We all know that emergency kits are good things to have where we can grab them quickly in case of disaster. Yet many of us do not take the time to put them together, even though we know in an emergency they could save our lives. And these kits really are not all that hard to assemble.

There are suggested emergency kit lists available in many places on the Internet. Some items are standard throughout all kits but may be modified according to the area you live in, for example, if blizzards are common. Individual needs to be considered are medical conditions and any pets you may have.

Bottled water is one of the key ingredients in your emergency kit. Water is the thing we can live without for the least amount of time. You will also want food that does not spoil quickly, that is lightweight and requires minimal, if any, preparation. Power bars are always a good choice. Do not forget to include food and water for your pets.

Commonly added items also include a first aid kit, matches, a radio that is operated by batteries or hand cranked, blankets, one or more flashlights and extra batteries. There are emergency blankets you can buy that take up very little storage space. Any prescription medicines should be put in the kit, at least in small quantities. A bit of cash is also a good idea.

As long as you are making an emergency kit for the house, go ahead and make one for the car as well. This should include the same basic things as the one you make for your home. You should always have flares in the car as well, and any other extras for your climate such as kitty litter, a shovel and a scraper.

Put all your emergency items in a suitcase that is specifically for that purpose. You do not want to risk emptying it for a vacation and then never getting around to putting it back together. One that has wheels and is easy to take with you quickly will be best.

It is possible to buy your emergency kit already put together or at least part of it. There are many variations from many different companies. They come in different sizes and with different items within them. You may want to at least start with one of these kits while you are putting your own together. At least the basics will be covered for your safety.

You will need to check through the kit every six months or so to replace the bottled water and to make sure that no food needs switching out. Also, be sure to check the batteries, especially ones stored inside the flashlight. You may want to switch these out to prevent corroding which can render both batteries and flashlight useless.

Do not wait another day to take care of this item on your to-do list. Get started on creating or purchasing your emergency kits right away. You never know when an emergency will strike and catch you unprepared.

Find out what you will need to get through any situation. emergency kits save lives, no question. Will you be ready if an emergency situation arises? Make sure you know what emergency kits need to have included in them, right now at http://www.1800prepare.com

Even if you live in Tornado Alley, on the Atlantic coast and worry about hurricanes or live on a fault line and earthquakes are your concern, the information below can give you the tools you need. You will the same basic items no matter where you live.

The first thing you worry about is having a place to stay. You should always check your dwelling to make sure it is structurally sound. If it is, clear any debris from the room so you don’t risk any injuries. If it’s not, have an emergency tent you can pitch and have instant shelter. You also need to have several days worth of bottled water, both for drinking and cleaning wounds.

The other major thing is food. Having a week’s worth of canned goods and can opener that’s easily accessible can ease that worry. You also need to have some actual cash on hand that you can use. There will be the risk that the stores near you are not open for business, and if they are, cold hard cash can get you the items you need with no feat that they won’t take a check or have capabilities to run your credit card.

Another group of items you will need to have available is a flashlight so you can see in the dark or be able to use it to signal for rescue. A battery operated radio, with batteries, might be the only way you can hear about what is going on, especially if you are in a major disaster. Don’t forget a cell phone, past disasters have shown that they remain usable for a long time, and you may be able to call for help.

You need to also have a first aid kit. You don’t need a large one, a bottle of alcohol and some sort of bandages will suffice. Menstrual pads can be used since they are sterile and can hold a lot of fluid, as well as being economically viable. When you create this, do include medication, both prescriptions and over the counter, but make sure you keep an eye on their expiration dates.

Pets should also be taken care of, and including their needs in your cache of supplies should be done. Having a leash, a copy of their health care and inoculations and including them in your food and water supply is part of responsible pet ownership.

This disaster survival information can save your life and make living through the ordeal easier. Preparing for it can give you peace of mind if it happens. By making a survival kit today, you can ensure that you have everything if you ever need it.

You never know when a disaster will occur. To be ready whatever fate throws you, you need a basic tool kit. Find disaster survival information that will help you ready yourself whatever fate throws you!

You could for instance slip and twist your ankle quite badly which will then lead to much swelling and experiencing a lot of pain; furthermore, it may be turning dark and you may be some distance from civilization and help will not be at hand. This is when you will need to fall back on a survival kit to help you treat the swollen ankle, deal with the swelling and also the pain.

