Get your emergency kit ready before winter comes aknockin'

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Story Published: Oct 22, 2009 at 8:30 AM PST

By Herb Weisbaum

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Winter in the Northwest means -- a little bit of everything, from flash flooding, wind storms that send trees crashing into houses and knock out power for days and days, and snow and ice that can keep you trapped in your house for what seems like an eternity.

An emergency kit is something we all need at home, especially as we head into rainy, cold and snowy months ahead.

Morgan Kokeneg with the American Red Cross office in Seattle says your kit needs to keep you going for three days.

"That's about when emergency personnel is going to be able to get to a wide range of people," she said. "For pets and children you're going to want to think especially careful (sic) about what are the things they're going to need."

Don't forget medications and cash -- small bills. ATMs may not be working in a serious disaster.

Build a kit with these essentials, as recommended by the Web site Take Winter By Storm:

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers (car charger recommended in the event of power outages)

The other thing you need is a plan. because in weather emergency -- family members can get separated with no way to communicate.

So you want to identify an out-of town contact and make sure everyone knows who it is and the phone number.

It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate between separated family members

Be sure every member of your family has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.

Teach family members how to use text messaging. Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

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