A major part of disaster preparation is stocking up on essential survival gear and food that will get you through an emergency situation. Water and non-perishable foods? Check. Toilet paper? Double check. Flashlights, batteries and a first-aid kit? Triple check. But if your family includes someone with special needs, kids or pets, here are a few things you don’t want to forget:
- Assistive devices for family members with special needs
- Games or something to occupy the kids
- Food and water for the family pet
Military families and service members pride themselves on readiness. When faced with a natural disaster or other emergency, "ready" means planning and preparing to care for everyone in your household — kids, family members with special needs and pets.
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As you pack your family's emergency kit, or reorganize it to meet your family's changing needs, consider each family member's individual needs. Include the entire household in the planning process because involving those who will be using your disaster kit is essential to preparedness.
The goal is to keep everyone happy and comfortable in a crisis. Stock your disaster kit with survival gear to meet the unique needs of each family member, from games for kids, to an assistive device for a person with special needs, to pet food for the family dog.
Kids
Teach
your kids about disaster prep. Visit Ready.gov for access to fun games and quizzes for kids and teaching tools for parents.
You know your children better than anyone, so make sure you have what they need during an emergency. Items you pack might include:
- Non-perishable snacks
- Blanket or stuffed animal
- Toys that take up minimal space and electricity (in case of a power outage)
- Coloring books, paper, crayons, pencils and markers
- Books
- Games
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Bottles
- Formula
- Powdered milk
- Medications
- Diaper rash cream
- Baby food
Family members with special needs
Your preparation for family members with special needs will depend on the type of aid they need. Assistive items include:
- Spare glasses or contact lenses
- Hearing aids and batteries
- Extra medicine, insulin, catheters or other medical supplies
- Bedding, support pillows or other items for positioning
- Extra batteries or power sources for motorized wheelchairs and other devices
- Copies of medical prescriptions, doctor's orders, and the style and serial numbers of any support devices
- Medical insurance and Medicare or Medicaid cards
- Physician contact information
- A list of allergies and a general health history
- Lightweight wheelchair
- Adaptive feeding devices
- Service animal supplies and documentation
- A list of emergency contacts
Pets
Don't overlook your furry, feathered or scaly companions during your disaster prep. Here are a few things you need to know:
- Bring pets inside during a storm.
- Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels, kennels or boarding facilities handy since most emergency shelters do not accept pets beyond service animals.
- Include pet food, water, newspapers or training pads (in case you're unable to go outdoors), medications, vet records, a litter box, a manual can opener and food dishes in your emergency kit.
- Keep your pet carrier handy in case you need to leave quickly.
- Make sure ID tags are up to date.
- If you have more than one pet, keep an eye on them. Even if they normally get along, stress can make animal behavior unpredictable.