What Do You Have for Your Severe Weather Kit?

I like the answers that have already been given. If you have room, you could stock some blankets and some small pillows - and a first aid kit, the contents of which you know how to use. And some extra old towels, because you may be able to use them for lots of things. And extra batteries for the stuff that needs batteries.

Here's a link to a checklist for a 72 hour kit:
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/preparation/72_hour_kit.pdf

We have most of the items of this list, but I have to admit we haven't put them in an actual "kit." They are split between our pantry, bedroom closet (where we would shelter in case of tornado) and hall closet, all of which are safe, interior rooms with no windows. We have plans to buy a fire/water safe box for our important papers, but as of right now they are just in a regular filing box.

It's definitely important to be prepared for emergencies! Just remember that you can slowly build up your supplies and you don't have to invest a ton of money. Start with gathering together what you already have in your house, and then build from there. Happy planning!

A.:

We are prepared. We have:

One backpack for each family member in that backpack we have:
* flashlight (does NOT require batteries)
* three (3) MRE's with water
* allergy meds (unopened box - I check the expiration dates regularly on my list)
* two changes of clothes (rolled in a ball) socks are included (and since I have kids - I check them each season to make sure the clothes still fit)
* poncho for rain
* knives with compasses
* money - about $20 each - ones, fives and tens. (don't want to be like the people after 9/11 who were paying $20 for a gallon of milk
* water bottles (empty)
* hand warmers (you know the packs you pick up from Home Depot for 50 cents?)

In the adult back packs we have more stuff. I have baggies of dried milk so we can mix it with the water we have. I have dog food for our dog as well.

Our tent and camping gear is easily accessible should we need to evacuate...all can be attached to our adult backpacks.

Should we be separated in the event of an emergency (boys at school). We have cell phones. My oldest son has one and keeps it with him. If I am able to pick them up from school, I will. If not, they will take the bus home. We will contact via cell phones (after the earth quake in August, we practiced cell phone emergency drill). NO ONE is to leave the place where they are unless directed to by a police or fireman until contact is made with a parent.

You need to do what works for your family.

ETA: In each back pack we have a small emergency medical kit - band aids, gloves, tweezers, gauze, etc.

Borrow this book from your local library. If they don't have it they can get in through inner library loan.

http://peggylayton.net/ccp0-prodshow/cookin10.html

Peggy Layton is a regular home maker who has a degree in Home Ec. She writes like a normal person and is very easy to understand. She practices what she writes about.

She gives logical easy to follow ideas for you to implement.

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This company has 72 hour kits you can buy already made up. I have one for myself but how sort of outgrown it with the grandkids now.

http://beprepared.com/default.asp?SID=GOOGLE&EID=GLB2...

I have a couple of tubs that we keep ready, during storm season it can stay in the car. In summer it stays in the garage, I know, but the car gets very very hot.

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In all truth you need to read up on what kinds of things are suggested then decide what items you eat and wear that fit the bill. For instance if you live in Florida you would keep different things than a person who lived in Alaska during the winter.

The Peggy Layton book is a wonderful start to figuring these things out. She has check lists of things and you put in how many of each you already have and if you even need them.

