List of Things to Have in Case a Tsunami Hits

Food and Water

• Choose food for your kit that will keep for a long time. Place canned food, including vegetables and fruit, in your kit. Include a bottle of protein powder. In addition, pack a can opener, forks, knives, spoons and any other utensils you need to create meals from your food. Include 1 gallon of water per person per day. Remember that water may be used for bathing and cooking, not just drinking.

Health

• Place a first aid kit with bandages, antibiotics, antiseptic cream, splints and pain relievers in your kit. If someone in your family takes special medication such as insulin, be prepared with syringes and have additional doses on hand to add to the kit and a way to keep the insulin refrigerated, if necessary. Place toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, cleaning wipes and dry shampoo in for every member of your family.

Other Items

• Create an evacuation route map. Buy a regular street map of your area and highlight the roads that move you to high ground quickly. Include more than one route. Try to find a place that is more than two miles away from the coast or at an elevation of 100 feet or higher. Place it in your emergency kit. Put a battery-powered radio and a battery-powered alarm clock in your kit. Place several packs of batteries to keep the electronics running. Include extra socks, emergency blankets, sweatshirts and other items to keep you warm. A pair of shoes with a sturdy bottom can keep your feet from being cut after the tsunami has passed, if you have to return to an area that has been affected. A flashlight -- or three -- is a must. Include pet care items, like food and a carrier. Place an envelope of cash in your kit in case you forget your wallet, or the electronics at stores are down and will not take credit cards.

Safety Tips

• Do not return to any dangerous areas as soon as the first wave recedes. A tsunami is frequently a series of waves and subsequent ones can be as or more dangerous than the initial one. Earthquakes can accompany a tsunami; make sure your refuge will not be dangerous if one occurs. Be prepared year round, as tsunamis are not bound by seasons or times of the day. Make sure you know how to gather your kit and evacuate your home via the planned emergency route in minutes.