Creating An Emergency Ready Kit

5/14/2021 (Permalink)

Emergencies are never planned and not being prepared can cause more complications than necessary. Having an emergency ready kit or ERK can come in handy during many disasters. Whether your home has been flooded, suffered fire damage, or storm damage, an ERK can get you through the next few days. An ERK can be kept in your home, car, or at work. 

Create your own ERK with advice from FEMA. Add these supplies to your ERK so you and your family can be prepared for any disaster that comes your way. For more supplies that should be in your ERK head here.

• Water (One gallon per person, per day for at least two or three days)  
• Food (Three day supply of non-perishable food) 
• Battery or hand crank radio 
• Flashlight
• First aid kit 
• Batteries 
• Whistle
• Dust mask 
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to make a shelter
• Sanitizing wipes and garbage bags
• Wrench, pliers, or other tools
• Can opener
• Maps
• Battery powered chargers for cell phones
• Prescription medications 
• Cash or checks
• Important documents (things like insurance cards and bank information)

Maintaining your emergency ready kit

• Keep the kit in a cool dry place
• Check the kit every year for outdated food
• Update the kit as your family changes (think about things like formula or diapers) 

Where should you keep your kit?

• Home: Keep the kit in a place that is easy to access when quickly leaving your home. Make sure the entire family knows where your ERK is located.
• Work: Your work ERK should be enough to sustain you for at least 24 hours. This kit should include food, water, medicine and other basic necessities. 
• Car: Getting stranded in your car could leave you without supplies for multiple days. Keep normal ERK supplies in your kit, along with these extras.

Download FEMA’s ERK checklist here. 

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