Red Cross Suggestions For Earthquake Kits

Many people have an emergency kit.

You should include two weeks worth of food, water and other emergency supplies in an earthquake kit.

But Kathleen Anamosa, with the American Red Cross, says there are other items people often forget.

Starting with important paperwork, like a copies of passports and birth certificates.

“Have copies of all the declaration page of your insurance policies because because they’re going to respond faster if they know what your policy number is. Also, photographs of what your rooms look like before the disaster,” said Anamosa.

Anamosa also recommends a two week supply of medication for those who will need it during an emergency.

Medication can expire so she said to change it out as needed.

Then there’s preparation for pets.

According to Anamosa, kits should also include food, medicine and entertainment for animals.

“If you have cats or dogs that are used to wet food, canned food, you need to have some of that available. Because this is going to be as stressful, if not more stressful for them because we have a concept of what’s going on, they don’t,” said Anamosa.

ATM’s and other cash machines might not work after a disaster, which is why the Red Cross recommends a kit include at least $200 in small bills.

“There maybe things in the store you may can buy. There may be emergency medications that you will need to get,” said Anamosa.

Anamosa also suggests packing some entertainment for the entire family.

“Doing sudoku, if you like doing cross word puzzles, a deck of cards something to have a little bit of fun with because when the big disaster hits us it’s gonna be a stressful time and if you end up in a shelter there is a lot of downtime,” said Anamosa.