Food and Water Checklist

Having an emergency food and water kit can be critical in an emergency, when regular sources of food and water can be interrupted. Making one is easy, inexpensive, and quick - in fact, you probably already have most of the items you need.

Your emergency food and water kit should contain adequate supplies to keep you and your family self-sufficient in your home for at least three days.

Food should be easy to store with no need for refrigeration. Choose foods that you like and that are pre-cooked, require no cooking, or are cooked easily in little or no water.

Store food in screw top jars or sealed containers. Store drinking water in clean, disinfected containers with secure lids. Rotate and use food and water every six to twelve months. Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use.

Suggested contents for your food kit include:

• Grain products (cold, dry and hot cereals; bread sticks; rice; couscous; crackers; pretzels; noodles/pasta; pancake mix; rice cakes; Melba toast; granola bars; cookies)
• Meat and alternatives (canned meat and fish; canned soup, stew or pasta with meat; canned beans, peas, lentils; peanut butter; instant refried beans; textured vegetable protein; sunflower seeds and nuts)
• Nonperishable milk products (skim milk powder; canned evaporated 2% milk; soy, rice; Parmesan cheese; packaged or canned pudding; cheese spread)
• Vegetables and fruit (canned or jarred vegetables and fruits; fruit and vegetable juices; dried fruit; applesauce; tomato sauce)
• Other foods (canned or packaged meals; hummus and tabbouleh; pasta sauce mixes; bouillon cubes; honey/jam; instant coffee, tea or hot chocolate, non-perishable pet foods)
• Additional supplies (cutlery; cups; plates; can opener; bottle opener; waterproof matches or lighter; plastic bags)

Your water kit should contain:

• At least two liters of drinking water per adult per day
• At least two liters of water per person per day for cleaning and cooking
• At least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.
• Purification tablets or chlorine bleach and an eyedropper.

Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need extra water.

If there is no other source, emergency water can be obtained from your water heater, toilet tank and from melted ice cubes.