Emergency Planning Kit – The List
After a recent scare, I realized that BabyGirl and I are not prepared for an emergency situation and I’m trying to do better. With the help of Be Red Cross Ready and various emergency lists from around the web, I’ve created my own inventory list of “must have” emergency planning items:
- Food
- Water
- MREs
- Can food
- Manual can opener
- Plastic utensils
- Crackers
- Oreos (don’t ask)
- Water
- First Aid/Medicine
- BG’s Inhaler
- Tylenol*
- Motrin
- Aspirin
- Antibiotic ointment
- Band-aids*
- Duct Tape*
- Gauze pads*
- Scissors*
- Hot/cold compress*
- Digital Thermometer
- BG’s Inhaler
- Survival
- $100 (dollars and coins)
- Emergency contact list (long distance family)
- Breathing masks
- Space blankets
- Flash lights*
- Light sticks
- Candles
- Matches
- Butane lighter
- Gloves (work and latex)
- AM/FM radio
- Batteries (AA/AAA)*
- Mini sewing kit (needle, thread, safety pins, etc.)*
- Set of warm changing clothes
- Extra socks
- Extra glasses/contacts
- Rain poncho
- Prepaid phone card $5
- Trash bags*
- Whistle
- Pocket knife
- Map ?
- Survival book ?
- $100 (dollars and coins)
- Important Documents
- Laminated birth certificates*
- Laminated social security cards*
- Passports*
- Credit cards (including copy of front/back)
- Will
- Bank account info
- List of passwords ?
- USB drive with important electronic docs*
- Laminated birth certificates*
- Toiletries
- Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
- Deodorant*
- Soap*
- Toothpaste*
- Toothbrush*
- Toilet Paper*
- Moist (cleansing and disinfectant) wipes*
- Pads/tampons*
- Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
- Pet
- Dog food*
- Small food/water tray*
- Leash and identification tag*
- Medical record (proof of rabies shot)*
- Dog food*
- Entertainment
- BE magazine or PF book*
- Mini Connect 4 or Checkers
- Cards*
- Cross word puzzle book
- Journal and pens
- BE magazine or PF book*
- Car
- Fix a flat
- Jumper cables*
- Tire pressure gauge
- Cell phone charger*
- GPS*
- Ice scraper*
- Road flares
- Blankets
- Coins
- Fix a flat
What ya think?
Eventually, I plan to create three emergency kits:
1) the bare minimum necessities in two backpacks for one of those “let’s hurry up and get the f*** outta here!!” moments
2) everything else, including the two backpacks, stored neatly in a large plastic container for when we need to evacuate the state and unable to return home for a while
3) a kit including everything in #8 for the car only
Some of these things, I already own or have an extra set for an emergency kit* (just need to find/organize them), so my goal is to complete the e-kits within the next 6 months. I will make it a game – like a budget scavenger hunt – to see how many items I can find for FREE or really cheap. I’ll update my status every other month, but if I forget, y’all remind me. M’kay?
Is your emergency kit in order?
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The kit sounds all good, but you know someone was going to ask…How much is it going to cost for an emergency kit like this?
If you completely discount the fact that I’ve said I already own most of the items and intend to find the rest of them for FREE (or cheap), then I guess that’s a relative question. One would have to ask themselves how much is safety/emergency preparedness worth to YOU? It depends. [-SM]
Having had nothing at all, last month, I purchased a really decent emergency kit for my car directly from the American Red Cross website for just under $50. I could have created one much more cheaply, but I wanted to get it handled, and I’ve already used items from it twice in minor scrapes!
I could do a lot more to personalize that kit, and to expand on the concept, but it’s a good start, and I’m glad I did it! I live in Los Angeles, and there’s never been cause to evacuate, but occasionally it gets hard to get back home for a while!
Good for you for starting on yours!
I need one!!! :|
Thanks for the start!
I was just reading up on this. Random- I thought laminated social security cards are considered invalid? I don’t know where I read that. I mean of course it makes sense to water proof them. I keep all important documents in a plastic book.
If this is true, then I showed proof of an “invalid” SS card when I applied for my very valid US Passport last year. [-SM]
What is a space blanket?
A metallic-like blanket used in emergency situations with the primary purpose of reducing heat loss from your body. [-SM]
I do not have most of those things at all. I figure if something happens right now I will drive to my uncles house 10 minutes away. He is a responsible adult and always has things on hand. If the car is unavailable I can walk or take public transit.
I know this is so not the way to go, but it is a quick solution, got no pets or no kids.
In an emergency, I definitely want Oreos! Comfort food is important for preventing panic, right? My emergency kit is of the grab-and-go, backpack variety, plus several more liters of water and the non-perishables in my pantry. I do need to work on beefing it up a bit.
I concur with Laila, if you look on the back of your SS card it says do not laminate. However, a lot of people have them laminated and I don’t think its big deal because most places including the USPS still accept laminated cards.
SM-
For the flashlight, get a headlamp. That uses LED’s. They last MUCH longer and with a headlamp your hands are free to use. Check out steepandcheap.com, the list them once in awhile. Or check out rei-outlet.com or your local rei/outdoor store. Water purification tablets or a water filter are also highly recommended.
Funny enough – I work for an Emergency Preparedness department for a couty government in MD. Thrilling to see someone putting together a kit.
- Make sure you a preiodically checking yoru supplies. We recommend when you change your clocks, which is also when you change your fire detector battery.
- Better then water purification tabs is a good old fashioned container of bleach : ) A couple drops will purify water and it does duty as general disinfectant.
- You should also have a meeting place/contact plan for you and baby girl. How will you connect if something happens when you are not together? Have an out of state contact. In an emergency, local phone lines get jammed. You will have a better chance of contacting someone out of state. Plus if you need assistance, the out of state person can possibly help you better then a neighbor who may be in the same situation.
- I like crank radios and flashlights better then battery operated. Then you don’t have to worry about keeping tabs on when batteries are no good.
- Look for a radio that also has the Weatherband frequency.
- You need burn ointment and allergy medicine for your 1st aid kit.