A Basic Emergency Kit
Every home and business should have a basic emergency kit year round. This includes drinking water, food, first aid, and communication. In our opinion, this is not enough for hurricane season, but hurricanes are not the only disaster we should be preparing for. We live in a region where earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, flash floods, fuel shortages, and communications issues are possible at any moment.
Being prepared in an emergency, and knowing how to respond, is invaluable. It can help reduce the fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. Write up your Hurricane Preparation Plan and Hurricane Preparation Kit list NOW, before a storm threatens.
Click HERE for the Basic Emergency Kit PDF
Basic Emergency Kit Essentials
Water: 1 Gallon of potable water per person, per child, and per pet, per day. 3 days is the suggested minimum. Bottled water is the easiest/best to have on hand, but there are also other alternatives for a longer term solution.
Life Straw makes an individual straw, as well as a gravity fed family filter. The straw requires the user to be able to suck adequately to draw the water up through the filter. It is extremely small and light, and can be stored indefinitely.
The gravity fed filter is suitable for families and removes 99.99% viruses, 99.9999% bacteria and 99.9% protozoan cysts. The filter lasts a long time and is capable of filtering 4,755 gallons of water. However, it does not remove salt from sea water, or other dissolved solids. Therefore, you need a method to catch rain water, a natural source of fresh water, or a large amount of stored water.
First Aid: A basic first aid kit (available at any pharmacy) should contain many types of sterile wound dressings, scissors, tweezers, sterile saline solution, disposable gloves, a resuscitation mask, and clear basic first aid instructions. Ask your pharmacist to suggest one suitable for your needs, and don’t forget the importance of regular first aid training.
Do you need prescription medication? Over the counter medication? How will you deal with vomiting, dehydration, or pain? Consider a more extensive kit if you are in a more remote area.
Food: Store 3 days of non perishable food for all the members of the family (including animals!). Don’t forget specialty items for those with dietary needs, and babies who may need a specific formula or food. Food that can be eaten cold and without using water to prepare is best. Cans store well if kept clean and dry, but don’t forget a can opener! Avoid overly salty or sugary snacks, as they will increase thirst.
Communication: After Irma, one of the biggest hurdles was lack of communication. At a bare minimum, every household should have an AM/FM radio. If you have one with batteries, don’t forget spare batteries. If you rely on your car or cell phone radio, consider getting a hand crank AM/FM radio. Portability means you can move to an area with better reception.
We like this one from Amazon because it also has a flashlight as well as the ability to charge a USB device via a hand crank or a small solar cell.
Flashlight and Extra Batteries: Consider a light bright enough to signal for help.
Cash: A small amount to buy necessities, in small denominations.
More Items to Consider
Garbage bags, duct tape, wet wipes, sanitary items, dust masks, hand tools, Letherman multi tool, fire blanket and fire extinguisher, matches, important documents, loud whistle. Many items in a hurricane preparation kit could also double up and be part of your basic emergency kit.
Some Additional Comfort Items
While not essential parts of an emergency kit, some items can make life more comfortable. They also come in handy during the frequent power cuts we experience in the Caribbean!
Rechargeable Fan: A USB powered rechargeable fan can keep you cool, provide white noise, and help keep the mosquitoes away.
Rechargeable Bedside Light: Using a USB powered rechargeable light as a bedside light means you always have a light source easily accessible when the power goes out.
Mosquito Net: A canopy mosquito net large enough to cover your sleeping area helps keep mosquitoes and flies at bay. Mosquitoes, and the diseases they carry, are responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other animal.
Backup Power Bank: Provides backup power for USB charged devices.
Remember, this Basic Emergency Kit is not sufficient for hurricane season, especially when preparing for a major hurricane. We strongly suggest you make a more comprehensive hurricane preparation kit, especially once in the 5-day cone of probability.
Disclaimer: This website contains affiliate links. We may be compensated (at no cost to you) should you decide to buy online using one of our links. However, for our St Maarten / St Martin visitors we encourage you to shop local.
Part of a series:
Basic Emergency Plan
Hurricane Preparation Plan
Basic Emergency Kit
Hurricane Preparation Kit
Permaculture and Emergency Preparation
