Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

An emergency kit is a bag or backpack packed for emergency evacuation. Collect it today and hopefully you never need it. After the events of September 11, 2001, the US Department of Homeland Security prepared instructions for citizens on how to assemble their own alarm kit.

Note: Do not confuse an emergency bag with a home shelter essentials kit.

Steps

1. 1 Buy a durable yet lightweight backpack or bag. An old backpack that you no longer wear will also work. The main thing is that its volume is sufficient so that after packing all the necessary things there is still a little space left.
2. 2 Review the list of required items (see.below) and determine what items you need to buy and what you already have. It looks tempting to use what is in stock, but you need to consider whether the quantity is sufficient for both the emergency bag and everyday use, or if you are ready to give up something. For example, if you have a large box of disposable gloves, it’s not hard to get a few pairs out of it, but you cannot give up a single knife, and you’ll have to buy another one for a disturbing set.
3. 3 Pack your bag by stowing heavy items first. Place the most bulky items on the bottom to make lifting and carrying the bag easier.
4. 4 Pack your clothes in resealable plastic bags (such as a zip lock or vacuum bag). This will protect your belongings from getting wet in the event of a flood.
5. 5 Place your backpack somewhere safe and easily accessible.
6. 6 Performed.

Tips

• Think in advance what else you would take in the car if you received an evacuation warning a) in a few hours; b) 5-minute evacuation 'leave the premises immediately' (alarm set). Prepare a plan and use it as needed to calmly collect your things on the list.
• Agree in advance about a possible refuge. You can agree: if something happens, you can come to us, and we - to you. In case of evacuation, it is more pleasant to spend the night on your home couch than in a refugee camp.
• Follow the news. If there is a fire raging nearby or a natural disaster is imminent, consider stowing a few things in boxes in case of a possible evacuation. Think about it BEFORE there is an urgent need. If you wait until the last moment, in a hurry you can forget the necessary things, and it is also more likely that you will have to get stuck in traffic jams on crowded roads.
• If you are on medication, keep them in one place so you don't waste time looking for a first aid kit, but quickly put it in your emergency bag. Keep an adequate supply of pills / medications by replenishing before it runs out.
• You can go crazy if you think about things for all occasions. Consider the most likely disasters and the environment. For example, warm clothes are more appropriate in an alarm set for fire-fearing Montana residents than for hurricane-worried Florida residents.
• Keep calm. There is no need to pack a troublesome suitcase right now, but you shouldn't put it on the back burner either. No one knows where or when the catastrophe will break out.
• Some items can be used in both the home shelter essentials kit and the emergency bag if they are easy to move. For example, a home kit should keep a 3-day supply of drinking water, but only a 1-day supply should be taken when evacuating. However, it is best to keep such items separately if possible. It is possible that you will have to live in a home shelter for several days and then leave it.
• If you are preparing more than one backpack for different situations, they must be clearly marked using colored straps or luggage tags.

Warnings

• Do not use shelters unless absolutely necessary. In the event of a global catastrophe, it is difficult to be in a crowd of frightened, desperate and nervous people.
• Treat your emergency bag like an untouchable stock. Resist the temptation to take something from it in ordinary situations.

What do you need

• This [1] list is prepared by the Department of Homeland Security
• Drinking and household water, at the rate of 4.5 liters per day for each person.
• Non-perishable products.
• Battery operated (or hand-operated) NOAA portable radio and weather radio, plus spare batteries for both devices.
• Flashlight and spare batteries.
• First aid kit
• Whistle for signaling help
• An anti-dust mask and plastic film and adhesive tape to seal the ventilation ducts in the shelter.
• Wet wipes, trash bags and plastic dressings for personal hygiene.
• Mechanical (carbon) and chemical (usually iodine) filter for water purification. Iodine gives the water a bitter taste, but it takes up much less space than a charcoal filter.
• Keys and pliers to shut off communications.
• Canning key (if the set contains canned food).
• Surrounding maps
• Mobile phone and charger
• Important documents (for example, a passport with a residence permit, photographs of family members including pets, insurance policies, tax documents).
• Comfortable clothes and a blanket
• Individual supplies needed for each family member (prescription drugs, pet food, baby food, spare glasses, etc.).
• Swiss army knife. This is a compact and lightweight set of tools for a variety of needs.