5 Tips to Maintain a Reliable Emergency Kit

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, strike without warning.  It is for this reason that having an emergency kit is a critical component of disaster preparedness.

It is equally important to ensure that the supplies in your emergency kit remain usable when you need it. Items like food, batteries, and medication have limited shelf lives and must be replaced regularly to maintain their effectiveness.

Here are five practical tips to maintain a reliable emergency kit:

• Create an Inventory Checklist – Take an inventory of your emergency supplies and note expiration dates on all items, such as food, batteries, and medications. Keep a checklist with these dates and place it in a visible location.
• Set Reminders for Regular Checks – Inspect your emergency supplies at least twice per year.  Set reminders on your phone or mark it on your calendar to review and replace any items nearing expiration.
• Rotate Items – To minimise waste, rotate older items from your emergency supplies, such as canned foods and batteries, into your regular household use before they expire.
• Inspect Storage Conditions – Proper storage can significantly extend the life of your emergency supplies. Keep them in a cool, dry place. Waterproof containers can protect items from damage and make your supplies easy to transport if needed.
• Keep Copies of Important Documents – Keep critical documents, such as passports, medical records, and insurance policies in your emergency kit, and for added security, upload digital copies to cloud storage along with photos and videos of your property and belongings to streamline the insurance claims process following an earthquake or other disaster.

By maintaining your emergency kit regularly and incorporating key documents, you will be better equipped to handle the aftermath of a natural disaster and recover with less stress.