building family disaster supply kits · checklist for a disaster resilient chesapeake . 2015/16 ....

BUILDING FAMILY D ISASTER SUPPLY K ITS

City of Chesapeake

Checklist for a Disaster Resilient Chesapeake

2015/16

City of Chesapeake

Preparing for a Disaster

Preparedness is the key to survival in any disaster,

including hurricanes and terrorism, and having a family

disaster supply kit handy can aid in recovery. Please

remember that a kit is only one part of personal

preparedness. Please also make sure to make plans to

be prepared.

Assume that you will be without the following for a

minimum of four days or for as long as seven days after a

disaster such as a hurricane:

Power

Drinking Water

Phone Service (Cell Phone & Home Phone)

Gas Pumps for refueling your car or generator

When planning, assume that the disaster will not only

prevent you from leaving your home, but will also prevent

help from getting to you. Prepare to take care of minor

medical emergencies on your own.

This booklet is designed to help you assemble FOUR types

of basic disaster supply kits—over a period of SIX weeks.

Spread out the purchase of items over this time period in

an effort to make the purchase of these items more

affordable. Shopping at local discount and dollar stores

can also save you money. Don’t forget to “shop” in your

own home for some items first! As you purchase items,

check them off to keep track of what you have.

The icons shown on the next page are designed to help

you tell at a glance which items are needed in each type

of disaster kit.

If you have any questions as you build your kits, please

feel free to contact the Chesapeake Office of Emergency

Page 1

1. The “At Home” Disaster Kit (pages 3—9) starts

with several large plastic totes filled with

enough supplies to last AT LEAST FOUR DAYS;

however, a one-week (7-day) supply is ideal.

This kit is best used if you live outside of a

flood zone and plan to “shelter-in-place” during

a hurricane. It can also be used for times of

lengthy power outages such as ice storms.

Store your disaster kit in an area that is easily

accessible by all members of your household. If

you have plenty of notice that you and your

family must evacuate, this kit could also be

taken with you.

2. Create a “Grab & Go Kit” (pages 3—8 & 10) for

each family member. Include items that you

will need to take with you in case you and your

family must evacuate due to an emergency.

Think of Grab & Go Kits as a supplement to the

At Home kit. They can be used in times where

you are required to evacuate quickly, such as a

fire or chemical spill.

3. The “Pet Kit” (pages 11 & 12) includes items

your pet will need during and after a disaster.

Think about including some of the same things

that you would include in your own kit—food,

water, medicine, first aid supplies. This kit can

be used at home or on the go.

4. The “Car Kit” (page 13) contains items which

can be kept in the trunk of your car in case of

emergency—something as simple as a

prolonged traffic jam can be considered an

emergency.

Turn to the next page to get started….

Week 1: Food & Water

For all Kit types, purchase a supply of non-perishable food

(not refrigerated, frozen, or fresh fruits and vegetables) for

each person in your family. Have foods that your family

likes and that you do not have to cook, such as:

Dry Cereal

Canned meat (tuna, Vienna sausages)

Canned vegetables

Canned fruit

Ready to eat soup (not

condensed)

Canned pasta

Juice boxes

Peanut butter

Granola bars (protein bars)

Crackers (Nabs)

Baby formula (if needed)

Foods for special diets

1-Gallon of drinking water per person, per day

These items would be best in the At Home Kit:

Paper Plates

Plastic forks, knives & spoons

Manual can opener

Zipper Baggies

Aluminum foil

Don’t forget about food and water for your pets.

(See pages 10 & 11 for a list of additional items.)

How much Food &

Water for each kit?

At Home: 4—7 days

Grab & Go: 1 –2 days

Car: 1 day

City of Chesapeake Page 3

Week 2: First Aid

Purchase these items separately, or in pre-packaged

American Red Cross approved kit.

