Personal & Family Preparedness

Preparedness is in Your Hands

If your community is affected by a disaster or other emergency situation, you and your family may not have access to food, water or electricity until recovery begins. It is important to prepare for emergencies beforehand with emergency food and water and other supplies for the entire family. You can get your preparations started with two important steps – creating a disaster kit for you home and having a family emergency plan.

Making Your Emergency Kit

All disaster kits should contain 72-hours worth of food and water for each family member. Include important documents (insurance, IDs), a first aid kit, prescription medications and other preparation items. Make sure to include a battery-operated radio in case the power goes out. A NOAA weather radio will alert you when there are severe weather watches or warnings. Don’t forget to check the back-up battery in your weather radio on a regular basis. You will want the radio to work even if there is a power outage. Remember to include any medical equipment, medication or other items for family members with functional or access needs. While creating a disaster kit, pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for their pets. Download and print a checklist to keep track of your supplies.

Basic Checklist

Basic Supplies

Batteries
Blankets
Bottled water, 3-day supply – 1 gallon per person each day
Non-perishable food, 3-day supply
Manual can opener
Cash
Spare keys (car, house, etc.)
Cell phone with charger and adapters
Clothes (seasonal)
Battery or crank-powered radio
NOAA weather radio
Battery or crank-powered flashlight
Sunblock
First aid kit
- Adhesive bandages
- Elastic bandages
- Gauze
- Scissors
- Digital thermometer
- Tweezers
- Alcohol wipes
- Disposable gloves
- Cotton balls
- Bite/antibiotic ointment
- Aspirin/ibuprofen
- Cough syrup
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
- Antacids
- Anti-diarrheals
Whistle
Face mask
Hand sanitizer
Toiletries
- Extra glasses or contact lenses and cleaning supplies
- Denture supplies
- Soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
Tool kit
Duct tape
Local maps
Heavy gloves
Matches in waterproof container
Garbage bags with ties

Infants & Children Checklist

Supplies for Infants and Children

Non-perishable baby food, 3-day supply
Breastfeeding supplies
Formula supplies
- Powered formula
- Water, 3-day supply
- Camp stove for boiling/sanitizing water
- Pot/kettle
Bottles
Changing supplies
- Diapers
- Diaper wipes
- Baby powder
- Diaper rash cream
- Sealing bags
Pacifiers
Extra blankets and pillows
Toys and games

Special Needs Checklist

Special Needs

Non-perishable foods that meet dietary restriction needs
Medications – 1-week supply in original containers with prescription labeling
Batteries or charging cable and converter for hearing aid, wheelchair or other powered medical devices
Oxygen tank, regulator, tubing and mask/cannula
Catheters
Medication syringes
Dressing supplies
Incontinence pads
Vascular access device
Pacemaker equipment
Dialysis shunt

Pet Supplies Checklist

Pet Supplies

Photo with pet’s name
Food
Water
Bowls
Collar with ID tag
Leash
Carrier
Waste supplies

Document Checklist

Document Copies

Driver’s license and other IDs
Social security card
Immunization records
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Health insurance card
Insurance policies
Wills, contracts and deeds
Credit cards
Bank account records
Important telephone numbers and addresses
Medication and medical equipment list
Pet/service animal vaccination, medical records and photo

Car Kit Checklist

Emergency Car Kit

Non-perishable food
Bottled water
Flares
Maps
Jumper cables
Tool kit
First aid kit
Sleeping bags or blankets
Fire extinguisher

Creating Your Emergency Plan

Every family should have a family emergency plan that is prepared and discussed in advance. Identify ahead of time where you could go if you have to leave your home. Choose several places, such as a friend’s home in another town, a motel or a shelter. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have an emergency contact number for someone out of state that knows where you are in the event of an emergency. Find out about emergency plans at your workplace and at your children’s schools. Make sure your pet is included in your emergency plan. Offer assistance to an elderly or disabled family member or neighbor that may be alone and may need your help during an emergency. Make plans ahead of time and practice them. Download and print your emergency plan and include it with your emergency kit.

Stay Informed

Knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency is an important part of preparation. Always remember the basics to responding to disasters. Safety should be the first consideration whether evacuating or sheltering. Emergency plans and basic supply kits should be relevant to all emergencies. Before a disaster, ensure you can receive information about pending emergencies before they impact you. Know your local emergency plans for sheltering and evacuation. During a disaster, watch or listen to local news to receive situational updates.

Learn about our related emergency preparedness services