You never know when a disaster will happen and having an emergency kit can be very helpful.  It doesn't have to take a lot of time or money to start your kit.  Even just having some extra food and water on hand can go a long way during an emergency. 

Make a Kit

Check out this list of items to include in your emergency kit. 

Don't forget about your pets! You can find a list of emergency kit items for your pets here. 

Remember to check expiration dates and rotate food and water as necessary. 

Consider making smaller kits to keep at work or in the car


Check out Ready.gov for tips to plan ahead.  Consider the unique needs of your family when planning, including children, pets, or those with disabilities. 

Family Disaster Plan

You and your loved ones may not be together when a disaster hits. Make a plan for how you will connect to each other. Start by taking the following steps:
  • Complete a contact card for each family member. Everyone should keep these cards with them at all times.
  • Choose an emergency contact. Memorize the phone number if you can. A friend or relative who lives out of town might be easier to reach in an emergency. During an emergency, family members can text or call this person to let them know that they are safe.
  • Make sure all your family members know how to text. Make sure everyone knows how to turn on a cell phone, find the text messaging app, type a message, and send it to a contact.
  • Know emergency telephone numbers. Keep them in your cell phone and post them near your home phones. Some good numbers to have are your emergency contact, the fire department, police station, and hospital near you
Make a Family Disaster Plan Before making your disaster plan, its important to know what types of emergencies are likely in your area and the best way to respond. For example, if tornadoes are common in your area, you will need to know what the warning signs are and where to take shelter. Check with your Local Red Cross chapter or Emergency Management Agency for more information.
  • Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster. For example, during an earthquake you will need to "drop, cover, and hold on" under a sturdy desk or table. However, during a tornado, you would need to seek shelter in a lower level room without windows. Learn more about different types of disasters.
  • Choose multiple meeting places. Different disasters may require you to go to different places. Make sure you choose a meeting place in your neighborhood, a meeting place just outside your neighborhood, and a meeting place out of town.
  • Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways to get out of each room.
  • PRACTICE. Review these plans with all members of your family. Practice your disaster plans by running drills with the whole family.
  • Don't Forget Pets! Think about what you would do with your pets, because they may not be allowed in emergency shelters. For more information, check out Preparing Your Pet for Emergencies.
Get your kids ready
  • Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.
  • Quiz your kids on the plan to make sure they remember what to do.
  • Include your kids in planning and drills.
Ready Wrigley can help your kids be ready for many kinds of emergencies! Take these additional steps to be prepared
Check and replace your supplies throughout the year, as needed.
  • Make an emergency kit, and be sure to check and replace your supplies throughout the year, as needed.
  • Stay informed; find the best ways to get disaster information from local authorities.
  • Make sure that you have enough insurance coverage for your property. Specifically, think about the types of disasters that are common in your area.
  • Learn how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the main shut-off locations.
  • Show each family member how to use the fire extinguisher, and show them where it's kept.
 Make a Kit  - Gather Emergency Supplies if a disaster strikes in your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for several days. You may think that you will have enough time to run to the grocery store, but stores quickly sell out of important supplies following emergency warnings. Unfortunately, about half of adults in the United States do not have the resources and plans in place for a possible emergency. Preparing emergency kits for your family is an important step in keeping them safe and healthy during a disaster. Pack an emergency supply kit.

Here's what you'll need for you're Kit

At Least a 3-day Supply of Food and Water
  • Water - one gallon per person, per day
  • Food - foods that are easy to make and won't spoil, like canned soup, dry pasta, and powdered milk
  • Manual can opener
  • Basic utensils to prepare and serve meals
Personal Care Items:
     •Soap
     •Toothbrush and toothpaste
     •Baby wipes
     •Contact lenses or glasses
Safety Supplies:
  • First aid kit
  • Emergency blanket
  • Multipurpose tool (that can act as a knife, file, pliers, and screwdriver)
  • Whistle
Electronics:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides weather updates during emergencies. Look for a radio labeled "NOAA Weather Radio."
  • Flashlight
  • Radio (battery-powered, solar, or hand-crank) for updates on the situation
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Extra batteries
You should also keep:
  • Extra cash
  • Maps of the area
  • Extra set of car keys and house keys
Health Supplies:
  • 3-day supply of all medicines, at a minimum
  • Medical supplies like syringes, a walking cane, or hearing aids with extra batteries
Documents:
Keep copies of your important documents, cash, spare keys, and maps in you emergency supply kit.
  • Copies of important documents such as insurance cards and immunization records
  • Paperwork about any serious or on-going medical condition
  • Your completed family emergency plan, complete with family and emergency contact information.
For Children:
  • Baby supplies like bottles, formula, baby food, and diapers
  • Games and activities for children

If you are taking care of pets you may need additional supplies to make sure you are ready.

