Prepare your Household Emergency Kit
Print out a copy of the Household Emergency Kit checklist
Emergency Kit Contents
The range of natural hazards that affect Queensland can cause major disruptions to essential services. One of the most important steps you can take is to prepare your Household Emergency Kit and Evacuation Kit.
Your Emergency Kit is a collection of items that provides for your household’s essential needs in the event of emergencies like storms, floods and cyclones. Your kit should be kept in a sturdy, easy to carry bag or waterproof storage box and stored in a safe place that is easy to access.
Below is a range of suggested items to help prepare your Emergency Kit. This list includes items to have in your kit at all times and extra essentials to add to your kit during storm and cyclone seasons for when weather warnings are issued.
Items to include in your emergency kit at all times
Food and water
- Range of non-perishable food items
- Bottled water
Medical and sanitation supplies
- First Aid Kit and manual
- Essential medications, prescriptions and dosage
- Toilet paper
- Toiletry supplies (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo)
- Personal hygiene items
Lighting
- Torch with extra batteries (or wind up torch)
- Battery powered lantern
Communications
- Battery powered radio with extra batteries (or wind up radio)
- Traditional wired telephone (for land line)
- Prepaid phone cards and coins for phone calls
Clothing and footwear
- Warm jumper, waterproof jacket, hat and gloves for everyone
- Closed-toed shoes or boots for everyone
Tools and supplies
- Plastic sheeting and Duct / masking tape to tape windows
- Whistle and utility knife
- Plastic garbage bags and ties
- Safety glasses and sun glasses
Miscellaneous items
- Specific supplies for infants (nappies and formula), the elderly and people with special needs
- Spare house and car keys
- Pet food, water and other pet needs
Important documents
Keep original or certified copies of the following documents in your Emergency Kit. Scan copies of these documents and save on a USB memory stick or CD to include in your kit. Keep all these items in sealed plastic bags.
- Insurance documents for your house, contents, cars and valuable items
- Inventory of valuable household goods
- Wills and life insurance documents
- House deeds / mortgage documents
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Passports / visa details
- Stocks and bonds
- Medicare, pension card details and immunisation records
- Bank account and credit card details
- Back up copies of important computer files
- A copy of your completed Household Emergency Plan with emergency contact phone numbers
Extra items to include in your Emergency Kit during cyclone and storm season
Ensuring you have these extra items on hand or included in your kit during the storm and cyclone season will assist you when weather warnings are issued:
Food and water
- Three days supply of non-perishable food (plus can opener, cooking gear, plates and utensils)
- Clean water in sealed containers (10 litres per person is recommended for three days supply)
- Water purification tablets
Medical and sanitation supplies
- Extra supplies of medications
- Prescriptions and details for all medications
- Extra toiletry and sanitary supplies, sunscreen and insect repellant
- Spare spectacles
Tools, communications and supplies
- Wide masking tape for windows
- Wrench or pliers to turn off all utilities
- Tent and tarpaulin
- Woollen and thermal blankets
- A mobile phone, spare battery and charger
Clothing and footwear
- Change of clothes for everyone, in stored plastic bags
- Spare clothing and bedding
Miscellaneous items
- Extra supplies for infants (extra formula, nappies etc.)
- Extra supplies for the elderly or people with special needs
- Spare cash (you may not be able to access electronic bank tellers (ATMs) due to power failures)
- Pet provisions and information (e.g. vet papers, leash, water and food, collars with identification tag, pet beds, litter pan and scooper, carrier or harness and medication)
In a major emergency, there may be extended interruptions to power and water supplies.
The following items are recommended:
- Barbeque or portable stove with fuel
- Fully charged batteries for mobile phones
- Spare batteries for torch and radio
- Esky or gas / battery powered refrigerator
Print out Emergency Kit and Checklist
PDF – Emergency Kit and Checklist
If you live in a low-lying coastal area or an area that has experienced major flooding in the past, preparing an evacuation kit now could save you time and stress in the event of storm surge or flood.
Keep all contents of your Evacuation Kit in a sturdy, easy to carry bag or waterproof storage box and store in a safe place that is easy to access.
Items to include in your Evacuation Kit:
- Multiple changes of clothes for all household members stored in watertight plastic bags (long pants, long sleeve shirts, hats and strong shoes are recommended);
- Extra essential medicines and repeat prescriptions;
- Extra first aid supplies, sunscreen, insect repellant, toiletry and sanitary supplies;
- Extra food and water;
- Originals or certified copies of important documents (see Emergency Kit list for full details);
- Pillows, sleeping bags and blankets for each household member;
- Books and games for children;
- Extra baby formula, food and nappies (if required);
- Valuables, photos (prints, compact disks, USB data stick etc) and mementos in waterproof plastic bags;
- Extra money as cash;
- A mobile phone, spare battery and charger;
Print out Household Evacuation and Evacuation Kit information
PDF – Household Evacuation Kit
Last updated 25 Jan 2010
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