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
Page 2
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
City of Chesapeake Page 5
Week 4: Lighting &
Include these items in each family member’s Grab
& 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
Include these items in each family member’s Grab
& 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.
City of Chesapeake Page 7
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
City of Chesapeake Page 9
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)
City of Chesapeake Page 11
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
City of Chesapeake Page 13
Page 14
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