Your Emergency Kit

A container full of emergency supplies can make all the difference during a catastrophe
Having an emergency kit for times of disaster will help you keep your family safe. You don't have to gather your emergency supplies in one day, but as you collect items, place them in a large waterproof container and store everything near a door or in your garage. This way, you'll have easy access to your emergency survival kit if you have to seek shelter quickly.

Even if you find yourself heading for a shelter house during a catastrophe, bring your emergency kit along to make sure you have everything you need to make your family as comfortable as possible.

Start with these items for your emergency kit:

Food

A three-day supply of drinking water (a gallon of water per person per day is a good rule of thumb)
Food you don't have to refrigerate or cook
A can opener
Dishes
Shelter and tools

A wrench and other basic tools
Flashlights or portable lanterns
Work gloves
Sanitation supplies such as toilet paper, soap, garbage bags and disinfectant
Dry clothing
Baby items, such as bottles and diapers
Fresh batteries
Blankets
Extra car and house keys
Pet food, toys and dishes
Health and safety

First aid supplies
Prescription medications
Extra eyeglasses or contact lens solution
Medicine
Entertainment and news

A crank- or battery-powered radio
Books, magazines
Family games and crafts
Paperwork

Copies of your credit card and driver's license
Cash
A map of your area
Important documents, including your insurance policies
A list of area hotels
For even more tips on how to build an emergency survival kit, head to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. You’ll find a 200-page brochure covering everything you need to know about disaster preparedness. (It's a PDF, so make sure you have Adobe® Reader® to view it.)