First Three Minutes


Think about what you might need in the first three minutes of a disaster. Maybe it’s 2 AM, and you have to roll out of bed - with no electricity or lights - and get your family out of the house. What items will you wish you had immediately at hand? Here are some suggestions.

We recommend you assemble a "First Three Minutes" kit for each member of your household and attach it to their bed. This kit is simple: it’s made up of a plastic drawstring bag containing sturdy shoes, a flashlight, leather gloves, a whistle, and lightweight clothes. All of these items are easy to get, and you probably have many of them already in your home. Get prepared for the first three minutes!