Your Organized Life

In my last post, I wrote about preparing a car emergency kit, but what about home emergencies? I grew up in Florida, and, as you no doubt know, Florida has hurricanes. I now live in the country in Virginia, and we occasionally have power failures, some of which have lasted for days. Others live in earthquake zones or Tornado Alley. Even if you live somewhere civilized and “tame,” you just never know, so here are some guidelines for organizing some home emergency supplies.

Always On Hand

You should keep these supplies stocked at all times, and they should be kept separate from your regular household goods. Be sure everyone in your family knows where these supplies are located and that they are only for emergencies.

• food
• first-aid kit
• blankets
• clothing
• personal items
• communication items
• disinfectants
• other

Water: Have on hand one gallon per person per day. You can buy gallon bottles of water or store your own filtered water in plastic containers. Note: If you are ever unsure about the cleanliness of your water, you can add four drops of bleach per quart or boil the water for at least one minute before drinking.

Food: Obviously, you should store canned food, but consider keeping some other non-perishables, too. The following list should get you started and give you some ideas:

• canned fish or meat
• canned beans
• canned vegetables and fruit
• canned or boxed juice drinks
• cereal
• crackers
• nuts
• peanut butter and jelly
• granola or energy bars

With your food, be sure to keep a non-electric can opener, paper plates and cups, and plastic utensils. Don’t forget some garbage bags and maybe some antibacterial wipes in case you don’t have access to water.

First-aid kit: There are lots of ready-made first-aid kits available, but if you decide to organize your own, here’s what you’ll need to include:

• antibacterial wipes
• aspirin
• band-aids
• cloth bandages and adhesive tape
• instant ice and heat compresses
• gauze pads
• rubber gloves (non-latex are best)
• scissors

Blankets: Be sure you have enough blankets to keep everyone warm, and – depending on your location and circumstances – you may want to consider some sleeping bags, too. One blanket option you might want to consider is a mylar blanket, they are inexpensive, very lightweight, and fold up smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

Clothing: Keep a full change of clothes for each person, and if you live in cold weather supplement the basics – underwear, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, shoes, and socks – with anything else you think you might need to keep warm.

Personal items: What do you use every day and which of these items should you keep on hand for an emergency? A nonelectric toothbrush and toothpaste are givens. But don’t forget soap, a comb and brush, contact lens solution, and feminine hygiene items. Have at least a three-day supply of prescriptions and possibly non-prescription medications like aspirin or other painkillers and antacids if they aren’t in your first-aid kit. Keep all medications cool and dry.

Communication: You probably have a cell phone, but a battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) will keep you up on any news – which can change quickly in an emergency – you may need.

Disinfectants: Last but not least of the emergency items you should have available are cleaning materials. Be sure you have bleach, soap, dish detergent, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and toilet paper. With them, keep a bucket and some plastic bags.

Other: Ah, the “other” category. Every family and situation is different, so you do need to give some thought to any special needs you may have. Do you have children, a disabled family member, a pet? Review their needs and add any special supplies for them to your others.

Needless to say nobody wants to be involved in an emergency, but if you have to be, at least with these suggestions you can set your mind a little bit more at ease.