National Preparedness Month isn’t a month to think “Yeah they’re right, I should probably be prepared”, and then go back to scrolling through Instagram. It’s a reminder for everyone to double check their preparedness and get tips on how to do better and what to prepare, and then DO IT. This is an article for those tips.

We will break down this article into the three basic steps the American Red Cross recommends for emergency preparedness:

Get a Kit

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own anywhere from several days to several weeks. Authorities recommend having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least 72 hours, but many disasters have left people with no help for as many as 2 weeks. Being prepared means being able to last as long as it takes for help to arrive. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find and any one of them could save your life.

Once you take a look at the basic items consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or babies.

For a good place to start, take a look at MyMedic’s 10 Essentials Kit, which has basic supplies for each of the categories listed below, and supplement with additional items as needed.

Basic items

  Case of bottled water

  Water containers (sturdy, wide-mouthed bottle preferred) 

  Water treatment supplies (1 gallon per person per day)

  Dehydrated food & energy bars; canned food (and can opener)

  Pots and pans, plates and cups and utensils

  Camping stove and fuel Lighter

  Long stick matches

  Tea candles

  Fire extinguisher

 

  Large multi-tool; wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

  Dust mask (to filter contaminated air)

  Plastic sheeting/tarp (to shelter-in-place)

  Work gloves

  Duct tape

  1 sleeping bag or warm blanket per person

  Change of clothing

  Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes

  Warm clothing layers 

  Rain jacket and pants

  Plastic tub for a home kit 

  Backpack for a personal kit

(Everyone should know where they are located)

Well stocked First Aid Kit and supplies are essential. Common items like band-aids and Neosporin are essential, but most first aid kits don’t include life-saving items like tourniquets and chest seals. All of MyMedic’s advanced kits do.

  Prescription meds and medical items (like glasses or contacts)

  Common ailment OTC meds (Benadryl, Ibuprofen, GI meds, etc.) 

  Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, garbage bags and menstrual products

  Toilet paper

  Towels

  Household liquid bleach -> (no colors or additives) for disinfecting (1 part bleach/9 parts water) or water treatment (16 drops in 1 gallon of water)

  Honey

  Headlamp or flashlight

  Whistle to signal for help

  Battery-powered or hand- crank radio (for news and weather alerts)

  Cell phones and chargers

  Two-way radios (for short-range, phone-free communication)

  Extra batteries for all electronics

  External electronics charger

  Small mirror 

  Glow sticks

  Extra set of home and car keys

  Cash (in small bills because businesses might not be able to make change)

  Local maps

  A laminated copy of your emergency plan

  Laminated copy of equipment checklist

  Laminated copy of emergency numbers, friends, family “calling tree”

  Copies of important documents (Rx list, medical history, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc.)

  Infant formula and bottles, diapers

  Pet food, ID, meds & supplies; extra water for your pet

  Paper and pencil and Sharpie

  Books, games, puzzles, deck of cards

  Gas/fuel

  Generator

  Solar Charger

  Compass 

Make a Plan

Ready.gov has a wealth of information available on preparedness for any disaster. You should become familiar with the guidelines and suggestions for disasters specific to your area, then make a plan for your family.

A disaster plan should include the following components:

• Designate an out-of-town contact person. Choose a friend or relative who lives out of town to be a contact person. Let this person know that you will contact them to let them know your status and location after a disaster and make sure every family member has this person’s phone number. Consider giving the contact person information such as insurance policy numbers and copies of important papers.
• Choose a Meeting Location. There should be an established meeting location that every family member knows, should you get separated by a disaster.
• Make a Communication Plan. Give important phone numbers to each family member so everyone can contact each other and designated contacts after a disaster. This should be a physical written or printed list, in case phone batteries die and charging is not possible. Make sure children know how and when to make emergency phone calls.
• Designate Escape Routes. Make sure everyone knows escape plans for every possible disaster. For example, create several escape routes in case of fire, separate instructions for tornados, etc.
• Make a Floor Plan. Create a floor plan of every level of a home that includes windows, doors, stairways, large furniture, disaster supplies, fire extinguishers, utility shut-off points, collapsible ladders, and any other relevant information.
• Make an Alternative Plan for Special Needs. For family members with special needs, make a plan to ensure that these people have necessary assistance.
• Plan for Pets. Make a plan to evacuate with pets, if necessary. Most emergency shelters don’t allow pets, so make sure you know which ones do and make a plan for where you will go. Ready.gov has many resources for evacuating with pets. Here are some.

Be Informed

It’s time to embrace your inner prepping nerd and become more informed about disasters and emergencies likely to occur where you live. This is even more important if you’re a parent or in a leadership role because you’ll likely have others depending on you to make decisions. Reading articles like this is a great place to start. Knowledge is half of preparedness.

1. Learn about how to receive emergency alerts and warnings. Cell phone providers, broadcasting and streaming services, and NOAA all send them out.
2. Research likely disasters where you live: Know ahead of time how to handle hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, whatever is likely to occur in your area. Make sure you stay informed about local community response plans, emergency shelters, and evacuation plans.
3. Learn how to maintain your kit. Revisit your kits yearly to assess changing needs. Some supplies expire, so it’s important to check and replenish as needed every six months. For more details, read REI's How to Maintain Your Emergency Kit.

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