Departments | Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Supplies List
Emergency Supplies List
Water, food, and clean air are the essential items for survival.
Each family or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific
needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized
to include important family documents.
Basic Kit
-
Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking
and sanitation.
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Battery-powered radio and extra batteries.
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask
or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
- Moist towelettes for sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant and special
needs items
- Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Cell phone
Clothing and Bedding
If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth.
It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat.
Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing
children and other family changes.
- A jacket or coat
- Long pants
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sturdy shoes
- Hat and gloves
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Other items that can be added to the supply kit
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or
a print out of this information
- Rain gear
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
- Cash or traveler's checks, change
- Paper towels
- Fire Extinguisher
- Tent
- Compass
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Signal flare
- Paper, pencil
- Medicine dropper
- Feminine supplies
- Personal hygiene items
- Disinfectant
- Household chlorine bleach
You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to
one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify
water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon
of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
Important Family Documents:
Keep copies of important family records such as insurance policies,
identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable
container.
Water
- One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and
sanitation.
- Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water.
- If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary.
- Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft
drink bottles.
- Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.
- You can fill bathtubs, washing machines; of course this water
should be use for sanitation only.
- You also have water in your hot water heater.
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Food
- Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or
cooking and little or no water.
- Pack a manual can opener and eating utensils.
- Choose foods your family will eat.
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Crackers
- Canned juices
- Non-perishable pasteurized milk
- High-energy foods
- Vitamins
- Food for infants
- Comfort/stress foods
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First Aid Kit
In any emergency a family member or you yourself may be cut, burned
or suffer other injuries. If you have these basic supplies you are
better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Remember,
many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate
medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a
difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class, but
simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent
infection and assist in decontamination.
Your kit should contain
- Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic
to Latex).
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
- Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
- Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Burn ointment to prevent infection.
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
- Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant.
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart
medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines
to account for expiration dates.
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring
equipment and supplies.
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
- Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Antacid (for upset stomach)
- Laxative
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Special Needs
Baby
- Formula
- Diapers
- Bottles
- Powdered milk
- Medications
- Moist towelettes
- Diaper rash ointment
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Adults
- Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such
as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription
drugs.
- Denture needs
- Contact lenses and supplies
- Extra eye glasses
Seniors
- Plan how you will evacuate or signal for help.
- Plan emergency procedures with home health care agencies or
workers.
- Tell others where you keep your emergency supplies.
- Teach others how to operate necessary equipment.
- Label equipment like wheelchairs, canes or walkers.
Additional supplies for seniors:
- List of prescription medications including dosage in your
supply kits. Include any allergies.
- Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries.
- Extra wheelchair batteries or other special equipment in your
supply kit.
- A list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices
such as pacemakers in your emergency supply kits.
- Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards.
- List of doctors and emergency contacts.
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Disabilities
Create a support network to help in an emergency.
Tell these people where you keep your emergency supplies.
- Give one member of your support network a key to your house
or apartment.
- Contact your city or county government's emergency information
management office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities
so they can be located quickly in a sudden emergency.
- Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your
disability.
- If you are dependent on dialysis or other life sustaining
treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility.
- Show others how to operate your wheelchair.
- Know the size and weight of your wheelchair, in addition to
whether or not it is collapsible, in case it has to be transported.
Additional Supplies for People with Disabilities:
- Prescription medicines, list of medications including dosage,
list of any allergies.
- Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries.
- Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen.
- Keep a list of the style and serial number of medical devices.
- Medical insurance and Medicare cards.
- List of doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified
if you are hurt.
