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Be Prepared
We have all witnessed tragedies; Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, Irma and Harvey. After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having food, water and supplies to last for at least 72 hours. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need, below is a kit recommended by Ready.gov .
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
- Download the Recommended Supplies List (PDF)
Additional Emergency Supplies
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
- Prescription medications
- Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
- Glasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Maintaining Your Kit
After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it's ready when needed:
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
- Replace expired items as needed
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family's needs change.
Kit Storage Locations
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and vehicles.
- Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
- Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, stored in a "grab and go" case.
- Vehicle: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.
- Emergencies can happen with little or no notice. What we do know is that it is important and helpful to be prepared, review the following past emergencies:
- September 11, 2001 - Terrorist attack on America.
- August 14, 2003 - Over 50 million people left without power when a blackout cascaded across the Midwest and Northeast U.S. and Canada.
- August 29, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina, the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States, landfalls on southeast Louisiana.
- April 23, 2006 - Nearly six inches of rain caused extensive flooding and damage across Trumbull.
- April 14, 2007 - The Pequonnock River overflowed and flooded Trumbull Center for the third time that year.
- September 13, 2008 - Hurricane Ike battered Texas as a monster 600-mile-wide, Category 2 hurricane. Ike killed at least 40 people and forced more than 30,000 from their homes.
- June 24, 2010 - Tornado touches down in Bridgeport. High winds topple trees and structures across the Bridgeport area.
- August 27, 2011 - Hurricane Irene caused severe damage across Trumbull resulting in downed trees and the loss of electric service.
- October 29, 2011 - Winter Storm Alfred toppled trees and left many Trumbull residents without power for days.
- October 29, 2012 – Superstorm Sandy batters the eastern seaboard becoming the second-costliest hurricane on record in the US until surpassed by Hurricanes Harvey and Maria in 2017.
- February 13, 2013 – Winter storm Nemo shuts down Connecticut dumping a record setting 40 inches of snow in Hamden.
- 2017 - Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria become 3 of the 5 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history; crippling the Caribbean, Florida and Texas.
- May 17, 2018 – Four Tornadoes touch down late that afternoon causing extensive damage in Brookfield, Danbury, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Ridgefield, Southbury, Winsted, Bethany, Hamden, Cheshire and Durham. Two deaths were attributed to the tornadoes in Connecticut.
- 2018 -Year of the deadly mega-wildfire. Two of the top twelve deadliest wildfires in world history hit in 2018. The Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire in California killed 86 and destroyed more than 18,000 structures.
- September 13, 2018 - Hurricane Florence smashed all-time rainfall records, braking the U.S. rainfall record for North and South Carolina.
- September 25, 2019 – Rainbomb hits Trumbull dumping 7.32 inches of rain. Major flooding is seen in Trumbull Center and other areas of town. Numerous water rescues were conducted for people stuck in cars, houses and commercial buildings.