Essentials for your emergency outage survival kit

Be prepared for a power outage with an emergency outage kit, which should always be stocked and easily accessible. Kit items include:

Flashlights
Fresh batteries
Candles
Matches or lighters
Battery-powered radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Battery-powered or wind-up clock
Portable heater (oil or gas)
Portable generator (review safety tips prior to use)
Bottled water for drinking and cooking (one gallon per person per day)
Nonperishable food and manual can opener
Paper plates and plastic utensils
Coolers and ice
First-aid kit and family prescription medicines
Blankets and/or sleeping bags
Warm clothes, sturdy shoes, and heavy gloves
Special needs items for infants, elderly, and/or disabled family members
Sanitation and personal hygiene items, including hand sanitizer
Games and activities for children
Pet supplies
Emergency telephone numbers, including the number of your local electric company to report outages
Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
Extra cash
Instructions on how to manually open electric garage doors
Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.