Ever hear the saying, “Prepare for the worst and hope for the best”. We can prepare ourselves and family for a disastrous event, and hope it never happens. Sounds good to me! Let’s get prepared, just in case we may need it in the future. We’ll make it as easy as possible for you by providing some helpful supply lists to get you started.
What kind of emergency kit do you need? Experts recommend that you have a 3-Minute Emergency Kit, a 3-Day Emergency Kit, and a Car Emergency Kit. A 3-Minute Emergency Kit is referring to the first 3 minutes of an evacuation type emergency, and what you need to grab & go. It’s recommended to keep the 3-Minute Emergency Kit under your bed, just in case you need to evacuate for a fire, mudslide or earthquake. What do I need for my emergency kit? Well, we are glad that you asked and we’ve got some lists for you to refer to.
3-Minute Emergency Kit (Keep this one under your bed.)
- Sturdy shoes.
- Change of clothes.
- Extra set of keys to your home and vehicle.
- Leather work gloves.
- Whistle.
- Flashlight.
- Anything else that’s important to you.
3-Day Basic Emergency Kit (Pack this kit in plastic bins or backpacks.)
- Water. Experts recommend 1 gallon per person, per day. Have enough for at least 3 days or longer.
- Food. At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Radio. Get a hand crank or battery powered radio and get extra batteries.
- Flashlight. Grab some extra batteries.
- First Aid Kit.
- Whistle.
- Manual can opener.
- Wrench or pliers.
- Masks, plastic sheeting, and duct tape. You may need to create a unique shelter.
- Toilet paper, garbage bags, moist towelettes.
- Cell phone & charger, and back up power bank.
Extra Items to Add to Your Basic Emergency Kit
- Matches. Store these in a waterproof container.
- Medications.
- Glasses, contact lenses & supplies.
- Infant formula, diapers, wipes, etc.
- Children’s toys, books, games.
- Personal hygiene items: toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, feminine products.
- Cash.
- Family documents in a watertight container.
- Sleeping bags, blankets.
- Clothing, sturdy shoes.
- Chlorine bleach (to disinfect water), medicine dropper, coffee filters, paper towels.
- Fire extinguisher.
- Paper cups, plates, utensils.
- Paper & pens.
- Pet supplies (food, leash, medicine, water, first aid, treats, bedding, crate).
Car Emergency Kit
- Water.
- Tool kit.
- First aid kit.
- Jumper cables.
- Non-perishable food.
- Flashlight & extra batteries.
- Phone charger & power bank.
- Spare tire, wheel wrench, tripod jack.
Personalize the emergency kits to fit the needs of your family. Store the emergency kit in an easy to access area and keep an emergency kit in your car. Once the emergency kits are made, remember to update them each year and replace items as needed.
None of us want to think we will ever need to use these emergency kits, but all of use would be happy to have them if the need ever arises. Rancho Cal Insurance Services would like you to be prepared for the next emergency. We hope these lists for your emergency kits makes it easy for you to get prepared. For more information, visit www.ready.gov.
