Build a kit

After a disaster, you and your family should be prepared to be on your own for an extended period of time. Emergency response teams will be very busy and may not be able to provide immediate care to all who need it. There may also be outages to utility services that could impact your community. It is recommended to prepare for at least three days without support. In some emergencies, such as an influenza pandemic, you may need to prepare for a week or more.

A home emergency kit should contain enough items to last for an extended period of time. The items you need will depend on your lifestyle, size of your household, and who is living with you. While there is no one size fits all to an emergency kit, there are many resources available to help get you started:

Because putting together an emergency kit for your home can be a daunting task, several agencies have created a weekly approach to getting supplies. Consider using the following tool from a local partner:

Multnomah County Emergency Management - Family Emergency Supplies Calendar

One of the key ingredients in maintaining health is safely managing bodily waste. During an incident that has disrupted sewer services, the twin bucket system will improve your household's ability to safely manage waste.

To learn how to safely set up and use your two bucket systems as well as access resources and stickers, visit the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization's Emergency Toilet Project website.

Keeping important documents secured and easy to access will allow a quick response in an emergency. Consider creating an emergency binder that contains important documents that can be grabbed quickly. Items such as your will, insurance policies, financial information, family records, and pet documents will come in handy. Keep these documents in a fireproof safe, fireproof bag, or in a ziplocked bag in your freezer.

For a checklist of documents and tips, consider the following resources:

Ready.Gov - Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables
Clark County - Important documents checklist

Should there be a need to quickly evacuate your home, having a portable 72 hour grab-and-go emergency kit will ensure your basic needs will be met. It is recommended to have one kit per person and have it placed in a location that is easy to access if you have to leave quickly. While there is no one size fits all, there are many resources available to help get you started:

WA Emergency Management Division - Prepare in a Year, Chapter 4
Pierce County Emergency Management - Bucket List

Whether you are commuting by car, bicycle, bus, train, or on foot, it is a good idea to have a portable emergency kit available.

WA Department of Transportation - Emergency car kit checklist and resources
National Safety Council - What Should You Keep in the Car?
Ready.Gov - Car Safety

Also consider creating an alternative commute plan. What if roads are impacted and your typical route is closed? What if bus service is impacted? The FEMA Commuter Emergency Plan can be used as a guide to create alternative routes and plans. It is also recommended to carry a map of the area should GPS services be impacted.

Your pets are important members of your household and they will need an emergency supply kit as well. The following resources are available to help create an emergency kit for your pet: