Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? According to their website, the overall goal of National Preparedness Month is to “increase the number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school and places of worship.”
So, what is the first step in preparing? Create a disaster kit.
Here is a quick run-down of the 12 items we would keep in our disaster kit: (from top right-bottom left)
- Bottles of Water – enough for a gallon per person, per day.
- Extra Batteries – for phone chargers, NOAA weather radios, flashlights, etc.
- Cash and Travelers Checks – If power is out, credit and debit cards won’t work and neither will ATM’s.
- First Aid Kit – for small medical ailments these are always valuable to have on hand.
- Moist Towelettes/Sanitary Wipes – Keep germs from spreading, can be used for bathroom breaks and general hygiene.
- Emergency Whistle – can be used to signal for help.
- Blankets – for warmth, comfort and keeping things dry.
- Prescription Medications – if you are on medications you won’t want to have to go without them during an emergency. Make sure you have them accounted for when preparing.
- Flashlight – invaluable when the power goes out.
- Non-Perishable Food – make sure to have enough for each person to last at least 3 days.
- Portable Cell Phone Chargers – with as much as we rely on our cell phones – having a way to charge your phone without electricity in an emergency will be a necessity. Use a solar charger or a power box that holds a charge.
- Copies of important documents – you’ll want copies of your insurance policies, drivers licenses, etc stored in a waterproof container in case your originals are destroyed.
These are just 12 items you can include in your disaster kit. There are so many more things you can include. Take the time to build an emergency disaster kit together as a family and talk about what your preparedness plans are in the event of an emergency.
Stay safe out there and remember disasters don’t plan ahead, but you can!
Categories: Family, Safety Tips