It’s important to prepare for emergencies and disasters which can strike suddenly, at any time, and anywhere.
This emergency supplies calendar is intended to help you prepare for emergencies before they happen. Using the calendar, you can assemble an emergency supplies kit in small steps over a five-month period. Check off items you gather each week. Remember to change and replace perishable supplies by the expiration date. Suggested food purchases would provide meals for approximately three to five days.
The list of items is below or you may download this information in a PDF document, courtesy of Safeguard Iowa.
Week 1
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Cellphone charger
- Battery-powered standard AM/FM radio and batteries or weather radio
- Flashlight/batteries
- Protein bars
- Diapers and essential medications
- Car adapter for small electronics
- Develop/update family communications plan
Week 2
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- First-aid kit, or gather Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, nitrile latex gloves and gauze pads
- 1 package of toilet paper
- Dried fruit and/or nuts
- Baby food
- Find natural gas and water shut-offs. Place appropriate wrench near valves.
Week 3
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Cash, in small denominations
- Disposable wipes
- Crackers and peanut butter and jelly
- Baby bottles and formula
- Scan or make copies of birth certificates, licenses and passports. Store in a plastic bag, on a thumb drive or send to an email account that is accessible from anywhere.
Week 4
Place in Storage Bin:
- Five gallon bucket with lid
- Plastic tarp
- Work gloves
- Ready-to-eat meals
Personalized Item: (if applicable)
- Special diet foods
- Arrange for emergency care for children, elders and/or pets
Week 5
Place in Storage Bin:
- Disposable dust mask (one per person)
- Travel sized shampoo, body wash and deodorant
- Manual can opener
- Canned vegetables (one can for every two people)
- Mirror
- Hearing aid batteries
- Scan or make copies of health care information, including vaccination records, prescription information and insurance. Store in a plastic bag, on a thumb drive or send to an email account that is accessible from anywhere.
Week 6
Place in Storage Bin:
- Duct tape
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and hairbrush for all family members
- Unscented liquid household bleach for water purification
- Canned meat (one can for every two people)
- Contact lens solution
- Practice alternate methods of evacuation
Week 7
Place in Storage Bin:
- Disposable eating utensils
- Camp-style stove, fuel and matches in a waterproof container
- Disposable plates and heavy duty garbage bags
- Canned soup (one can per person)
- Denture supplies
- Purchase and/or install emergency escape ladders, if necessary
Week 8
Place in Storage Bin:
- Extra batteries for flashlight and radio
- Pan to use on camp-style stove
- Bleach
- Pain reliever e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Canned fruit (one can for every two people)
Personalized Item: (if applicable)
- Pet food
- Send video contents of home to email or store a copy of the video in an alternate location
Week 9
Place in Storage Bin:
- Extra flashlight
- Whistle
- Paper towels
- Granola and/or snack bars
- Large, clear, empty plastic jar, such as mayonnaise, and a candle to fit inside
- Pet leash and crate
- Make copies of pet vaccination and/or prescription information
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Test the alarms
Week 10
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Dishwashing liquid
- Thermometer and tweezers
- Cereal (one box for every four people)
- Collapsible shovel
- Water for pet
- Establish out-of-town contacts
Week 11
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Paper, pen, pencil and scissors
- Sunscreen
- Protein bars
- Litter pan
- Determine signal with family and friends to be used to communicate safety
Week 12
Place in Storage Bin:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Laxative/antidiarrheal medicines
- Rolled bandages and safety pins
- Dried fruit and/or nuts
- Extra battery for motorized mobility aid
- Make copies of credit and debit card account information. Store in a plastic bag.
Week 13
Place in Storage Bin:
- Fire extinguisher
- Antacid
- Hammer and nails
- Crackers and peanut butter and jelly
- Extra prescription glasses
- Review and finish video task
Week 14
Place in Storage Bin:
- An extra pair of sturdy shoes per person
- Screwdriver
- Safety goggles
- Ready-to-eat meals
- Extra keys to the house
- Prepare emergency car kit
Week 15
Place in Storage Bin:
- One towel per person
- Pliers
- Hard hat
- Canned vegetables (one can for every two people)
- Extra keys to the car
Week 16
Place in Storage Bin:
- An extra pair of sturdy shoes per person
- Screwdriver
- Safety goggles
- Ready-to-eat meals
- Extra keys to the house
Week 17
Place in Storage Bin:
- An extra set of clothes per person
- Petroleum jelly
- Kleenex
- Canned soup (one can per person)
- Family photo
Week 18
Place in Storage Bin:
- Rain gear
- Rubbing alcohol
- Adhesive tape
- Canned fruit (one can for every two people)
- Talking clock for visually impaired
Week 19
Place in Storage Bin:
- Cash, in small denominations
- Sleeping bag and/or blanket for each person
- Map of local area
- Granola and/or snack bars
- Extra cane for visually impaired
Week 20
Place in Storage Bin:
- Sewing kit
- Signal flare and compass
- Liquid detergent and hand soap
- Cereal (one box for every four people)