Disaster Preparedness Information, National Strategy For Homeland Security, Disaster Supply Kit

Preparing for natural disaster, whether it is a hurricane, tsunami, flood, or some other hazardous event can mean the difference between life and death. Taking the time to assemble a Disaster Supply Kit and rehearse a Family Disaster Plan before a disaster strikes will help you through the temporary loss of everyday conveniences such as safe water on tap, fresh food supplies and electricity.

Prepare now. During an emergency, supplies are in high demand and stores, if they are open at all, run out of inventory quickly. Once disaster hits, there is no time to search for supplies.

The American Red Cross recommends six basics to stock at home:

• Water
• Food
• First-aid supplies
• Clothing and bedding
• Tools and emergency supplies
• Special items

A good rule of thumb is to have enough supplies to cover your household for at least three days. Keep items you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. A basic checklist appears at the end of this page. You should customize that list to suit your family and circumstances, then act immediately to have everything on the list in safe, easily accessible storage.

For more information, contact your county civil defense agency or local chapter of the American Red Cross. A list of preparedness and mitigation publications can also be found in PDC's Preparedness Publications section.

Below are guidelines to consider for basic disaster supplies. They amplify the information summarized in the checklist below.

Water

Store 1 gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation). Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.

To purify water for safe drinking supply:

• Boil vigorously 1 - 3 minutes; or
• Use purification tablets available at most drug stores. Follow package directions; or
• Use household bleach (must contain 5.24% hypochlorite.) For one gallon of water, add 8 drops if water is clear; if water is cloudy, add 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon). For five gallons of water, if water is clear, add 1/2 teaspoon; if cloudy, 1 teaspoon. Let water stand at least 30 minutes before drinking. Allowing it to stand uncovered after purification will reduce chlorine smell.

Food

Store at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food. Select items that don't require refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, and require little or no water. Foods from the list below should not just be in your home, they should be in your Disaster Supply Kit. If you choose to use military meal packs or wilderness food, be sure to store enough additional water to prepare these foods. Consider including foods in your kit that will be comforting as well as nourishing. Also, remember that pet food should be included and that container sizes should take into account the fact that you may not have any form of cold storage. So, for instance, baby foods must be in single-serving containers because you will have to discard unused portions that cannot be refrigerated.

When the Power Goes Out

Without electricity, you will be without fans and air conditioners, as well as light and the ability to keep food cold in refrigerators and freezers. Some food will spoil. Be sure to include non-electric lighting in your kit, as indicated in the list below. If you know in advance that power will be shut off:

• Use perishable foods in refrigerator and freezer first.
• Make extra ice.
• Freeze extra freeze-pack inserts and keep them frozen for emergencies.
• Buy a cooler.
• Freeze water in plastic containers, do not fill to top before freezing—allow for expansion.
• Know where to buy dry ice. 25 lbs. of dry ice should hold a 10-cubic-foot freezer cold for 3-4 days. Note: dry ice may be limited on some islands.

Food Safety

How long food remains frozen in the freezer depends on the amount, type, temperature, and freezer insulation. Keep freezer door closed for as long as possible to prevent loss of cold air. Large cuts of meat or poultry will stay frozen longer than baked goods or small items. In fully-loaded separate freezers, food may remain frozen for 48 to 72 hours. Food thaws quicker in a refrigerator/freezer, but should remain frozen about 12 hours or longer in a side-by-side unit or up to 24 hours in a top or bottom-mount freezer.

Note: Any food that has come in contact with flood water should be considered contaminated. Discard it immediately.

Use refrigerated foods as soon as possible. It is difficult to make general recommendations about food safety as this depends on the type of food, its preparation, previous storage and handling. Some guidelines:

• Butter, margarine, and hard cheese are safe unless it has mold or a rancid odor.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are not mushy or slimy.
• Eggs will be safe for several days if shells have no cracks.
• Fresh meat, poultry, luncheon meats, or frankfurters should be discarded if allowed to warm to room temperature for more than two hours.
• Milk and cream will probably be sour after eight hours without refrigeration.
• Commercial (purchased) mayonnaise should be kept refrigerated once opened. Discard if left without refrigeration for more than two hours.
• Vinegar and oil salad dressings, jellies, and jams may be left unrefrigerated unless poultry or meat juices have contaminated them. Discard mustard, catsup, and pickles if moldy.

Previously frozen foods: Meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables can usually be safely refrozen if they still have ice crystals present or are very cold (40 degrees F or lower), but there will be some loss of quality. Refrozen foods should be used as soon as possible. When cooking, remember that refrozen foods have been thawed once. If thawing is necessary, do it in the refrigerator or microwave, not by thawing at room temperature.

Discard any food that has an off color or odor, or food that has warmed to room temperature for an unknown length of time.

Generally, if in question about the food safety, discard it.

First Aid Kit

Assemble a First Aid Kit for your home and one for each car. Recommended contents of a basic First Aid Kit are included in the checklist below. Watch your family to know what they use or need; know the plants, animals and terrain in your area to determine if you need other specialized items for other likely first-aid needs. Talk to your physician about extra prescription medications and to your pharmacist about long term storage of over-the-counter medications. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid manual, and keep that in your kit as well.

Tools and Supplies

The tools in your Disaster Supply Kit should stay in the kit at all times. The exact list of tools will depend on many variables. The tools included in the checklist below are a minimum recommendation, but your family, location or skills may suggest others.

Clothing and Bedding

Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person, and make the footwear something rugged, not rubber slippers. Rain ponchos and sun glasses should be considered, too.

Special Items

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons. An attempt has been made to suggest items for these needs in the checklist below, but every situation is different depending on the ages of children, the level of functionality of impaired adults, and other factors that only you can assess for your family. Include games, pastimes and toys that will make the difficult times much easier for both children and adults.

Suggestion and Reminders

Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supply Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in air-tight plastic bags. Change stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh, and replace stored food every six months. Re-think your supply kit in light of changing family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothing, etc.

Have a Family Emergency Plan

Most shelters in Hawaii are not equipped to provide meals, beds, or emergency care. If evacuated to a shelter, you must bring food, clothing, bedding, and special items with you.

Pets are seldom allowed in shelters. Contact your local humane society or vet for information on how to care for pets and livestock in a disaster.

Meet with family members to discuss what to do in an emergency. Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster. Pick two meeting places: (1) a location a safe distance from your home in case of fire, and (2) a place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose an off-island or out-of-state friend or relative as a "check-in contact" for family members to call.

Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone and put a list of the numbers in your wallet or purse. Program the numbers into cell phones.

Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.

Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information and training.

Hold neighborhood meetings to plan how the neighbors can work together after a disaster.

Maintain and practice your family emergency plan regularly—at least annually. Choose something to be your family's reminder to talk about disaster preparedness. Perhaps the monthly test of your island's tsunami warning signal could be used as a reminder to think how up-to-date your plans and your Disaster Supply Kit are. Or maybe you would find it easier to be reminded by the following dates:

• March: When Mainland relatives "Spring Forward" to daylight savings time
• April: Tsunami Awareness month in Hawaii
• May: Flood Awareness Month in Hawaii
• June: Hurricane Awareness Month in Hawaii
• November: When Mainland relatives "Fall Back" to standard time
• December: The first month after the end of hurricane Season
• Any month any date that you would never forget

If you are keeping everything in order, most months you will be able to confidently say to yourself that you have done all you can to prepare; other times you will think "change the batteries" or "rotate the food supplies."