Earthquake Survival Kit: How To Prepare One?
Being prepared means being equipped with the proper supplies that may be needed in an emergency or disaster.
An earthquake survival kit will make sure all that is required when disaster strikes is at your fingertips.
Earthquake Survival Kit
Preparing an earthquake kit is an opportunity to talk about what you would do when a major earthquake strikes. General guidelines recommend storing enough food, water, and gear for three days per person (72 hours) in the household.
Critical Supplies- What do you need?
- Three days of water supply for each member of the family (at least 1 gallon per person, per day).
- Three days’ supply of nonperishable food and a can opener.
- First aid kits
- Three days’ supply of food and water for pets
- Flashlights in every room with extra batteries
- Power packs for phones
- Prescribed medications
- Whistle
- Copies of documents
- Cash, small bills are best.
Following are the key items you need to consider:
Food
Choose foods in easy-to-open or ready-to-serve packaging, and have a manual can opener in the emergency kit. It is essential to choose foods that will not increase thirst in the earthquake survival kit.
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, veggies
- Canned juices, milk, soup
- Sweetened cereals
- Salt, pepper, sugar
- Peanut butter, jam, crackers
- Granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit
- Cookies, instant coffee, tea bags
First Aid Kit
The first aid kit can help reduce the risk of infection or the severity of an injury. First aid kits typically include various supplies that will help treat cuts, scrapes, and minor injuries, including sprains and burns.
Basic first aid kits should include the following items:
- Adhesive bandages
- Tape roll
- Gauze pad and gauze roll
- Scissors
- Foil blankets
- Examination gloves
- Flashlight/glow sticks
- Instant cold pack
- Hot pack
- Antiseptic cream
- Aspirin
- Allergy medication
- Burn cream
- Alcohol pads
- Cotton swabs
- Eyewash
Toos & Appliances
It is crucial to have tools available in emergency times to help put off the fire, provide light, mend broken appliances, and heat water.
- Flashlight with extra batteries in every room
- Fire extinguisher
- Duct tape
- Work gloves
- Knife, pliers, and scissors
- Local maps
- Manual can opener
- Dust mask
- Water purification tablets
Communication supplies
During earthquakes, power sources are one of the first things to go off, and they can sometimes stay off for weeks. Have flashlights available in every room in the house. Be sure to store extra batteries for the flashlights.
Once the power goes out, a radio may be the only connection with the outside world. Any battery-powered AM-FM radio is essential during an emergency.
Cellphones and tablets are excellent survival tools because all kinds of useful information can be downloaded and be used for reference in times of need. But those devices are of no use once they run out of power. Power packs can provide multiple charges to lengthen the life of the devices until there is a place to recharge.
Emergency supplies for the car
The kit’s purpose is to provide basics in case of a major earthquake strikes while on the road or in an emergency to leave home quickly.
Supplies recommended for car include:
- Keep the tank ½ full
- Water supply for 3 days
- Nonperishable food supply for 3 days
- Extra clothing and shoes
- Small first-aid kit
- Solar blanket or sleeping bag
- Flashlights and batteries
- Toilet tissue and trash bags
Emergency supplies for your pets
If there are four-legged family members, there is a need to include supplies for the pets in the earthquake survival kit.
- Sturdy leashes and carriers for transport
- Food and drinking water for ten days
- Litter/pan, scooper, and trash bag
- Bowls, treats, toys, blankets
- Medications and copies of medical records
- Current photos of you with your pets
Have contact names and numbers of relatives or animal shelters that can take care of the animals in case of an emergency and have their names and numbers printed and kept in the kit.
Conclusion
Most experts say, at least three days’ supply of food, water, and gears should be set aside in case of an emergency. This is to account for the time it may take for rescue workers to reach after a major disaster.
Creating an earthquake kit or supplementing a pre-made kit doesn’t have to be expensive. Many items are inexpensive and can be found at many big box stores.