Let me preface this by saying we're not fruitcakes by any means (ha), but we do like to be prepared for anything from a late night at the office, an injury on the playground, all the way up to hurricanes or whatever. And at the top of my list is my actual checklist (including things to do in case of different situations, like if evacuating for a hurricane, we'd turn off our gas and water, that kind of thing).
Jeremy's work: there's plenty of bottled waters and sodas there in the employee fridge. I also put a small first aid kit and some meds he may need (including allergy meds, Pepto Bismol tablets, or anti-diarrhea meds), and some Cliff bars and a little bag of trail mix in the bottom drawer of his desk in case a storm came up on the island quickly and he wasn't able to come home until it passed, or even something as simple as getting caught in a meeting and missing lunch or whatever----he's got something to hold him over until he gets home.
In the backs of our cars, we each have an empty diaper box that holds jumper cables, oil and a funnel, a small set of tools, a reflective triangle, a gallon of water, some gloves, a thin blanket, a tarp, a poncho, and a small first aid kit. In the glove box I have insurance, car sickness meds, and emergency contact information. Each car has a cell charger, flashlight, and a road atlas/map.
In my diaperbag: I have a kid-related first aid kit and change of clothes for both kids, rolled up tight to keep it small, and a Red Cross printed foldout card that has all emergency contact information filled out and in a plastic strap attached to the inside zipper. My husband and I carry that same Red Cross card in our wallets, and my older son has one in his wallet that he carries occasionally and one in the front of his backpack. You can print that off the Red Cross website (it lists everything from main contacts, emergency contacts outside the area, doctor information, allergy info, etc). We've never had to use it, but it's not bad to have it.
Our master bedroom has 2 walk in closets. Mine is the larger squared off one in the best location and that would be where we'd go if there was a situation where we needed to hunker down. We keep our storm supplies in there on a shelf: a plug-in phone (if cell isn't working and electricity is out, the only way to use a phone would be the plug in phones, because portable phones rely on electricity---we have had this situation when we had no electricity for weeks after a hurricane, and cell phone service was VERY spotty...you can buy these at Walmart for like $4), a Red Cross weather radio that has a crank, solar panel, and also takes batteries that serves as an alarm clock, radio, light, flashing red light, and cell phone charger, a lantern, and some folding room lights, flashlights, a couple long lighters, matches in a waterproof container, candles, a full and COMPLETE first aid kit, clothing, blankets, a water/fire safe box (not big...the size of a portable file box) that has our insurances, passports, social security cards, copy of Jer's green card, birth certificates, vaccination records, deeds to properties and cars, and flash drives and SD cards that hold important stuff from our computer and family photos in it. Anything that would be a pain to replace if there was a flood, fire, or evacuation. In the pantry we have bottled waters, canned goods, just "stuff". In our garage we have a full bottle of plain household bleach and a medicine dropper to purify water if that was necessary, charcoal grill and charcoal, as well as our gas grill outside, so we could still cook even if we had to turn gas off. We have board games, books, etc in the closet as well. There are a couple books for reading, but also a Red Cross book for reference, if we needed it. We also have like 5 of those really big Hawaiian Punch bottles that we cleaned and put filtered drinking water in and froze, and they're stored in the deep freezer. This helps in energy efficiency on any normal day, and if the electricity goes off it would assist in keeping things colder longer, but if there were no electricity for an extended time: as they melt, they would be good and safe drinking water.
We have "go bags" that are not a big deal, just sort of a matter of fact. We don't live in fear by any means, we like to keep things packed for everyday stuff also. We have our little cart for going to the beach and all of our "stuff" packed including the beach bag for just normal trips to the beach---so all we have to do is get dressed, load the cart and chairs in the car, and hit the road instead of having to pack on a day we want to have fun. So it stands to reason for us to have what we call our "go bags" (the 72 hour kits) packed and in the garage where I park my car.
Me, my husband, and my 5 year old each have a backpack for our 72 hr kits, which includes 2 pairs of underwear and socks, 1 pants, 1 short sleeved shirt, 1 sweat shirt, 1 poncho, a travel zip-bag that contains a travel size detergent, feminine products for me, and basic toiletries as if we're just going on a short trip (toothbrush, small toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, shampoo, sanitizer wipes, asprin, etc. We have money in small denominations in a waterproof container, 3 cans of juice, 2 liter bottles of water, nutrigrain/granola/cliff bars, bags of dried fruit, little bag of cereal, and 3 cans of soup in each bag. Every bag has a whistle because I remember being a kid in Hurricane Frederick and getting separated from my grandpa. That was scary and my grandpa could whistle really loudly and that's how I got to him. We can't whistle like that, so we have whistles, lol, just in case. Each bag has emergency contact info (including local and out of the area contacts in case we needed local help or wanted to evacuate), toilet paper, little travel games like magnetic bingo, checkers, uno...a little Bible, a notebook/pen, and a small book. The adult bags each have a handyman tool/knife. We have a duffle bag that has a manual can opener, duct tape, wipes, diapers, things for my 2 year old (clothes, food, water, etc), and camping tools/supplies, just "stuff" we may need/want. The go bags and duffle bag are in the garage closet, along with the family tent and sleeping bags. The truth is, we would probably evacuate to our family in other states rather than rough it. But if we had problems with roads (which we HAVE experienced before), it'd be nice to know we're ok and can be as comfortable as possible with as little packing as possible. Again, we're not doomsday type people: we just like the idea of having things "together" so we can up and go (for fun too: the beach, camping, a picnic, etc) on a whim and not stress out or waste time trying to find things. Even our picnic basket has clean plastic plates, cutlery, a bottle opener/corkscrew, napkins, frisbee, and table cloth weights packed away IN the basket at any given time. Just add food and drink, lol. You don't need to purchase pre-made packs and expensive stuff though. Just put things together bit by bit.

Absolutely. When you live in Kansas, it's always good to have one ready. However, after 18 years of living here, I have yet to use it... but I know the minute I don't do it, we will get hit!

I keep water in our basement, flashlights (and extra batteries) and a change of clothing for everyone. It's just in a tub in the corner of my nightmare storage room. :)

I do not keep food in the basement, but our pantry is right on the way to the basement, so I can grab stuff out of there on our way down.

Our basement is finished, so we have much of what we would need already there. I keep the extras just in case...

Shorts, a tank top, a case of water, and an AC unit...hence my location

just went back thru my storm bag....updating, reorganizing.

bought a case of water, new batteries & flashlights, + some misc items.

in addition to preparing for my family, I also have to be ready with my daycare + + our dogs. I have diaper supplies packed. I have an extra exersaucer setup in the basement. + + the dog crates & leashes are at the ready....

I went thru the Red Cross' website to refresh my memory, & it really helped! Oh, & I always keep a copy of our homeowner's in the bag.

You have good answers already. Of course you need flashlights, candles, food, water, medical, radio w/batteries etc.
Whenever a bad storm is coming our way I also get my important papers together - insurance etc. and any thing else I might need like that and a few things that are precious to me, like photos and put them in my big leather bag I have. I also get my car keys. I get this kind of stuff along with everything else and take it to the place we hold up in case of a tornado.