Assembling an Emergency Supplies Kit

How to Assemble an Emergency Supplies Kit:

Government agencies will respond to community disasters, but citizens may be on their own for hours or even days after disaster strikes. As a general rule, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least three days. Assembling supplies in an emergency survival kit will help.

Emergency Supply Kit

Store a kit at home and work.

• Food that won’t spoil
• Drinking water for each person – at least one gallon per person per day
• Manual can opener
• First aid supplies and first aid book
• Copies of important documents, such as birth certificates, licenses and insurance policies.  Be sure to also include recent photos of family members, pets and household items of value.  Istrongly encouraged to keep all these documents on a USB drive.
• Any special items for family members, such as infant formula, eyeglasses and medications
• Change of clothing
• Sleeping bag or blanket
• Battery powered radio or television
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Whistle
• Waterproof matches
• Toys, books, puzzles and games
• Extra house keys and car keys
• List of contact names and phone numbers
• Food, water and supplies for pets

Additional Items:

Cooking Supplies

• Barbecue or camp stove
• Fuel for cooking, such as charcoal or camp stove fuel
• Plastic knives, forks and spoons
• Paper plates and cups
• Paper towels
• Heavy-duty aluminum foil

Hygiene and Sanitation

• Bar soap and liquid detergent shampoo
• Baby wipes and waterless shampoo
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Feminine and infant supplies
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Household bleach with no additives, and eyedropper, for purifying drinking water
• Newspaper — to wrap garbage and waste Large plastic trash bags for trash or water protection
• Large trash cans

Comfort

• Sturdy shoes
• Gloves for clearing debris
• Tent

Tools

• Ax, shovel and broom
• Crescent wrench for turning off gas
• Screwdriver, pliers and hammer
• Coil of one-half inch rope
• Plastic tape and sheeting
• Knife or razor blades
• Garden hose for siphoning and fire fighting

For more information about assembling an emergency supplies kit visit: www.ready.gov/build-a-kit