CHECKLISTS

Household Plan | Go Bag | Emergency Supply Kit

Emergency preparedness is as simple as planning ahead. It's easy and inexpensive for anyone. Go over the checklists below with your household to determind how you can take control of an emergency. Check and update your kits when you change your clocks during daylight savings time. Make sure they are complete and ready to go.

Household Disaster Plan Checklist

What to have in your head:
Consider developing a disaster plan with your household members that outlines what to do, how to find each other and how to communicate in an emergency.

• Decide where your household will reunite after a disaster. Identify two places to meet: one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood, such as a library, community center or place of worship.
  
• Make sure everyone knows the address and phone number of your second meeting place.
  
• Know and practice all possible exit routes from your home and neighborhood.
  
• Designate an out-of-state friend or relative that household members can call if separated during a disaster. If local phone circuits are busy, this out-of-state contact can be an important way of communicating between household members. When local phone circuits are busy, long-distance calls may be easier to make.
  
• Account for everybody's needs, especially seniors, people with disabilities and non-English speakers.
  
• Ensure that household members have a copy of your household disaster plan.
  
• Familiarize yourself with emergency plans for your workplace, school, child's school or daycare, and any other relevant institutions.

Go Bag Checklist

What to have in your hand:
Every household should consider assembling a Go Bag -- a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. Each household member's Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy to carry container such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels. A Go Bag should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Make sure it is ready to go at all times of the year.

• Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.)
  
• Extra set of car and house keys
  
• Credit and ATM cards, and cash, especially in small denominations. We recommend you keep at least $50-$100 on hand.
  
• Bottled water and non-perishable food such as energy or granola bars.
  
• Flashlight, battery operated AM/FM radio, and extra batteries. You can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries at retail stores.
  
• Medication for at least one week and other essential personal items. Be sure to change medications before they expire. Keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, their dosages or copies of all your prescription slips , and your doctor's name and phone number.
• First-aid kit
  
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight raingear, and a mylar blanket
  
• Contact and meeting place information for your household and a small regional map
  
• Child care supplies or other special care items

Emergency Supply Kit Checklist

What to have in your home
Keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least three days. If possible, keep these materials in an easily accessible, separate container or special cupboard. You should indicate toyour household members that these supplies are for emergencies only.

• One gallon of drinking water per person per day
  
• Non-perishable, ready to eat canned foods, and manual can opener
  
• First-aid kit, medications and prescriptions
  
• Flashlight, battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries
  
• Whistle
  
• Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach (for disinfecting water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials) and eye dropper (for adding bleach to water)
  
• Personal hygiene items: soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
  
• Sturdy shoes, heavy gloves, warm clothes, a mylar blanket and lightweight raingear
  
• Extra fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors
  
• Phone that does not rely on electricity
  
• Child care supplies or other special care items
  
• Other supplies and tools

(Adapted from Ready New York)