Assemble necessary supplies in advance of an emergency
A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Try to assemble your kit well before an emergency occurs. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and only have enough time to grab your essentials. You will probably not have the time to search or shop for the supplies you need.
You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means you will need enough food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.
Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.
What should you include? A basic emergency supply kit should include the following recommended items:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
