Q & A about 72 Hour Kits

 

WHY Have a Kit?  *It takes time for emergency relief to be set up and sent out, even up to 72 hours.  You may also need to evacuate your area quickly and won’t have time to put anything together.

IN WHAT?           *A portable container is the best to have your kit stored in so you can grab it on the go.  Store it where it is easily accessible.

WHO?                *Each member in your family should have a kit and in them have all things necessary to sustain life.  In the chance that you are separated from your children, you want them to be able to stay warm, eat and drink.

CLOTHES?           *Always pack an extra set of clothes in each individual kit including underwear (bra) and socks.  A light jacket and knit gloves are also good to have.  The extra clothes should be stored in a plastic bag to keep them dry in case your kit gets wet. Always pack bigger sized clothes than smaller sized ones, you can always roll or cut off the access length.

PROTECTION?      *Keep all food and emergency supplies in separate plastic bags to keep them protected from water or smoke damage.

OTHER TIPS?       *Keep a light source at the top of your kit or in an easy reach spot.  Your first aid kit and plastic whistle are also good things to have accessible.  Whistles are heard over talking so they are good to have in case you are trying to find someone or be found.

*Each kit should have identification on it, in case of separation or death.  Each card should have the person’s name, birthdate, home city and state, emergency phone number, parents’ names and phone numbers, any medical conditions and any other important information.

*The head of the household should have photo copies of all the important legal documents for the family.  Examples are birth certificates, social security cards, titles, deeds and etc.

*Each family should have an Emergency Disaster Plan in place for different circumstances that may happen.  Each member of the family should have one of these plans in their kits.

*Money should be included in each kit, especially in the head of household’s kit.  Use small bills so in the case that there is no change you won’t be out a large sum of money.  If there is a power outage your debit and credit cards will hold no value.

* Medications are very important to have in your kits.  Make sure that in each kit you verify that the medication is not expired.