Emergency Management - Disaster Preparation

911/EMA Facility Augusta
Emergency Management

Disaster Preparation

Assembling and Storing an Disaster Supply Kit

You can cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supply Kit. After disaster strikes, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, you and your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

TO PREPARE YOUR KIT

Review the checklist on the next few pages (from FEMA L-189, ARC 4463, Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit).
Gather the supplies from the list.
Place the supplies you’re apt to need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. These supplies are listed with an asterisk (*).

WATER

Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that requirement. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.

Store 1 gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation/sanitation.)*
Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.

If you have questions about the quality of the water, purify it before drinking. You can heat water to a rolling boil for 1 minute or use commercial purification tablets to purify the water. You can also use household liquid chlorine bleach if it is pure, unscented, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. To purify water, use the table below as a guide:

Ratios for Purifying Water with Bleach
Water Quantity	Bleach Added
1 Quart	4 Drops
1 Gallon	16 Drops
5 Gallons	1 Teaspoon

Ratios for purifying water with bleach: Water quantity and bleach added

After adding bleach, shake or stir the water container and let it stand 30 minutes before drinking

Food

Store at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of Sterno®. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include a selection of the following foods in your disaster supply kit:

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)Staples-sugar, salt, pepper
High-energy foods-peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
Foods for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets
Comfort/stress foods-cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

Kitchen Items

Manual can opener
Mess kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
All-purpose knife
Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
Sugar, salt, pepper
Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
Re-sealing plastic bags
If food must be cooked, small cooking stove and a can of cooking fuel

First Aid Kit*

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first aid kit should include:

First aid manual
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
2-inch sterile guze pads (4-6)
4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
Triangular bandages (3)
Needle
Moistened towelettes
Antibacterial ointment
Thermometer
Tongue blades (2)
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleaning agent/soap
Latex gloves (2 pairs)
Petroleum jelly
Cotton balls
Sunscreen
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
Scissors
Tweezers

NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
Antidiarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (used to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Laxative
Vitamins
Activated charcoal (used if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Tools and Supplies

Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils*
Emergency preparedness manual*
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
Flashlight and extra batteries*
Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type
Tube tent
Pliers
Duct tape
Compass
Matches in a waterproof container
Aluminum foil
Plastic storage containers
Signal flare(s)
Paper, pencil
Needles, thread
Work gloves
Medicine dropper
Shutoff wrench, to turn off household gas and water
Whistle
Plastic sheeting

Sanitation

Toilet paper, towelettes*
Soap, liquid detergent*
Feminine supplies*
Personal hygiene items*
Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
Plastic bucket with tight lid
Disinfectant
Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding

Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

Sturdy shoes or work boots*
Rain gear*
Blankets or sleeping bags*
Hat and gloves*
Thermal underwear*
Sunglasses*

Household Documents and Contact Numbers

Personal identification, cash (including change) or traveler’s checks, and a credit card
Copies of important documents: birth certificates, marriage certificate, driver’s license, social security cards, passport, wills, deeds,
inventory of household goods, insurance papers, immunizations records, bank and credit card account numbers, stocks and bonds. Be sure to store these in a watertight container.
Emergency contact list and phone numbers
Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go
An extra set of car keys and house keys

Special Items

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.

FOR BABY*

Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powdered milk
Medications

FOR ADULTS*

Heart and high blood pressure medication
Insulin
Prescription drugs
Denture needs
Contact lenses and supplies
Extra eye glasse
Entertainment-games and books
Important Family Documents-keep these records in a waterproof, portable container
Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
Passports, social security cards, immunization records
Bank account numbers
Credit card account numbers and companies
Inventory of valuable household goods
Important telephone numbers

*Items marked with an asterisk are recommended for evacuation.