Has anyone put together a basic home emergency book for their family?

If yes, what info did you include in this book?

I am wanting to put one together but would like to hear others opinions.

Could you be a bit more specific?

Do you mean a small book of phone numbers/addresses, medication, medical problems, insurance policy co/numbers, etc?

Or do you mean some kind of list of what to do and where to go and what to take if you're not there?

Sue

Yes, we have a zippered three-ring binder which has information such as:
1. emergency phone numbers (police, fire, animal control, etc...)
2. checklists for dealing with flooding, hurricanes, chemical release, etc...). these were custom made by DW and I for what we feel are our most likely situations.
3. emergency contact info (work, cell phone, home numbers, email of friends, neighbors and family)
4. copies of insurance documents, prescriptions and eye glass specs.
5. maps of area
6. pamphlets on what to do to clean up after hurricanes
7. how to purify water
8. red cross and ready.org pamphlets on dealing with different disasters.
9. first aid booklet
10. poisonous snake identification sheet
11. keys to neighbors' houses
12. broadcast frequencies of news radio/tv stations
13. guide to shortwave radio news sources
14. high-res, color copies of passports and other ID
15. assorted other useful information (lists of websites, how long meat is good after thawing, etc...)

It's a pretty thick binder but if we have to leave fast we can just grab it and run.

-Blast

Take a look at
http://www.sanmateocert.org/disaster_prep.htm
which has links to materials for home-preparedness. I took the course and find the materials very helpful, especially the CERT handbook, a 2.1MB .pdf file. I'd suggest downloading it and reading it on your computer for a sample of how helpful the other materials are (supplies checklist; helping seniors, children, and the disabled; helping pets, etc.).

If you haven't taken a CERT (acronyms vary) training course in your neighborhood, I recommend it highly.

Thanks for those links and advice.

If have some work to do

"...keys to neighbors' houses..."

Wow, you have some really great neighbors!!!

Well my neighbors are both correctional officers...so I would love to have keys to their house

Blast, will you please post a source, hopefully available on-line, listing shortwave radio news stations. I just purchased an Eton 350 radio. It recieves AM/FM/SW. Thanx.

Due to changing atmospheric/solar conditions throughout the day the frequencies you'll be able to receive will change. Broadcasters transmit on assorted frequencies to compensate for this problem. Below are some links to shortwave news sources that I use to try and get signal.

BBC Shortwave

World News in English

Middle East Broadcasts
I just found this last one and so far I haven't had much luck with it but you have a better radio than mine.

Enjoy!

-Blast

Thanks for that info Blast! I need some to add some of those topics to my Home Info Book!

And here I thought I had my stuff squared away..