Each year Missourians are affected by disasters such as tornadoes, fires, storms, floods, and power outages. Many stay in local shelters until it is safe to return to their home. To make the stay more comfortable evacuees are encouraged to consider the below information when gathering belongings and materials for their shelter supply kit.

Food

  • Special foods (Ensure, etc.)
  • High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, and other snack foods may be a good idea if you get hungry in between meals
  • Special dietary foods--such as diabetic, low salt, liquid diet
  • Baby food, formula and juice
  • Manual can opener

Clothing and Bedding

  • Complete change of clothing including footwear
  • A sleeping bag, blanket and pillow
  • Rain gear
  • Sturdy shoes
  • Inflatable mattress

Personal Items

  • Washcloth and small towel
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Paper towels, kleenex, toilet paper and towelettes
  • Diapers and wipes, stroller, portable crib or play pen
  • Eyeglasses, contacts, contact container and cleaning solution
  • Hearing aid and hearing aid batteries

Medications and First-Aid Supplies

  • Prescription medications -- clearly marked with your name, dosage, type of medication, and prescribing physician (you must be able to take all medications by yourself), and a pill planner box if used
  • Over the counter medications -- clearly marked with your name, dosage and type of medication
    (you must be able to take all medications by yourself)
  • Diabetics should bring extra needles and syringes, as well as blood sugar testing equipment
  • Individuals with breathing difficulties who use oxygen should bring additional oxygen cylinders
  • Any dressing changes needed

Important Papers

  • Driver's license, other identification and valuable papers (insurance documents, etc.)
  • Name, address and telephone number of doctors and pharmacy
  • Name, address and telephone number of nearest relative not living in area
  • Name, address and telephone number of relatives or family

Miscellaneous

  • Bring a cell phone and charger, if you have one
  • Age appropriate games, cards and toys for children
  • Reading materials
  • Battery-powered radios, flashlights (no candles or lanterns) and batteries

Individuals Receiving In-Home and Home Healthcare Services

Individuals receiving in-home or home healthcare services should make arrangements for the caregiver to provide services in the shelter. Individuals should bring admission folder from the home health agency.

For additional information, please review the Ready in 3 information for individuals receiving in-home and home health care services.

Pets

Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in most shelters. However, some shelters also have arrangements for sheltering pets in nearby facilities. Typically, the pet must be in a cage to be admitted to the pet shelter. Please review the Ready in 3 household pets information for more details.

The ADA defines service animals as any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability including, but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. Under the ADA regulations, service animals have access to the same facilities as the humans they serve.

Not Allowed

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Weapons
  • Firearms or explosive devices
  • Illegal drugs