Preparedness List

Recently my wife & I were asked what was the minimal that one should have at home to be "prepared"? We created the following list for a 3-day emergency keeping the supplies as inexpensive as possible:

Safety Supplies

• Smoke Alarm  
• Carbon Monoxide Detector  
• First Aid Kit  
• 3-day supply of medicines  
• Winter gear: coats, hats, mittens, scarves  
• Warm blankets or quilts  (for warmth without power)
• Means to keep cool in summer without power (Battery powered fans? Soak in water?)  

Basic Supplies

• 3 gallons of stored water per family member  
• 1 week of food that does not require power to cook  (1 week because most people underestimate how much they eat)
• Manual Can Opener  
• Matches  
• Bottle of unscented bleach  (for purifying water)
• 3 days of sanitary supplies: toilet paper, feminine products, soap, tooth paste, etc  
• Heavy duty garbage bags  (toilet, trash, rain coat, many uses)
• Flashlight & Batteries (1 per person)  
• Emergency cash (small bills)  
• Copies of legal & financial documents outside the home  

Repair Supplies

• Basic tools: hammer, nails, screw drivers  
• 1 roll Duct Tape  
• Tarp for home roof damage or
• heavy plastic for broken apartment window  
• Wrench for turning off water & natural gas  

Emergency communications

• Access to phone or internet  
• Battery power radio or hand cranked radio  
• Emergency contact person (outside the state)  
• List of emergency phone numbers & emails   
• ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone # on all cell phones  

Home evacuation

• Emergency family rendezvous location(s)  
• Local map with evacuation routes marked (or GPS)  
• One or more "safe sites" to evacuate to?  
• Emergency-kit for family car  
• Comfortable pair walking shoes  

Special Needs (where applicable)

• 3-days of infant supplies: diapers, formula, etc   
• 3-days of pet food & pet medicines   
• An older pair of eye glasses as emergency backup   

Bottom Line

 

Is there anything you would add to this list?