If you and your family had to hurriedly leave your home in an emergency situation (such as tornado damage, flood, or rising waters) you should have a basic kit put together in a backpack that you can quickly grab and go.  These are some supplies you might want to consider including as part of it:

• Battery operated radio
• Cell phone charger
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Bottled water
• Energy bars
• Dust mask or cotton t-shirt to use as a mask
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting (for shelter)
• Duct tape (for taping plastic sheeting together)
• Plastic bags and ties
• Moist towelettes

Depending on your family’s health you may also want to add:

• Prescription medications and medical records
• Can opener and canned foods
• Warm clothes, extra socks, and emergency blanket
• Rain gear/poncho
• Cash
• Age appropriate games, books, or cards for children

Caring for Pets

• Identify a shelter where you could leave animals. 
• Gather pet food and supplies.
• Ensure each pet has proper ID and up-to-date shot records.
• Have pet carriers, collars, and leashes for all animals. (Harnesses are suggested for cats.)
• Ensure large animals have ID and plan how you would evacuate, if necessary.
• Have a list of vehicles and/or trailers you could use if you don’t own your own. 

Have a family plan to meet somewhere in case you are separated, include names and phone numbers of neighbors or relatives (in town and also out-of-state) where you can leave messages for each other. 

Talk to your school and/or daycare.  Find out what they have in place for a “lock down” or “shelter in place” procedure and how they intend to notify you what is going on.

If you have to stay in your home for extended periods without being able to leave or get to a grocery store, such as interruptions in delivery service or voluntary quarantine, here are some supplies that you can keep on hand.  It is suggested to stock enough food to last for approximately 6 weeks. 

Long grain rice (brown or white)
Dried beans
Chicken or beef bouillon cubes
Cooking oil
Peanut butter
Dried milk
Soda crackers (will replace bread if needed)
Oatmeal
Bisquick
Dried eggs
Sugar
Brown sugar
Flour
Boxed mashed potatoes
Syrup
Coffee/tea/Kool Aid
Tomatoes
Canned foods such as beef ravioli, corned beef hash (may be eaten cold if no heat source), spam, beef stew (can be eaten cold), tuna, sardines, soups, canned fruit and veggies, hard candy, canned chips, canned peanuts.
1 gallon of water per person, per day.  1 quart per animal, per day.
Pet food
Toilet paper, paper towel, facial tissue, soap and toothpaste. 

Lantern, camp stove or grill, and fuel (MAKE SURE YOU USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING)

DON’T FORGET TO ROTATE STOCK.   

REMEMBER YOU CAN CLOSE THE ZOO, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO FEED THE ANIMALS. 

Visit www.ready.gov to find more emergency info.