Reprinted with permission from: Colorado Office of Emergency Management
The 72-Hour Emergency Kit should be individually tailored to meet the basic survival needs of your family for three days to a week. Most families prefer to store their emergency supplies in one location that is relatively safe, yet easily accessible if evacuation is required. Items may be stored in a 32-gallon trash can, suitcase, duffle bag, footlocker or individual pack.
Battery Powered Radio
First Aid Kit & Manual
Sleeping Bags & Blankets (wool & thermal)
Manual Can Opener
Waterproof/Windproof Matches
Non-Perishable Foods
Flashlight
Water Storage (1 gal./day)
Water purification tablets
Utility Knife
Emergency Candles
Extra Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses
Essential Medications
Extra Clothing
Suggested non-perishable food items: Ready-to-eat goods in unbreakable containers, canned meats, juice, fruits & vegetables, powdered milk, infant care foods, crackers, peanut butter, freeze-dried & dehydrated goods.
Plastic Bucket w/Tightly Fitted Lid
Plastic Bags & Ties
Disinfectant
Improvised Toilet Seat
Paper Cups & Plates
Personal Toiletries
Baby Supplies
Aluminum Foil
Paper Towels
Personal Hygienic Needs
Plastic Utensils
Soap
Pen & Paper
Money
Address & Phone Numbers
Work Gloves
Basic Tools
First Aid Manual
Aspirin or Pain Relievers
Laxatives
Rubbing Alcohol
Diarrhea Medicine
Petroleum Jelly
Soap
Salt
Gauze
Band-aid
Triangular Bandage (36"x36"x52")
Elastic Bandage
Cotton Balls
Cotton Swabs
Safety Pins
Scissors
Thermometer
Sanitary Napkins (Pressure Dressing)
Disposable Diapers (Dressing/ Splint/Padding)
Micropore Adhesive, Paper Tape
Matches
Needles
Tweezers
Small Splints, Popsicle Sticks
Heavy String
Syrup of Ipecac
Individual Medical Needs
Baking Soda (1/2 tsp. soda + 1 tsp. salt + 1 qt. water for shock)
Always Maintain at Least 1/2 Tank of Gas
First Aid Kit & Manual
Class ABC Fire Extinguisher
Radio & Batteries
Non-Perishable Food Stored in Coffee Can
Bottled Water
Bag of Sand, Shovel & Tools
Blankets or Sleeping Bags
Sundry Kit, Paper & Pencil, Map, Tissues, Pre-moistened Towels, Plastic Bags, Essential Medications
Flashlights & Batteries
Reflectors & Flares
Waterproof Matches & Candles
Jumper Cables
Short Rubber Hose for Siphoning
Marriage License
House Mortgage
Vacation Home / Property Ownership
Automotive Ownership
Motor Home Ownership
Wills
Jewelry Appraisals
Drivers Licenses
Trailers, Snowmobiles, Boat Ownerships
Insurance Policies
Bank Accounts
Extra food (The food should be dry and relatively unappealing to prevent overeating. Store the food in sturdy containers.)
Kitty litter
Large capacity self-feeder and water dispenser
Extra medications
Store your water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances.
If you need to find water outside your home, you can use these sources. Be sure to purify the water by:
Boiling
Disinfection (household liquid bleach: 16 drops/gal. of water, stir & let stand 30 min.)
Distillation (boil 2 pot water & collect the vapor by tying a cup to the upside down pot lid - the cup shouldn't dangle in the water--it will condense back to water in the cup)
Sources:
Rainwater
Streams, rivers & other moving bodies of water
Ponds & lakes
Natural Springs
Calls out will not overload phone lines as will calls coming into a disaster area.
All relatives should be informed now on procedures to call the phone contact, not after a disaster has occurred. Individual location and status should be requested.
Take color pictures of every room plus pictures of valuables. Send one copy of legal papers and one copy of pictures to an out-of-state contact.
Pick two meeting places:
a location a safe distance from your home in case of fire
a place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home
Stock supplies to last several days to a week for each family member.
Be prepared to relocate to a shelter during a prolonged power outage.
Have extra cash on hand in case electronic transactions (ATM card, credit cards, etc.) cannot be processed.
Work with your family in talking about the steps each needs to take to be ready if disaster happens.
Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know you neighbors' skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.
Find out which disasters are most likely to happen in your community.
Ask how you would be warned.
Preparedness is everyone's job. Not just government agencies but all sectors of society -- service providers, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, industry associations and neighborhood associations, as well as every individual citizen should plan ahead for disaster.
During the first few hours or days following a disaster, essential services may not be available.
People must be ready to act on their own.