Grab ‘n Go Emergency Kits
Last week, we had a tornado touch down about ten miles south of our home. Living in Las Vegas for almost three decades, Curtis and I had forgotten about weather emergencies beyond the occasional flood, wind shear or dust storm. And when we made it to the basement after hearing the tornado siren, I realized how unprepared we are for the reality of an emergency.
Since our house has been under remodel for the last 16 months, everything is still packed up, including my pets' emergency kits. So, I quickly stepped into action to gather fresh kits, and the first step is always to get a basic list of what our family and pets absolutely need to make it through at least 3-5 days—water, food, cash, hygiene items, emergency information/resources and prescribed medications.
Since my family has dogs and horses, I like to have separate emergency backpacks so I don't have to rummage through everything in order to find what I need for my Fur-Babies. I like to keep things light, so I use a backpack to help me stay focused on what I actually need. This is actually a trick that my military hubby taught me. Curtis' words, "Only pack what you can carry," help me keep it simple. He knows me well and without the guidelines, I'd be packing the whole house.
I keep these backpacks available near my car, ready to grab-n-go. Having these backpacks ready help my family not to worry about gathering everything at the last minute. Below are the items I’ve gathered for our emergency kits:
First Aid Kit
First aid guide (for people AND pets)
Emergency pocket guide for each type of pet
Matches
Flash lite
Batteries for Flash Lite
Parachute Cord
Extra leash
Extra collar or harness
Poop bags
Comfort items (toys)
Bottle Opener
Magnifying glass
CBD drops or Num-Nums for pet anxiety
Eye droppers or Syringes
Soft muzzle
Vet records (vet info, vaccination records, etc.)
Grooming wipes (These are different than alcohol wipes. They clean your pets and make them smell good like dry shampoo works for humans)
Towel for medical emergency
Blanket or Towel (something that is familiar to your pet that helps comfort them)
Collapsable water and food bowls
Small packages of food and treats—use your judgement on this one. You know your fur-babies and what they need in situations. I like these:
Cat Packs
Dog Packs
Horse Packs
People Packs
Thankfully last week, the storm passed quickly, and we were unharmed and the pups remained calm. But, now, due to the reminder from Mother Nature, we’re prepared for any emergency.
Be Safe, Be Healthy & Stay Groovy!
Amy
(I found a lot of my information to gather emergency Grab-n-Go packs from FEMA.gov which is a great resource for getting a checklist for any common disaster or emergency)