With the recent change of the threat level to "High," or orange, many Americans are scrambling to assemble an emergency kit. Officially, the U.S. government says:
Americans should take basic disaster-preparation steps such as maintaining a three-day stockpile of food and water. They also recommend obtaining duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal a house in the event of a chemical or biological attack or disaster.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers an extensive guide entitled "Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness," which covers everything from general preparedness to handling natural and man-made hazards. You can download the complete guide in Word or PDF format.
As a general rule, the American Red Cross recommends a disaster supplies kit contain the following:
3-day supply of water (1 gallon of water per person per day)
3-day supply of ready-to-eat canned food
first-aid kit
tools and supplies (including such items as a radio, flashlight, batteries, and fire extinguisher)
clothing and bedding
any special items for children, elderly, or disabled family members
important documents (family records, wills, passports, financial account numbers)
If you don't want to assemble your own, there are plenty of retailers, both online and off, who sell such kits. Just make sure to check the contents of the kit and add any items you may need.
Besides assembling an emergency kit, the Red Cross also recommends you and your family: create an emergency communications plan; establish a meeting place; if you have school-age children, familiarize yourself with the emergency plan of the school your children attend.
Threats of terrorism aside, it's a good idea to have a kit and plan in place in case of earthquakes, fires, floods, or other emergencies. One final note -- in case of any emergency, your best defense is remaining calm and clearheaded.
