CHECKLIST FOR FAMILIES

 

This list is a good start, but I think they should change the recommedned 2 week suppy of food and water to a higher amount. It's a good list to get people started to thinking about this though.

Planforflu suggested emergency supply list:

*Gas in cars, always. (Ask the people trying to escape hurricane Rita. Can you imagine being trapped on the road for days, in a huge traffic jam, no food and no water. Some had babies and the elderly with them.)

*Non-electric can opener (Not having this would be really bad)          

*Clorox, plain kind
*Dishwashing detergent
*Small scrubbie
*Paper Towels
*Toilet paper, a very important item
*Tissues

*Matches
*Long-snout type lighters
*Candles
*Portable heater
*Emergency lighting
*Camp stove & fuel
*Games, playing cards, craft supplies, hobby supplies, free word games and other games off the net

*Containers, including at least one 5 gallon or similar bucket (emergency potty and many other uses)
*Plastic bags, different sizes, including large ones, many uses
*Duct tape and sheet plastic
*Scissors
*Disposable plates, forks, spoons, hot and cold cups
*Knives
*Hand beater, non-electric, like in the old days (many uses including mixing dry milk)
*Ziplock bags
*Aluminum foil

*Extra set of car keys
*Sleeping bags or plenty of blankets
*Sturdy shoes
*Glasses, sunglasses
*Clothes pins
*Clothes line rope and other rope (multiple uses)
*Surgical type gloves
*Work gloves
*A little shovel (what if the potty doesn't work.. and other uses)
*A small saw, tools or toolkit
*Non-electric clock or watch
*Batteries
*Mylar type emergency blankets, roll mylar insulation from a home center (good over windows, too)

*Sunscreen
*Purell or generic alcohol gel hand cleaner (very important). GermX @ many stores, Members Mark Brand @Sams
*Nail brush
*Wipes or baby wipes, refills are usually cheaper (get several kinds, brands smell differently)
*Bug repellent, skin type
*Insect killers, flying insect type also
*Shaving supplies
*Nail clippers
*Toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss
*Tampons or other sanitary needs
*Shampoo
*Soap
*No-rinse face wash, like Cetaphil (generic OK)

*Mop bucket with wringer to use as a washing machine (Dollar Stores, Home Depot, home stores, discount store) and a cheap plunger to use as a clothes agitator. Works great!
*Maps, atlas
*Compass
*Metal garbage can to burn trash. If you can find an old one with holes in it, even better. Home Depot, Lowes, hardware stores. If you need it to draft better, you can knock a few holes around the sides.
*Paper and pen
*Magnifier
*A Sharpie type waterproof marker
*Note paper
*Photocopies of important documents such as birth certificates, drivers' licenses and so on for the entire family. Put in a waterproof bag.
*A cell phone charger, if you have a phone. Even when phone service was available, many Katrina survivors could not call out because their phones were dead and there was no power. When phone service is bad, small text messages can sometimes get through.
*A corded phone, they don't need electricity like a cordless phone
*Camping toilet, or perhaps your family has a bedside potty stored.
*Generator (nice to have, but remember, there may be limited or no gasoline)
*Solar panels and battery system (expensive)
*Oil lamps and pure lamp oil
*Firewood
*Charcoal
*Coleman lanterns with fuel & mantels
*Coleman fuel Also can be used as emergency gasoline. About $4.50 per gallon in a sealed container.
*Items for self protection
*Good locks on doors and windows
*Water containers
*Gasoline containers
*Hatchet or Axe

*Wound closure strips
*Gauze and tape
*Band aids
*Betadine or Hibiclens to wash injuries
*Anesthetic, like Lanacaine or Solarcaine
*Vitamins
*Imodium (generic is fine and cheaper)
*Tylenol or Ibuprofen
*Theraflu
*Vitamin C, Ester-C, or Emergen-C (food supplement when citrus is in short supply, good for immune system)
*Extra bottles or packages of all of your regular prescriptions, B.C. pills
*Contact lens solution
*Antibiotic ointment
*Thermometer

*Supplies for babies, toddlers, and older folks

*Pet food and supplies (Pet birds, kept indoors, are NO risk to you)

You may need to think about a back-up heating source. Most folks in cold areas have a plan for this already, since they can easily find themselves in a dangerous situation during winter storms