With all the talk about “The Big One,” National Preparedness Month in September, and the Great Shake Out in October, there are many resources available to help families and businesses prepare for emergencies. We looked at FEMA’s Ready.gov public campaign to see what they recommended for a basic emergency kit:
Basic Home Emergency Kit
- Water: one gallon per person per day
- Food: at least a three day supply of non-perishable foods (and a manual can opener for any cans)
- Battery powered radio & extra batteries
- Flashlight & extra batteries
AAA Recommends: The FRX2 Emergency Radio by Etón receives AM, FM, and NOAA Weather Band broadcasts in case of weather emergencies, and can be charged via hand crank, mini USB, or solar cell. It includes a flashlight and a smartphone charger, and requires no batteries to operate.
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
AAA Recommends: The Safety Whistle by Whistles for Life™ is designed specifically for search and rescue, built to produce a 120 decibel sound with the minimum of effort. “If you can be Heard, you can be Rescued.”
- Dust mask
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a shelter
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Local maps- available at your local AAA service center, or through AAA.com
See the full list at Ready.gov
Whistle and Radio available at your local AAA Travel Store
If you have already built your emergency kit make sure to check the expiration dates on any food and first-aid supplies at least every six months. Also, consider if your needs may have changed since you originally built the kit (especially if you’ve recently gained any family members).
For more information visit:
OREGON
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
IDAHO
Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security
Or check out your city or town website for localized information such as disaster shelters, or communication nodes. If the big one strikes, you’ll be better-prepared with these information sources already identified.
Is your home protected in case of an earthquake?
Check in with you local AAA Insurance Professional to see if adding earthquake insurance makes sense for your situation.