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"Hoping for the best and planning for the worst" is a common phrase when it comes to preparing for disasters. In public health we plan for large scale disasters that effect a large group of people (i.e. a community). I have taken that same motto and scaled down the planning to my own family. By being prepared, you can have your own plan of action in the event of a disaster.

Being prepared for a disaster will help you and your families increase your chances of staying safe and healthy in an event of a disaster. Being prepared also reduces fear, anxiety, and possibly reduces the impact of the disaster. Before you can plan, having some background knowledge on the types of disasters can help you plan more efficiently.                                                                                                                                             
There are three types of disasters; natural (weather related), technological (hazardous chemical spills, explosions, etc) and terrorism events. The most common disasters are natural disasters. Think about your geographical location; are you in an area with lots of earthquakes? Tornados come through your area frequently? What about floods or ice storms? By writing down in a notebook (devoted specifically for your disaster plan) the types of weather events that are most common to your area you can plan more effectively. For example, if you live in the north having extra blankets, gloves, and hats in your emergency kit would be essential. However, if you are in the deep south and have never seen a snowflake in your life, having those items wouldn't be very useful. So now that I have you thinking about the types of disasters in your area; let’s take that list and move onto making an emergency kit.

  

These are the basic items that should be in your kit and they include:

1. food and water
2. first aid kit
3. tools and supplies
4. pet supplies (if Dory your goldfish is important to you, pack her some food)
5. additional items unique to your family

Food and water are essential in an emergency kit; but how much do you need? Recommendations are to have enough supplies for three days to two weeks. As always, nonperishable food items work best. You can also order these ready to eat meals (enter website) for your kit. As for water it is recommended that you use what I like to call the "1-1-1 combo" For one person you need one gallon of water per day. So if you have four people in your family they each need a gallon of water a day. Now four gallons doesn't seem that bad, right? Well remember that is just for one day, if you follow the recommendations (3days to two weeks of supplies) you are talking (for a family of four for two weeks) 56 gallons of water! Now how are you going to store that much water? Milk jugs are out because even though you rinse them out, bacteria can still grow and getting sick on top of coping with a disaster would not be easy. So stick with bottle water or water jugs.

For the first aid kit you can either go buy all the supplies separately or purchase one from a store or the American Red Cross (website here). In the first aid kit you also want to include medications that you and your family use. Have children? Don't forget medicines for kiddos!

Tools and supplies are next on the list (men this does not mean buying new power tools!). You are going to need to have some plastic sheeting and duct tape (to prevent contaminated air from leaking in through vents and windows).  Flashlights (with extra batteries), manual can opener, utility knife, plastic bags, and paper products. There can be many more tools and supplies, but keep it to the basics and think about what you would need.

Don't forget the pets! Make sure you have enough food and water for Fido! Also pack an extra leash or carrier. Have their rabies and other vaccination records? If you have to go to a shelter, many of them don't allow pets. So you will have to make other arrangements. Check with the Humane Society and see what their policy is during a disaster.

Other items will be needed depending on your family. Do you have younger kids? Gather books and games (entertainment that doesn't need electricity) to keep kids entertained. Do you have a baby and need formula? Are you taking care of your elderly parents? What medications do they need? Keep a medical record of all members of your house (the medications they take, blood type, allergies, etc) and put that paper in a Ziploc bag or two to keep it from getting damaged.

For more information on building a kit, I recommend looking at the following websites:

www.flu.gov

www.ready.gov

Now that you have supplies for your kit, where are you going to keep all this? I keep all our supplies in a Rubbermaid container (the really big ones!) labeled "emergency kit." Now if you have to evacuate taking that container around isn't going to be easy, so I put a backpack in ours. That way if we do have to leave the house, I can put the most important items in the backpack and go.  

When a disaster occurs in a community, you cannot expect that first responders will be at your door first. So keep this in mind when you are making your kit. This article is not the "all inclusive" guide to planning for disasters, merely an overview of what is out there. There are many resources out there that can help you prepare for disasters. Check with your local Health Department or American Red Cross. If you are interested in helping out during a disaster, sign up to volunteer with the American Red Cross or with the Medical Reserve Corps.  Remember, "Plan for the worst and hope for the best."