How to Create a Disaster Prep Kit

Evaluate your family's specific requirements and local disaster risks to create a targeted emergency preparedness plan. Example: Calculate food and water needs based on family size using the standard of 1 gallon of water per person per day and 2,000+ calories per person per day for minimum 72 hours, identify regional disaster risks including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, or winter storms specific to your geographic location, assess special needs for infants, elderly family members, pets, or individuals with medical conditions requiring medications or equipment, determine evacuation routes and shelter locations including both local emergency shelters and out-of-area contacts, evaluate home storage locations considering temperature control, accessibility, and protection from disasters, review insurance coverage including homeowner's, renter's, flood, and earthquake policies to understand gaps in disaster protection, create family communication plan with out-of-state contact person and meeting locations, and document important information including medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts for each family member.

Create reliable water storage and purification capabilities to ensure safe drinking water during emergencies when municipal supplies may be compromised. Example: Store minimum 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days in food-grade water containers, rotating stock every 6 months and treating with water preservation tablets if needed, establish larger water storage using 55-gallon barrels or water tanks if space allows, treating and rotating according to manufacturer guidelines, install water purification systems including gravity-fed filters, portable purifiers, or UV sterilization devices capable of removing bacteria, parasites, and viruses, stock water purification tablets, bleach (unscented), or iodine drops as backup chemical treatment options with proper dosage instructions, identify alternative water sources near your location including wells, springs, rivers, or rainwater collection possibilities, learn water collection techniques including rainwater harvesting, dew collection, and safe water procurement from natural sources, test stored water quality periodically using basic test strips to ensure safety and potability, and maintain water purification supplies including replacement filters, batteries for UV devices, and chemical treatments with current expiration dates.

Accumulate diverse, shelf-stable food supplies with extended storage life to sustain your family through prolonged emergency periods. Example: Stock minimum 3 days of non-perishable food per person focusing on high-calorie, nutritionally balanced options including canned proteins, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates, build extended food storage using freeze-dried meals, dehydrated foods, rice, beans, pasta, and grains with 5-30 year shelf lives stored in proper conditions, include comfort foods and familiar items to maintain morale during stressful situations, considering dietary preferences and restrictions, rotate food stocks using first-in-first-out system, labeling with dates and checking expiration dates quarterly to maintain freshness, store foods in temperature-controlled environment below 70°F when possible, protected from rodents and insects using sealed containers, include cooking supplies such as camping stoves, fuel, matches, manual can openers, and disposable plates and utensils for food preparation without utilities, plan meals that require minimal water and cooking time to conserve resources and fuel during emergencies, and maintain special dietary needs including baby formula, pet food, or medical dietary requirements with appropriate storage and rotation schedules.

Establish reliable power sources and communication capabilities to maintain connectivity and operate essential devices during power outages. Example: Install portable power stations or generators capable of running essential devices including radios, flashlights, phones, and medical equipment for minimum 72 hours, maintain battery supplies in various sizes (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) stored in cool, dry conditions and rotated annually to ensure reliability, set up solar charging capabilities using portable solar panels and battery banks for sustainable power generation during extended outages, establish multiple communication methods including battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radios, cell phone backup batteries, and two-way radios for family coordination, program NOAA weather radio with local emergency frequencies and understand emergency broadcast system protocols for your area, maintain landline telephone if possible since landlines often work when cellular systems fail during disasters, create communication plan with out-of-area contacts who can serve as family message center when local communications are disrupted, test backup power and communication systems monthly, replacing batteries and ensuring proper operation of all equipment, and learn basic radio operation and emergency communication protocols including amateur radio frequencies if licensed operators are available.

