HAVE EMERGENCY SUPPLIES READY FOR HOME, CAR

One of the key tools for making it through the next big disaster is an emergency survival kit — and it’s important not only to store one at home, but to keep one in your car, because that’s where you might be when chaos erupts. Pre-packaged kits are available from a variety of retailers, but if you want to assemble your own, here is the minimum you should have in it, according to the American Red Cross. For the car, the gear is best packed tightly into a small backpack, to save space. At home, a basic outdoor garbage can works best for storage.

FOR THE CAR

Water: A three-day supply amounting to 1 gallon per person per day. (For the car kit, you’ll need to keep this outside the backpack in your vehicle’s trunk. Because 3 gallons of water can be bulky for the car, some people prefer to store as little as a quart a day, which is bare survival mode. Each quart can be stored in the backpack in small foil packets, available at disaster-supply sites or stores.)

Food: A three-day supply, about 1,000 calories — something lightweight like energy bars

Water purification tablets, or a water filter, in case you go beyond three days and need to find alternate sources of water

Portable radio

Flashlight and/or light stick

Charger for cell phones and devices, powered by batteries, along with a cell phone charger cord for the car

Batteries

Blankets: Emergency survival models are compact and light

Tube tent

Sanitation and personal hygiene supplies, including toilet paper

Leatherman-style multitool or pocketknife with can opener, screwdriver heads and knife blade.

Poncho or other rain gear

Candles

Waterproof matches

50 feet of rope (3/16 inch or bigger)

Duct tape

Work gloves

First-aid kit

Sewing kit

Whistle

Smoke/dust mask

Gas meter valve shut-off wrench

Instant hand warmers

FOR THE HOME

All the previous items plus these:

Medications: At least a seven-day supply

Cash: Small bills and coins

Tools: Foldable shovel, hatchet, Leatherman-style multitool, screwdriver, pliers, pocketknife and can opener

Extra clothes

Battery-powered lamp

Plastic sheeting (for emergency shelter)

Paper or plastic plates, bowls and cutlery

Small cooking pot

Soap and bath towels

Copies of personal documents

Emergency contact list

Maps of the area

OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER

Additional medical supplies (hearing aids, glasses, contacts, syringes, etc.)

Baby supplies

Games and toys for children

Pet supplies

Two-way radios

Extra car and house keys

Scissors

Sleeping bags

Photos by Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Survival kits for your car, top, should fit in a backpack while home kits can be stored in a sealable garbage can.