...I knew that God had placed them there as warring angels...who believed in God and loved him enough
to give their lives to his service. -- The Awakening Heart by Betty J. Eadie, p. 88
W.A.V.E.S Preparedness
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Emergency List

Store as many of the below items as you can in a portable container, such as a backpack or waterproof box; each member of the family should have their own, if possible. Don't forget your car! See these guidelines.

Spiritual

The most important thing, before, during, and after, is God.

  • Prayer. The habit of peaceful prayer - and ability to listen for God's reply.
  • Inspirational Reading Bring some inspirational reading! Remind yourself of God's promises. Print out these Bible quotes and keep them in your wallet/pocket/purse!
  • Games/cards/fun things Keep people relaxed, hopeful, engaged, happy.
  • Treasured family photographs, etc

    Information and Communication

    Keep your family together, and be able to contact the outside world

  • Contact information, including emergency numbers. Have WRITTEN information for all your relatives and friends AND EMERGENCY personnel, through as many means as you can get (email, phone, address). Don't just store it on the computer. Have a printout!
  • Waterproof container for your info... especially in flood zones!
  • Emergency portable radio. These days, there are many crank-chargeable radios, so you don't need to worry about batteries.
  • Short-wave radio is another possibility
  • Land-line phone "they are often the only phone that will work if electricity is out but you haven't lost your phone line" (Betty, via Kristen)
  • Cellphone AND CHARGER - and did you know there are solar chargers out there now?
  • Walkie-talkies can help keep families who are near each other if cellphones stop working (e.g. from cellphone towers being incapacitated).
  • Writing materials, so you can leave notes. Tape would be good, too. Permanent marker is useful, too!
  • Tell friends and family your travel plans and emergency plans.
  • Signal mirror, whistles to attract attention.

    Shelter/Warmth/Light

    Remember that people can freeze to death, get hypothermia, or get seriously hurt in the dark, long before thirst even becomes an issue!

  • Escape ladder for your house in case of fire.
  • Escape plan for your house
  • Keychain flashlight - seriously, folks, this is easy and cheap and so incredibly useful... just get one and have it with you always.
  • Blankets, waterproof blankets, tents, tarps - if you're caught in the open, you may want an emergency mylar blanket (very lightweight, reflective, waterproof plastic film), or a tiny portable "tent" - see Emergency Essentials. Tarps help keep things dry as well. Wool is warm even when wet; other materials may not be. Blankets can be used to help insulate rooms. Close off room entrances with blankets, tarps, to trap heat. (Careful if there is any flame, combustion, or generator! Do not trap deadly gasses inside!)
  • Heavy duty tape (like duct tape) can help keep the rain and cold out.
  • Emergency lights - flashlights. They now have hand-rechargeable flashlights that don't need many batteries. Also, get the LED lights (normal flashlight lightbulbs, even the old Maglite type, burn out VERY quickly). You might want to have emergency candles as well, but be very careful about fire safety!
  • Emergency heat. There are chemical handwarmers, plus camping Sterno-like cans (you light them with a match and they burn, producing light and heat for cooking). Make sure you have an emergency blanket and the like, too. Good to have in your car! Kandle Heeters are another possibility.
  • Emergency matches. You will need matches or some other lighting device if you have candles or other fire-based heating/light items.
  • Batteries! Have lots. And rechargers.
  • Generator! Run it outdoors.
  • Wood, propane, and other fuel - if you try to get this during an emergency, you might be too late.
  • Candles - slow burning, UNSCENTED - and safe containers - There are emergency candles and even normal decorative candles with long burn times, sometimes up to 100 hours. Some candle fumes can give headaches, so avoid scented candles (all-natural candles may also be less hazardous), and remember candles ARE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD (many homes in the Seattle area caught fire). If you want to use candles, have safe containers for them and keep them in safe places. Finally, many candles have toxic lead in the wicks, so if you can, find those that don't.
  • Consider solar ovens if you live in an area that gets sun. They can work even in winter! They can cook food, sterilize water.
  • Keep a spare jacket or two in the car - you guys in cold areas especially.
  • Layered clothing can help keep people warm if the heat is out.

    Health and Sanitation

    Injury can kill within minutes. Diseases can kill even with water and food available. Treat injuries and prevent disease!