In addition, you have to consider the possibility of various natural disasters affecting the city or area in which you live. You will obviously also have to think about any situations that can arise and for which you will not be well prepared for. These factors, when taken into account, can help you decide on which kind of survival kit is most suitable for you.

It is also necessary that you make a realistic assessment of your current situation and you also will need to figure out what can go wrong in your current situation. Next, you have to identify what kinds of eventualities are you well prepared to cope with and what things are outside your control.

Also, you must carry your survival kit in the pockets of your trouser or in your jacket and not put it in a backpack because if something bad was to happen to you, it is imperative that you can quickly reach into your pocket and extract the survival kit. Your survival kit must be able to address a few important aspects including those of fire, water, shelter, navigation and signaling.

It will also pay for you to look for certain specific kinds of kits that can help ensure that you survive different kinds of situations. There are in fact a number of kits that have especially been designed to address specific kinds of environments or specific kinds of disasters. You should look at these and then pick one that best suits your particular circumstances.

In many instances, finding the perfect survival kit may not be possible because there won’t be a kit available on the market to fit in with certain kinds of situations. Furthermore, even if you do find a survival kit that addresses your needs it is still not enough. This is because you should, in order to play it even safer, think about buying an extra survival kit so that you also have a backup that can be used if anything really serious happens. In addition, you must always be prepared for the absolute worst.

Also, a good survival kit is one that you can easily open up in an emergency situation and which does not mean having to grapple with the zippers in order to reach inside the kit. The best survival kit is also one that is easy to use and to be on the safe side why not buy more than one such kit? You never know when you will have to use more than one; so buying an extra survival kit is to your advantage.

Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Maybe you go camping frequently? Even if you’re just at home, it benefits you to own car survival kits. Make sure that you own one that contains the things you can use in case of an emergency.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was quick to accept the blame for underestimating residents’ needs in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, taking some of the heat off a beleaguered FEMA that’s still reeling from criticisms over its slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti were nonetheless furious as hurricane victims waited in lines for hours to receive ice and water, rationed to one bag of ice per family.

“Again, there’s been a failure,” Giulianti told the Herald. “If there’s a failure of the government over something this simple, I’m frightened to see what would happen in an even worse crisis.”

But Bush and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff were also critical of victims’ lack of hurricane preparedness. Many Floridians failed to heed basic emergency guidelines, which I outlined in last week’s Emergency Water column. Let me repeat: It’s every citizen’s responsibility to maintain 3 gallons of water for every family member, which covers the 72-hour period when you’ll be on your own after a major disaster. In fact, you may require even more.

“The failure to maintain adequate stocks of water and food in a disaster can range from merely inconvenient situations to life-threatening scenarios,” says Dennis B. Warner, senior technical advisor for water supply, sanitation and water resources for Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world. “Depending on the climate, people require one to two liters of drinking water per day for essential life support. This does not include water for washing, bathing or any of the other functions that are necessary for long-term health. Over a few days to a week, a shortage of water for personal hygiene and household sanitation is an inconvenience; beyond that period, it can become a serious health hazard.

“Safe drinking water, however, is essential and must be available to all members of the household,” Warner adds. “Depending upon the contaminants in the water, the health consequences of drinking polluted water can range from mild intestinal upsets to severe dysentery and chemical poisoning. The quantity of available water is also crucial. People can survive for several weeks without food, but only a few days without safe drinking water. Our basic needs for water and food, therefore, should be an integral part of household preparedness for emergencies and disasters.”

Use American Family Safety’s “Are You Ready?” questionnaire to determine what you’ll need if a disaster strikes. Each AFS disaster kit contains a 3-day supply of drinking water and food. You may also purchase extra packages of emergency drinking water to supplement your kit.

What Should I Buy?

Preplanning is essential.   Assume you’ll be without electricity, gas and the ability to cook.   For portability and ease, make sure your disaster kit contains enough food for every family member. You can purchase extra emergency food packs and energy bars (with a 5-year shelf life), as needs dictate. If you’re at work, in your car or on the go, make sure you’ve made similar preparations.

