Don’t let your family down, take urban emergency preparedness seriously with lighting and accessories by Fenix.

Extreme weather and other natural disasters in recent years have made the need to create and maintain an urban emergency preparedness kit even more important. While each household will have slightly different needs, there are some essentials that should be in every urban emergency preparedness kit. Consider these items as the foundation for your emergency kit and start building it today! You never know when you will need it.

Food and water. This may seem like a no-brainer, but really think about how much food and what type you will need.

  • It is likely that the emergency situation will last several days, so that is three meals a day for every member of the family, and don’t forget pets. In addition, you probably want extra because you could be burning a lot of calories digging out of the mess.
  • Food that is individually packaged and ready to eat is preferable. Also, you don’t want to have to add water because water will be in short supply.
  • Consider packing away some treats to aid in psychological well-being and resilience. Emergency situations can take a toll, especially on little ones; consider having something special to raise the spirits when needed.
  • When thinking about water, think about not only drinking water, but also water for washing clothes, dishes, and you. Think about a rain barrel or something similar to hold large quantities of non-potable water.
  • For drinking water, assume that the tap water could be contaminated or not working at all. Have plenty of fresh drinking water stored someplace that you can get to in an emergency. Experts recommend a minimum of 64 ounces a day, more if you are exerting yourself.
Urban Emergency Preparedness
In an emergency situation it is important for every member of your family to have a personal lighting device. The Fenix UC01 – USB micro rechargeable is an excellent choice for your urban emergency preparedness kit. This personal light is affordable, so you can outfit the whole family and the UC01 features high-performance LED with three modes to conserve battery power. The lowest brightness level will run for 50 hours, ideal for situations when battery life is critical.

Light. Having light is an essential for both physical and psychological well-being in an emergency.

  • You will want a mix of candle and electric lighting options. However, consider that after a natural disaster, a burning flame may not always be the best idea.
  • Have a personal light for every member of the family. While in the midst of uncertain times, a light can be empowering especially for frightened children.
  • Next, consider functional lighting. Headlamps and flood lights are good for working in the dark when you need to have your hands free or project light a greater distance. Lanterns are great for community areas or where many people are working together. Make sure all the lights are waterproof.
  • While flashlights are an urban emergency preparedness essential, you will also need to consider having sufficient batteries to power your lights for several nights. Think about rechargeable batteries that you can keep charged prior to the emergency, and also consider USB rechargers that will provide you with more power options.
Urban Emergency Preparedness
The Fenix CL25R USB rechargeable lantern is perfect for your emergency preparedness all-purpose lighting needs. The lantern features a maximum of 350 lumens, is micro-USB rechargeable, red light capable, and has a maximum runtime of 600 hours in moonlight mode. This versatile lantern packs the power and endurance to see you through any emergency.

Radio. In an urban emergency preparedness situation, it is likely that there will be cell-tower disruption and wide-spread power outages. It is critical that, along with light, you have a radio to find out current public safety notices.

  • Information about evacuation routes, shelters, and how to get emergency help are often provided on local radio stations during an emergency.
  • A radio that has AM, FM, and shortwave capabilities is essential. Many emergency radios come with a variety of power options including; hand crank, batteries, or power cord.
  • Make sure to have extra batteries for the radio, power could be sketchy and constantly cranking a radio can be tiring.

Other nice to have items.

  • Map of your city and/or neighborhood
  • Well stocked first-aid kit
  • Easy to play games and books
  • Extra clothes and blankets
  • Needed prescription medicines
  • Duct tape
  • Backpacking water filter