BE PREPARED

***TEN THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR DISASTER KIT***

March is Red Cross awareness month . . . so it's time to put together your disaster kit!!! Here are ten things you need to include, according to the American Red Cross . . .

#1.) WATER. You and your family could be without water for days after a disaster. The Red Cross recommends storing at least three gallons of water for each person for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

#2.) FOOD. Make sure you store three-days-worth of non-perishable food that requires little or no cooking to prepare it. And don't forget to include a can opener. Most Swiss Army knives have one, and they also have a ton of other things you might need.

#3.) MEDICATIONS. Pharmacies might be closed in the wake of a disaster, so the Red Cross recommends that you include a week's supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

#4.) A RADIO. Your whole neighborhood could lose power for days, so have a battery-powered radio handy, and include plenty of spare batteries. But remember, batteries CAN go bad, even when you're not using them, so make sure you replace them every few years.

#5.) A FIRST AID KIT. You should be prepared to treat minor injures, so pick up a first aid kit at any drug store . . . or go to www.RedCross.org and view their checklist.

#6.) PERSONAL DOCUMENTS. If you have to evacuate, you might not be able to come home for weeks. So have your ID, passport, birth certificate and insurance policies in one place. Also, put an extra set of glasses in your emergency kit alongside any other personal items that you need on a daily basis.

#7.) CASH. Following a disaster, banks might be closed, and ATMs might run out of money. So keep small bills and change on hand to buy any other supplies you'll need. It's best to have at least $100 stored away, just in case.

#8.) CLOTHING. In a disaster, you might have to leave in a hurry without packing. So make sure your disaster kit includes a spare set of warm clothes and some good shoes that you can walk in if you need to.

#9.) PET SUPPLIES. People sometimes forget that they'll have to keep taking care of their pets during a disaster. Remember to pack things like pet food, leashes, medicine and extra water so you'll be able to bring your pet with you if you have to evacuate.

#10.) TOOLS. Keep an adjustable wrench in your disaster kit in case you need to turn off your gas. Other things that might prove useful include garbage bags, a flashlight, a survival handbook, a map and duct tape. (RedCross.org)