Blogasms

How to Make an Earthquake or Hurricane Emergency Kit

Earthquakes are felt long after the shaking stops, it is always a good idea to have an earthquake emergency kit. Even if your house is safe for occupancy following a quake, you may find yourself without many necessities.

In the case of a hurricane your home can be destroyed or severely damaged.

You may be without gas, electricity and running water. And for several days, there may be no food stores or gas stations operating. Roads may be blocked and/or hazardous.

Bulky emergency items such as water and dry food are hard to fit in a single, easily accessible container. Large plastic garbage cans can make good storage containers.

A backpack is a good place to store smaller items. They can also be used for other purposes once you have opened the kit.

Into each kit, put:

• Water and food to last for at least three days.
• Water purification tablets
• Heavy-duty gloves
• A first-aid kit
• Cash—at least one or two hundred dollars. ATM machines may be inaccessible.
• Family photos and descriptions.
• A flashlight and portable radio
• Extra batteries
• Goggles and dust mask
• A personal commode with sanitary bags

You should have at least five gallons of water stored in your hallway or back yard. After a disaster, the water will be contaminated within 12 hours if you don’t have a shut off valve.

Although it is likely water would be restored within 72 hours of a major quake, some areas might be dry for much longer.

If there are indications that the power will be restored within a day or so, most foods will be fine as long as you don’t open freezer or refrigerator doors. If you think it’s going to be a long emergency, you might as well consume foods while they last.

• WATER: Store drums of water (about a half gallon per person per day; you’ll need more for washing or if you have pets) in the hall closet or back yard. For water stored in store-bought containers, add a half-teaspoon chlorine bleach to five gallons to keep it good for one year. Or purchase in multi-year, sealed cases.
•  
• Moist towelettes can reduce the need for bathing water. If water is shut off, ladle out the water from toilet tanks and hot-water heaters. Water purification tablets are available at sports and camping stores.
•  
• BREADS & CEREALS: Keep crackers and cookies well packaged, preferably in tins. Stock up on ready-to-eat cold cereals.
• .
• DRY FOOD: For main dishes, instant soup cups and add-hot-water-and-steep dishes are good.
• CANNED FOOD: Even if you generally don’t use much canned food, it is invaluable in an emergency. Just be sure you’ve got a manual can opener.

As with all emergency rations, cans or plastic containers are better than breakable jars. Canned fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish make for sturdy eating. Be sure to include items that can be eaten cold.

Sardines and Spam may not be on your usual menu, but they’ll keep bodies fueled. Shelf-stable tofu is another great nutritious food.

• DAIRY PRODUCTS: Powdered milk is versatile: You can use it for making instant puddings, chocolate milk, etc. Soy milk, plain or flavored, is widely available in shelf-stable cartons, and canned or evaporated milk will fortify instant coffee.
• BEVERAGES & TREATS: In addition to basic drinking water, store fruit juices and prepared coffee or tea drinks in cans or cartons.

Stock instant coffee or tea drinks, canned puddings and such snacks as dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, chips and ready-to-eat popcorn.

Tags: disaster, earthquake, earthquake kit, prepare, preparedness