| Pictures of families lined up for water after the | | | | Shelter |
| recent Haiti earthquake prompted many | | | | If you are stranded at home, your shelter needs |
| Americans to organize emergency supplies, but | | | | are met. If you have to evacuate however and |
| with the plethora of information available it can be | | | | for whatever reason cannot stay in a hotel |
| confusing to determine what should actually go | | | | motel, car, or emergency shelter, pack a tent in |
| into an emergency survival kit. The reason it is so | | | | your go kit. You can use a regular camping tent if |
| confusing is that you actually need to address | | | | it fits in your go kit, or look into tube tents: a 2 |
| two emergency situations: if you're stranded at | | | | person rope and tarp system. These fold up |
| home, or if you have to evacuate. Essentially, you | | | | extra small, space savers for your go kit. |
| need to prepare two kits, the at-home kit and | | | | Light |
| the go kit. Use this list to get you started. | | | | Nothing is as irritating as having the power go out |
| What should go in an emergency survival kit? | | | | in your house. Check your supply of flashlights and |
| A proper emergency survival kit (at home or go) | | | | batteries to make sure they are still good and to |
| should address the following needs: | | | | determine if you need more. Camping lanterns can |
| · Water | | | | also be kept in your at-home kit. For your go kit, |
| · Food | | | | there are many rechargeable options, such as |
| · Warmth | | | | crank flashlights or solar flashlights. These are |
| · Shelter | | | | small and eliminate the need for batteries. |
| · Light | | | | Communication |
| · Communication | | | | It never fails, during any disaster big or small we |
| · First aid | | | | are all glued to the news, just waiting to see what |
| Water | | | | happens next. Pack a radio in your at-home and |
| The recommended guideline is one gallon of water | | | | go kits so you can hear the latest, including |
| per person per day for your at-home kit. | | | | important information such as road or bridge |
| Consider using commercially packaged water | | | | closures and locations of nearest shelters. A good |
| (including the kind that is good for 5 years) or | | | | choice are the radios that are crank powered and |
| water storage barrels. For your go kit, pack your | | | | receive NOAA weather stations. |
| emergency kit with any combination of the | | | | First Aid |
| following: water pouches, water purification | | | | Knowing that you will have to wait for |
| tablets, water filters or emergency water straws. | | | | emergency responders to arrive, empower |
| A good guideline is to have at least 1 liter of | | | | yourself and your family by packing first aid kits |
| water per person for drinking and plan to obtain | | | | in your at-home and go kits and by taking first aid |
| the rest through use of your tablets, filters or | | | | classes. This way you can offer comfort and aid |
| straws. | | | | to yourself and your neighbors. |
| Food | | | | How should it be packaged? |
| For your at-home kit, you have more space, so | | | | Your at-home kit can be packed in plastic tubs, |
| you can pack food stuffs that can be eaten cold, | | | | the ones with rollers are especially handy. Place |
| are self-heating or can be heated/cooked over a | | | | the tub in an accessible location in your house, |
| camp stove. MRE's, camping food, canned foods | | | | consider a ground floor location in case you |
| are all good choices. Make sure to pack a manual | | | | cannot manage stairs. Your go kit should be |
| can opener and/or camp stove. For your go kit, | | | | packed in a backpack and stored near your |
| you will need lighter food stuffs, so try packing 72 | | | | emergency exits (doors or windows). Practice |
| hours of MREs, energy bars, self-heating meals, or | | | | walking around with your backpack go kit to |
| meals that just need water. These tend to be | | | | make sure it is manageable for you and not too |
| made out of dehydrated food stuffs, so are | | | | heavy. |
| lighter and easier to carry. | | | | Where do I get supplies? |
| Warmth | | | | Emergency supplies are just an internet search |
| If you're stuck at home without power or gas, it | | | | away. You can buy each item separately, or look |
| might get awfully cold. Add blankets or sleeping | | | | into purchasing ready-made go kits. By buying in a |
| bags to your at-home kit to combat the chills. For | | | | package, you can often get a deal. Your local |
| your go kit, purchase a space blanket or | | | | outdoors store is also a great resource for buying |
| emergency survival sleeping bag: they are tiny | | | | compact-sized items. |
| and compact, yet still will keep the chill away. | | | | |