Food and Water:
A 3-day supply of food and water for each pet. A cat or a dog will generally need 1 gallon for three days.
  • Bowls or bottles
  • Manual can opener
  • Cleaning Supplies:
    • Depending on the pet, you may need a litter box, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items, and household bleach
Comfort Items:
  • Pet toys and the pet's bed, if you can easily bring it, to reduce stress
  • Paperwork:
    • Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them, and to prove that they are your pets, in case you become separated from them
    • Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and telephone number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care
Keep these tips in mind!
Health and Safety:
  • Medicines and medical records stored in a waterproof container
  • First aid kit with a pet first aid book
  • Transport supplies:
    • A sturdy leash, harness, and carrier to transport pets safely. A carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for several hours.
Personalize:
Every family is unique. You may have emergency needs not included in this list. Also, remember to update your kit according to changing needs of your family.
Be sure it's ready to use
In a disaster situation, you may need to get your emergency supply kit quickly, whether you are sheltering at home or evacuating.
  • Once you have gathered your supplies, pack the items in easy-to-carry containers.
  • Clearly label the containers and store them where you can reach them easily.
  • Remember that certain items, like medications and paper documents, need to be kept in waterproof containers.
Keep it Fresh:
Check the expiration dates on food, water, medicine, and batteries at least two times per year. It's extremely important that all items in your kit are functional at the time of an emergency.
Involve Children
Families can make emergencies less stressful by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Ready Wrigley can help!
  • Ask your kids to think of items that they would like to include in an emergency supply kit, such as books, games, and pre-packaged foods.
  • Your kids can mark the dates on a calendar for checking emergency supplies. Tell them to remind you when it's time to check the supplies.
  • Include kids in planning and creating disaster kits for family pets.
Know Your House
Find out where your gas, electric, and water shut-off locations are, and how to turn them off.
Prepare For Everywhere
Emergencies can happen anywhere. Remember to prepare supplies for home, work, and vehicles.More information:
  • Emergency water supply
  • Emergency food supply
  • Pet Emergency Checklist
Make a Plan - Make a Family Communication PlanPhone lines in the emergency area may be busy. It may be easier to make phone calls into a different town than to connect by phone with someone in the same town.
Text messages may still go through, even when phone lines are very busy.
You and your loved ones may not be together when a disaster hits. Make a plan for how you will connect to each other. Start by taking the following steps:
  • Complete a contact card for each family member. Everyone should keep these cards with them at all times.
  • Choose an emergency contact. Memorize the phone number if you can. A friend or relative who lives out of town might be easier to reach in an emergency. During an emergency, family members can text or call this person to let them know that they are safe.
  • Make sure all your family members know how to text. Make sure everyone knows how to turn on a cell phone, find the text messaging app, type a message, and send it to a contact.
  • Know emergency telephone numbers. Keep them in your cell phone and post them near your home phones. Some good numbers to have are your emergency contact, the fire department, police station, and hospital near you
Make a Family Disaster Plan Before making your disaster plan, its important to know what types of emergencies are likely in your area and the best way to respond. For example, if tornadoes are common in your area, you will need to know what the warning signs are and where to take shelter. Check with your Local Red Cross chapter or Emergency Management Agency for more information.
  • Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster. For example, during an earthquake you will need to "drop, cover, and hold on" under a sturdy desk or table. However, during a tornado, you would need to seek shelter in a lower level room without windows. Learn more about different types of disasters.
  • Choose multiple meeting places. Different disasters may require you to go to different places. Make sure you choose a meeting place in your neighborhood, a meeting place just outside your neighborhood, and a meeting place out of town.
  • Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways to get out of each room.
  • PRACTICE. Review these plans with all members of your family. Practice your disaster plans by running drills with the whole family.
  • Don't Forget Pets! Think about what you would do with your pets, because they may not be allowed in emergency shelters. For more information, check out Preparing Your Pet for Emergencies.
Get your kids ready
  • Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.
  • Quiz your kids on the plan to make sure they remember what to do.
  • Include your kids in planning and drills.
Ready Wrigley can help your kids be ready for many kinds of emergencies! Take these additional steps to be prepared
Check and replace your supplies throughout the year, as needed.
  • Make an emergency kit, and be sure to check and replace your supplies throughout the year, as needed.
  • Stay informed; find the best ways to get disaster information from local authorities.
  • Make sure that you have enough insurance coverage for your property. Specifically, think about the types of disasters that are common in your area.
  • Learn how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the main shut-off locations.
  • Show each family member how to use the fire extinguisher, and show them where it's kept.