Essential Supplies You Need for a Home Emergency

Real Estate Tips
Emergency
December 22, 2020

While you cannot predict when an emergency will occur, you can take disaster preparedness steps. There are some essential supplies you should have handy in your home so that you can be fully prepared to handle a fire or weather a storm.

Keep your family safe during a home emergency by having these essential supplies ready:

Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an essential item you should have in your home. Ideally, you should have more than one around your home. Two common places for fire extinguishers include the kitchen and the garage. There are various classes of fire extinguishers because there are different types of fire. Luckily, you can buy multipurpose fire extinguishers for convenience.

Flashlight

If the power goes out at night, be prepared with a flashlight and extra batteries. Or if you prefer, you could get a hand-crank flashlight that does not require batteries.

First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit should be fully stocked at all times. Keep an emergency first aid kit separate from your basic wound care supplies. You should have the basic provisions along with a few extra supplies such as a sling bandage, adhesive tape, finger splint, and more.

A Whistle

A whistle is important because if you are ever in peril and you need to call out for help, a whistle can be louder and more consistent than shouting.

Non-Perishable Food

You should have some non-perishable food items for a home emergency. Some essential supplies include peanut butter, breakfast cereal, energy bars, trail mix, and canned goods. If you have canned goods in your emergency home kit, be sure to also include a manual can opener.

Water

While it’s important to have food for an emergency, water is far more essential. Ideally, you should have one gallon of water per member of your family. One gallon of water can usually last someone for about three days.

Radio

For a home emergency, it’s a good idea to have a radio to stay up to date on current events. Choose between a battery-powered radio, crank radio, or a NOAA weather radio.

Wrench and/or Pliers

In the case of a home emergency, such as a gas leak, you may need to shut off your utilities. Learn the proper shut-off procedures for your utilities and keep a wrench and/or plier in your essential supply kit.

Local Maps

In an emergency, you may need to leave your home and travel to a safe destination. A hard-copy of a local map is an essential supply. You may have a smartphone, but it could run out of charge or become damaged in the midst of an emergency.

These are the basic essential supplies you should have ready in case of a home emergency. There are a lot more items you should consider adding to your emergency kit, just take a look at the Ready campaign website for additional information.