Hossam Khattab SID: 26658145

Earthquake Preparedness Kit

Disclaimer: The actual putting together of this kit presented a financial burden on me as a
student on a very tight budget. I have, however, completed all other parts of the process
(thinking about the important items, placement, etc) and have provided pictures from the
internet to most closely depict what I would have included and how it would have been
included.

Household size: 3 people (myself and two roommates)

1 x Plastic Airtight Container: Cheap, large size (about 5-10 gallon volume)
accessible, and airtight/watertight form of storage; clear as to allow seeing of the
items inside easily, and airtight in order to 1/ keep items stored inside as fresh
and usable as possible for as long as possible and 2/ will be stored (secured)
high up (on shelf in closet) so as to remain relatively dry and away from any
potential flood. Also, this container being solid will help to maintain the integrity
of the items inside if it is hit by falling debris, or thrown around during a seismic
event

5 x 1 gallon water jug: As per the instructions on many preparedness checklists, the
recommendation is to store about 3 days worth of water - with 3 individuals in the
house and each individual needing about a half gallon of water per day, that amounts
to 4.5 gallons of water, so 5 are stored just to be safe. These will not be stored in the
container - too heavy and bulky, and already are ‘contained’ themselves

5 x canned beans: As with the recommendation to store water, it is also

recommended to store non-perishable food for about 3 days worth as well. Beans have
been chosen for a number of reasons; they are non-perishable, relatively contained and
small to store, and easy to cook/heat up directly in the can without too much extra work.
They are also relatively nutritious, containing a combo of proteins, carbs and fats, which
make them a good temporary food substitute. Also, I checked that none of my roommates
possess allergies to it (which discounted cans of tuna, since one of my roommates is allergic)

1 x crank radio: As a person who grew up in a relatively warm climate, I grew to

distrust the long-term storage of batteries, and their propensity to leak, absorb
moisture or otherwise stop functioning precisely when you need them most. As a
result, I’ve chosen a crank radio as opposed to a battery powered one, which will
ensure no need of access to electricity, while maintaining our ability to access
important reports and information regarding safety procedure and/or evacuation after a seismic
event

1 x crank flashlight: As with above, I prefer devices that require no electricity

except manual human power. A flashlight will be essential to navigating if the
power goes out or if trapped in a dimmed location, and it will also be useful to
surviving at night if the power outage lasts an extended period of time

1 x first aid kit: First aid kit, composed of hard casing (against to avoid damage during
earthquake), containing items such as bandages, basic medication, syringes,
disinfectant material (alcohol or peroxide of hydrogen). This will also include an
Hossam Khattab SID: 26658145

inhaler, mentioned below.

Inhaler: In addition to one of my roommates possessing particularly weak lungs

and being susceptible to asthma, the particulate matter, debri and possible smoke
that can emerge during a seismic event can be a terrible lung irritant, and can
result in coughing, and difficulty breath, especially since in many cases an
individual may be trapped indoors for an extended period of time. I have thus included a
generic bronchodilator inhaler (not specifically only for asthma, so that it can be used as
mentioned above for those effected by small particulate matter inhalation)

1 x Swiss Army knife: This combines together many of the tools that are recommended to
be carried; can opener, knife, scissors, screwdriver, tweezers and other tools that may be
required during an emergency. This has been chosen for its compactness, and ease
of being carried, which would be tough to do with an entire set of separate tools

1 x lighter: Useful primarily to start fires for cooking or warmth, but has secondary use as
a tool to sterilize equipment needed for medical purposes. A waterproof, windproof
(through use of a torch flame) lighter has been chosen in order to mitigate the impacts of
environmental conditions on our ability to start a fire

1 x roll of duct tape: Used for fixing of broken objects, but also can be useful as a
medical tool for maintaining structure/posture of broken/injured limbs as a temporary
solution until emergency medical help arrives, as well as being useful to attach pieces
of debris from the environment to create a makeshift shelter

1 x ‘Emergency wallet’: Containing 50 dollars in cash, some form of identification, and

emergency contact information in case I am found unconscious or in some way
incapacitated. This allows me to receive help even if all the measures I put in place I
cannot access, at least help can be called for me.

Pack of cigarettes: Probably seems like the last thing that should be included in
an EMERGENCY kit, but as a smoker, and since this kit should be personalized, I know
that the stress of experiencing an earthquake will be so great that I will want even a
moment of peace, tranquility and familiarity to keep me grounded, thinking logically
and stay on target to help myself and those around me. Even though this item is not
essential per se, its ability to help ground me and keep me focused and acting
rationally during an emergency is why I see it as an important inclusion.