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Safety Kit

A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

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Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. Keep in mind that you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you - you probably won’t have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.

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You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will arrive after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.

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Additionally, basic utilities such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and phone service may be cut off for days or even a week, if not longer. Your safety kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.

Basic Emergency Supplies

In an emergency, some of the most important needs are water, food, and clean air. Below is a list of the recommended supplies to include in your safety kit that cover these basic needs plus a few others.

 

This is not an all-inclusive list, because everyone has unique circumstances. Each family's and/or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. You should also include important family documents and similar items that could cause issues if lost or destroyed.

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  • Water - one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation

  • Food - minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food

  • Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both

  • Flashlight and extra batteries

  • First-Aid kit

  • Whistle to signal for help

  • Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant

  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

  • Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air

  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

Optional Supplies:

Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * and bolded, can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.

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  • Emergency reference materials - first-aid book or print-outs of information from www.ready.gov

  • Rain gear - ponchos or jackets

  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils

  • Cash or traveler's checks, change

  • Paper towels

  • Fire Extinguisher

  • Matches in a waterproof container*

  • Paper, pencil

  • Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies

  • Disinfectant*

  • Household chlorine bleach* 

    • You can use bleach as a disinfectant: dilute nine parts water to one part bleach.

    • In an emergency, you can also use it to treat water: use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

  • Medicine dropper

  • Important Family Documents - copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

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