It’s the second week of National Preparedness Month and the most effective way to handle any emergency is to be prepared for it before it strikes.

We were all reminded last week as the torrential rain from Hurricane Ida flooded several Indiana County roadways how important it is to have an emergency kit. Roads were impassable, schools dismissed early, internet disconnected, and some people even lost power. Mother Nature reminds us routinely that we are not in control, so be prepared.

Week 2: Build a Kit

Where to start your emergency supply kit

There are two questions to ask yourself before you start building your own emergency kit:

  1. Who is this kit for?
  2. What kinds of emergencies could affect me?

First, consider how many people (and animals) your emergency kit will need to support and what their specific needs are. An emergency kit for a young, single adult will look different from an emergency kit for a family with little kids, or for an older couple.

Second, what kind of emergency are you expecting? Living in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, flooding and winter storms are always a possibility.  

Recommended Items to Include in A Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food
  • Radio, battery-powered or hand-crank 
    • Extra batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit

Since the spring of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit, cloth face coverings, soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces.

Here is a more for your kit.

This message is brought to you by the IUP Emergency Management Office.