Your Home Emergency Kit - Detailed

One of the most important things you can do to help keep your household safe is to put together a Home Emergency Kit. This is a collection of everyday items -- most of which you can get at your local supermarket or hardware store -- that you and your household will need in case of emergencies like floods, storms, power outages or other times when you may not have access to normal utilities or may have to evacuate.

Choose a sturdy, easy-to-carry bag or storage box for your Home Emergency Kit. If you can't complete an emergency kit all at once, buy or gather one item each week until your kit is complete.

Items that should be in your Home Emergency Kit at all times

• Portable radio with spare batteries
• Torch with spare batteries
• Candles and waterproof matches
• First aid kit
• Important papers including a list of emergency contact numbers
• A copy of your Household Emergency Plan (indicating actions to be taken during emergencies)
• A waterproof bag for valuables and mementoes (such as photograph albums, jewellery and special toys for your children)
• Rubber gloves

Items to put in your Home Emergency Kit when floods, storms or other emergencies are predicted 

• A good supply of required medication
• Any special requirements for babies and the disabled, infirm or elderly
• Fresh food and drinks

• Basic provisions for your pet

• Strong shoes

• insurance papers (for your car, your house and contents or other valuables)
• wills
• house deeds
• your mortgage
• birth certificates
• passports, stocks and bonds
• Medicare and pension cards
• immunisation records
• an inventory of valuable household goods
• bank account and credit card numbers
• other papers, depending on your family's needs. (For example, if you have pets, your important papers should include their veterinary records.)

Your Home Emergency Plan sets out actions you and your family will take during floods, storms and other emergencies. It includes things like:

• What steps you will take to protect your home and belongings
• How you will contact the members of your family
• What you will need to do if evacuating
• what to take
• what to turn off as you leave
• where you will meet
• an out-of-town family member or friend who can act as a household contact person
• evacuation routes and centres
• what to do if you have no car

Your Household Emergency Plan is something that everyone in your household can help put together. 

You should also consider additional items such as:

• Precious photos and other mementoes that are important to you
• Photograph albums
• Family videos
• Backup of computer files
• Jewellery
• Special keepsakes
• Children's special toys

Some things to consider for babies:

• Nappies and wipes
• Formula and powdered milk
• Bottles
• Medications
• Prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions
• Special toys

 Some things to consider for Adults:

• Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin and syringes
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eyeglasses
• Hearing-aid batteries
• Prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions

Some things to consider for pets:

• A collar and lead or pet carrier for each pet
• Pet food and a feeding dish
• Veterinary papers