Hurricane season is in full force, and here in California, there's always the chance of an earthquake. Even if you don't live in storm or quake country — but especially if you do — you should have an emergency preparedness kit stashed away.
The American Red Cross recommends [1] having enough food and water on hand to support every member of your household for at least three days. They've also got a great list of other must-haves you may not have thought of, including bleach and a non-electric can opener. Tune in tomorrow, when I'll feature some ready-made kits you can buy. Until now, here's a checklist of everything you should have on hand.
- Water. The Red Cross recommends one gallon per day per person, including pets. If you don't have any stored, why not make a habit of picking up a gallon or two every time you go to the supermarket?
- Food. Concentrate on ready-to-eat canned fruits, veggies, juice, and meat, as well as protein-rich snacks like trail mix and granola bars. Don't forget vitamins and special supplies for any elderly family members, babies, and pets.
- A first-aid kit with Band-Aids, latex gloves, gauze pads, a thermometer, over-the-counter drugs, and necessary prescription medications.
For the other essentials,
- Tools such as scissors, tweezers, a sewing kit, a manual can opener, a knife, and a wrench to turn off gas and water.
- Moist towelettes and antibacterial hand gel
- Sunscreen
- Paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
- A hand-crank or battery-operated radio, with batteries
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Cash
- Small fire extinguisher
- Toilet paper, feminine products, and garbage bags
- Dish soap
- Bleach
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Rain gear
- Important documents, such as wills, deeds, passports, family records, and a bank account numbers.
- A list of important phone numbers
Source [2]