You and your family should have an emergency kit to help handle emergencies. Here's what your basic emergency kit should contain:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
Battery-operated radio
NOAA weather radio
Extra batteries
Whistle
Local Maps
Cell phone charger/phone backup battery with cables
LIGHTING
Flashlights and headlamps with extra batteries
Glowsticks/chemlights
Waterproof matches
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
First aid kit
Three-day supply of required medicines
Copies of prescriptions
Disinfectant wipes/hand sanitizer
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Personal hygiene supplies
Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses
Seasonal change of clothing
CLEANUP AND SAFETY
Plastic trash bags
Dust masks
Paper towels
Utility turn-off wrench/tool kit
ABC fire extinguisher
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Sturdy shoes or work boots
Chlorine bleach
FOOD AND SHELTER
Bottled water – At least one gallon per person per day (include pets)
Food – Choose items that don't have to be heated and have a long shelf life
Knife and utensils for food preparation
Small camping stove
Hand-crank can opener
Paper plates and cups
Blankets and sleeping bags
Tarp or plastic sheeting
Scissors and duct tape
Towels
Space heater and fuel
OTHER ITEMS
Paper/pens/pencils
Cash in small denominations
Pet food, water dish, leash, toys, bedding, cages or crates
Games, books, puzzles, and toys for children & adults
PET EMERGENCY KIT
Just like other family members, your pets need an emergency kit. Plan ahead so you know what you'll do to keep your pets safe during an emergency disaster. Your pet emergency kit should include the following:
Food and water for at least three days.
Medication and medical records, including rabies vaccinations.
Cat litter box, litter, scoop, and trash bags to hold pet waste.
Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers.
Collar with your phone number printed on it.
Current photos of your pets.
Written information about pets' feeding schedules, medical conditions, and behavioral issues.
Your veterinarian's name and phone number in case you must board your pets or place them in foster care.
Vehicle Emergency Kit
A vehicle emergency kit serves several purposes: repair and recovery, signaling, and sheltering.
REPAIR AND RECOVERY
Repair and recovery items can get you back on the road after a minor mechanical problem.
Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries – because breakdowns don’t always happen in the daytime.
Work gloves – save your knuckles while changing a tire or working under the hood.
Safety glasses – protection from those unexpected splashes of automotive fluids.
Jumper cables – just be sure you know the right order in which to connect them. Alternatively, consider a jump-start power pack, which can also serve as an emergency charger for personal electronics.
Jack, jack handle, lug wrench, and spare tire – every car should have these, but when was the last time you made sure they were still in there?
Air compressor – good for airing up that spare tire you haven’t checked in a few years.
Recovery strap – in some cases, another vehicle can get you unstuck without a call for a tow truck. A strap is better than a chain because it will absorb some of the shock of a pull and it’s less dangerous if it breaks under load.
SIGNALING
While a cell phone is often the best way to call for help or get information, a dead battery or a cellular service interruption can render it useless. Having a few backup methods of signaling never hurts.
Cell phone charger – an adapter that plugs into your car’s accessory outlet or cigarette lighter can keep your phone going indefinitely.
Road flares – for warning oncoming drivers of hazards. Please don’t use around flammable hazards…
Chemical light sticks – a healthy glow for signaling or working.
Emergency reflectors or LED beacons – a non-combustible alternative to flares.
Fluorescent flag – when tied to your radio antenna or a branch, can mark your vehicle’s location even in deep snow.
Whistle – if you’re reported lost, searchers will come for you. A whistle carries much farther than your voice.
SAFETY AND SHELTERING
If you’re stranded, your vehicle is often your best available shelter. Having a few key items on board can make a big difference in comfort and safety.
First aid kit – along with the skills to use it.
Bottled water – one gallon per person if you have the storage space.
Non-perishable food – snacks for a road trip or dinner if you’re stuck between interstate exits.
Spare socks and underwear – because the power of staying warm, dry, and clean can’t be overstated.
Blanket, sleeping bag, or survival blanket – extra insulation for that very long night.
Paper towels, toilet paper, and personal hygiene supplies – to make that unexpected overnight a little more comfortable.
WINTER ADDITIONS
The items listed above should be in your kit year-round. In addition, you should add the following supplies for cold-weather travel.
Windshield scraper – more of an everyday necessity if you park outdoors in the winter, but no one ever enjoys scraping ice off windows with a credit card.
Collapsible snow shovel – for digging out of a snowbank.
Base layer clothing – thermal underwear for sheltering overnight.
Cat litter – traction on snow and ice. Alternatives include sand and road salt.
Blankets and snow boots
TIPS AND TRICKS
The best emergency kit is the one you never have to use. Travel safely and keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.
A flashlight in your car may not see frequent use. Store it with the batteries reversed or removed so they won’t corrode.
If your trunk is jammed or frozen shut, its contents may be inaccessible. Consider keeping your kit in the passenger compartment while you’re driving.
Check your kit regularly – perhaps in the spring and fall when you reset your clocks and change your smoke detector batteries.
Drive off the top half of your tank to ensure you always have reserve fuel on board.
In cold weather, consider removing temperature-sensitive items when you park overnight.