RU Ready? Plan Ahead to Be Prepared – 5 Must Have Supplies

In recent weeks, the news has been filled with so many disasters but for many it’s gone beyond news. It’s the new reality. Between the flooding in Houston and the devastation of Hurricane Maria and Irma, so many are facing loss of loved ones and their way of life. My deepest sympathies go out to everyone that has been affected. Below are links where you can make a difference. Please contribute what you can. Every little bit will help.

The Red Cross
The Hispanic Federation (for Puerto Rico)
Las Vegas Victim’s Fund

Because of what we’ve witnessed, our family has decided to make preparedness a priority. Being prepared is something many people do to some degree, but it’s easy to be complacent. I don’t know about you, but the recent disasters have knocked me out of that complacency. Let’s be ready.

In part one of my series, I talked about what kind of disaster you may face based on your local region, and the importance of creating a family plan. Part two of my series covers 5 must-have supplies you need to include in your Emergency Preparedness plan.

Five Must Have Supplies to Include in Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

No matter what your personal situation or what type of disaster you may face, there are some basic supplies everyone should have stocked in the event of an emergency. Here are five things you should have on hand at all times to make sure you’re prepared ‘just in case’.

Water

One of the first things you should do when you’re prepping for an imminent emergency is to store some water. Water is the most essential item on your list. Most people can make it a long time without food or power, but you won’t make it very long without clean drinking water. We’ve become so accustomed to just turning on our faucets that it’s easy to forget we will need a few days supply of water in case something happens. Buy bottles or gallons at the store, or fill up containers at home. A water filter or a little bleach will keep water drinkable for longer time periods. Fema.gov recommends having one gallon per person per day.

Ready-To-Eat and Non-Perishable Food

While most people can go a surprisingly long time without food, involuntary fasting isn’t particularly pleasant. Keep a few ready to eat foods in your pantry at all times, such as peanut butter, crackers, protein bars, and canned foods that you can eat without heating. It helps to stick with items that you eat on a regular basis, so you can rotate through your storage and don’t risk having it go bad.

In addition, start to stock up as the time of year approaches when natural disasters can occur. You can’t always rely on others to provide food. And if you need to evacuate, don’t forget to bring some of this emergency food supply with you. Store supplies may be depleted and restaurants closed.

First Aid Kit

The size of your first aid kit will depend on the size of your family. Standard kits are available at most local stores, then add any and all medications you and your loved ones take and need. Check this kit and all of your disaster supplies regularly to make sure you’re ready in case you need to grab your supplies and leave quickly. You might want to add a quarterly reminder on your phone to help you remember to rotate medicines and supplies.

Weather Radio or Weather Alert Radio

The next must-have item on the list is a small battery operated weather radio. Keep a set of spare batteries with it as well. This is important because you will need the latest weather and government updates as well as news. Don’t rely on your phone and internet as your only source for information. The network could go down or overload. A weather radio makes an important backup. According to nws.noaa.gov “NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.” A weather radio will broadcast NOAA information but must be turned on, while a weather alert radio will automatically broadcast weather warnings.

Flash Light And Batteries

Things always seem worse in the dark, don’t they? It can also be dangerous to move around inside or out without a reliable source of light. Candles work in a pinch, but they also bring the risk of fire. Make sure your kit includes several flash lights and spare batteries. Battery operated lamps are useful because they can light a larger area, and headlamps are particularly helpful when you’re trying to move around in the dark.

We Can Be Prepared

We can’t always control everything, but with effort and organization we can do our best to be prepared for an emergency. Be sure to include these top 5 items in your emergency preparedness plans.

Next week we’ll delve into survival supplies and the best food to include in your emergency food storage.

RU-Ready?-Create-a-family-plan

Part one of my Emergency Preparedness series talked about determining what you need to be prepared for and creating a family plan. Read more here.

While you’re here, sign up to receive updates and direct links to my posts and newest free printables! Subscribers receive direct links to my free printables plus exclusive digital desktop images of each month’s printable. Don’t miss out!