A small, pre-packaged kit is ideal for a Grab & Go

Kit, or a Car Kit:

Sterile, adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

Antiseptic Ointment

Insect repellant

Sunscreen

These additional items should be part of your At

Home Kit:

Assorted sizes of safety pins

Cleansing agent/soap

Latex gloves (2 pairs)

2-inch sterile gauze pads (4–6)

4-inch sterile gauze pads (4–6)

Triangular bandages (3)

2” Sterile bandages (3 roll)

3” Sterile bandages (3 roll)

Scissors

Adhesive tape

Tweezers

Needle

Moistened towelettes

Rubbing alcohol

Thermometer

Tongue blades (2)

Tube of petroleum jelly

Medicine dropper

Page 4

Week 3: Medicine & Hygiene

Include these items in each family member’s Grab

& Go Kit, where needed:

Hand sanitizer

Moist towelettes

Toothbrush and paste

Toilet paper

Diapers & extra pacifiers

Contact lens solution

Extra eye glasses

Include these items in the Grab & Go Kit of a

responsible adult family member.

Laxative

Antihistamine

Antacid

Anti-Diarrhea medicine

Pain reliever (Children strength & Adult)

Feminine hygiene products

Extra doses of prescription medications, if

possible

Include the following items in your At Home Kit, in

addition to the above items:

Syrup of Ipecac (use if advised by Poison

Control)

Paper towels

Sealable bucket and plastic garbage bags for

waste disposal

Disinfectant


Week 4: Lighting &


& Go Kit:

Flashlight (crank style, battery free is best)

Extra batteries for flashlight

Include the following items in your At Home Kit, in

addition to the above items:

Large Flashlight

Extra batteries for Flashlight

Matches (waterproof or in a sealed bag)

Portable battery-powered weather radio

Extra batteries for radio

Extra hearing aid batteries (if needed)

Extra cell phone battery or car charger

Page 6

Sample Lighting & Communications Items

for an At Home Kit

Week 5: Tools & Miscellaneous


& Go Kit:

Games, puzzle books, books, etc. for

entertainment for you and your family

Small items for outdoor play (if safe to do so)

Whistle

Include these additional items in your At Home

Kit:

Paper and pencil / marker

Sewing kit

Chlorine bleach (plain, no fragrance)

Duct tape

Plastic Sheeting

Rope

Fire extinguisher

Crow bar

Pliers / screwdriver / hammer

Always have working Smoke Detectors with full batteries

on each floor and near all bedrooms.


Sample Tools and Miscellaneous

Items for an At Home Kit

Week 6: Important Documents

Include these documents , or copies of these

documents, in your At Home Kit:

Apartment or condo leases

Home or other property deeds (mortgage, etc.)

Estate documents

Home owner's or renter's insurance documents

Wills

Life insurance policies

List and/or photos of possessions and their values

List of important phone numbers (family, friends, etc.)

Flood insurance documents

Vehicle titles, leases, loan documents, etc.

Financial statements (accounts, checks, taxes, etc.)

Statement from each bill collector (power, water, etc.)

Government financial assistance award letters

Birth certificates, proof of citizenship or adoption

records

Social security cards

Employment contracts or other legal documents

Medical records, x-rays, benefits documents, etc.

Education records (report cards, acceptance letters)

Passports

List of medications and Duplicate prescriptions from

doctor in case of emergency

Optionally, scan documents and save copies on a

CD/DVD/Flash drive labeled something like “Joey’s

Baseball Photos” That type of label is not obvious

to a stranger that important information is stored

on media. Keep a copy of this info in a responsible

adult’s Grab & Go Bag and give a copy to a trusted

friend or relative.

Page 8

Putting It All Together: At Home

Place your At Home Kit items in sturdy, waterproof

tubs. Make sure that they are large enough to hold

all of your kit items but small enough to carry from

their storage place to your home.

Consider including these additional items in your family’s At

Home Kit:

1 Blanket /Pillow or Sleeping Bag for each

member of your household

Towels

CASH—small bills and change (ATMs may not be

available)

1 State / Local Road Map

Keep your At Home Kit in an easily accessible place. A shelf in

your garage may be a safe,

out of the way place.

Make sure all members of

your family know where to

find your kit. And that

everyone in your family can

reach the kit and safely

remove it from its storage

place.