Build extensive medical supplies to handle injuries and health needs when professional medical care may be unavailable or delayed. Example: Stock comprehensive first aid kit including bandages, gauze, antiseptics, medications, scissors, tweezers, thermometer, and blood pressure cuff appropriate for family size and medical knowledge level, maintain prescription medication supplies with minimum 30-day supply for each family member, working with physicians and pharmacists to rotate stock and maintain current prescriptions, include over-the-counter medications for common conditions including pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medication, antihistamines, cough suppressants, and fever reducers with pediatric versions if needed, add specialized medical supplies for chronic conditions including diabetes testing supplies, inhalers, mobility aids, or oxygen equipment with appropriate backup power sources, learn basic first aid and CPR techniques through certified training programs, maintaining current certification and practicing skills regularly, create medical information sheets for each family member including allergies, medications, medical conditions, physician contacts, and insurance information stored in waterproof container, stock sanitation supplies including soap, sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and waste management supplies for maintaining health during extended emergencies, and establish relationship with local medical facilities and understand emergency medical protocols and evacuation procedures for your area.

Gather essential tools and equipment needed for emergency repairs, safety, and survival tasks during disaster situations. Example: Collect basic hand tools including hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, utility knife, duct tape, rope, and tarps for emergency repairs and shelter construction, maintain multiple lighting sources including flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, and candles with adequate fuel and batteries, ensuring each family member has personal lighting, include safety equipment such as work gloves, safety glasses, dust masks, and sturdy shoes for debris cleanup and hazardous condition navigation, stock fire safety equipment including fire extinguisher, smoke detector batteries, and escape ladder for multi-story homes, with family escape plan practiced regularly, add specialized tools for regional hazards such as chainsaws for storm cleanup, shovels for snow or debris removal, or earthquake safety equipment like gas shutoff wrench, maintain cash reserves in small bills since electronic payment systems and ATMs may be unavailable during widespread power outages or system failures, organize portable containers or bags for quick evacuation including waterproof storage for documents, photos, and valuables that can be quickly grabbed if evacuation is necessary, and create detailed inventory list of all emergency supplies with locations noted and regular inspection schedule to ensure equipment remains functional and supplies remain fresh.

Create systems for keeping perishable foods safe and preparing meals without conventional utilities during extended power outages. Example: Maintain high-quality coolers with extended ice retention capability, stocking ice regularly and understanding local ice availability during emergencies for perishable food preservation, set up alternative cooking methods including camping stoves, charcoal grills, or solar ovens with adequate fuel supplies, ensuring safe outdoor operation and carbon monoxide prevention, stock cooking and eating supplies including manual can openers, camping cookware, disposable plates and utensils, aluminum foil, and plastic bags for food storage and preparation, learn food safety principles for power outage conditions including temperature monitoring, safe food storage times, and food safety decision-making without refrigeration, establish food preservation techniques including dehydration, canning, or smoking methods that can extend food life without electricity, create meal planning strategies using shelf-stable ingredients that require minimal cooking time and water to conserve resources and fuel during emergencies, maintain cleaning supplies for food preparation including bleach solution for sanitizing surfaces, soap for dishwashing, and paper towels for cleanup without running water, and practice cooking with alternative methods regularly to build proficiency and identify equipment needs before emergency situations arise.

Create systematic maintenance and testing procedures to ensure all emergency supplies remain functional and current when needed. Example: Establish monthly testing schedule for all battery-powered devices including radios, flashlights, and emergency equipment, replacing batteries and ensuring proper operation, create quarterly rotation schedule for food and water supplies, checking expiration dates and replacing items as needed while using rotated supplies in daily life, conduct semi-annual comprehensive inventory of all emergency supplies, updating quantities, checking condition of equipment, and identifying gaps or needed replacements, schedule annual family emergency drills practicing evacuation procedures, communication plans, and use of emergency equipment to maintain readiness and identify training needs, maintain detailed record-keeping system tracking purchase dates, expiration dates, and maintenance activities for all emergency supplies with reminders for upcoming actions, establish supplier relationships and purchasing schedule for bulk emergency supplies, taking advantage of sales and ensuring consistent supply availability, review and update emergency plans annually considering family changes, new regional risks, lessons learned from actual emergencies, and improvements in emergency supply technology, and create backup storage locations for emergency supplies considering risks of home damage and ensuring supplies remain accessible during various disaster scenarios.