How to Make an Emergency Kit

Every home needs to have an emergency kit ready in case of a natural disaster. Even if you think one will never happen to you, natural disasters happen in every area of the United States. For example, the West Coast has wild fires and earthquakes. The central United States faces tornados and power outages from thunderstorms. The East Coast endures blizzards and hurricanes. An emergency kit can help you make it through these tough times and could even save your life. Here is how to make an emergency kit that will work well for any type of natural disaster.

Supplies for an Emergency Kit

According to FEMA's Get a Kit Guide, there are a few basic items that should be included in an emergency preparedness kit:

* First aid kit
* Three gallons of water for each person in your family
* Three-day supply of food that is non-perishable, such as dried fruit, nuts, canned items, etc.
* Can opener if you packed canned foods
* Portable NOAA weather radio with tone alert
* Extra batteries for the radio
* Flashlight with extra batteries
* Dust mask for each member of the family in case of contaminated air
* Plastic sheeting and duct tape
* Whistle to signal for help if you are trapped
* Garbage bags and plastic ties for waste
* Moist towelettes or baby wipes to clean yourself without water
* Wrench or pliers for turning off utilities, such as gas or water
* Maps of your town
* Cell phone and charger with portable power source

Consolidating the Gear

If this sounds like a lot to pack or to gather, there are a few ways to make creating an emergency preparedness kit easier on yourself.

For example, instead of buying a whistle, NOAA weather radio, a flashlight, cell phone charger and extra batteries for it all, why not purchase a solar powered radio that has all of these features built in? For instance, the American Red Cross Solarlink FR500 has a siren, flashlight, a red LED signal light, a cell phone charger and NOAA weather radio stations with an alert. The best part is that these types of radios can be powered with batteries, AC or DC chargers, solar panels or a crank. This gives you several power options depending on your situation.

To make gathering non-perishable food items easier, buy MREs online or from camping supply stores. MREs are "Meals Ready to Eat" and were designed by the military for soldiers. Each one provides a hot meal thanks to the small heating unit that is included in the package.

Put it All Together

To finish your emergency kit, put all of the smaller items in a sturdy backpack. Putting it in a backpack will make the kit easier to carry and will leave your hands free for more important things. Put the larger items and the pack in a place where they will be easy to find, like a hallway closet. If you live in a tornado prone area, you may want to leave your emergency preparedness kit in your tornado shelter or your basement.

Having an emergency kit will not only help your family in a natural disaster, it can also give you the peace of mind to know that you are ready for action in a bad situation.

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