Personal Preparedness Planning

Basic Principles of Personal Preparedness

• All of us should be able to survive comfortably on our own for at least 3 days following an incident.
• The time to prepare is before an incident occurs.
• Participate in open discussion with family members about response planning.

Types of Events

Natural Disasters - hurricanes, earthquakes, floods
Naturally Occurring Illnesses - influenza, SARS
Terrorism Events - chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive

Basic Categories of Items For an Emergency Kit

• Food and water supplies
• Shelter and clothing
• Basic supplies and personal hygiene
• Additional key items

Water

• The average person uses one gallon of water per day in drinking, cooking, and miscellaneous uses.
• A 3–7 day supply is recommended.
• Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers.
• If bottling your own water, note storage date and replace every 6 months.
• If purchasing bottled water, follow the expiration date on the bottle.

Food

• Non-perishable foods
• 3–7 day supply is recommended.
• Maintain caloric intake.
• Minimize the use of food that requires preparation.
• Have a manual can opener.
• Maintain sanitation by using fresh water for cooking.

Shelter

• Use blankets/sleeping bags for warmth.
• Pillow
• Small candle
• Waterproof matches

Clothing

• Change of clothes
• Comfortable shoes, socks
• Layers of clothing for comfort
• Raincoat or poncho
• Hat

Basic Supplies

• Personal medications (at least a 3-day supply)
• Battery-powered flashlight
• Spare batteries
• Pan for cooking
• Communication/battery-powered radio
• First aid kit
• Map
• Knife/utensils

Personal Hygiene

• Bathroom tissue
• Deodorant
• Feminine products
• Soap
• Hand-washing materials
• Sunscreen

Additional Key Items

• Cash and credit cards
• Personal identification
• Extra set of car keys
• Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses
• Scissors
• Duct-tape/heavy-duty garbage bags

Click here for a downloadable checklist for your home