Putting Together an Emergency Survival Kit for your Home

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It is impossible to know when a disaster, either natural or man-made, is going to hit close to home. However it is possible to prepare for the worst before it actually happens by creating an emergency survival kit for your home and family. Luckily it’s fairly easy, although some effort is required, to make this type of kit. You’ll need to gather storage containers for documents and supplies. Then you should gather specific emergency documents and supplies to sustain your family. Finally you should research the emergency procedures in your area.

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What to Put in an Emergency Survival Kit For Your Home

In order to keep your family protected full during a disaster, you will need a bunch of different things. Naturally you will also need places to keep these supplies. Hopefully you have tons of room in your basement of attic but if not, do the best you can. Some supplies like water and canned and dried food can be stack up against a corner wall anywhere; in the cellar, in the pantry, in a closet or even under the stairs.

Important documents such as copies of birth certificates and social security cards as well as bank account papers, passports, marriage certificates should be kept in a waterproof and fireproof lockbox along with some cash money ($100 if you can but at least $25 worth) and change of about 12-25 dollars worth. If you feel comfortable putting aside more money, put aside as much as you can. You never know if access to banks and ATMs will be impossible. Keep the lock box in a discreet location but somewhere you can grab it in a hurry without too much trouble.

For the rest of the emergency supplies you can use large duffel bags, preferably waterproof. Finally I would have a backpack for each member of the family in case you have to evacuate quickly. Now that you have places for storage, all you need to know is what to put in them.

The first thing you need to worry about in case of an emergency is water. Water is needed to drink, to wash, and for bathroom purposes. A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person, per day, for at least a week; two weeks’ worth if you have the room. Once the water supply is stashed away you can turn your attention to food, hygiene, clothing, medicine, first aid and assorted miscellaneous materials.

There are plenty of foods that are both convenient to store and carry while being fairly nutritious. Granola and energy bars, trail mix, jerky, canned fish and meats, canned fruits and vegetables. All of these foods have a long shelf life. You should plan on restocking your cache with new foodstuffs every six of seven months.

Hygiene may not seem immediately important in a critical situation but in a case where disease may be running rampant, as in Hurricane Katrina, maintaining good hygiene can be the difference between life and death. Obviously keep a fully stocked first aid kit complete with bandages, gauze, tape, hand sanitizer, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), anti-diarrheal, super glue, tweezers and small scissors. You should also keep a bottle of plain chlorine bleach (no scents or additives) to sterilize items and if necessary disinfect water. Additionally you’ll probably want to pack a toothbrush and some travel size toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.

Pack a change of clothes and a couple of pairs of socks and underwear. Remember to change these clothes with the change of seasons where you live. Also pack extra medications that you need to take and any that you usually take (such as a multivitamin). Finally you should keep safety equipment including a whistle, a flashlight (preferably one you power by hand-cranking), a hand-crank radio, blankets, compass, and if you want, a hunter’s or woodman’s knife. Now that you have everything packed and stashed in the event of an emergency, it’s time to learn the emergency procedures for your area.

Your city or town should have an evacuation route – a certain way you should go if you are asked to leave your home to avoid people getting stuck in traffic while getting away. Similarly, your area should have designated shelters for each resident. Knowing this information can make things go much smoother when the need arises.

Additionally you should know what radio station to tune into during a crisis to stay updated on the news.Being prepared is the best thing you can do for your family. It’s as easy as gathering some specific storage, stocking up on some supplies, and learning the specialized instructions for you location.

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Jenn Carpenter works as a freelance writer, blogger and internet marketer from her home in Warwick, RI. She is a mother of three as well as an active member of her community. To learn more about her amazing story check out http://www.livingmybigdream.com

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