Today is a solemn anniversary that still resonates deeply for many of us. Whether you witnessed the events in person like Sherry, or watched helplessly on TV while worrying about loved ones in New York and Washington like I did, this date can stir powerful emotions. We were fortunate that our families were spared, but our hearts remain with those who lost someone.
Instead of only remembering, we decided to use this day to think proactively about the future. Lately I’ve been focused on emergency preparedness because of a work project, and it’s made me aware that many people don’t take basic steps at home to prepare for crises. Thinking about preparedness at work was one thing; applying it at home was another. So we performed a straightforward audit of our own Emergency Supply Kit to see where we stand.
For guidance we used the Emergency Supply Kit checklist from MakeAPlan.org. The list starts with water: the recommendation is three gallons per person. I thought we were covered because a large case of bottled water has been stored in the kitchen for a couple of years expressly for this purpose. We have used a few bottles from time to time, but our supply remains solid. Overall, that deserves a B+ in our audit.
Next on the list is food, and the recommendation is a three-day supply of non-perishable items. In reality, we often hover around a three-day supply only if we consider what’s in the pantry after a recent grocery run. Our canned goods and dry staples are adequate for a short disruption, but we could definitely be more consistent about maintaining a dedicated, sealed food supply. We do, however, keep a manual can opener right where we need it, so on balance our food preparedness is a C.
Pet supplies are part of planning too. We scored an A+ for pet food: Burger, our small dog, has a full canister of kibble because we buy in bulk when we’re near his specialty store. Since he’s an 8-pound dog and eats modestly, having five days’ worth of food takes up little space and gives us real peace of mind.
Communication and information sources are crucial during an emergency, so we evaluated radios and batteries. I initially worried because the batteries in our guest-room plug-in radio with battery backup are dead and we’ve been relying on mains power. But we also have a battery-operated shower radio, which saved our grade. Alongside that, we’ve stashed some spare batteries in a kitchen drawer, which brings us back to an A on the radio front.
Lighting is another basic need. We have a working flashlight, but we don’t have spare batteries specifically allocated for it, so our flashlight preparedness sits at a B-. That’s an easy fix: add a few battery packs to the kit and rotate them periodically.
We also keep a fire extinguisher and what we thought was a first aid kit. It turns out our kit is actually a Pet First Aid Kit, but it contains many items useful for humans in an emergency, albeit in smaller quantities. Given that, it’s reasonable to grade our first aid readiness as a B-. Upgrading to a full household first aid kit and replenishing supplies would raise that grade.
Overall, our home’s basic Emergency Supply Kit earns roughly a B. We have many fundamentals in place—water, some food, pet supplies, radio access, a flashlight, batteries, and a first aid kit—but there’s room for improvement through a bit more planning and dedicated storage for emergency-only supplies. Have you evaluated your preparedness recently? Little steps like maintaining a sealed food stash, keeping fresh batteries on hand, and assembling a full first aid kit can make a big difference.
If you want to review official recommendations, consult the resources provided by government preparedness programs and local authorities. And if you live near Washington, DC, there are local alert systems that can send emergency notifications via text or email — tools worth exploring for anyone in the area.
PS: For those in the Washington, DC area, the local alert system we worked on at the office offers free emergency notifications by text or email. It’s a practical way to stay informed about local incidents and advisories.