You don’t want to wait until the unexpected occurs to start thinking about
how you will care for yourself and your family. Thinking ahead can save lives
and lessen the discomfort you may experience during an emergency.

Start with the basics: water, food, clothing/blankets, and medical supplies.

Water
The average adult needs to drink at least two quarts of water per day and
children or people who are ill need more. You should store one gallon of water
per day for each person in your household. You cannot predict how long an
emergency will last, but consider storing enough for at least three days.

Food
The food in your emergency kit should be non-perishable, requiring no
refrigeration and little preparation. If you store canned foods, don’t’ forget
to throw a can opener in the kit.

Clothing
You will need at least one change of clothing and footwear for each person in
your household. The shoes should be sturdy. Consider including a hat, gloves,
and raingear for each person. If you do not have a sleeping bag for everyone,
at least add one blanket for each person.

Medical Supplies
It is a good idea to have a first aid kit with your emergency supplies and in
every vehicle your family uses. Add to that any medications that
your family members need.

For in-depth information on emergency perparedness visit Macomb
County Government website and ready.gov.

Look for more information about how to care for your animal
friends in an emergency later this week.