Keep a go bag you can grab if you must leave quickly (at least 3 days of supplies), and keep more supplies at home in case you need to stay put (the Red Cross suggests up to 2 weeks).
Basic supplies
- Water — 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking and washing
- Food — non-perishable foods that are easy to make, plus a manual can opener
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (a NOAA Weather Radio is best)
- First aid kit
- Medicines — at least a 7-day supply, plus copies of prescriptions and medical items like glasses, hearing aid batteries, or diabetes supplies
- Phone chargers and a backup battery
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust masks, plastic sheeting, and duct tape
- Wet wipes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Local maps
Also consider
- Copies of important papers (IDs, insurance, medical information) in a waterproof bag
- Cash
- Warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and a blanket or sleeping bag for each person
- Baby supplies like formula, bottles, and diapers
- Pet food, water, leash, and carrier
- Personal hygiene items
- Matches in a waterproof container and a fire extinguisher
Make a plan
- Decide how you’ll get alerts. Sign up for local emergency alerts.
- Pick meeting places near your home and outside your neighborhood.
- Choose an out-of-town contact everyone can call or text. Write numbers down on paper too.
- Know your evacuation routes and where you would go.
- Plan for everyone, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.
Keep it fresh
Check your kit every 6 months. Replace expired food, water, medicine, and batteries, and update it as your family’s needs change.