Week 1

Grocery Store

à    1 gal. water*

à    1 sm jar peanut butter*

à    1 lrg can juice*

à    hand-operated can opener

à    instant coffee, tea, powdered soft drinks

à    permanent marking pen

à    1 gal of water per pet

 

 Also:  pet food, diapers, and/or baby food if needed.

 

à    Make a family plan.

 

à    Date each perishable food item using marking pen

 

à    Identify tornado shelter areas in your home & at work.

 

Week 2

Hardware Store

à    Crescent wrench

à    Heavy rope

à    Duct tape

à    2 flashlights with batteries

à    “bungee” cords

 

 

 

 

Also:  a leash or carrier for your pet, if needed.

 

 

à    Check your house for hazards.  Secure loose objects that may fly.

 

à    Locate your gas meter and water shutoffs and attach a wrench near them for emergency use.

Week 3

Grocery Store

à    1 gal. water*

à    1 can fruit*

à    1 can meat*

à    sanitary napkins

à    video tape

à    1 gallon of water per pet

 

 

 

Also:  pet food, diapers, and/or baby food if needed.

 

à    Use a video camera to tape the contents of your home for insurance purposes

 

à    Store tape with family/friend that lives out of town.

Week 4

Hardware Store

à    Plumber’s tape

à    Crowbar

à    Smoke detector with battery

 

 

 

 

 

Also:  extra medications or a prescription marked “emergency use” if needed

 

 

à    Install or test your smoke detector

 

 

Week 5

Grocery Store

à    1 gal water*

à    1 can fruit*

à    1 can meat*

à    1 can vegetables*

à    2 rolls toilet paper*

à    extra toothbrush*

à    travel size toothpaste

 

 

Also:  special food for special diets, if needed

 

 

 

à    Identify an outside meeting location for Fire Emergencies

 

à    Make sure all family members know the meeting location

à    Have a fire drill at home.

 

Week 6

First Aid Supplies

à    Aspirin and/or acetaminophen

à    Compresses

à    Rolls of gauze or bandages

à    First aid tape

à    Adhesive bandages- assorted sizes

 

 

Also:  extra hearing aid batteries, if needed

 

 

à    Check with your child’s day care or school to find out about their disaster plans

 

à    Have a tornado drill at home

 

 

 

Week 7

Grocery Store

à    1 gal. water*

à    1 can ready to eat soup*

à    1 can fruit*

à    1 can vegetables*

 

 

 

 

Also:  extra plastic baby bottles, formula and diapers, if needed

 

 

à    Establish an out-of-state contact to call in case of emergency.

 

Week 8

First Aid Supplies

à    Scissors

à    Tweezers

à    Antiseptic

à    Thermometer

à    Liquid hand soap

à    Disposable hand wipes

à    Sewing kit

 

Also:  Extra eyeglasses, if needed.

 

 

 

à    Place a pair of shoes and flashlight under your bed so that they are handy during an emergency

 

Week 9

Grocery Store

à    1 can ready to eat soup*

à    Liquid dish soap

à    Plain liquid bleach

à    Heavy duty garbage bags

 

 

 

Also:  saline solution and a contact lens case, if needed.

 

 

à    Send some of your favorite family photos (or copies) to family members out of state for safekeeping.

Week 10

Hardware Store

à    Waterproof portable plastic container (with lid) for important papers

à    Portable AM/FM radio (with batteries)

à    Purchase a NOAA weather radio/receiver

Also:  blankets or sleeping bag for each family member

 

 

à    Make photocopies of important papers and store safely.

Week 11

Grocery Store

à    1 lrg can juice*

à    large plastic food bags

à    1 box quick energy snacks

à    3 rolls paper towels

 

 

 

Also:  sunscreen, if needed

 

 

 

à    Store a roll of quarters for emergency phone calls.

 

à    Go on a hunt with your family to find a pay phone near home.

Week 12

First Aid Supplies

à    Anti-diarrhea medicine

à    Rubbing alcohol

à    Latex gloves (or nitrile)

à    Syrup of Ipecac and activated charcoal

à    Vitamins

 

 

Also:  items for denture care, if needed

 

 

à    Take your family on a field trip to gas and water meter shut off valves.  Show them what to do in an emergency.