72 Hour Disaster Supplies Kit

 

During and after a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.  Help could take hours or days.  Basic services as electricity, gas, water, and telephones, may be cut off, or perhaps due to a flash fold or wildfire you had to evacuate your home at a moments notice. In either case it is wise to have a disaster kit on hand.

 

Basic Disaster Kit

Ø      A portable, battery -powered radio, or NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries

Ø      A flashlight and extra batteries

Ø      A first aid kit and first aid manual

o       Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

o       Assorted sizes of safety pins.

o       Cleansing agent/soap

o       Latex gloves

o       Sunscreen

o       2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

o       4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

o       Triangular bandages (3)

o       Nonprescription drugs

§         Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever

§         Anti-diarrhea medication

§         Antacid (for stomach upset)

§         Syrup of ipecac

§         Laxative

§         Activated charcoal

§         Vitamins

o       2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

o       3- inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

o       Scissors

o       Tweezers

o       Needle

o       Moistened towelettes

o       Antiseptic

o       Thermometer

o       Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

o       Tongue depressor (2)

Ø      Prescription medications for family members and pets

Ø      Credit card and extra cash

Ø      Personal identification

Ø      An extra set of car keys

Ø      Matches in a waterproof container

Ø      Three gallons of water per person

Ø      Three-day supply of nonperishable food

o       Ready -to- eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

o       Canned juice, milk, and soup (if powdered, store extra water)

o       High-energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix

o       Comfort food, such as hard candy, sweetened cereals, candy bars, and cookies

o       Instant coffee, tea bags

o       Compressed food bars

o       Dried foods

o       Snack-sized canned foods.

o       Prepackaged beverages

o       Foods for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets if necessary

o       Pet food

 

Ø      Kitchen accessories: manual can opener, mess kits or paper cups, plates and plastic/disposable utensils; utility knife, a can of cooking fuel if food must be cooked; household liquid bleach to treat drinking water; sugar, salt. Pepper, aluminum foil; plastic resealable bags.

Ø      One complete change of clothing and footwear for each family member, sturdy shoes or work boots, raingear, hat and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses.

Ø      Blankets or sleeping bag for each family member.

Ø      Tools and other accessories: paper, pencil; needles and thread, pliers, shut-off-wrench, shovels and other useful tools; tape; medicine dropper, whistle, plastic sheeting, small canister, fire extinguisher; etc.

Ø      Sanitation and hygiene items, toilet paper, towelettes, soap, liquid detergent, feminine supplies; personal items as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush; medium sized plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant; household chlorine bleach, small shovel for digging an expedient latrine.

Ø      Entertainment as games and books.

 

Water

Having an ample supply of clean water is a top priority in an emergency.

Ø      Store water in plastic containers, such as soft drink plastic bottles.  Seal containers tightly, label them and store in a cool, dark place.  Replace water every six months.  Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.

Ø      Keep at least a three-day supply of water, or a minimum of three gallons per person. It is strongly recommended to have more if possible. Use one-half gallon per day for drinking, and one-half gallon for cooking and sanitation.  A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount.