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March 2006 Newsletter

Newsletter Article
March 2006
Family Disaster Supply Kit

To follow up last month’s article, several people requested that I provide everyone with the list of items for a simple, practical Family Disaster Supply Kit. So here it is! This list is not mine, but is provided by the state of Utah’s Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security. Please remember as you assemble your kit that it doesn’t need to sustain your family for an extended period of time, but should be able to keep you going for at least several days and possibly a week. Keep in mind that it may take at least 72 hours for organized help to reach you in a catastrophic emergency. (Remember Hurricane Katrina?) Remember that your kit may need to be portable in case you must leave your home. Think “lightweight backpacking”. In this type of emergency no one will care if you wear the same clothes for a few days and if the colors don’t necessarily match. Consider quality and durability over style. Leave any unnecessary items out of the kit. Use a backpack or duffle bag as a means to carry it and remember that you can divide the load up into smaller units so that every family member can carry their share. Now for the list.

Water
Is probably the most important item to have.
An active person needs at least two quarts per day. Severe weather and strenuous activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and injured or ill persons will need more. Plan on at least one gallon per-person per-day. Try to keep at least a 3 day supply for your entire family.
Food
Store at least a three day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, prep or cooking and little or no water. Select items that are compact, lightweight and that your family will eat!
 Ready to eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables.
 High energy foods, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, trail mix.
 Vitamins
 Special foods for infants, the elderly or persons on restricted diets.
 Comfort/Stress foods. Cookies, Hard Candies, lollipops.

Clothing and Bedding
Include at least one full change of clothing and footwear per person. Rotate to insure proper sizes
 Sturdy shoes or work boots
 Towelettes, soap, liquid detergent
 Feminine Hygiene supplies
 Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb
 Plastic garbage bags and ties (personal sanitation use)
 Household Chlorine Bleach

First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. Know how to use it!
 Sterile adhesive bandages, gauze pads, triangular bandages, roll gauze, tape.
 Scissors, tweezers, needle
 Antiseptic
 Thermometer
 Tongue depressors

 Petroleum Jelly
 Assorted sizes of Safety Pins
 Soap, Cleansing agent
 Sunscreen
 Latex Gloves
 Aspirin or pain reliever
 Anti-diarrhea medicine
 Antacid, Laxative
 Ipecac (Poison Control) Activated Charcoal
 Any Family Prescription Medications

Tools and Emergency Supplies
 Mess Kits/Plastics plates utensils etc.
 Emergency Preparedness Manual
 Battery operated radio/extra batteries
 Flashlight/extra batteries
 Cash or Travelers checks, change
 Non-Electric Can opener (vital)
 Utility Knife/Pocket Knife/Hatchet
 Pliers/Crescent Wrench
 Duct Tape
 Compass
 Matches in waterproof container
 Aluminum Foil
 Plastic Watertight storage containers
 Signal flare
 Pencil and paper
 Needles and Thread
 Medicine Dropper
 Whistle
 Plastic Sheeting
 Map of the area.

Please use good judgment and involve your family as you prepare a Disaster Supply Kit. Make sure that everyone understands the items and their uses. Make sure that everyone knows where the kits are stored and let’s hope that we never need them!

Captain Cody Cullimore
Pleasant Grove/Lindon Police Department

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