  • First aid kit. See this list
  • Medications - make sure you have any prescription medications!
  • Soap - clean hands feel great!
  • Denture, contact lens, other daily life supplies
  • Disinfectants - bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide (do not use on healing wounds), betadine, hand sanitizers. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers need to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective, and even then they do not work on some germs. Know how to use each type safely. Know their dangers, too (e.g. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia).
  • TOILET PAPER! You don't want to run out of this. Really. Any other hygiene goods you might need, too, such as sanitary supplies, baby hygiene, etc.
  • Shovel. If you're out camping, you know your shovel is your toilet. If you lose access to normal plumbing facilities, you'll want to be able to dig a hole and cover it up afterward! Yes, you can buy portable folding shovels, too.
  • Extra water for your toilet - you may need to put water in your toilet to make it flush, if you don't have running water or if your well's pump has no power.
  • Pocket knife, if you don't already have one. My Swiss Army Knife includes scissors, bottle opener, can opener, a mini wrench, tweezers, etc. There are all sorts of small multi-function tools out there. ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL THINGS FOR SURVIVAL, EVER!
  • Breathing masks - can help protect against sickness. Some may possibly help in cases of smoke. Check the specs of each mask type.
  • Plastic gloves
  • Extra garbage bags and bins - you may not have garbage pickup service!
  • Iodine tablets if you are worried about nuclear radiation.
  • Mosquito nets ...could potentially be useful if disease breaks out and there are mosquitos in your area.
  • Salt to help melt ice
  • Plywood to prevent or cover over broken windows.
  • Clean water and thoroughly cooked food will help prevent disease.
  • Be in shape - exercise regularly to be ready for anything... or at the very least, take the stairs once in a while so you know you can in an emergency, too!
  • Finally, you know how nice clean clothes feel... maybe keep a spare change of clothes handy!

    Food / Water

    Remember, you can live weeks without food, but only days without water!

  • Water - you need a minimum of a gallon (4L) of water per person per day. Make sure you have a lot of clean water available. If need be, use water in your water heater tank (if you have one - turn off the main water valve first). You should consider getting water purification tablets, and possibly a portable water filter. Also have water in your car. Be sure to replace water supplies every 6 months. NOTE: liquids containing some caffeine are better than no liquids! Don't be afraid to drink bottled soda, tea, etc.
  • In case of sickness that involves diarrhea/vomiting, see if you can make this rehydration drink recipe (must be followed exactly), or use Gatorade or other sports drink. For children get Pedialyte (read warnings on the webpage).
  • Water purification tablets. Disease from contaminated water supplies is not fun.
  • Consider water filters - such as what hikers use. They may not filter everything, but they can make even muddy water drinkable. For your home, you may want to get a large water filter such as Berkey Filters.
  • Food - see this site for a good list. You can also get MREs (meals ready to eat) and bulk dry goods (but those require lots of water and heat). MREs are good because they are lightweight and, if you freeze them, they last almost forever. Dehydrated soups are comforting if you have enough water and heating equipment. Watch out for special diet needs!
  • Food cooking/heating supplies If you have things in your fridge, and can cook them safely, eat them before your canned goods.
  • Spare ice chests can be useful as well. Put perishables in ice chests if you think the power will be out a long time (every time you open the fridge or freezer with no power, you will lose a lot of cold air).
  • Food cleanup supplies!
  • Allow faucets to drip to help keep pipes from freezing (Kasi's suggestion), and have outside faucets covered to help prevent freezing as well.
  • Date and label that food!
  • Vitamins/vitamin drinks
  • Comfort Foods - sweet, salty, whatever floats your family's boat and helps people be calm. As Kasi notes, if you smoke, then make sure you have enough supplies to keep you on an even keel during an emergency.
  • High Energy & Protein Foods - e.g. peanut butter, crackers, canned meats.
  • Pet food and pet supplies. Don't forget your pet! Have a small travel crate or cage ready, in case you need to go somewhere.
  • Manual can opener - less needed these days, but might be good to have!

    Travel

    When you have to go, you have to go. Be able to go. Check the other lists for supplies for your car, too!!

  • Water, emergency food ... see above!
  • Have maps! If you don't have local maps, just get some next time you are in a drugstore.
  • Gas. Don't keep this in your house, but do try to keep your car's gas tank filled. Gas was "near to impossible" to get in the Seattle storms.
  • Siphon for gas!
  • Spare gas, or dry gas for your car, generator, etc. Don't store in your house, though.
  • Auto safety kit - flares, flashlight, etc. Have reflective gear to wear for your own safety, too!
  • Make sure you have an emergency kit for your car!
  • Make sure you have a first aid kit for your car!
  • Good to have a waterproof mylar blanket in your car, too, or at least a spare jacket.

    Societal

    Long-term things that can make a huge difference.

  • Your KEYS - in emergencies, people may forget their keys (we saw this in the Boston hotel). Try to keep them VERY handy!
  • Personal information - driver's license, ID, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance, deeds, titles, retirement accounts! (NOTE: I don't want to have this in a place easy for a thief to get to, but I do want it easily available. At the very least, I should store important documents in a fire-proof container ... and waterproof, too!)
  • Know your local shelters
  • Cash in small denominations. If you forgot something and need to go buy it, odds are you will need this.
  • Skills and Training - know your first aid!
  • Insurance - know your terms, consider covering the unexpected (e.g. earthquakes in a non-earthquake area), and contact the insurance company after a disaster.

    General Safety

    These can save a lot of grief, and can save lives.

  • Fire Extinguisher. Have a fire extinguisher handy at your home!
  • Gas Powered Chainsaw These were needed by people who had trees that fell on their homes and roads.
  • Axe/saw
  • Remember that shovel!
  • Clear your yard of things that could fly around in a storm.
  • Check that your trees are healthy and won't easily fall onto things.
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    Copyright © 1992-2007 by Betty J. Eadie
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    Warring Angel Volunteers on Earth, (WAVES) is acknowledged as a trademark of Betty J. Eadie