“Remember to think about special dietary needs, such as baby food, vitamins and protein drinks,” says Lorraine Whiffen, director of program services for Island Harvest, a Mineola, New York-based organization that helps fight hunger by feeding tens of thousands of Long Island residents. She also recommends supplementing your pantry with nonperishable comfort foods, particularly if you have children. They will seek a sense of normalcy during a stressful time.

“Items such as protein or fruit bars, canned foods and juices, dry cereal and granola bars, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers and nonperishable pasteurized milk are good choices,” she says. “Be sure the items won’t require refrigeration during storage or after opening. Include a manual can opener or cans that have tab openings, disposable utensils and cups, and moist wipes to help with limited preparation and cleanup.”

You need to have approximately one gallon of emergency water per person, which should cover drinking and sanitation needs over a 72-hour period. If you live in a warmer climate, it’s a good idea to buy extra emergency supplies.

How Do I Store Food Items?

“Nonperishable food and water should be stored in a cool, dry area—off the floor or even higher in flood-prone areas,” Whiffen says. “Never put them above the stove, under the sink, in a damp garage or basement, or anyplace exposed to high or low temperature extremes.”

The biggest mistakes people make are neglecting to create and maintain their disaster pantries. You can learn about food shelf life and how to read package labels by clicking here.

“Since a pantry consists of nonperishable items, people sometimes think that they’ll be able to just grab from what they have when the time comes,” Whiffen says. “Others prepare and put their items in a safe place, but never look at them again until they are needed. Periodic rotation of supplies is also something to remember, giving you an opportunity to review your family’s overall disaster response plan, including updating emergency phone numbers and exit routes from your home.”

Hummer Parts

America’s top disaster preparedness agencies have consistently offered the following advice:  Maintain the equivalent of 3 gallons of water for every family member in your home. This covers drinking and sanitation needs over the critical 72-hour period when you may be on your own (1 gallon per person, per day), as rescuers tend to those most in need of assistance.

But after seeing footage of a ravaged New Orleans, should we keep even more water on hand? The answer may, indeed, be “yes.”

“The amount of safe water that should be on hand depends on the risks and hazards of the area in which the household is located,” says Dennis B. Warner, senior technical advisor for water supply, sanitation and water resources for Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, one of the largest humanitarian agencies in the world. “Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, industrial accidents, disease outbreaks, heavy snowfalls and terrorism all have differing consequences and time periods associated with them. It is clear that preparedness for a tornado—which may cause severe point damage, but have little effect on the ability of public service agencies to provide assistance—is not the same as preparedness for a major hurricane, which may cause widespread severe damage, thus having a great effect on public services and emergency assistance.”

Warner, who has responded to disasters in many countries around the globe, believes every household requires a basic, sensible level of disaster preparedness. He echoes the need for 3 gallons of safe water per person for 72 hours, as well as emergency food rations for the same period.

“This will provide a base of sustenance for short interruptions of electricity, transportation and other services that would require people to be self-sufficient for a few days,” he explains.

But you may want to consider keeping a larger supply of water and food on hand.

“For geographic areas that are at elevated risk of major interruptions of services—such as floods along the Mississippi River, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault in California and nuclear accidents anywhere—household preparedness would warrant keeping larger stocks of water and food on hand, along with other essential items such as first aid supplies, personal drugs and medications, and appropriate clothing,” Warner says.

The exact amount, he notes, depends on specific hazards in your particular area and the likely risks of a serious disaster. You need to use common sense and err on the side of caution.

“It is difficult to state how much additional water and food should be stored,” Warner says. “Historical experience in each area should certainly be used as a guide. Another source of information would be the disaster management agencies—federal, state and local—that are located in the area.

“Despite all efforts toward a reasonable level of disaster preparedness, however, there is always the possibility that the type of emergency and/or the magnitude of the event may go beyond what had been anticipated,” he adds. “There is no way to prepare for all possible disasters. Both natural and manmade disasters will always have an element of unpredictability inherent in them. Our basic approach to emergency preparedness, therefore, should be one that tries to balance hazards, risks, customs, costs and basic human nature. At the same time, it is crucial that we continually learn from our experience with disasters and revise our thinking, planning and preparedness efforts accordingly.”

American Family Safety has an “Are You Ready?”questionnaire on their website to determine what you’ll need if a disaster strikes. AFS has a wide variety of disaster kits, containing a 3-day supply of drinking water and food. You may also purchase extra packages of emergency drinking water to supplement your kit.