Often times it takes a disaster to force us to get busy and put a list together of supplies needed for a fire, earthquake, hurricane, or flood and buy them. Have you thought about it? What would you take? What’s important to you? Take a day and discuss it with your family, then research the necessary items. I've included quite a bit here, but if your kids are old enough, include them in this conversation and write the ideas down. Then read this blog and do further research.
When we were first evacuated in the late ’80s due to a fire, our son who was about three, didn’t bring his favorite toys, he brought the container of toothpicks. And my husband, who was the only one home when told to evacuate took his two guitars even though I had told him a day ahead of time to get all our photo albums. He said, “I don’t remember you telling me that? Funny, huh? Well, I didn’t think so at first. But this is what happens to our brain when we are under stress, we can’t think. That’s why a list needs to be made and taped inside a kitchen cabinet, and everyone in the house needs to know where it is. Where is the meeting place going to be? Obviously, if the fire or flood or even an earthquake happens, get your butt out pronto!
Your Most Important Papers
Whether you live in a hurricane state, high fire area, flood state, or an earthquake state, you should have your important papers nearby. If a flood or fire destroys your home, you could spend months trying to figure out where t to find the essential documents you need. And when we are stressed, we tend to forget things. Get all papers important copied and placed in a safe fireproof or waterproof container.
Here are a few links that could be helpful,
Some suggestions:
List of personal contacts
Passports
Deed to the house
Proof of insurance (health, fire, flood, house, earthquake, etc.)
Medical records or at least medical I.D. numbers
Medical records or at least medical I.D. numbers
Social security cards.
Since we are in a digital age, take a picture of everything above, and have another copy of everything in a portable case. You can use Dropbox or the Cloud in which these photos can be saved or use a memory stick that you carry around or have in the car. Make sure everything is up to date, including your insurance. If your house has gone up in value, maybe you should raise your insurance coverage. Find out what hazards your area faces, and make sure you’re protected against them. Just because you have fire insurance doesn’t mean it covers for floods.
Basic Items for Survival
FOOD: You need at least a three-day supply of non-perishables for each person. I write the date I bought the item in permanent marker on the top. (I use all items within two years and that includes the water. And then I replenish everything.) Don’t forget the can opener. Pack protein bars, jerky, dried fruit, trail mix, cereal bars, some candy as long as it won’t melt. Buy a large plastic storage container to keep it away from the pests.
Water: Have on hand at least a gallon of water per person. This is for drinking and washing. Don’t forget to add additional water if you have pets.
Battery- operated radio: Target, Wallmart, Red Cross, etc.; should have these available. Receiving info on the cell may not work if satellites not working or in our case, in 2019, the electric company turned off the electricity due to a fire which was miles away, so cells didn't work, so I'm paying extra for a landline. Give yourself options.
Flashlights/ batteries : (If you have experienced a natural disaster, you will have no idea if you have a gas leak. Be safe.) The best thing is to have a few flashlights upstairs and downstairs and in the garage. Store extra batteries in the freezer, they’ll last a long time. L.E.D. flashlights are the best as they are very bright.
First-Aid Supplies:
Two pairs of sterile gloves
Adhesive bandages and sterile dressings
Soap or another cleanser
Antibiotic towelettes and ointment
Burn ointment
Eyewash
Thermometer
Scissors
Tweezers
Petroleum jelly
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Stomach analgesics such as Tums, Pepto-Bismol
Laxative
Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies:
Tons of paper towels
Moist towelettes
Toilet paper
Garbage bags
Plastic ties
Shampoo
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Additional Items:
Masks for each person if in an earthquake area
Plastic sheeting and duct tape just in case you need to seal your makeshift shelter from airborne
particles that could be unhealthy.
A whistle to signal for help
Toys or other comfort items for kids
Cash
Puzzles/games
Extra cell phone chargers
Extra clothing
Sleeping bags/blankets
Fire extinguisher
Glasses/contact lenses
You are going to have to update your kit every so often, check expiration dates. Replace food and water. I write dates on everything that is food and water. I change it out every spring. In other words, pick a date that you will remember.
Costco online has a lot of First Aid and earthquake items, but I know there are other companies out there. Red Cross medical supply containers tend to be a little expensive.
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