Medications and First-Aid

MEDICATIONS: In a serious disaster, it may be a while before pharmacies are open and stocked to meet refill needs. You must include an adequate supply of your medications in your kit, not merely enough for 96 or 120 hours. You can accumulate an emergency supply by re-ordering your 30-day meds after 3 weeks or your 90-day meds after 75 days (or as soon as your drug insurance will allow). However, some meds do require the full time period before refill. Pack extra eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.

Prepare with Food

During the early response period following a major disaster, only those who have prepared an emergency food supply will have the certainty of food.  

Snacks are best used as treats, not the entire emergency diet, but they are vital supplies in your kit and will sustain you and provide basic energy: Granola, protein bars, nuts, chips, preserved cheese spread, peanut butter, cookies, crackers and little restaurant size packets of honey, jam/jelly. More substantial emergency food boosts morale/comfort and provides more stamina.  

The Challenge of Getting Safe WATER to a Gathering Place

Water is more vital than food, because our kidneys begin to shut down after a few days without it. At a minimum the experts tell us 6.5 oz a day will keep our kidneys working, but you will absolutely want more for comfort and healthy hydration.  You must bring your water supply with you to your gathering place.  This is a prime reason to have a kit on wheel—water is heavy -- 8.3lbs per gallon. 

Water Suggestions:  At a gathering place you will have needs for water in addition to drinking. One gallon of water/person/day is the absolute minimum.  Consider cooking, re-hydrating food, hygiene, sanitation, first aid. Place water packets or bottles in all components of your kit. 

Wheelies & Sanitation

In a previous article, I presented my basic 96-hour kit that was wearable.  But I cannot carry toileting supplies, sufficient water, sheltering, appropriate seasonal change of clothes, sleep gear, mess gear, etc., on my body.  So. . .

I have added “Wheels” to create the primary components of my sustainable kit for 2 aging adults with health limitations.  I will be including suggestions, but they are not meant to overshadow your own ideas of what you might want/need in your kit.

I have pre-loaded 4 “wheelies”.  In a walking evacuation, we would each pull 2 carts pre-packed ready to roll.  They are intended for on-foot use only, not for lifting into a vehicle. I have practiced walking to my nearest gathering place dressed in my emergency outfit and pulling 2 carts along flat roads.  

Evacuation on Foot

On-Foot Evacuation is my primary concern for those of us who are aging; there is not much instruction for us on how to prepare to evacuate our home and walk to our nearest community gathering places WITH enough appropriate and essential supplies. 

Do you know the location of you gathering place?  As an example, the community of Canyon Rim in the city of Millcreek will gather at/on the grounds of Rosecrest Elementary or the Canyon Rim Academy grounds. 

Sheltering at Home or on Your own Property

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

Many of us would strongly elect to remain in our home, or at least on our own property in the event of a disaster. The key point: Is it safe?

A natural disaster or man-caused event could make us feel it is unsafe to leave our home unattended.  If it comes to a choice between safe-guarding your life or well-being, or protecting your home, please protect yourself. 

Evacuation by Auto

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

The most likely emergency that will prompt auto evacuation is a wildfire or quickly out of control series of house fires near you.  I saw that happen in Tooele just a few years ago.  

You must consider that flames could reach your home before firefighters could extinguish them. Your focus in such circumstance it to GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Sometimes, entire parts of cities get consumed so quickly, residents cannot safely exit with any belongings.