Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Make an Emergency Kit
Winter is coming and that means an increased likelihood of storm related power outages. Since electricity and water could be unavailable for an extended period, EWEB encourages our customers to be prepared to be on your own for a minimum of two weeks. That means storing 14 days of water, food, medicine and other supplies. For a family of four, that's 56 gallons of water.
For many people, the most effective approach is to start small with a basic three-day kit, and then build it slowly over time.
"Fall is the perfect time to begin building a kit, because you can get all the basics ready before winter storm season, and then build on that momentum going into the new year," said EWEB communications specialist Jen Connors.
So what should you include in a basic three-day kit? Use this handy checklist to get started:
- Water - 3 gallons per person in your household (and a little more for pets)
- Food - non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items like canned foods, nuts, and dried fruits
- Flashlights and batteries
- Hand operated can opener
- Cash - enough to cover the basic needs of your family, including food, gas and other things you use on a day-to-day basis
- First aid and prescription medications
- Propane or other outdoor fuel for cooking and boiling water
Once your three-day kit is ready, simply add to it a little at a time.
To help customers with their preparedness efforts, EWEB earlier this year launched our Pledge to Prepare program—a 12-month guide to getting two-weeks ready. Since January, nearly 1,700 people have joined the program. Each month, EWEB sends participants a new set of tasks aimed at incrementally building a two-week emergency supply kit.
Feedback from participants shows this incremental approach works:
"What a great program this is! I had done a few things before but had been unsure how to proceed. Now, I have small steps which I can easily complete. Lots of fun." (EWEB Customer Sue W.)
"Thanks for putting this program together. It makes the daunting task of preparing for an emergency much more reasonable. Up until now, I had done nothing and often felt worried about it." (EWEB Customer Matt B.)
"Thanks for the easy-to-follow checklist. We even got friends and family involved when we created our emergency plan. We all agreed on meeting spots and an emergency contact outside of the area." (EWEB Customer Remie L.)
Learn more about the Pledge to Prepare and how to get started on your two-week emergency kit.
