Be Prepared with Emergency Disaster Essential Kits

With a household emergency disaster kit that includes family walkie-talkies for added safety, you and your loved ones will be able to comfortably weather a bad storm or just about any other kind of disaster. It's a very smart practice to have everything you need before you need it, safely stored in a particular location in your home. This way, you won't be scrambling around during the emergency to try to find the essentials, when store supplies may be low or impossible to get to. The Red Cross, experts in preparing for emergencies and dealing with their aftermath, publishes a list of emergency supplies that should be included in your emergency preparedness kit. Make sure you have a large carrying case (or a few, for multiple family members), in the event you need to evacuate to a safer facility. In that case, you will need to bring your supplies with you.

A little preparation can go a long way in the event of an emergency, in keeping you and your family safe and comfortable. And for the best quality family two-way radios, check out Tech Wholesale's Motorola Talkabout Series radios. They're designed for personal and family use.

Basic Supplies for an Emergency

  • Water - Per person: 1 gallon per day (evacuation: 3-day supply; at-home use: 2-week supply)
  • Food - Easy to prepare, non-perishable food items (evacuation: 3-day supply; at-home use: 2-week supply)
  • Flashlight
  • Hand-crank or battery-powered radio (NOAA Weather Radio is ideal - certain two-way radios, such as the Motorola Talkabout T460, include NOAA weather stations)
  • Extra batteries for electronic devices
  • First aid kit
  • Medical items and medications (7-day supply)
  • Multi-purpose tool (such as a Swiss Army knife)
  • Personal hygiene and sanitation products
  • Copies of personal documents (medical information and medication list, proof of address, deed to home or lease, birth certificates, passports, home and personal insurance policies)
  • Cell phone and charger
  • Emergency contact information; family contact information
  • Cash
  • Emergency blanket
  • Maps of your general area

Emergency Supplies for Families with Children and/or Pets

  • Two-way radios - to keep family members connected over a large home, in transit or in an evacuation shelter. During emergency situations, cell phone towers may become overloaded, and coverage may not be ideal in other locations away from home.
  • Personal medical supplies such as contact lenses, glasses, hearing aids with batteries, blood sugar testing equipment, syringes
  • Babies supplies (baby food, formula, bottles, diapers)
  • Pet supplies (food, carrier, bowl, collar, leash, identification)
  • Extra sets of house keys and car keys
  • Activities and games for kids
  • Manual can opener

Additional Emergency Gear Based on Common Local Disasters

Make these items part of your survival kit or home emergency kit, depending upon the most common disasters in your location. For example, in low-lying areas prone to flooding, you should have heavy duty rain gear and waterproof clothing.

  • Matches, lighters
  • Portable lights, candles
  • Rain gear; waterproof clothes
  • Extra clothing, sturdy shoes, hat
  • Plastic sheeting, duct tape and scissors
  • Towels
  • N95 or surgical masks
  • Work gloves
  • Liquid bleach
  • Supplies and tools for securing your home
  • Blankets, sleeping bags
  • Entertainment items, games

Keep your most important emergency supplies ready to go at a moment's notice in an easy-to-carry shoulder bag or backpack. Stay safe and prepared!