How to Make an Emergency Preparedness Kit

9/4/2020 (Permalink)

It is always important to be prepared for the worst!

Between hurricanes and earthquakes and fires, the amount of natural disasters that have been occurring left and right has been dizzying. While our team here at SERVPRO of East Sacramento/West Arden Arcade offers free services for businesses to create an Emergency Preparedness Profile, we wanted to highlight important basic items you might need if you and your family happened to be caught in a natural disaster. 

You never know when disaster might strike—Don’t let it catch you off guard.

With help from Ready.gov, we were able to compile a list of important things that even can save your life in the event of an emergency. Be sure to remember specific things that your family might need, like medications, epi-pens, and even pet food!

Assembling Your Kit

When you assembler your kit, make sure to store items in airtight plastic bags and keeping everything in plastic bins. This makes them easy to carry, and easily accessible.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional Emergency Supplies

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs: 

• Prescription medications
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
• Glasses and contact lense solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
• Replace expired items as needed
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Kit Storage Locations

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and vehicles.

If you find yourself the victim of disaster, give us a call at 916-285-7257.

Our team here at SERVPRO of East Sacramento/West Arden-Arcade is committed to serve you and your family to make it as easy as possible to recover after disaster strikes.