If you live in a state prone to earthquakes, you need an emergency kit. To be prepared if and when a quake happens, there are a few resources you’ll need that can all be stored in your personal survival kit. In this article, we’ll go over the nine most important items you need to have handy in the event of an earthquake. You might already have some of these items in your home. If not, it’s worth investing in them to be prepared to keep you and your family safe during a quake.
Earthquakes can knock out power lines, leaving you without temperature control. In addition, a quake can cause damage to your home that you might not be able to address until repair resources are available again. Having several emergency blankets in your survival kit means you and your family will be able to keep warm if you end up exposed to the elements because of a quake.
An emergency blanket is a lightweight, collapsible, insulated foil sheet that won’t take up too much space in your survival kit. You can carry multiple blankets with you in your kit while still having enough room for the rest of the important items on this list.
Since earthquakes can leave you without power, you need a source of light that you can count on. You might assume that the flashlight on your smartphone will suffice, but if the power is out, you won’t be able to charge your phone and will need to conserve its battery life for as long as possible. A battery-powered flashlight is a better option than your phone in emergencies because it is not dependent on access to power.
Opt for a flashlight that is both lightweight and durable. If you’re living in an area prone to earthquakes, keep your flashlight by your bed in case a quake causes the power to go out during the night. Your flashlight is one of the tools in your emergency kit that you’ll want quick and easy access to since it will help you locate the rest of the resources you need and navigate to safety if you’re stuck in the dark.
Make sure that you pack spare batteries for your flashlight in your emergency kit. Extra batteries can also be used for other battery-powered devices that you might have in your kit, including walkie-talkies or a radio. Whether you use them to power your flashlight or something else, or just leave them on standby, you’ll be glad to have batteries handy in the event of an emergency like an earthquake.
This might seem like an unlikely item to stash in your earthquake emergency kit, but duct tape can serve an invaluable purpose in the aftermath of a quake. Since earthquakes can cause significant damage to your home, it’s essential to have a means of patching up holes and leaks quickly to keep you and your family safe from exposure to the elements. If your home has been damaged by an earthquake, you might not be able to immediately access the nearest hardware store and get the tools and materials you need. For a time, duct tape can act as a temporary fix until you are able to address the damage.
If your windows are broken during an earthquake, duct tape can be used to temporarily patch them up to keep rain, wind, and insects out of your home until you can make long-term repairs. To make sure you’re ready to make quick repairs in the aftermath of a quake, make sure you also have the next item on our list.
A multi-tool is a unique device similar to a Swiss army knife, but much more versatile. A good multi-tool provides you with a screwdriver, mini knife, pliers, bottle opener, and more all in one. During an emergency like an earthquake, it’s often difficult to maintain access to a fully stocked toolbox, so you need something more compact that you can keep handy in case you need to make a repair of any kind.
Each component of your multi-tool can come in handy in the aftermath of an earthquake. You can use its mini knife to open food and water containers and cut duct tape. Screwdriver attachments can be used for repairs and to access the battery slots on gadgets like radios and flashlights. And, of course, the multi-tool is extremely useful in any emergency or natural disaster, not just earthquakes.
You don’t want you or your family to be hungry in the wake of an earthquake. The damage caused by quakes can lead to power outages, compromising grocery stores, and causing the food in your refrigerator to go bad. In addition, some earthquakes can force you and your family to evacuate your home and seek shelter elsewhere. No matter what, you need to have food on hand that you can count on to keep you full and not go bad.
The best option for non-perishable food to keep in your earthquake survival kit is high-calorie energy bars. When it comes to food for survival, the more calories, the better. An energy bar can act as a meal replacement and keep you full for longer than many other non-perishable goods like crackers and trail mix. Plus, energy bars are lightweight and easy to carry with you.
Did you know that water bottles can expire? The water itself won’t go bad, but the bottles will eventually become compromised and can start leaking out chemicals into the water. This is a big no-go for emergency preparedness and in general. When you’re storing water in an emergency kit to stay prepared for earthquakes, the best option is water in pouches. Water pouches have a shelf life of five years and are relatively flat, making them easy to carry in even smaller emergency kits.
An earthquake can leave behind dangerous debris that you wouldn’t want to pick up barehanded. In some situations, you need to handle a piece of broken glass, metal, or other sharp material after an earthquake, and it’s essential to have gloves handy to protect your hands. Plus, gloves are lightweight and take up little space in your emergency kit.
