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disaster supplies
Items stored in case of emer-
gency, such as a prolonged power outage, earth-
quake, or flood. Recommended disaster supplies
include the following:
• Water. Store at least 3 gallons of water
per person (2 quarts for drinking, 2
quarts for food preparation/sanitation
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three days). Store it in plastic containers,
such as soft drink bottles.
• Food. Store at least a 3-day supply of
foods that require no refrigeration, prepa-
ration, or cooking (and little or no
water). If you must heat food, go to a
camping goods store for options that do
not require electricity or natural gas.
Good choices include ready-to-eat canned
meats, fruits, and vegetables; canned
juices, milk, and soup (if powdered, store
extra water); staples, particularly sugar,
salt, and pepper; high-energy foods such
as peanut butter, granola bars, and trail
mix; vitamin pills; special foods for
infants, elderly persons, or persons on
special diets; and “comfort foods” such
as cookies, hard candy, sweetened cere-
als, lollipops, instant coffee, and tea.
• First aid kit. Assemble a first aid kit for
your home and one for each car. A first
aid kit should include sterile adhesive
bandages in assorted sizes, four to six 2-
inch sterile gauze pads, four to six 4-inch
sterile gauze pads, hypoallergenic adhe-
sive tape, three triangular bandages,
three rolls of 2-inch sterile roller band-
ages, three rolls of 3-inch sterile roller
bandages, scissors, tweezers, a needle,
moist towelettes, antiseptic (cream
and/or liquid), thermometer, two tongue
depressors, a tube of petroleum jelly or
other lubricant, assorted sizes of safety
pins, cleansing agent and/or soap, a
medicine dropper, two pairs of latex
gloves, and sunscreen. Contact your local
American Red Cross chapter to obtain a
basic first aid manual.
• Nonprescription drugs. Over-the-counter
drugs that you might need in an emer-
gency include aspirin or nonaspirin pain
relievers, antidiarrhea medication,
antacid for stomach upset, syrup of
ipecac and activated charcoal (to use if
advised by the Poison Control Center),
and laxatives.
• Tools and supplies. Keep the items you
would most likely need during an evacua-
tion in an easy-to-carry container, such as
a large, covered trash container, camping
backpack, or duffle bag. These emergency
items include mess kits (or paper cups,
plates, and plastic utensils), an emer-
gency-preparedness manual, a battery-
operated radio with extra batteries, a
flashlight with extra batteries, cash or trav-
eler’s checks, change, a nonelectric can
opener, a utility knife, a small canister fire
extinguisher of the ABC type, a tube tent,
pliers, tape, a compass, matches in a
waterproof container, aluminum foil, plas-
tic storage containers, a signal flare, paper
and pencil, needles and thread, a shut-off
wrench for turning off household gas and
water, a whistle, plastic sheeting, and a
map of the area for locating shelters. A
map showing the precise location of local
shelters may be available in advance from
your local emergency-preparedness office.
• Sanitation. Have on hand an adequate
supply of toilet paper and/or towelettes,
soap, liquid detergent, feminine supplies,
personal hygiene items, plastic garbage
bags with ties for personal sanitation
uses, a plastic bucket with a tight lid, dis-
infectant, and chlorine bleach.
• Clothing and bedding. Have available at
least one complete change of clothing
and footwear per person, preferably
items that are easy to clean. Depending
on your location, you may also need to
include sturdy shoes or work boots, hats
and gloves, coats and/or rain gear, ther-
mal underwear, blankets or sleeping
bags, and sunglasses.
• Special items. Remember family members
with special needs, such as infants and
elderly or disabled persons. For babies,
store an adequate supply of formula, dia-
pers, bottles, powdered milk, and med-
ications. For older children and adults,
remember essentials such as heart and
high blood pressure medication, insulin
and syringes, prescription drugs, denture
needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra
eyeglasses, and games and books for
entertainment. Ask a physician or phar-
macist about how to store prescription
medications.
• Important documents. Keep these
records in a waterproof, portable con-
tainer: wills, insurance policies, con-
tracts, deeds, stocks and bonds,
passports, Social Security cards, immu-
nization records, bank account numbers,
credit card account numbers and
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