City Of Colorado Springs: National Preparedness Month: How To Build An Emergency Kit

Press release from the City of Colorado Springs:

2021-09-09

September is National Preparedness Month! One of the best ways to be prepared is to have a disaster supply kit ready to go. It's smart to have a kit ready with a collection of basic items your household may need during an emergency.

Even if you already have a kit it is a good idea to give it a refresh. Replace expired items and add new things you might need like batteries, facemasks and sanitizer.

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food (link is external), water (link is external) and other supplies (link is external) to last for at least three days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items you may need in the event of an emergency.

Remember, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.

You may also need to shelter in place at home, work, or in your vehicle so it’s a good idea to create a kit for each of these locations.

More tips for building a kit (link is external)

Assemble supplies that are ready for evacuation (link is external). Prepare a “go-bag” you can carry when you evacuate on foot or public transportation and supplies for traveling longer distances if you have a car. 

Here are some things to consider including in your evacuation kit.

• People (bring everything you'll need for 72 hours)
• Pets (food, water, kennel, toys, etc.)
• Papers (like the deed to your home, insurance papers, birth certificates, telephone numbers etc)
• Prescriptions
• Photos that can't be replaced.

More tips for evacuation preparedness (link is external)

This press release was produced by the City of Colorado Springs. The views expressed here are the author’s own.