| Maybe you don't live in an area where hurricanes | | | | waterproof matches and a small plastic disposable |
| or tornadoes are a threat to you. It's possible | | | | lighter. One more good communication tool is an |
| that the idea of experiencing an earthquake | | | | emergency whistler and I'd recommend one for |
| where you live is so remote that it's not - in you | | | | every person in your family. |
| mind- even worth considering (although as I recall | | | | On the subject of family - if you have pets, be |
| Texas isn't usually considered to be a hot bed of | | | | sure to include food, water and basic first aid for |
| seismic activity and yet just last year they had a | | | | them as well. |
| sizeable earthquake. There are lots of other | | | | So - moving on to First aid. In addition to a |
| potential natural disasters to choose from. As I | | | | selection of bandages, you should also be |
| write the Red River still threatens Fargo and the | | | | equipped with disinfectant, sunscreen, burn cream, |
| floods will be moving downriver into Canada next. | | | | scissors, safety pins, antibiotic ointment, some |
| Torrential rains can hit anywhere, ice storms and | | | | mild pain killers, an emergency supply of any |
| blizzards can threaten you and if natural disaster | | | | critical prescription medications for any family |
| emergencies aren't enough- don't forget the 2003 | | | | member and some finger splints. Rather than try |
| power outage that knocked much of the North | | | | and source everything individually, this is one case |
| Eastern US and Canada firmly on it's backside for | | | | where you should definitely choose a prepared |
| about 4 days. | | | | first aid kit and add to it as you see fit for your |
| Stop fighting it and please just accept the basic | | | | family. One more thing - make sure that you |
| common sense of having an emergency kit in | | | | have a good first aid guide available in your kit |
| your home and/or an emergency go bag sitting in | | | | (and a set of reading glasses if you need them). |
| the back of your front hall closet - just in case. It | | | | For extra warmth and shelter the needs for an in |
| never hurts to be prepared. But with all the talk | | | | home emergency kit will be very different from a |
| about emergency preparedness and the 72 hours | | | | go bag. In a go bag you should have some |
| it might take for help to arrive, a lot of people | | | | lightweight rainwear, emergency sleeping bags and |
| who are now sold on the idea of having an | | | | probably even a small shelter. They're much |
| emergency kit at home are probably stuck when | | | | smaller than you would expect. |
| it gets to the question - what to put into it. So I'd | | | | HygieneI read somewhere that the most |
| like to offer you some ideas about what you | | | | frequently omitted item from an emergency kit is |
| need to find in a basic 72 hour (3 day) family | | | | toilet paper. Make sure that you have some - or |
| emergency kit. | | | | at least some tissues along with other essential |
| Food and water is the first priority and for each | | | | hygiene supplies like toothpaste and a brush, soap, |
| member of your family, you need to provide | | | | shampoo, dental floss, lotion, deodorant, a razor, |
| from 8-16 ounces of water a day - preferably 16. | | | | washcloth, comb and women's sanitary products. |
| You need to be sure that the water you buy for | | | | If you have children - you'll need wet naps for |
| your kit has a long shelf life. Look for 5 years and | | | | sure. |
| yes - water can have a shelf life. In addition to | | | | Tools are something else you should have and a |
| potable water- get a supply of water purification | | | | great start is the venerable Swiss Army or |
| tablets. They're small and cheap and will each | | | | multifunction knife and portable respirator dust |
| render a liter of water drinkable. | | | | masks. I'd add duct tape to that and garbage |
| For food - look for food bars with a 5 year shelf | | | | bags - particularly in a go bag (Not a full roll |
| live and target a minimum of 800 - 1200 calories | | | | though, too big!) |
| per person per day. It probably wouldn't hurt to | | | | You'll need a pen, paper and at least a deck of |
| have more than that. 1200 calories isn't a lot at | | | | cards. |
| the best of times and if you're shivering in the | | | | And finally - have you ever heard of a Family |
| cold already a little more food energy sure won't | | | | Emergency Plan? You should keep a copy of your |
| hurt. | | | | plan in your emergency kit and if you're not sure |
| Communications and light. You need a way to | | | | what's in a plan for where to find one, follow one |
| generate some light and a way to stay in touch | | | | the links to my site -see below - and go to the |
| with the rest of the world and a good place to | | | | page called Emergency Planning- you can |
| start is with a hand held flashlight that can be | | | | download a free copy of one there. If you don't |
| recharged either by squeezing, shaking or | | | | have an emergency plan in your emergency kit, |
| cranking. Basic battery power just isn't enough, | | | | be sure to at least have the names and phone |
| although it might be adequate to power a very | | | | numbers of your key family contacts on hand - |
| small scanning radio to allow you to follow the | | | | doctors, family and insurance companies for |
| news in your area. For ongoing lighting you should | | | | starters. |
| get an emergency candle that will last you up to | | | | If this is all looking like a bit too much, you can |
| 30 hours and some other regular candles, but be | | | | purchase a pre-assembled emergency kit and it |
| extremely careful how you use them and who | | | | probably won't cost you anymore than trying to |
| handles them in an emergency situation. On the | | | | source all the pieces individually. |
| subject of candles you'll also need a big box of | | | | |