After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would you be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives? You will cope best by preparing for a disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supply Kit. Once a disaster hits, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you’ve gathered supplies in advance, you can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

Your family disaster supply kit should have enough supplies to sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours.

Items you should include in your kit are:

• Water (At least 3 days supply)
• Food (At least 3 days supply)
• Cash
• First Aid Kit
• Over-The-Counter and Prescribed Medications
• Tools and Supplies
• Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Whistle
• Clothing and Bedding
• Sanitization Supplies (Hand Sanitizer, Soap, Toilet Paper, etc.)
• Special Items and Needs (Pets, Small Children and Infants, Elderly, etc.)
• Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio (with extra batteries)