If you need to evacuate your home in the wake of an earthquake and the roads are damaged, you’ll need to move on foot. This isn’t a pleasant scenario to picture, but it could happen. If you end up needing to travel to safety and can’t use a car, you and your family will need protection from the rain. An emergency kit can easily store collapsible ponchos, which won’t take up too much space and will keep you dry if you end up stuck out in the rain after an earthquake.
Since earthquakes can leave behind dust and debris, there are times when you’ll need a mask available during and after one. A mask can keep you safe from inhaling harmful dust and debris that could make you sick or make it hard to breathe. If you have a mask packed in your emergency kit, you’ll have protection from that harmful debris when you’re on the move. In addition, you can reach for the mask during a quake and put it on preemptively.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/prepared.html
https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/gear/space-blanket.htm
https://www.csusm.edu/em/procedures/earthquake.html
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This emergency power planning checklist is for people who use electricity and battery dependent assistive technology and medical devices, including:
Some of this equipment is essential to your level of independence while other equipment is vital to keeping you alive! Use the checklist to make power-backup plans.
Review and update this checklist every six months. (One way to remember to do this is when you set your clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall.)
Date Complete
Does not Apply
Planning Basics
Create a plan for alternative sources of power.
Read equipment instructions and talk to equipment suppliers about your backup power options.
Get advice from your power company regarding type of backup power you plan to use.
Regularly check backup or alternative power equipment to ensure it will work during an emergency.
Teach your neighbors and caregivers how to use your backup systems and operate your equipment.
Keep a list of alternate power providers.
Label all equipment with your name, address, and phone number. Attach simple and clear instruction cards to equipment and cover them with clear packing or mailing tape.
Keep copies of instructions for each piece of equipment, along with serial and model numbers, in a waterproof container or in your emergency supply kits.
Life-Support Device Users
Contact your power and water companies about your needs for life- support devices (home dialysis, suction, breathing machines, etc.) in advance of a disaster.
Let your fire department know that you are dependent on life-support devices.
All ventilator users should keep a resuscitation bag handy. The bag delivers air through a mask when squeezed.
If you receive dialysis or other medical treatments, ask your health care provider for the plans in an emergency and where you should go for treatment if your usual clinic is not available after an emergency.
Oxygen Users
Check with your health care provider to see if you can use a reduced flow rate in an emergency to extend the life of the system. Label your equipment with the reduced flow numbers so that you can easily refer to them.
Be aware of oxygen safety practices:
Generator Users
Make sure use of a generator is appropriate and realistic.
A 2,000 to 2,500-watt gas-powered portable generator can power a refrigerator and several lamps. (A refrigerator needs to run only 15 minutes an hour to stay cool if you keep the door closed. So, you could unplug it to operate other devices.)
Operate generators in open areas to ensure good air circulation.
Safely store fuel.
Test your generator from time to time to make sure it will work when needed.
Some generators can connect to the existing home wiring systems; always contact your utility company regarding critical restrictions and safety issues.
Rechargeable Batteries
If you use hearing aids, keep a supply of hearing aid batteries on hand.
Create a plan for how to recharge batteries when the electricity is out.
Check with your vendor/supplier to find alternative ways to charge batteries. Examples include:
If you substitute a vehicle battery for a wheelchair battery, the charge will not last as long as a charge for a wheelchair’s deep-cycle battery.
If you use a motorized wheelchair or scooter, try to store a lightweight manual wheelchair for emergency use.
Stored extra batteries require periodic charging even when they are unused. If your survival strategy depends on storing batteries, closely follow a recharging schedule.
Know the working time of any batteries that support your systems.
When you have a choice, choose equipment that uses batteries that are easily purchased from nearby stores.
When Power is Restored
Check to make sure the settings on your medical device have not changed (medical devices often reset to a default mode when power goes out).
Other Backup Plans
For more information, call and speak to an ADA specialist at 1-800-949-4232. All calls are confidential.
Content was developed by the Pacific ADA Center, and is based on professional consensus of ADA experts and the ADA National Network.
https://www.adapacific.org/
The contents of this factsheet were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant numbers 90DP0081 and 90DP0086). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this factsheet do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
© Copyright 2017 ADA National Network. All Rights Reserved.
May be reproduced and distributed freely with attribution to ADA National Network (www.adata.org).