Products

q   1)  Water:  1 gallon per person per day.  Click on the Crisis Checklist (PDF:72k)  (Adobe Reader 6.0 may be required. Click here to go directly to their website for a free download.) and scroll down to the "Water" section to learn more about how to disinfect water, store it, and sources of water inside your home.

q   2)  Food:  Think "low moisture (dried)... long storage" as you do your normal shopping at the grocery store.  These foods can also be found at camping, sporting, fishing, boating, and even some regular department stores like Target and WalMart.  Remember that water will be needed to reconstitute some of these foods, so store plenty of it.

q 3)  Eating Utensils:  Include the basics: forks, knives, spoons, plates/cups/bowls (these can be paper), pots and pans.

q  4)  Heat Source for Cooking... Heat Source for You:  A small camp stove (make sure it can be used indoors) and/or "Sterno" used with a fondue pot are two ways to heat your food if you have no power.  Depending on the time of year, heat may or may not be a problem.  Whether winter or summer, the basement is the one place in your home that is constantly cool, not cold.  Keep plenty of blankets, down comforters, and coats on hand if needed. 

q 5)  Proper Clothing:  A change of clothes for each member of the family-- including underwear and comfortable shoes-- kept in an air-tight "Zip Lock" or container.

q 6)  Sanitation Kit:  A 5 gallon plastic bucket with lid & lined with trash can liners will do in a pinch.  For those that prefer luxury, a "Porta-Potty" (available in boating & camping stores) is essential.

q 7)  First Aid Kit:  A simple kit can be assembled with the following items: BandAids, an "Ace® bandage," latex gloves, anti-bacterial ointment, scissors, tweezers, safety pins, thermometer, assorted bandages w/medical tape, alcohol pads, peroxide, instant cold/hot packs, aspirin, antacid, anti-diarrhea medication, laxative, eye drops, cold/allergy medication, extra prescription medications.  Keep one in your car and one at home.  These kits can be ordered on the internet (Click here for vendors) or obtained at many camping and sporting stores already pre-packaged.

q 8)  Safety Kit:  Two good flashlights & one table lantern (with a good supply of batteries for each) are essential.  Candles, a battery-powered radio (a solar-powered or hand crank one is also a good idea), small toolkit, "emergency blankets," map of your area, plastic sheeting, duct tape.

q 9)  Gas Mask or...    a Tyvek® painter's suit (include booties & hood), pesticide-rated respirator, swim goggles, chemical-resistant gloves.  Seal seams w/duct tape.  It is improbable, but not impossible, that some sort of chemical or biological attack could take place.  For a small investment (about $100) it is good to be protected.

q 10)  Comfort Items:  Okay, depending on your perspective and circumstance, these items are either a luxury or absolutely essential: an air mattress (in case you are confined to the basement or safe room), books, toys, games, deck of cards, battery-powered CD or cassette player w/CD's or tapes, family photos, important documents.

Steps

q 1)  Learn First Aid and CPR:  Both of these skills may never be used, but if they are ever needed, the life of your loved ones may be saved.  Go to the Red Cross  website to learn about getting the certified training in your community.

q 2)  Assemble the products and kits above.  Realize what you and your family want and need and do your best to fulfill them.  Each of us has different comfort and effort levels.  Do what you can to be prepared and feel comfortable.

q 3)  Find a "Safe Space" in your home.  You can assemble the above items and in a large, clean garbage can with lid, then place them in a "Safe Space" (basement, or other isolated area in your home or garage) to be used in case of emergency only.  Check expiration dates.

q 4)  Talk with your family about what to do in an emergency.  Without panicking the children, discuss what to do, where to go, how to behave in an emergency.  Be calm and confident about what you tell them. 

q 5)  You can go one step further and help prepare your neighbors... your community.  There is an incredible amount of programs/training available to help you do this.  Visit our Resources to Guide You page to learn and link to the organizations which are funded by the government and intended to be of service to you.