Emergency Kits

Kevin was telling me about this book called One Second After. It's about an electromagnetic pulse weapon that disables everything that relies on computers or electronics. Of course, he was telling me this on our trip back home from visiting Austin and asked me what I'd do if something like that happened to us while we were traveling. The car would not work anymore because of its computer. He proceeds to tell me that it would probably take us 2 weeks to get home (walking). When I suggested a horse, he said who would let us keep a horse when there would be others needing some form of transportation. What would keep them from taking it from us, using whatever means they deemed necessary. So after talking about this for about an hour, I decided we really needed to gather emergency supplies to keep stored in the garage, and pray that we are home or near home when something happens. The branch has encouraged us to have a kit in our homes in case of a disaster. After the friends in Kentucky were hit by the ice storm and were without power and water for days, I thought I needed to get some water. Then I saw an episode of The Unit where someone tampered with the water supply and pumped chlorine gas through the water pipes and killed people. I thought I needed to get some duct tape. Then Kevin was telling me about that book and I thought, I really need to get something together. So last night after the meeting, I searched the web for a list of practical items to keep in a kit. I found it on the ready.gov site. It's a very practical list of items we all can get at our local grocery store and Wal-Mart.

Our CVS has plastic storage containers on clearance 50% off so check out your local stores to see what's on sale. Keep everything in the totes, so in case of an emergency you can grab the whole thing in a hurry. That may mean you will need to rotate canned food items that might expire.
Leave a note on the door with information about where you are going and who it with you.

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, manual can-opener
  
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Hope this helps!