• POC Events
  • Things To Do
  • Family Friendly Businesses & Services
  • Top Teachers
  • The Little Red Schoolhouse
  • Calendar

Parenting OC

  • Get an Issue
    • Latest Issue
    • Distribution outlets
  • About us
    • About the magazine
    • Contact us
    • The Press Room
  • Advertise
    • Readers’ Choice Advertising
  • Digital Archives
  • Contests & Giveaways
You are here: Home / Ask the Experts / Disaster Prep — Making an Emergency Kit

Disaster Prep — Making an Emergency Kit

September 29, 2020 Leave a Comment

Disaster Prep Making an Emergency Kit Ask the Experts

The pandemic has made me want to be more prepared. What should I include in my family’s emergency kit? 

All ages

As we begin the new school year (from a classroom or the living room), it’s the perfect opportunity to teach kids about the importance of being prepared. While the last several months have shown that we can’t predict or control what happens, we do have the power to prepare ourselves and our loved ones for an emergency. 

Typically, students learn how to prepare for emergencies, like wildfires and earthquakes, at school. It’s a great time to prepare your family and get the kids involved with the fun of planning and creating a family emergency plan and kit.

Take time to sit down together to discuss an emergency plan and the activities to create an emergency kit. Involve your kids in this process. Have them help you identify phone numbers for emergency contact information, select items for your kit, while also explaining their importance and how to use them in an emergency. Make sure that they pack some books, a well-loved stuffed animal, games, or other activities for comfort in an emergency situation.

A basic emergency kit should include at least:

  • Cloth face coverings and hand sanitizer
  • Water — 1 gallon per person, per day
  • A first aid kit
  • Non-perishable food items and favorite snacks
  • Extra types of identification cards for you and your child
  • Extra cash — small bills
  • Toiletries, including extra prescription medications
  • Flashlights
  • Batteries — make sure to check them every six months
  • A battery-operated or solar cell phone charger
  • A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
  • Helpful tools like can opener, wrenches and pliers
  • Blankets
  • Extra sets of clothes and shoes for each member of the family
  • Garbage bags
  • Duct tape
  • Small toys and activity books
  • Maps of Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego Counties and more

Related Posts:

  • Distance Learning Tips for Working Parents
  • Growth Spurts & Athletes: Less Physical Activity
  • Emergency Prep List

Determine a family meeting place in case anyone gets separated and have kids memorize important phone numbers. Also, place a copy of emergency phone numbers in your kids’ backpacks to have handy when they return to school. Be sure to gather enough supplies in your emergency kit to last several days.

While wildfires and the pandemic are hot topics, it’s also important to make sure kids know what to do in an earthquake. Each October, schools across California participate in the Great ShakeOut — a one-minute earthquake drill to practice drop, cover and hold on. Families and neighborhoods can join in to practice too.

This year, the event will be virtual: You decide when, how and where you want to hold the drill, and with whom. Plan to set aside some time to participate in this drill with your kids, in addition to pulling together your family emergency kits, so everyone is prepared.


Disaster Prep Ask the Experts

Brenda Emrick is a fire protection community education specialist with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue. She is a member of the California State CERT Workgroup and ReadyOC, Orange County’s emergency preparedness program. For additional information, please visit readyoc.org.

(Opening Photo Courtesy of HiveBoxx/Unsplash.com)

Filed Under: Ask the Experts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our January 2023 Digital Issue!

Socialize with Parenting OC

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Search Parenting OC

Mailing List Sign Up Button Stay up to date on current events, hot topics, contests and giveaways by signing up for Parenting OC's mailing list.

Browse by category

Feedburner Sign Up Button Subscribe to Parenting OC email service.

Parenting OC Tweets

  • GO🍊OC ➡️ Celebrating Vietnamese culture, this popular, annual fest offers a talent show, several eating contests, a… https://t.co/vknkWHJXFM January 24, 2023 9:02 pm
  • Join us live 🎥 As we go to location and plan next February's cover photo! Visit our Facebook page and check out beh… https://t.co/afFvSCoMBz January 19, 2023 9:26 pm
  • GO🍊OC ➡️ Check out our featured events upcoming this month! Visit https://t.co/bCjodNxpX6 to see our top picks for… https://t.co/Um4YiFBDwo January 18, 2023 10:39 pm
  • Follow Parenting OC on Twitter!

Recent Articles

  • Top Teacher & Employee Awards 2023 — Finalists
  • Top Teacher Finalists 2023
  • Top Employee Finalists 2023
  • Top Leader Finalists 2023
  • Astra Lumina
© 2023 Tierney Publishing · Contact · Advertise