Safety Week, Day 2: Emergency Supplies

Getting prepared for a disaster can be intimidating, but here's a simple list for keeping your family safe and prepared if disaster strikes.

Water and nonperishable foods. Have a supply large enough for two to three days. Plan for one gallon of water per person per day.

Flashlight, with batteries.

Duct tape to patch any gas or water leaks.

Can openers, gloves, masks for debris and baby supplies are a must, and don't forget to have copies of personal documents (passports, deeds to house) stored in a plastic bag in your emergency backpack.

Whistles come in handy for search and rescue should you be trapped under debris, as well as hand-crank emergency radios that don't depend on digital service.

To prepare small kids and get them talking about how they'd escape a fire, consider preparing an old pillowcase with an evacuation plan that your kids draw, which they can fill with comfort items and store under their beds.

For a complete disaster emergency supply list, visit The Red Cross here.

Jill Simonian is a Parenting Lifestyle Contributor, appearing on CBS Los Angeles every Wednesday on News at 5pm and Friday mornings at 6:45am. Her personal blog is TheFabMom.com. Follow Jill on Twitter @jillsimonian and connect with her on Facebook.