When disasters and emergencies occur, it is crucial to be prepared. Having an emergency kit in your home is the first step in helping you and your family be safe in times of urgency. The contents of your emergency kit should be tailored to fit both your family’s needs and the type of emergency that is expected.
Having an emergency kit on-hand will help you and your family respond quickly to disasters and other emergencies. What should you include in your emergency kit? Typically, you will need supplies like water, food, medical supplies, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit. Depending on the specifics of your emergency, you may also need items like battery-operated radios, an extra phone charger, and cash.
It is important to create a plan in addition to an emergency kit. This plan should include what to do in emergency situations, a designated meeting place, as well as contact information for everyone in the family. Making sure your family is knowledgeable on these items will lessen the confusion in an emergency situation, making it easier to respond quickly and safely.
What Should I Include in My Home Emergency Kit?
Having an emergency kit prepped and ready in your home will assure safety during a time of crisis. Depending on your family’s needs and the emergencies that can occur in the area you live, the items you include in the kit will vary. To ensure the complete safety of your family and to get the most use out of your kit, include the following items:
- Water
- Non-perishable food items
- A flashlight and batteries
- A first-aid kit
- A battery-operated radio
- Extra chargers (phone, laptop etc.)
- Cash
- Copies of important documents/IDs
- Personal hygiene items
- A list of contact numbers
What Additional Resources Should I Have?
In addition to the items you should include in your kit, there is other helpful information you should have stored in your home. Having a record of medical information for all members in your family is important for medical attention during a time of crisis. You should also store copies of any important documents such as licenses, passports, and birth certificates.
For more detailed emergency plans, you may use the resources online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emergency Preparedness website. You can also find more information on what to include in your kit on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website.
Conclusion
Having a home emergency kit is an essential way to ensure the safety of your family. Though some of the items included in the kit may be unique to the emergency that you are preparing for, there is a basic list of supplies that can be used in many emergencies. Having the right information and supplies will make it easier to respond to disasters and emergencies in a timely and safe manner.