Once your kit is complete, a

majority of the items will last

for several years. Don’t forget

to check expiration dates on

medicines and food every 6

months to 1 year. (Try to do

this when the clocks change—

the same time you change

your smoke detector

Sample At

Home Kit for

a Family of 3


Store the items in each Grab & Go Kit in a backpack

or duffel bag. Each family member should have their

own bag. Allow children to choose items to include in

their bags.

Consider including these additional items in each family

member’s Grab & Go Kit:

CASH—small bills and change (ATMs may not be

available)

1 Set of Seasonal Clothing for each member of

your household. Check sizes especially for young

children who grow quickly.

1 Set of Sturdy Shoes (like hiking books or athletic

shoes, not flip flops) for each member of your

household.

Contact information for family members

Keep your Grab & Go Kits packed and ready-to-go at all times.

Emergencies such as a house fire or gas leak / chemical spill

require immediate evacuation and you won’t have time to pack

what you need.

Putting It All Together: Grab & Go

Sample Grab & Go Kit for

ONE Adult

Sample Grab & Go Kit for

ONE Small Child

Page 10

Building a Pet Kit— AT HOME / GRAB & GO KIT

These items should be kept in a waterproof storage box or

duffel bag, near your family kits. Collect items for EACH

pet in your family!

Medicines such as heartworm, flea, ear mite, etc.

Proof of vaccination / medical records

Pet ID tags (Microchip is suggested)

CURRENT photos

Of your pet—in case it is lost

Of you with your pet—for identification

Food Bowl and Water Bowl

Food (1-week minimum)

Water (1 gallon per day per pet)

Treats

Manual Can Opener (if using canned food)

Extra Leash & Collar

Medical records (in waterproof bag or container)

Crate

Bed / blanket / toy

Waterless shampoo

Litter pan

Clean up bags

First Aid Kit (see facing page)

Bleach (to treat water, if needed)


Building a Pet Kit— FIRST AID KIT

Store these items in a small waterproof container near

your family’s first aid kit.

Antiseptic wipes

Peroxide

Eye wash

Emergency space blanket

Antihistamine

Antibiotic Ointment

Soft muzzle

Flexible bandage

Gauze roll

Bandage scissors

Cotton Swabs

Tweezers

Sample At Home and Grab &

Go Kit for ONE Pet Sample Pet First Aid Kit

Page 12

Building a Car Kit

A Car Kit is useful for breakdowns or other emergencies—

whether you use the supplies to help yourself or someone

else. It is not unheard of to be stuck on the highway for

hours due to a traffic accident.

Snack bars & Water

Insurance information, notepad & pen

Moist Towelettes & Paper towels

First Aid kit with Blanket

Local & State Road Maps

Jumper cables

Fire Extinguisher

Portable Radio & Batteries

Flashlight & Batteries

Rain Ponchos

Road Flares

Fix-A-Flat tire sealer

CASH for gas emergency

Red Cloth to hang out of window for visibility

For Winter: Ice Scraper & Sand, small shovel, wool

mittens, hat, gloves and

socks

Be sure to have extra formula

and diapers if traveling with

babies or small children.

If you travel with pets, include:

Water Bowl

Clean up bags

Food & treats Sample Standard Car Kit


Helpful Websites

Download The Ready Virginia mobile app!

Created by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management this

app is an interactive tool that makes it easier than ever to be

prepared for emergencies. The free app for iPhone® and

Android™ devices provides emergency planning and guidance

and other robust features not previously available in any

mobile application.

Additional Disaster Information:

City of Chesapeake

www.CityofChesapeake.net

Tidewater area

www. Ready Hampton Roads.org

Ready Virginia:

www.ReadyVirginia.gov

Nationwide:

www.ready.gov

American Red Cross:

www.RedCross.org

Virginia Department of Transportation:

www.virginiaDOT.org

Virginia State Animal Response Team:

www.VirginiaSART.org

Pet Friendly Lodging:

www.PetsWelcome.com

City of Chesapeake

Phone: 757-382-6504

Fax: 757-382-8228

Created by:

City of Chesapeake

Office of Emergency Management

304 Albemarle Drive

Chesapeake, VA 23322