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Build a supply kit
  • One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. 
  • Children, nursing mothers, and sick people may need more water. 
  • If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary. 
  • Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. 
  • Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person. 
  • Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. 
  • Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. 
  • Pack a manual can opener and eating utensils. 
  • Choose foods your family will eat.
    • Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables 
    • Protein or fruit bars 
    • Dry cereal or granola 
    • Peanut butter 
    • Dried fruit 
    • Nuts 
    • Crackers 
    • Canned juices 
    • Non-perishable pasteurized milk 
    • High energy foods 
    • Vitamins 
    • Food for infants 
    • Comfort/stress foods 
Clean air
Many potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic "junk" into the air. For example, an explosion may release very fine debris that can cause lung damage. A biological attack may release germs that can make you sick if inhaled or absorbed through open cuts. Many of these agents can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a barrierbetween yourself and any contamination.
 
Nose and Mouth Protection
Face masks or dense-weave cotton material, that snugly covers your nose and mouth and is specifically fit for each member of the family. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children.
 
Be prepared to improvise with what you have on hand to protect your nose, mouth, eyes and cuts in your skin. Anything that fits snugly over your nose and mouth, including any dense-weave cotton material, can help filter contaminants in an emergency. It is very important that most of the air you breathe comes through the mask or cloth, not around it. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children. There are also a variety of face masks readily available in hardware stores that are rated based on how small a particle they can filter in an industrial setting.
Given the different types of attacks that could occur, there is not one solution for masking. For instance, simple cloth face masks can filter some of the airborne "junk" or germs you might breathe into your body, but will probably not protect you from chemical gases. Still, something over your nose and mouth in an emergency is better than nothing. Limiting how much "junk" gets into your body may impact whether or not you get sick or develop disease.
 
Other Barriers
  • Heavyweight plastic garbage bags or plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape and scissors
There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as "shelter-in-place ," is a matter of survival. You can use these things to tape up windows, doors and air vents if you need to seal off a room from outside contamination. Consider precutting and labeling these materials. Anything you can do in advance will save time when it counts.
 
Use available information to assess the situation . If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you can use these things to tape up windows, doors and air vents if you need to seal off a room. 
 
Deciding to Stay or Go
Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the attack, the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is immediate danger.

In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should monitor TV or radio news reports for information or official instructions as they become available. If you're specifically told to evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately.

 
Staying Put
Whether you are at home, work or elsewhere, there may be situations when it's simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside.

There are other circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as "shelter-in-place," is a matter of survival. Use available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to take this kind of action.

 
To "Shelter-in-Place:"
  • Bring your family and pets inside . 
  • Lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers. 
  • Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems. 
  • Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated. 
  • Go into an interior room with few windows, if possible. 
  • Seal all windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Consider measuring and cutting the sheeting in advance to save time. 
  • Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to seal gaps so that you create a barrier between yourself and any contamination. 
Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available.
 
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration) Filter Fans
Once you have sealed a room with plastic sheeting and duct tape you may have created a better barrier between you and any contaminants that may be outside. However, no seal is perfect and some leakage is likely. In addition to which, you may find yourself in a space that is already contaminated to some degree.
Consider a portable air purifier , with a HEPA filter , to help remove contaminants from the room where you are sheltering. These highly efficient filters have small sieves that can capture very tiny particles, including some biological agents. Once trapped within a HEPA filter contaminants cannot get into your body and make you sick. While these filters are excellent at filtering dander, dust, molds, smoke, biological agents and other contaminants, they will not stop chemical gases.

Some people, particularly those with severe allergies and asthma, use HEPA filters in masks, portable air purifiers as well as in larger home or industrial models to continuously filter the air.

 
Getting Away
 
There may be conditions under which you will decide to get away, or there may be situations when you are ordered to leave. Plan how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency.
Create an evacuation plan:
 
  • Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood. 
  • If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate. 
  • Become familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area. 
  • If you do not have a car , plan how you will leave if you have to. 
  • Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated. 
  • Lock the door behind you.
 Plan for your pets:
  • Pets should not be left behind , but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency. 
Store extra food, water and supplies for your pet
  • If time allows:
    • Call or email the "out-of-state" contact in your family communications plan. 
    • Tell them where you are going. 
    • If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving. 
    • Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going. 
    • Check with neighbors who may need a ride. 
Learn how and when to turn off utilities:
If there is damage to your home or you are instructed to turn off your utilities:
  • Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves. 
  • Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves. 
  • Teach family members how to turn off utilities. 
If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.
First Aid Kit
In any emergency a family member or you yourself may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. If you have these basic supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Remember, many injuries are not life threatening and do not require immediate medical attention. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination.
 
