Emergencies are unpredictable. We rarely receive any warning ahead of time, whether the source of disaster is Mother Nature or mankind. That’s why you need to be organized and prepared with an emergency kit customized for you and your family.

I wrote an article in September for National Preparedness Month that details the steps you can take to ensure that you and your family are prepared.

“A Home Emergency Kit is a collection of items, gathered in one place, that you can access during an emergency. When a disaster strikes it’s unlikely that you’ll have time to find and pack the items you’ll need to survive. Emergency and utility workers may not be able to get to your home or restore power for a few days so it’s important you and your family can survive on your own.  This means having enough food, water, clothing and supplies to make sure your family is healthy and safe, until your normal life can be restored.

The best way to tackle any project is to break it down into small, manageable pieces.  That’s why I’ve grouped the list into categories so you can complete your Home Kit one step at a time. Congratulations on taking this step.  Follow through and you and your family will be prepared when the unexpected strikes.”

– Laura Ellis, Organized by Ellis

However, since disaster isn’t isolated to just one month, let’s keep the conversation going! In this video, watch and learn how to customize your own emergency kit quickly, cheaply and easily.