kit are:
Food, water and medicine
- Two to three days of non-perishable, high-protein food
- 2.5 gallons/9.5 litres of bottled water
- Extra medications, such as over-the-counter pain reliever, prescriptions and multi-vitamins
- First aid supplies: prescriptions, medication, bandages, antiseptic, thermometer, tweezers, scissors and anti-bacterial soap that does not require water
- Paper towels and tissues
- Extra pair of eye glasses or extra disposable contact lenses
- Wool blanket and/or sleeping bag
- Rain gear: poncho and/or umbrella,
Tools
- Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
- Signal aids: flashlight, flares, reflectors, matches/lighter
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Multi-use tool: knife, bottle opener, tweezers, etcetera
- Spare gasoline can
- Tire change tools: spare tire, jack
- Tow strap, cable or chain
- Auto fire extinguisher
- Multi-purpose duct tape
- Watertight container
- Tarpaulin
- Pencil and paper