Things you should have:
  • Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex). 
  • Sterile dressings to stop bleeding. 
  • Cleansing agent /soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect. 
  • Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. 
  • Burn ointment to prevent infection. 
  • Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes. 
  • Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant. 
  • Thermometer 
  • Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates. 
  • Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.
Things it may be good to have:
  • Cell Phone 
  • Scissors 
  • Tweezers 
  • Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Non-prescription drugs:
  • Potassium Iodide (Read more: Nuclear Blast) 
  • Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever 
  • Anti-diarrhea medication 
  • Antacid (for upset stomach) 
  • Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the PoisonControlCenter) 
  • Laxative 
  • Activated charcoal (use if advised by the PoisonControlCenter)
Portable kit
Emergency Supplies
Water, food, and clean air are the essential items for survival. Each family or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized to include important family documents.
 
Recommended Supplies to Include in a Portable Kit:
  • Water, amounts for portable kits will vary. Individuals should determine what amount they are able to both store comfortably outside the home and be able to transport to other locations 
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food 
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First Aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help 
  • Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air 
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation 
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) 
  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place 
  • Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant 
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Emergency Supplies
Water , food , and clean air are the essential items for survival. Each family or individual's kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized to include important family documents.
Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:
  • Water , one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation 
  • Food , at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food 
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First Aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help 
  • Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air 
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation 
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) 
  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place 
  • Infant formula and diapers , if you have an infant 
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Clothing and Bedding:
If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes.
One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including
  • A jacket or coat 
  • Long pants 
  • A long sleeve shirt 
  • Sturdy shoes 
  • A hat and gloves 
A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Other items to consider adding to your Supply Kit:
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or a print out of this information 
  • Rain gear 
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils 
  • Cash or traveler's checks, change 
  • Paper towels 
  • Fire Extinguisher 
  • Tent 
  • Compass 
  • Matches in a waterproof container 
  • Signal flare 
  • Paper, pencil 
  • Medicine dropper 
  • Feminine supplies 
  • Personal hygiene items 
  • Disinfectant 
Household chlorine bleach
You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
 
Important Family Documents
Keep copies of important family records such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.
 
Special Needs Items
Remember the special needs of your family members. Infants , the elderly and persons with disabilities need the same planning as everyone else, and sometimes a little more, to be prepared for a terrorist attack.
 
For Baby:
  • Formula 
  • Diapers 
  • Bottles 
  • Powdered milk 
  • Medications 
  • Moist towelettes 
  • Diaper rash ointment
For Adults:
  • Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs. 
  • Denture needs 
  • Contact lenses and supplies 
  • Extra eye glasses
For Seniors:
  • Plan how you will evacuate or signal for help. 
  • Plan emergency procedures with home health care agencies or workers. 
  • Tell others where you keep your emergency supplies. 
  • Teach others how to operate necessary equipment. 
  • Label equipment like wheelchairs, canes or walkers.
  • Additional supplies for seniors:
    • List of prescription medications including dosage in your supply kits. Include any allergies. 
    • Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. 
    • Extra wheelchair batteries or other special equipment in your supply kit. 
    • A list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers in your emergency supply kits. 
    • Copies of medical insurance and Medicare cards. 
    • List of doctors and emergency contacts.
For People with Disabilities:
      • Create a support network to help in an emergency. 
      • Tell these people where you keep your emergency supplies. 
      • Give one member of your support network a key to your house or apartment. 
      • Contact your city or county government's emergency information management office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can be located quickly in a sudden emergency. 
      • Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your disability. 
      • If you are dependent on dialysis or other life sustaining treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility. 
      • Show others how to operate your wheelchair. 
      • Know the size and weight of your wheelchair, in addition to whether or not it is collapsible, in case it has to be transported
  • Additional Supplies for People with Disabilities:
    • Prescription medicines, list of medications including dosage, list of any allergies. 
    • Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries. 
    • Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen. 
    • Keep a list of the style and serial number of medical devices. 
    • Medical insurance and Medicare cards. 
    • List of doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified if you are hurt.