In circumstances like a natural disaster and other emergency, thousands of families may be required to evacuate their Trophy Club rental homes with very short notice. Have you ever wondered if you could immediately organize all that your family needs to survive for several days? If you’ve prepared a 72-hour kit for your family, you never have to worry. You will have everything you and your family needs, ready to go.
As per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Ready.gov), every family must be prepared for disasters and sudden evacuations. You can do this by creating a basic disaster kit with appropriate essentials to last at least three days. A 72-hour kit should have the basics like food, water, medicine, and other necessities. While several prepackaged emergency kits that are ready to be used are available for sale, they are costly and often have no items to suit your family’s particular conditions. The best and more inexpensive option is to make a 72-hour kit for you and your family or friends.
So how do you make an emergency kit? There are instructions on how to organize a simple emergency preparedness kit on Ready.gov. Consider this list as a starting point for your family’s 72-hour kit. For instance, you would need a way to store and carry your items efficiently to keep the elements out. Some suggestions include using a duffel bag, backpacks, or plastic bins. After that, it would be best to make sure that everything in your kit is sealed in airtight plastic bags to keep them safe and dry.
Once you have an idea where to store and carry your emergency kit, you can start adding basic items like water and food. Ready.gov has a full set you can download and print. But a good rule of thumb is to bring at least one gallon of water per person per day in your kit, plus a three-day supply of non-perishable food items for each person. If you want to use canned goods in your kit, don’t forget to add a manual can opener, as well. Other primary survival supplies, such as flashlights, extra batteries, matches, or a lighter, a first aid kit, moist towelettes, and garbage bags, should also be included in your kit and any prescription medications or medical supplies your family might need. If you have extra space, consider putting one change of garments and footwear for each family member and a blanket or sleeping bag.
Once you’ve finished with the basics, you can start adding items specific to your family’s circumstances. Let’s say you have infants or pets in your family, don’t forget to add baby supplies and pet food to your kit. It may also be important to add things like feminine hygiene products, contact lens solution, or over-the-counter medications that are used regularly. After that, you can start adding copies of important family documents, identification records, and cash or traveler’s checks to your emergency kit. Make sure your cash and passports are in waterproof storage together with other important stuff.
A significant part of making a 72-hour kit for your family is to maintain it yearly. It is essential to check and replenish expired food items as needed, and update your kit depends on your family’s necessities. Eventually, you’ll need to know where to store your kit. Selecting a location that is both safe and easy to access is best if ever you need to leave immediately. Make sure that every member of your family knows where the kit is for safety purposes. You might also consider making a smaller emergency kit for your car if something happens while you are away from home.
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