The Ultimate Home Emergency Kit

No one wants to think everything they hold dear may be in jeopardy due to the whims of Mother Nature, but it happens all the time. Now, more than ever, people are becoming aware that no one is safe. Mudslides, hurricanes, cyclones, flooding, tsunamis, avalanche, and tornados are common natural disasters that have all struck with brute force in recent years. You need to be prepared.

You might think you are safe, depending on where you live, but there really is no safe place. I found this out when I lived in Pittsburgh for a number of years. All my life, I thought I didn’t have to worry about a tornado striking because of the hills and mountains that surrounded me. I was told they couldn’t form over mountainous terrain.

That thinking was thrown out the window during one particularly violent storm on a summer day. Three tornados touched down in the Pittsburgh area, one coming dreadfully close to my home. Thankfully, we were fine, but it made me realize that Mother Nature has no rules, even if we like to think so.

There’s really nothing you can do to avoid a disaster at times, but you can be prepared. You may think of the most common items for a disaster kit such as candles, water, and food, but there are many more items you may need that you may not have considered.

Well-Stocked First Aid Kit

One item you need to keep stocked and ready is a good first aid kit. If there is a medical emergency during a disaster, you may not be able to contact medical help, and if you can, it may take them a while to get to you. You want to have everything right at your fingertips when you need it.

For this kit, try to find a box with a handle or something else that is easily portable and easy to open. If at all possible, look for something that is waterproof as well. You will want the following items:

- bandages of all sizes and shapes
- adhesive tape
- rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide
- tweezers, scissors, and razor blades
- gloves
- antiseptic lotion or spray
- first aid manual and CPR instructions