How to Prepare an Emergency Kit

With fires season upon us in California, earthquakes and floods of constant concern, and the COVID crisis showing no end in sight, having an emergency kit packed and ready, should you need to either shelter in place or leave quickly, is a critical part of home management. If you live in an area that gets snow, you're dealing with an even higher likelihood of an emergency.  So prepare your emergency kit now, and make sure it contains even some things you may not think of when you're in a hurry.

If having one emergency kit is good, having one at home, one in your car, and one in your workplace is better. Having one for each family member to grab is an even better idea. For each kit, pack everything (with a few exceptions, see below) into one crate, suitcase or duffle bag that you can grab easily and quickly. If you have to grab more than two containers per family member, you're packing too much. You want to be able to grab everything at once and--go!

There are some pre-packed emergency kits available, but you should use those as a starting point. Put together a kit tailored to your individual needs. Preparing your own kit is a good way to use some of those "extras" you have and don't know what to do with around the house. 

Personal grooming:  

• Pack the package of toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash that your dentist gives you when you visit.
• Whatever cosmetics or skin-care/hair-care items that you absolutely must have, pack them, too--this is where travel-size/sample-size containers are especially handy. 
• Either pack a bar of soap with a soap tin to hold it, or pack camp soap or liquid soap, and make sure it doesn't leak. 
• Pack hand sanitizer, too. Besides needing it in this era of COVID, you'll need it if you're without running water.
• Manicure kits prove surprisingly handy--you never know when you'll have to trim/mend a nail. 
• Other grooming necessities include a comb, brush, travel-size shampoo, and deodorant.
• Medications--my prescription allergy medications are also available over the counter. So I'll just put packets of the over-the-counter versions in my kit. The next time you get your prescription medications refilled a couple of days ahead, tuck the last two or three doses into your kit.

Food:

• I have food allergies including a gluten sensitivity, so I know I'll need gluten-free oatmeal, the kind labelled as such, which may be hard to find in an emergency. I'll pack some that's sold in a plastic bag, more easily packed than a cardboard cannister.
• I'll pack a box or bag of brown sugar for that oatmeal, too. 
• When packing canned food, remember to pack a can opener (see "other" below). 
• If you've saved the plastic utensils from take-out meals, your kit is a good place for them. Other possibilities include camp utensils or a military mess kit.
• Those last few paper/plastic picnic plates, bowls, cups, and napkins that never got used? Put them in your kit. They can be used when feeding your pets, too (see below).

Pets: Whatever animals you have, make plans for transporting them in advance.

•  I have cats, so ideally my kit will include several cans of cat food and/or a bag of dry food.
• I'll keep a cat carrier for each cat, in a place as easily accessible as my home emergency kit.
• Animals can eat from paper/plastic "people" plates and bowls, too. 
• Even for a cat, an extra collar and leash may be helpful should the cat need to go outside a carrier, or you don't have a cat carrier (or enough cat carriers).
• Copies of pets' vet records should be included with your important papers (see below). 

Important Documents and Papers Including the Long Green Kind:  Place documents, records, and cash into a plastic envelope or sealed bag for protection, and pack the whole thing in your kit. 

• If you've got a stash of coins somewhere, convert them to bills, and use those for your emergency cash fund. Packing them in your emergency kit will lessen the temptation to use them elsewhere. Ideally you should keep a few $20 or $50 or even $100 bills in your kit, but even that odd $2 bill and a change purse of Susan B. Anthony dollars (or loose pocket change) will help.
• Make photocopies of your insurance, bank records, and medical records (including vet records) and birth certificate, or else just pack older or extra copies, provided the information is current. 
• A list of phone numbers, addresses, and similar contact information for family members, doctor, your insurance agent, and whoever else you think you might need to contact quickly.
• Pick a credit card you don't use very often, one that's due to expire in more than a year, and include it with your important documents. 

Clothing:  Here's a use for some of the clothes and underwear you keep stashed in the back of your closet and drawers. 

• Pack a beat-up pair of jeans, pajamas, an old sweater, sweatshirt, shirt, and a change of underwear. The worn-out things you're almost ready to discard will be fine. 
• Don't forget socks and a pair of old comfortable shoes. 
• If you have a rain poncho, pack it. 
• In this era of COVID, pack disposable gloves and extra face masks/coverings, too.

Water:  The advice says, "one gallon per person per day," but obviously you can't pack gallon jugs in a carry-all grab-and-go bag or box. Stash some single-use bottled water in your bag or case. Keep the gallon jugs separate but within easy reach. Keep another gallon of drinking water in your car, and more bottled water at your workplace.

Other:

• Matches sealed in a waterproof sandwich or freezer bag.
• Scissors.
• First aid kit, these you can get pre-assembled. Keep one in your house, one at your workplace, and one in each car. Extra bandages and cream or ointment is a good idea.
• Flashlight and batteries--another item you should keep in several places, in your kit(s), at your house, at your workplace and in each car.
• Battery-powered radio with extra batteries, or a hand-cranked radio.
• Cellphone charger and extra cellphone battery/batteries.
• Recreation--a paperback novel, crossword puzzle book, and/or playing cards.
• Don't forget a can opener!

Some Emergency Supplies That Can't be Easily Packed in Advance but Should be Kept Readily Available, Including:

• Blanket, keep one in your car if your kit's too jammed.
• One or more towels--beach towel, bath towel, hand towel, washcloth--may also be kept in your car.
• An extra change of clothes and/or pajamas can be stored in your car and/or at work.
• A whistle on your keychain.
• A wrench to turn off a gas leak.
• Candles aren't something you need to take if you're fleeing a fire, but they remain an option should your power go out. Lanterns and similar devices will provide light in an emergency, too.
• A shovel--people in snow country often keep one in the house and one in the car should they need to dig themselves out. It's useful should your water go out and garbage pile up, too. Think in advance about what facilities (including the possibility of using "portable" or "camp" facilities) will be available, should your plumbing be out of order for an extended period of time.

Once you have your kit(s) assembled and stored away, periodically make sure documents are still current, food isn't past its shelf date, clothes still fit, batteries are still fresh, and the water hasn't gone stale. Use up the perishables and replace them once a year or so.