Prepare an Emergency Kit

A family preparing an emergency kit.
Often during an emergency, electricity, water, heat, air conditioning or telephone service may not work. All citizens should have some basic supplies on hand in order for a family to survive if an emergency occurs. The emergency supply kit should be robust and contain enough food, water, medications and other consumables to last seven to ten days. Following is a list of basic items (based on a family of four to survive for seven to ten days) that every emergency supply kit should include.

Emergency Kit Materials

Food & Water

  • Bottled water - one gallon per person per day, collapsible, sterile water container
  • Candy - chocolate bars, hard candy
  • High energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, nuts, dried meat (for example, jerky), granola, trail mix, energy bars
  • Instant and small children's needs - baby food, formula, disposable diapers
  • Milk - powdered, canned or shelf-stable brick pack.
  • Pet food (if needed)
  • Ready-to-eat canned foods - vegetables, fruits, beans, meat, fish, poultry, pasta, soup, juice
  • Specialty food - for elderly or people on special diets
  • Staples - sugar, salt, pepper, instant coffee, tea bags, cocoa
Food and water that should be included in an emergency kit.

Health & Hygiene Supplies

  • Feminine hygiene supplies
  • Hand sanitizer
  • A list of family physicians, important medical information, and the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers
  • Pre-moistened hand wipes - pre-moistened baby wipes
  • Prescription medication - at least one week's supply
  • Toilet paper
  • Toiletries - toothpaste, deodorant
Health and hygiene supplies that should be included in an emergency kit.

Personal Supplies

  • A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes for each family member
  • Document Holder with identification, credit cards/traveler's checks/cash, and photocopies of important family documents including home insurance information
  • An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses and solution (be sure to check expiration dates)
  • Sleeping bags, bedding or blankets for each family member
Personal supplies that should be included in an emergency kit.

Household Supplies & Equipment

  • Battery-powered radio or TV
  • Charcoal (if you plan to use a barbecue grill outdoors)
  • Disposable tableware, including paper towels and napkins
  • Extra fresh batteries for radio, TV, lantern and flashlights.
  • Fire extinguisher (small canister A-B-C type)
  • Flashlights - one for each room of the house
  • Food thermometer - able to measure temperature from 0 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Gasoline (if you plan to use a generator outdoors)
  • Glow sticks
  • Lantern LED
  • Manual can opener
  • One gallon liquid chlorine bleach
  • Plastic bags - zip sealing, garbage
  • Propane fuel (if you plan to use a grill or camp stove outdoors)
  • Whistle
Household supplies and equipment that should be included in an emergency kit.

Tools

  • 4 in 1 Emergency Tool (with gas and water shut off)
  • Broom
  • Buckets (5 gallon minimum, with lids)
  • Clean-up supplies
  • Disinfecting spray
  • Electrical tape
  • Eye Goggles
  • Garbage bags with ties
  • Hammer and nails
  • Mop
  • Multi-Tool with pliers
  • N-95 particulate masks
  • Paper towels
  • Rags (to clean with)
  • Reflective Vests
  • Rope (for rescue, tow, tying down property)
  • Rubber gloves
  • Scrub brush
  • Shovel
  • Sponges
  • Utility Tape
  • Work gloves
Tools that should be included in an emergency kit.

Emergency First Aid Kit


  • Ace bandage
  • Antiseptic ointment
  • Assortment of sterile gauze pads and adhesive bandages
  • CPR mask
  • First aid manual
  • Medical tape
  • Nitrile gloves
  • Oropharyngeal airways set
  • Over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, antidiarrheal medications, and activated charcoal)
  • Quik Clot
  • SAM splint
  • Soap
  • Thermometer
  • Tongue depressors
  • Tweezers and needles
First Aid Kit that should be included in an emergency kit.