I recently put together this checklist of disaster supplies to have on hand in case of emergency (medical emergency, power failure, fire, flood, earthquake, blizzard, etc.). The list was compiled from a number of sources, and in my opinion it is quite comprehensive. (Prominent sources include recommendations from FEMA and Red Cross.)

PDF: Disaster Supplies Kit Checklist

The contains its own instructions. In summary, it details the items you should have in your home at all times, as well as some special items that should be stored in a portable evacuation kit that can be quickly taken in an emergency. Many of these items you probably own already, and others will need to be purchased. It is helpful to locate the items in your home as you check them off; knowing where an item is, is just as important as having it.

This list was prepared for my church (the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church in southern Illinois), and at the end we listed important local numbers our members might need (police, insurance, the church’s number, etc.). In this version, I’ve removed most of those, but left the space so you can put in the numbers you need.

I hope this list will be helpful to you. Remember: Waiting until an emergency arrives to get the items you need is usually too late.

As a Christian I believe God cares for our needs and helps us in time of calamity; but I also believe that one way He does that is by giving us the intelligence to prepare and plan ahead.