Mississippi State Department of Health

Disaster Supply Kit

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Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a disaster supply kit.

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.

You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives?

Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond.

Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

To prepare your kit, review the checklists on this page.

Supplies

There are six basics you should stock in your home:

  1. Water
  2. Food
  3. First aid supplies
  4. Clothing and bedding
  5. Tools and emergency supplies
  6. Special items

Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in a "Go Bag". A Go Bag is a smaller version of your Disaster Supply Kit that you can easily bring with you if you need to evacuate your home.

Your Go Bag should be an easy-to-carry container such as a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffel bag. Suggested items for your Go Bag are marked with an asterisk (*).

Visit the Evacuation webpage to learn more.

Water

Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.

A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.

For more information about storing water for an emergency, visit the Food and Water Q&A webpage.

Food

Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, little or no water and are low in sodium.

If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight.

Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supply Kit and Go Bag *:

For more information on what type of food to store for an emergency, visit the Food and Water Supplies webpage.

First Aid Supplies

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first aid kit should include:

Non-prescription drugs

Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid manual.

Clothing and Bedding

Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. *

Tools and Emergency Supplies

Sanitation

Special Items

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.

For Baby *

For Adults *

For Everyone

Important Family Documents

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container.

Suggestions and Reminders

The Disaster Supplies & Preparedness Calendar will assist you in assembling your emergency kit over a six month period. Print the calendar and purchase the suggested items in small increments within your normal weekly shopping.



Links referenced on this page
Get MS Ready for the iPhone    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ms-ready/id710673786?mt=8&uo=4
Get MS Ready for Android    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.msegov.msready&hl=en
Evacuation    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4801,122,218,html ok
Food and Water Q&A    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4797,122,218,html ok
Food and Water Supplies    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4797,122,218,html ok
special needs    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4796,122,218,html ok
Infant Nutrition During a Disaster    https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Breastfeeding/Documents/InfantNutritionDisaster.pdf
The Disaster Supplies & Preparedness Calendar    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4798,122,218,html ok

Find this page at http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/index.cfm

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