If you live in an area prone to seismic activity, it’s vitally important that you have an earthquake kit in your house or in your car so that you’ll have emergency supplies if you need them. Even if your area isn’t a hotspot for this kind of activity, this survival kit is pretty basic and can be used in any kind of disaster.
Ideally, your earthquake kit should contain enough supplies for you and your family to survive for a period of three days minimum. Beyond the basic considerations of food and water that are physically necessary for survival, there are a few additional items you’ll need to help you make it through the aftermath of an earthquake.
One of the first things that you’ll need is some kind of light source in case the electricity has been knocked out in your area. Since you’re going to want to make sure that your light will work when needed, your best bet is to choose an LED flashlight or lantern since they have a drastically reduced energy usage and will keep a charge longer in storage than most standard flashlights. Test any and every LED flashlight you own every few months to make sure that it still works. If you’re using an LED lantern that has multiple lighting modes, take the time to test every one of its modes.
Another essential piece of equipment is a multi-purpose tool containing knife blades, pliers, screwdrivers, and even saw blades and can openers in it. Be sure to store your multi-purpose tool with your LED lantern or LED flashlights so that you can find it quickly once you’ve located your light source. You’d be amazed at how useful a multi-purpose tool can be after or even during a disaster; you may even find uses for it that you’ve never considered.
Next, you should have a fully-stocked first aid kit so that you can treat any injuries that might have occurred during the earthquake. Make sure that you have common items such as blankets, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer with your first aid kit so that you can cover basic needs and sanitation for everyone (especially anyone suffering from shock).
Other useful things to include in your earthquake kit include cash or traveler’s checks to be able to meet any monetary needs that you might have in case the banks are closed due to the earthquake. You should also have a safe with copies (or the originals) of any important documents that could potentially be lost or damaged, as well as clean, dry clothes for both warm and cold weather so that everyone can maintain a sense of cleanliness.
Make sure that you check the expiration dates on any food or medicine that you keep in your earthquake kit, and change out any stored water that you have every few months. This will prevent you or your family members from getting sick due to expired food or stale water.
Preparing an earthquake kit is an important step that should be done as a family to ensure that everyone knows how to use the items inside and where to find it if an earthquake occurs. Being prepared for a disaster may very well save lives.