Build Your Emergency Kit Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Build Your Emergency Kit Today

March 21, 2017

[North Bend, Oregon] – Do you feel prepared for an emergency?

In a recent community input survey, over 30% of Coos County respondents stated they do not have an emergency go-bag (container with 72-hours’ worth of supplies in it). 64% of respondents state that they would like to know more about how to construct a go-bag in an affordable way.

Lack of financial resources and preparedness information were the two most common barriers respondents of the survey gave when asked why they were not prepared.

Here are some tips on how to make a go-bag for under $50!

Store enough supplies to last at least three days. Be sure to include the following:

Not everything in your go-bag has to cost money. There are some items you may have around your house that would be helpful to have in an emergency. Here are a few:
☐ Water. If you have old 2-liter soda bottles lying around the house, this is an excellent opportunity to reuse those bottles for emergency water storage. Make sure to wash each bottle thoroughly with hot soapy water. Fill the container with potable water (normal tap water would work fine). If the container will be stored in an area where it is subject to freezing, only fill until it is about 90% full. Leaving space will help the container adjust when water freezes and expands. Put the cap on the bottle and close it as tight as possible. You should try to have at least one gallon of water per person per day (One gallon would be roughly 2 2L soda bottles). For example, if your family has three members, try to store at least nine gallons of water in your emergency kit. Conservatively speaking, your emergency water supply should be rotated twice per year, even though it could be safe longer than that if properly treated and stored.
☐ Change of clothing for all members of your family. Try to pack layers so that you are ready for an   emergency no matter what temperature it is outside.
☐ Pens/pencils
☐ Deck of cards/puzzle/game to pass time
☐ Local Maps (Available for free at Coos Health & Wellness)
☐ Old blankets or sleeping bags for warmth
☐ Copies of family documents in a waterproof sandwich bag (identification of each family member, insurance information, important contact information, bank account information, etc.) Make sure this information is kept in a secure place!
☐ Food. You should have enough food in your emergency kit to last you and your family at least three days. Try to pack high-caloric options that would benefit you in the event of an emergency. Good examples of affordable, high-caloric emergency food are boxes of Jell-o, power bars, canned food, and peanut butter. More information on emergency food can be found at www.emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/food/.

*If you have an infant, don’t forget to have enough formula/diapers for at least fifteen days in your emergency kit.

Another key part of your emergency kit will be a first aid kit. If you do not already have one in your home, build your own comprehensive, first-aid kit.

Be sure to include at least the following items:
☐ Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids)
☐ Large gauze pads (4”X4”)
☐ Large roll adhesive bandage tape (athletic tape)
☐ Rolled bandages
☐ Antiseptic (povidone-iodine)
☐ Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
☐ Analgesics (Tylenol or any alternative acetaminophen tablets)
☐ Anti-diarrheal
☐ Waterproof storage container (Tupperware)
☐ Isopropyl alcohol
☐  Old pair of tweezers/nail clippers
☐ Prescription medication (Try to have at least two weeks supply kit)
☐ Copies of prescriptions

There are more items that will come in handy during an emergency. These can be found at your local store where everything costs a dollar.
☐ Flashlight with spare batteries
☐ Polypropylene rope
☐  Duct tape
☐ Small tarps (2)
☐  Work gloves
☐  Toothbrush/toothpaste
☐  Any feminine hygiene products you prefer
☐  Dust masks for each member of family
☐  Whistle
☐  Unscented bleach with no additives (Using a medicine dropper – can be used to treat unclean water with 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water)
☐ Manual can opener

If you have a pet(s)…
☐ Up-to-date pet identification on your pet’s collar (contact number/address)
☐ Current photo of pet in a waterproof bag
☐ Three days’ worth of pet food
☐ Extra water
☐ Something to secure pet (leash, carrier, harness)
☐ Shot/Veterinary records
☐ Cat litter/pan (if you have a cat)
☐ Any medications your pet may require

Also make sure you have an NOAA weather radio which can be purchased online for as little as $10.00.

For more information on emergency kits, please visit www.emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/.

 

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Phillip J Nel, PhD(ABD), MPH, MA
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager (PHEP)
281 LaClair Street Coos Bay, OR 97420
541-266-6717 | phillip.nel@chw.coos.or.us
Crisis Line: 541-266-6800
Coos County is an Affirmative Action/EEO | TTY Relay: 7-1-1