Emergency Pandemic Storage List

An emergency pandemic can suggest many topics of concern, however, the goal of storing needed items remains the same. First aid supplies and food are just two of the main items to remember when storing for an emergency. Whether the pandemic threat comes from biological means or from natural disasters, the goal of preparing yourself and your family is the first step to ensure a positive outcome.

Paper Products

• Each member of your family, or persons in the home, requires specific items to survive over a pandemic period where leaving your home might not be an option. If you have child in diapers, you will need to have extra packages, as well as wipes, on hand. Consider the amount of women in the home and the number of sanitary napkins it might take to survive living without outside exposure for one year, five years, or more. Consider toothpaste, tooth brushes, toilet paper, soap and sanitation gel or wipes.

Medication

• A first aid kit is essential to any survival package. Be sure to consider the number of persons needing to use the kit if a pandemic arises. You will need band aids, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, cotton swabs, burn gel, etc. Also, think about required medications that can be purchased and stocked for extended periods of time. Aspirin, allergy medication, cold capsules and anti-acid tablets are a few of the common medicines. If a pandemic does occur, it would be wise to check our prescriptions and get an extra bottle or two of the items you cannot live without. These medicines would include blood pressure regulators, asthma inhalers, birth control pills and anti-anxiety/anti-depressants.

Material Items

• NASA has developed thin blankets that help the body retain heat, yet are easily stored and carried. These blankets are valuable for their endurance, yet you can also stockpile basic blankets and other items of clothing for an emergency. Do not forget socks and undergarments, as well as shoes and other accessories to make living easier, such as hair clips.

Food and Water

• You should store edible items that have long shelf lives, like energy bars and canned goods. Water can be stored for extended periods of time, but be sure to check the date since the plastic container holding the water may leak chemicals into the water supply after a while. You can turn to NASA once again to gain knowledge on their freeze dried food, including meats, that can be stored on shelves for several years without going bad. Also, when packaging food, remember to store plates, utensils, cups and can openers as well.

Important Documents

• You should have copies of your birth certificates and photo identification kept in a waterproof container. Include your social security cards, insurance cards, an extra set of car and home keys and some go to cash in case banks are not open during the emergency pandemic. You might also consider placing your vehicle and mortgage or home deed information in the waterproof container as well. Lastly, keep a regional and national map with your documents so you know the quickest routes to leave town, and the safest place to travel to, if need be.