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Home Kit

home kitSince you may need to survive on your own after a disaster, you’ll need food, water and other supplies to last for at least three days.

Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.

Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. Or, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you.

You won’t know where you will be when an emergency occurs, so prepare kits for home, work and your car. Since you will probably be able to shop for the supplies you need, advanced preparation is key to your survival. Use these checklists to create your home kit.

Wondering what food to pack?
Ready.gov has a list of appropriate food for your home emergency kit.
Download a Weekly Disaster Supplies Checklist from the American Red Cross of Orange County

  • Basic Emergency Kit
  • Additional Emergency Supplies
  • Emergency Documents
  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Maps for Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties
  • Cell phone with chargers

If you have children:

  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Children's prescription medications
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

If you have pets:

  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Extra leashes/collars

Special Needs:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

Additional Items for Everyone

  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler's checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil
  • Emergency Contact List
  • Family Emergency Plan 
  • Drivers Licenses
  • Identification Cards
  • Passports
  • Birth Certificates
  • Social Security Cards
  • Medical Records
  • Prescriptions
  • Immunization Records
  • Insurance Cards
  • Bank Statements
  • Credit Cards
  • Investment Summaries
  • Insurance Policies
  • Petty Cash & Travelers Checks
  • Pet Medical History Records

 

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