This list is from the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency and lists the items they feel are necessary to
have on-hand in case of an emergency or natural disaster. From their site,
click on Preparedness on the left to access this information. Adobe
Acrobat Reader is required to view the list from their site.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY KITS
A disaster of any kind may interfere with
normal supplies of food, water, heat and normal day-today necessities. It is
important to keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand sufficient to meet your
needs for a seventy-two hours (three days). Although you may not be in an
area directly impacted by a natural disaster or terrorist event, utilities and
other services may be affected. In an emergency, our first responders will be
focusing on treating those who are injured or may need to be evacuated and it
may take sometime to restore power or other services to you and your family.
That is why an emergency supply kit is essential so that you and your family can
take care of yourselves for a three-day period of time. It is not expected that
disruptions would be that long, however, having the necessary supplies will
ensure that you are cared for and our emergency workers can focus on those most
in need. If you are forced to remain in your house during a nuclear, chemical or
biological release or some other natural disaster or event, adequate supplies
could help you live through a period of danger without hardship. If you are
directed to evacuate instead of sheltering-in-place, the emergency supply kit
can be taken with you and used to ease the transition to a shelter. Ideally one
should prepare two kits and store supplies in watertight containers. Keep one
easily accessible in your home and one in the trunk of your car. It is
advisable to update your kit regularly. You should replace the water supply and
any food that may have reached its use-by or expiration date. An easy way to
remind oneself to update your kit is to use Daylight Savings Time. When you
change your clocks, you should also change your kits. It is also a good time to
check the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms and other household safety
equipment.
An emergency supply kit should include the
following:
_ A battery powered radio and a flashlight,
with extra batteries for each
_ Bottled drinking water- one gallon per day
per person with at least a three-day supply for each person in your household.
_ As much drinkable liquid (fruit and vegetable
juices, soft drinks, etc.) as can be carried
_ Canned or sealed packaged foods that do not
require refrigeration or cooking
_ A can opener
_ A blanket or sleeping bag for each member of
the family
_ Writing materials to take notes from
television or radio broadcasts
_ Hammer, pliers and wrench
_ Pocket knife
_ Fire extinguisher
_ Signal flare and Whistle
_ Cell phone
_ Soap and towels
_ Paper Towels and toilet paper
_ Household laundry bleach (unscented)
_ An extra set of car keys and a credit card,
cash or traveler’s checks
_ One change of clothing and footwear per
person
_ A list of family physicians
_ First-aid kit and manual
_ Filtering masks or respirators with a rating
of at least N95
_ Non-prescription drugs, including mild pain
relievers and antiseptic
_ Any special prescription medicines or foods
needed by family members such as insulin, heart medication, dietetic food and
baby food (Do not store in the kit for longs periods of time but at the last
minute)
_ Precut and uncut plastic bags (large and
small)
_ You can store additional water by filling
bathtubs and sinks with water if an emergency is declared. Clean water is also
available in toilet tanks, presuming
chemicals and other cleaning agents are not used in the water tank.
Additional Supplies
Other items may prove to be helpful:
_ A cooler and freezer packs
_ Salt
_ Paper cups
_ Baking soda
_ Spoons
_ Matches
_ Tape
_ Needles and thread
_ Pre-moistened towelettes
_ Splinting material
_ Hand lotion
_ Disposable diapers
_ Cotton balls
_ Sanitary napkins
_ Bandages
_ Extra eye glasses
_ Medicine dropper
_ Contact lenses and supplies
_ Games or books
If you have pets, include the following
items in your kit
_ Identification collar and rabies tag
_ Carrier or cage
_ Leash
_ Medications
_ Newspaper, litter, trashbags for waste
_ Two-week supply of food and water
_ Veterinary record (necessary if your pet has
to go to a shelter)
