Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 28, 2016 8A
BE PREPARED in 2017
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — That
emergency kit is complete,
right?
OK, in case you missed a
week — or two — as the I-O
week printed updates
throughout the year, here is
the entire 24-week calendar
(in two installments) to
building a two-week home
disaster kit designed by the
American Red Cross.
A great resolution for 2017
is to get this kit prepared
and add to your peace of
mind.
Keep in mind the home
kit is just one piece or emer-
gency preparedness.
Emergency managers rec-
ommend keeping extra sup-
plies at your workplace and
in your car.
Kits are useful for any size
of emergency, from snow
storm or flood to powerful
earthquake.
Don’t forget: Making a
plan with your family desig-
nating how to stay in touch
and where to gather in case
of emergency should be part
of any emergency strategy.
Week 2
Week 1
• Heavy cotton or hemp rope
• Duct tape
• Two flashlights with batter-
ies
• Matches in waterproof contain-
er — for outside use only with appropriate camp
stove or barbecue
• Two gallons of water *
• One jar peanut butter
• Three cans of meat *
• One hand-operated can opener
• Permanent marking pen
Additional: pet food, diapers and baby food.
Action Steps: Date perishable items with marker. Decide
upon and notify out-of-area contact who can coordinate in-
formation for scattered family members.
* Per person
Additional: leash or carrier for your pet, extra set of identification tags.
Action Steps: Sign up for first aid/ CPR class at local American Red Cross.
Week 4
Week 3
• Compass
• Medicines / prescriptions “for emergency use,” contact-lens supplies
• Two gallons of water
• Two cans of meat *
• Two cans fruit *
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Paper and pen
• Local map
• Pain reliever
• Laxative
Action Steps: Develop a family disaster plan including where to meet if
separated, name and number of out-of-area contact and kinds of infor-
mation to give that contact in an emergency.
Additional: One gallon of water for each pet.
Action Steps: Find out about what kinds of disasters can happen in your area. Encourage
neighbors to develop their own plans.
* Per person
Week 5
• Two gallons of water*
• Two cans of fruit*
• Two cans of vegetables*
• Two cans of meat*
• Three rolls toilet paper
• Extra toothbrush
• Travel-size toothpaste
Additional: Special foods for
special dietary needs.
Action Steps: Identify escape
routes from house for all family
members. Identify safe places
to go in case of fire, flood,
earthquake, or other local dis-
asters. Practice a drill for each
of your plans.
* Per person
Week 6
• First aid kit which includes sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes, adhesive tape, gauze
pads, sterile roller bandages, latex gloves
• Safety pins
• Sunscreen
Action Steps: Identify storage area for your supplies such as closet along an inside retaining
wall, or several heavy-duty, watertight plastic garbage cans that can be stored outside. If using
outside storage — ensure container is weather and animal proof.
Week 8
Week 7
• Three cans of ready to-eat soup* (not concentrated)
• Three cans of fruit*
• Three cans of vegetables*
• Sewing kit
• Disinfectant
Additional: Extra baby supplies (bottles, formula, diapers) if
needed.
Action Steps: Place a pair of sturdy shoes, flashlight, whistle
and work gloves in a plastic grocery bag and tie the bag to your
bed frame.
* Per person
Week 10
• Waterproof portable container for important pa-
pers
• AM/ FM Radio (battery-operated or hand-crank
variety)
• Wrench to turn off utilities
Action Steps: Make sure everyone in the house
knows where to find gas and water meter shut-off
valves and how to turn them off. Attach a wrench
near each shutoff valve so it is there when needed.
Week 9
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Liquid antibacterial hand soap
• Disposable hand wipes
• Sewing needles
• Petroleum jelly or other lubricating cream
• Two tongue blades
• Three cans of ready-to eat-
soup*
• Liquid dish soap
• Household chlorine bleach
with medicine dropper for
water treatment
• O n e b o x h e a v y- d u t y
garbage bags with ties
• Antacid
Additional: Put extra eyeglasses in first aid kit.
Action Steps: Test smoke de-
tectors and replace batteries.
* Per person
Week 11
• One large can juice*
• Large plastic food bags
• One box high-energy snacks
• Three rolls of paper towels
Additional: Keep extra battery for cell phone or change for pay
phone usage in disaster supplies kit.
Action Steps: Locate pay phones closest to your home.
* Per person
Week 12
• Litter and box
• Extra water
• Pet first aid kit
Additional: Make sure all pet vaccinations are
current and obtain medical records from veteri-
narian for disaster records kit. Keep emergency
supply of any special pet medication needs
Action Steps: Photocopy important documents
and store in Ziploc bag: driver’s license, medical
prescription, insurance information and will.
Check out next week’s edition of the Itemizer-Observer for weeks 13-24 of the emergency kit list.