Get Started Building a Home Emergency Kit
Winter storm season is upon us and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half the people in the U.S. do not have resources and plans in place to deal with an emergency. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take now to help you prepare for an emergency. Depending on where you live, and the unique needs of your family, you might need different things in an emergency, but here are a few things that everyone should have in their home emergency kit.
Food and Water
- Water, at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person
- Manual can opener for canned food
- Pet food and extra water
Electronics
- Flashlight
- Cell phone with charger, inverter, or solar charger
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio (a NOAA Weather Radio suggestion)
- Extra batteries
Health and Safety
- First aid kit
- Medicines (three-day supply, minimum)
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Maintaining Your Home Emergency Kit
Once your supplies are stored together, here are a few tips to keep your supplies ready:
- Write the date you store food and water on all containers.
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests.
- Change food, water, medicine and batteries ever six months.
- Rethink your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.
Mobile Apps
The Red Cross also has a number of free apps including:
- Emergency app – Stay on top of severe weather and emergency alerts and gain access to safety information
- First Aid app – Instant access to information for common first aid emergencies
- Pet First Aid app – Important first aid information for your cat or dog
FEMA also has a mobile app to that includes safety and emergency preparedness as well as weather alerts, disasters resources and reports.
Other Resources
- Gather Emergency Supplies (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Make a Disaster Preparedness Plan (American Red Cross)
- Anatomy of a First Aid Kit (American Red Cross)
