I am trying to put together a severe weather survival kit for me and my family, since that time of year is approaching. I have done some research on the internet and I am not really having the kind of luck I want. I want to make my own and not buy one. I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old and I am not sure what all I should put in it. What I do know is that I am getting one of those weather radios with batteries, a flashlight with batteries, bottled water, wipes, pull ups, snacks, and blankets. I would appreciate any other ideas or input. My plan is to keep the kit in the closet we are going to get in if we need to.
Thank you all so much. I got a lot of good info. Here is what my kit will include:
I am going to keep it in a plastic tub in my closet. I will have water, non-perishable food, extra batteries, changes of clothes, important documents, first aid kit, paper, pen, toys for kids, radio, flashlight, pillows, blankets, shoes, meds, trash bags, pull ups, wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, plastic eating utensils, cups, paper plates/bowls, cash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, personal hygeine, and a couple of other items.
I decided to do this because when severe weather hits here in tornado alley, I don't want to be scrambling with the kiddos. I don't live near the coast, but we still get severe weather here in DFW.
Here's a place you can start. http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Prepared.asp
I LOVE the Flylady.net website. She has ideas for just about everything. See if that helps get you started for emergency preparedness. Good luck!
Don't forget to keep your cell phone juiced up and handy when some bad weather is approaching. Also I keep my radio and flashlight in a zip lock baggie with some spare batteries.
C.
You mentioned a weather radio. I changed mine to a police scanner. it also has a weather radio with it. this was more informative for me during hurricane rita. also check out the camping section at walmart they make these tablets that purify your water. also powdered milk is great to have. I know how you feel. what saved us was the gas grill during rita and as soon as it was defrosting it was frying or cooking. I put a fresh trash bag in my garbage can placed it in the shower and filled it with water too. One thing i do remember was the mosquitoes. get plenty of insect repellant.
let us know when you do make the perfect list. maybe we can all be a little more prepared.
red cross does have a great pamphlet that can help you (i love checklists, lol).
you've gotten some great advice so far, and the extra credit card is good, but DO remember cash! i learned during the katrina aftermath that credit cards/atms cards don't help when the power is gone and the machines don't work, or at the stores when the phone lines are down so they can't charge your card. everyone was on a cash-only economy for about a week, and we lived an hour away from the trouble! (two days after katrina, i was leaving to come to dfw to stay with my bf because i wanted air conditioning, and the taco bell in baton rouge not only was "cash only" but had a sign on the door saying "exact change only"-----i skipped lunch and continuted on to dfw, lol).
Go to www.redcross.org They have lots of great information there.
This has nothing to do with a kit, but it is good advice anyway. Make sure everybody has shoes on. You'll all need shoes later if it is really bad and there is a lot of debris.
L.
Well this is from the LDS (aka. Mormon) perspective, where we have been taught and focused on emergency preparedness for years. So, we have 72 hour kits with food, water, and all necessities for that period of time. There are great flashlights, weather radios, and chargers that also have a hand crank that charges it. The great thing about that is that you can use it to charge your cell phone, I believe we got ours at LL.Bean, so check there. And, be sure that you have cash in there, you never what you might need, so I would suggest enough to fill the car up at least once, but probably twice. Also, a first aid kit, so anti-bacterial gels or wipes, medications, including prescription and OTC. My kids each have a back pack with a few little snacks, and a change of clothes and shoes(buy some cheap ones just to leave in there, but be sure to change it often. We try (haha) to do this about every 6 months, and even have had it suggested that we try to live off of our kits for a weekend in order to test everything, as well as use what we have and replace it. It is so wonderful that you are thinking about this, I hope that it will inspire others to get prepared too. Please ask if you have any other questions, if I do not know it, I am sure I can find out, as the church I attend really does focus on this preparedness, and so I am sure there is materials out there I could pull from. Good luck ~A.~
Many kudos to you for putting together a kit! I work for an insurance company and we wish everyone was so prepared!
The National Hurricane Surivial Initiative site (http://www.hurricanesafety.org/home2.cfm) has some great advice. Click on Prepare on the menu across the top or the logo for "Storm Readiness Checklist" for some great lists.
http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html is also a great site. It has videos and checklists, as well.
Again, great job!
I would also add a first aid kit with bandages, medicine, etc. and prescriptions for any medical needs you may have that require them. I remember when they gave us one when I was a teacher for our classroom, and they had kotex pads in it. I thought that was odd, but the nurse said that it was for severe bleeding wounds. THose are far more absorbent than regular bandages and cheaper too.
I like to keep some helmets and goggles in our storm shelter (closet) just in case of falling or flying debris to protect our eyes and heads. Hopefully, you'll never need em, but it's a good idea just in case.
Id cards. You can make your own for the kids or they even sell kits. And for your husband and you you can ask at the DMV to keep your old license and they cut it a certain way to void it out and then you can put it in your kit. Any medication that is needed. Something for the kids like a stuffed animal. Money and credit cards for emergencies. Spare set of car keys and in case you are able to drive somewhere after the storm has passed, you do not want to be looking through debris for car keys. Rain coats to keep you dry. Keep other important documents in a safe deposit box like birth certs, s.s. cards, title to cars and home information. I hope this helps.
