Disaster Safety Kit

How to Be Prepared

A universal message, the need to be prepared in the event of a major disaster is critical. Major disasters mean multiple crises causing emergency response personnel, public safety personnel, other city employees, and disaster relief organizations to be handling multiple emergencies throughout the community. Typically, telephone service, gas, and electricity could be disrupted or unavailable for a period of time. You could be stranded where you are.

To help prepare yourself, your family, friends, and neighbors until emergency response or relief personnel arrive, make sure you have an emergency kit at your home, work, and school. Your emergency kit should provide you with enough supplies for seven days for each person in your household.

The illustration shows a recommended disaster kit in a clean, 30-gallon garbage container. Place heavier objects on the bottom and middle layers, and immediate-use items at the top layer of the container. Store water separately.

Items for Kit

The following is a sample of items to keep in this kit, much of which can be purchased through online resources (PDF), sporting goods stores, Home Depot, etc.:

• Drinking water - Store one gallon of water per day
• Potable water for other uses such as cooking
• 1 each earthquake survival tool to shut utilities
• 2 each utility work gloves
• High calorie / protein food bars (three bars per person, per day)
• Liquid hand sanitizer
• Liquid lotion soap
• 1 utility knife
• 1 - 15 inch pry bar
• 1 - Battery operated AM/FM pocket radio (batteries for the radio)
• 1 - Four-person hygiene kit
• 4 - Emergency blankets
• 1 - Whistle
• 8 - Rolls of toilet paper
• 1 - Bottle of water purification tablets
• 2 - 2D Cell flashlights
• 8 - Snap glow sticks
• 1 - Emergency first aid kit
• 6 - Dust masks
• MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)

For additional suggestions on how to prepare yourself for a disaster, please review the Disaster Preparedness Guide (PDF).