Are You Prepared for an Emergency? – Part 3

Supplies and miscellaneous items

Some people take for granted things like preparing emergency kits for possible disasters until it’s already too late. Are you and your family prepared for calamities like earthquakes, tornadoes, fire, storm, hurricanes, and flood? Do you know what to do in case of an emergency situation? Before any of these disasters happen, develop a strategic and emergency plan for the entire family so that everyone will be ready to face impending danger that may come your way.

Aside from food and water supply, your family should have other basic supplies and miscellaneous items stored in a safe place in case of an emergency. Here are some of the things you need to store.

1. For your communication needs, it’s a must to have a radio (hand cranked or battery-operated), whistle (used as signal to ask for help), flashlights, cell phones, extra batteries, and chargers.
2. Pertinent documents and valuable items – put copies of important information in a waterproof pouch and keep it where you can easily find it. Documents like lot titles, birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, social security card, and medical information should be included. Emergency and family contact numbers should also be close at hand. Cash, traveller’s checks, small bills, and other valuable items should be included as well.
3. Prescription medicines and medical equipment – to check for vital signs, have your blood pressure apparatus and diabetes monitoring device for family members who have problem in their sugar kept in a handy place. Medications good for 7 days, safe- breathing masks, and gloves are a good idea as well.
4. Personal items – car and house keys, personal hygiene items like toothbrush, toothpaste, and feminine supplies. If you have a toddler be sure to have baby bottles, diapers, powdered milk, medications, diaper rash ointment, and moist towelettes. And for your pets, collar, id, carrier, bowl and leash as well as food.
5. Clothes and bedding – during cold weather set aside a coat or jacket, long sleeve shirt, gloves, hat, long pants, warm blankets, and sleeping bags. In summer, a battery-operated fan is helpful.
6. Miscellaneous items – can opener for your food items, pliers or wrench, multipurpose tools, trash bags, work gloves, towels, matches, scissors, knife, duct tape, fire extinguisher, paper plates, plastic utensils, disposable cups, local maps, paper and pencil, dish soap, disinfectant, books, puzzles, toys, or any fun activities for your children to take away their mind from the situation you are in.

These things will not only be beneficial to your own family but can also be a channel in helping your neighbors, strangers, and other people. Though having all these items is not guaranteed that you will be free from danger during emergency situations, it is still very helpful in alleviating the pain and suffering of your family and can keep you hopeful and optimistic.

Always keep in mind that being prepared is much better than doing nothing at all and, as the saying goes – “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst”.