Ready for Winter? Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Kit

Last year, we had over two feet of snow… right about this time of year. Unheard of in Connecticut! Fortunately the forecast this week calls for sunny skies!

But… I recall spending eight days away from home, at our in-laws, because power was out across about ninety-five percent of the state (yeah I just made that stat up but I think it’s close!).

We were lucky. Other people spent 8-10 days without power, water, showers… nobody I knew was ready for that kind of natural disaster!

September was National Preparedness month… and in a recent GE Generator Systems survey, 55 percent of Americans are NOT prepared for emergency situations! This is the time to create an emergency kit and a communications plan!

We keep our kits packed and in the car – this way, we’re prepared whether on the road or at home! One of our kits is this Red Cross Ready-to-Go Emergency Preparedness Kit – a backpack full of all the essentials:

• Flashlight and batteries
• Radio and batteries
• An emergency blanket
• 12 packages of drinking water
• Small expandable water container
• A food bar (it’s more like a giant block!)
• A breathing mask
• Poncho
• Whistle
• First aid kit in a zipper pouch
• Duct Tape (I’m not sure any kit is complete without this!)
• Hygiene kit with washcloth, toothbrush/paste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, tissue, comb

You could certainly make your own kit, but I recommend purchasing a ready-made kit for a quick and easy path to preparedness. I priced out making my own kit and really, once you figure in the backpack, there’s not much saving doing it yourself. Especially beneficial in a pre-made kit are the sealed water packages, because they are rated to last about 3-5 years. Regular water bottles are not good to keep that long because your water will start to taste like plastic.

This kit is a great starter kit, in a sturdy backpack. There’s plenty of space inside to add your own items, and it gives peace of mind for the upcoming winter storm season.

Items you should add include:

• Medications
• List of contact names/numbers
• Cash
• Copies of important personal documents
• List of “other things to grab” if you have to evacuate quick (valuables, heirlooms, change of clothes, etc). You don’t want to be hemming and hawing if you have to leave in a hurry.

Keep your emergency kit handy either in a front closet, or right in the car, where it can double as a roadside emergency kit too!

What other things would you add to an Emergency Kit for Families?

Thanks to GE Generators for sending a kit for review and offering a giveaway! All opinions are 100% my own.