What Would I Need if a Major Disaster Struck?

Water

• Water is one of the most basic needs a person has in life. It is easy to take for granted that you only need to turn your faucet on and get water. However, in the case of a major disaster, your water may be cut off, leaving you with none. The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests storing 1 gallon of water for each person in your household per day. Therefore, a family of five needs 35 gallons of water to last one week. Store the water in your garage or someplace where the risk is low of your supply getting buried. Refresh your store of water every six months.

Food

• In some disasters, you may not be able to get out of your home to purchase food or the stores may run out. Keep a store of nonperishable food items in your home, enough to feed each person in your home for at least a week. Any canned or boxed food that requires little preparation is ideal, but don't forget to include a manual can opener in your kit. Monitor your store of food for items close to their expiration date. Eat those items that are close to expiring and replace them. If you have a baby in the home, keep a store of ready-to-serve formula and baby food as well. If you store items that need to be cooked, also keep a grill with fuel or a small camp stove in case there is no electricity or gas service.

Clothing and Personal Items

• Depending on the type of disaster, you may escape with only the clothes on your back. In these situations, it is beneficial to have a couple of changes of clothes available in your emergency kit. If you have children, upgrade the clothing whenever your child changes sizes. Include both warm- and cold-weather clothing depending on your climate. Keep a store of soap, feminine products, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other personal care items in your emergency kit as well. If anyone in your family needs prescription medication, keep at least a week's worth with your emergency supply.

Important Papers

• You may need important papers, such as bank statements, Social Security cards, birth certificates and marriage licenses after a disaster. Keep copies of these items in a fireproof, waterproof safety box near your emergency supplies. It is also important to keep a small amount of cash in this box as well in case you need it after the disaster. With a major disaster, the banks may fail and any money you have in the bank will be useless to you. Credit cards and an extra set of your keys are also important.

First Aid

• During the course of a major disaster, you, a family member or neighbor may be injured or become ill. A well-stocked first aid kit allow you to help anyone who is injured or sick until medical help can arrive. Bandages of various sizes, alcohol wipes, aspirin and a first aid manual are all useful items for your first aid kit. The more prepared you are, the more emergencies with which you can help.

Survival Items

• You may find yourself in survival mode after a disaster where you have no electricity, phone service or gas in your home. Stock up on batteries and store battery-operated appliances, such as flashlights and a radio, so you have light and can keep updated on what is happening in your area. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers with your emergency kit in case you still have phone service; however, if you do have phone service, restrict its use for emergencies only to prevent clogging up the phone lines. A sleeping bag for each person or a tent may come in handy if you lose your home in the disaster.