Survival Tips
Page 4 of 8
Home
The supplies in your home should keep your family safe and healthy for at least three days and be useful during the cleanup phase. Some items you should have staged in your home are:
- Window sealing materials, such as plastic sheeting, duct tape, and plywood.
- Food, plenty of canned and dry goods, and also food for your pets.
- Bottled water, at a least three-day supply at one gallon per person per day. Also, have bleach and a medicine dropper to use to sanitize water.
- Manual can opener, plastic utensils, plates, and cups.
- Lantern, batteries, candles, and matches.
- NOAA weather radio, battery powered or hand-cranked.
- Dust masks
- Fire extinguisher
- Heavy gloves for removing debris.
- Rope.
- First-aid kit containing such items as bandages, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic, aspirin, anti-diarrheal medicine, medical tape, scissors, tweezers, insect repellant, iodine, etc
- First-aid manual.
- Disinfectant and sanitizer.
- Toilet paper and a bucket or portable toilet.
- Hand and power tools, such a chain saw, shovel, rake, axe, hatchet, drill, circular saw, etc.
- Generator and fuel for generator and gas-powered tools.
- Natural gas. Most gas valves are located outside and require a wrench for shutoff. Obtain shutoff instructions and keep them, a proper wrench, and a flashlight in your emergency container.
- Water. During as disaster, well water or municipal water may become contaminated. To prevent accidentally using the water, locate the main water shutoff valve, usually located in the basement, and know how to use it.
- Electricity. In a flood, electrical outlets may become a danger to both your family and rescue workers. Locate the main circuit panel and know how to shut off the main circuit breaker. If there is already water around the panel, do not touch it with your hands, trip the breaker with an insulated screwdriver.