Whether it’s floods, fires, or an earthquake, an hour or two of preparation in advance of a disaster offers peace of mind, but can also mean the difference between surviving or not. Reporter Mike Lipsitz offers some tips on putting together your emergency kit…
Assemble your kit with the thought that its contents may be all you have access to for an extended period. Each person in your household should have his or her own kit. A backpack is ideal because you can carry it hands free. Store food and water separately in a tub or chest on wheels. Set aside a gallon of water per person daily. Include a map with at least two evacuation routes. And have any prescriptions or special medications, a change of clothes, glasses or sun shades, first aid kit, cash, flashlight, dust mask, multi-tool, battery-operated radio and batteries, hygiene items, copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance policies. How about pet food, phone charger and laptop? Every household’s emergency kit will look a little different; that’s why it pays to think about what you’ll need in advance of a disaster.
