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Safety: Gear & Supplies

The gear and supplies you need for emergencies need to be stored in different locations depending on their intended use. Consider putting together the following kits:


Under-the-Bed Rapid Response Kit: This is the kit you reach for when a disaster happens at night. It contains personal protective equipment, like shoes, gloves, a hard hat, and a flashlight. See also the Under-the-Bed Rapid Response Kit checklist.


Go Bag: A go bag contains the items you need to take with you in a rapid evacuation. It includes copies of important documents, cash in small denominations, extra clothes, food, and water. See also the Go Bag checklist.


Get-Home Bag: A get-home bag goes with you when you commute to work or school. It involves some basic items to help sustain you when you’re displaced from home and an emergency strikes. It should include contact numbers, a family reunification plan, some food and water, and a phone charger, for example. See also the Get-Home Bag checklist.


Vehicle Bag: A vehicle bag contains items you might need if you get stuck in your vehicle when a disaster happens or during an evacuation that results in stopped traffic. It should include a first aid kit, food and water, an emergency blanket, a flashlight, and a phone charger, for example. See also the Vehicle Bag checklist.


Shelter-in-Place Kit: A shelter-in-place kit helps you survive for an extended period in your home when you are ordered not to leave. The shelter-in-place kit includes plastic sheeting and tape so you can cover windows, doors, and vents. You will also rely on your emergency home supplies. See also the Shelter-in-Place Kit checklist.

Category

Items

Purpose

Under-the-Bed Rapid Response Kit

  • Sturdy shoes in bedside bag tied to bed frame

  • Work gloves

  • Flashlight with fresh batteries

  • Safety goggles

  • Dust mask/N95

  • Hard hat

Critical for immediate post-disaster mobility and protection; prevents 80% of immediate injuries

Basic Household Safety

  • First aid kit with bleeding control emphasis (gauze pads and rolls, compression bandages)

  • Utility wrench

  • Multi-tool

  • Emergency blanket 

  • Poncho

Essential household safety foundation; handles moderate injuries 

Extended Household Safety

  • 72-hour water supply (1 gal/person/day)

  • Non-perishable food

  • Battery/hand-crank/solar radio

  • Extra batteries 

  • Charging equipment

  • Sanitation supplies

  • Plastic sheeting

  • Duct tape

  • Tent, sleeping bags

Supports 72-hour self-sufficiency requirement; essential for extended disaster response

Street Coordination Equipment

  • FRS/GMRS radios

  • Shared first aid supply cache

  • Basic rescue tools (crowbar, rope, stretcher)

  • Coordination materials

  • Weather protection

Supports street-level safety coordination and mutual aid operations

Enhanced Street-Level Medical

  • Advanced first aid kits for multiple casualties

  • Trauma supplies (SAM splints, advanced bandages)

  • Basic rescue equipment

  • Triage supplies

Supports street-level casualty management and enhanced medical response

Community Mobile Distribution

  • Bulk PPE supplies (shoes, gloves, safety equipment)

  • Mobile first aid distribution

  • Training equipment

  • Communication equipment 

  • Transportation resources

Supports community-wide safety resource distribution and coordination

Community Crowd and Traffic Control

  • Portable barriers

  • Lights and flares

  • Temporary traffic signage such as route markers and detour signs

  • Traffic cones

Keeps people safe from secondary, related disasters; during evacuations; at facilities serving large numbers of people; and at resource distribution sites

Community Training Infrastructure

  • Training materials and supplies practice equipment (manikins, training aids)

  • Coordination equipment

  • Instructor resources

Supports community-wide safety training programs and capability development


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