Month 1

Purchase:
  Water -3 gallons per person and pet
  Hand-operated can opener and bottle opener
  Instant drinks (coffee, tea, powdered soft drinks)
  2 flashlights with batteries

Activities:

  Make your family disaster preparedness plan*
  Inventory disaster supplies already on hand, especially
      camping gear
  If you fill your own water containers if they are not dated
Conduct a home hazard hunt*

Month 2

Purchase:
  Canned meat, stew, or pasta meal – 5 per person
  Sanitary napkins
  Videotape
  Family – size first aid kit

Activities:
  Change battery and test smoke detector (purchase and
install a detector if you don’t have one)
  Videotape your home, including contents, for insurance
purposes. Store the tape with friends or family who live out of town.   

Month 3

Purchase:
  Canned fruit 3 cans per person
  Any foods for special dietary needs (enough for 3 days)
  2 rolls of toilet paper per person
  Crescent wrench(es)  (or utility shutoff tools)

Activities:
  Conduct a home fire drill
  Check with your child’s day care or school to find out about
their disaster plans
  Locate gas meter and water shutoff points and attach/store
wrench or shutoff tool near them
  Establish an out-of-state contact to call in case of
emergency

Your supplies may be stored together in one large container, such as a garbage can on wheels, or several small ones Food items could be kept on a specific shelf in the pantry.

Month 4

Purchase:
  Canned vegetables -4 per person
  Extra baby bottles, formula, and diapers, if needed
  Extra pet supplies, food, collar, leash
  Large storage containers(s) for preparedness supplies

Activities:
  Place a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight under
     your bed so that they will be handy during an
     emergency
  Place a supply of prescription medicine(s) and date if
     not already indicated on its label
  Start putting supplies in storage container(s) and
     include blankets or sleeping bags for each family
     member

Month 5

Purchase:
  Canned, ready-to-eat soup  - 2 per person
  Liquid dish soap
  Plain liquid bleach
  Portable am/fm radio (including batteries)
  Antibacterial liquid hand soap
  Disposable hand wipes

Activities:
  Make photo copies of important papers and put in the storage container
  Talk with neighbors to find out who may have skills or training that would be beneficial after a disaster (i.e., first aid, child care, amateur radio, tree removal,     small engine repair, heavy equipment operations, wilderness survival, light rescue, carpentry)

Examples of Food Items:

  Select based on your family’s preferences
  Pick low-salt, water-packed varieties when possible

  Canned meat  ~ tuna, chicken raviolis, chili, stew, Spam, corned beef, etc.
  Vegetables  ~ green beans, corn, peas, beets, baked beans, carrots, etc.
  Fruit  ~ pears, applesauce, mandarin oranges, pineapple, etc.

Month 6

Purchase:
  Quick-energy snacks (granola bars, raisins, peanut butter) 
  6 rolls of paper towels
  3 boxes of facial tissue
  Sunscreen
  Anti-diarrhea medicine
  Latex gloves, 6 pairs, (to be out with the first aid kit)

Activities:
  Check to see if your stored water has expired and needs to be replace (Replace every 6 months if you filled your own containers Store bought water will have an expiration date on the container)
  Put an extra pair of eyeglasses in the supply container
  Store a roll of quarters with the emergency supplies and locate the pay phone nearest to your home
  Find out about your workplace disaster plans

Month 7

Purchase:
  Whistle
  ABC fire extinguisher
  1 Large can of juice per person
  Adult ands children vitamins
  A pair of pliers and/or vise grips

Activities:
  Take a first aid/CPR class
  Identify neighbors who might need help in an emergency, including those with limited mobility or health problems and children who might be alone
  Show family members where and how to shut off the utilities

Month 8

Purchase:
  Box of crackers or graham crackers
  Dry cereal
  “Child proof” latches or other fasteners for cabinet doors and drawers
  1 Box of large, heavy-duty garbage bags
  Camping or utility knife

Activities:
  Secure shelves, cabinets, and drawers to prevent them from falling and/or opening during earthquakes
  Meet with neighbors to inventory expensive equipment that could be shared in the event of an emergency, such as
chain saws, chippers/shredders, utility trailers, snow blowers, and 4-wheel drive vehicles

Month 9

Purchase:
  Extra batteries for flashlights, radio, and hearing aids (if needed)
  Heavy rope
  Duct tape
  Crowbar

Activities:
  Make a small preparedness kit for your car  Include food, water, blanket, small first aid kit, a list of important phone numbers, quarters for pay phones
  Secure water heater to wall studs (if not already done)

Month 10

Purchase:
  Hammer and assorted nails
  Screw drivers and assorted wood screws
  Heavy duty plastic tarps or sheets of visquine
  Extra toothbrush per person and toothpaste

Activities:
  Make arrangements to have someone help your children if you are at work when an emergency occurs
  Conduct an earthquake drill at home
  Replace prescription medicines as required by expiration dates

Month 11

Purchase:
  Package of paper plates
  Package of napkins
  Package of eating utensils
  Package of paper cups
  Making tape
  Kitchen-size garbage bags (1 box)

Activities:
  Make arrangements to have someone to take care of your pets
  Exchange work, home, and emergency contact phone numbers with neighbors for use during an emergency
  Start a Neighborhood Watch Program if none exists

Month 12

Purchase:
  Heavy work gloves
  Box of disposable dust masks
  Safety goggles Antiseptic
  Sewing kit

Activities:
  Check to see your stored water has expired and needs to be replaced  (Replace every 6 months if you filled your own containers.  Store-bought water will have an expiration date on the container)
  Check the dates on stored on stored food and replace as needed