Emergency Preparedness: Build A Kit (or Several) Gayle Elam Seattle area

Build a Kit, or Several

A Small but Useful Car Kit

• 1 gallon water
• crank flashlight with AM/FM/weather radio
• emergency mylar blankets (2)
• Hotties hand warmers (2)
• instant cold packs (2)
• styrofoam cups and plastic cups
• bowls, small plates, plastic spoons, forks, knives, and napkins
• plastic bags in assorted sizes
• Esbit Pocket Stove, and extra fuel (stove is about $10 at REI)
• waterproof matches, stored in water-tight matches container
  (firefighter confirms that it is safe to store matches in the car this way, even in the summer, because they would not get enough oxygen to burn)
• teapot or small pot to boil water on the pocket stove
• teabags and hot chocolate packets
• instant oatmeal packets
• Mountain House freeze-dried entree pouch, serves 2 (Some good flavors: lasagna, sweet/sour pork w/ rice, teriyaki chicken w/ rice, spaghetti, beef stew. Add 1 pint boiling water to foil pouch, stir, wait 8 minutes, and food is ready. 5 year shelf life.)
• tuna packet (foil pack that doesn't need to be drained)
• crackers
• applesauce cups (2)
• granola bars (2)
• fruit leathers (4)
• chocolate -- Kissables & Andes mints

My Car Kit

My car kit for our family of four contains the "small car kit" things and more. It has apple juice, more water, and more foods like turkey jerky, Kraft Easy Cheese, Goldfish, and cookies. It has blankets, a change of clothes for everyone, extra hats, change for a payphone, toilet paper, an empty backpack to pack selected items into, and lots of other goodies.

I also have a mini-CERT kit in the car with personal protection gear for search and rescue (hardhat, leather work gloves, safety glasses, mask, non-latex gloves, CERT manual, pens and paper).

My Purse Kit

I have a personal emergency kit in my purse as well. In it I have essential medications for my family, prescription eyeglasses/contacts, basic first aid supplies, snacks, and selected emergency supplies. The emergency supplies fit in an Eagle Creek zip pouch.

More about Kits, Action Plans, and Preparedness

• 3 Days, 3 Ways, Are You Ready? -- Be ready to survive on your own for a minimum of 3 Days following a disaster. For large disasters, you may not receive any government assistance for up to 7 Days. Become prepared in 3 Ways – Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved.
• Disaster Preparedness -- Personal, Schools, Neighborhoods, Business (Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division)
• The American Red Cross -- First Aid, Preparedness, Disaster Response, etc.
• Citizen Corps, which is affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security says "We all have a role in hometown security. Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety." One Citizen Corp program is Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT classes teach lifesaving skills to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors during a disaster (extinguishing small fires, light search & rescue, basic medical treatment).
• Ready America -- The Department of Homeland Security urges us to "Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed." 1. Get A Kit. 2. Make A Plan. 3. Be Informed.
• Ready Kids -- Kids message from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Let's Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies -- Sesame Workshop develops family friendly resources on Emergency Preparedness, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security's Ready Kids initiative. Fun and easy ways to help the whole family prepare for any type of emergency.

Last Modified: February 8, 2009