How to Design Your Own Home Emergency Kit

Every emergency kit should be stocked with a first aid kit.

Since you never know when disaster will strike, it is important to stock your home with an emergency kit to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. Your kit should help sustain you for up to three days in the case of an emergency. Be sure to tailor your emergency kit to your family's specific needs. A well-stocked emergency kit at home will help put your mind at ease regarding the safety of yourself and your family.

Things You'll Need

• 2 14-gallon tight-seal storage containers
• 5 one-gallon plastic seal bags
• 3 13-gallon garbage bags
• 3 gallons of water
• 6 12-ounce cans of non-perishable food
• 3 boxes of salt-free crackers
• 1 box of whole-grain cereal
• Battery-powered radio with extra set of batteries
• Flashlight with extra set of batteries
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Hand sanitizer
• Moist towelettes
• First aid kit
• Pliers
• Can opener
• Set of eating utensils
• Cell phone with charger
• Matches (stored in a waterproof container)
• 2 sets of extra clothing
• Photocopy of passport or driver's license and credit card
• $50 cash
• 1 roll each of nickels, dimes, and quarters

Instructions

1. Place all supplies in the 14-gallon storage bins. Seal boxed food, clothing, extra batteries, matches, cash and documentation in smaller plastic seal bags to avoid water damage. Assemble the kit so that the weight is equally distributed between the two storage bins.

2. Add the following supplies if there is a baby in your family: formula, diapers (sealed in a plastic bag) and bottles.

3. Consider the special needs of yourself and your family. Include any specialty items in your emergency kit, including prescription medications, glasses and special dietary foods or supplements.

4. Designate an accessible, dry location in which to keep the kit. A shelf in the basement would work well. Inform all family members about the location of the kit.

5. Restock all water and food supplies in the emergency kit twice a year. Check other supplies, and supplement with specialty items as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• The supply list is intended for one person. If there are others in your family, multiply the following supplies by the number of people in your household: plastic seal bags, garbage bags, water, food, utensil sets, clothing and dust mask.

References

• FEMA: Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit
• Ready America: Get a Kit

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish