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SALT LAKE CITY — If a disaster or emergency happens in your home, it's important you know how to stay safe until help arrives.
Utah emergency management experts gave KSL TV's Tamara Vaifanua some tips on building your emergency kit on a budget.
They say you don't have to spend a fortune on buying the latest survival gear or technology. Start small.
"You can just start building your disaster supply kit with things that you have around the house, that doesn't cost anything," said Wade Mathews with the Utah Division of Emergency Management.
Mathews says throw in things like an extra flashlight, toothbrush and toothpaste.
Check your junk drawer for extra phone chargers or battery packs.
You can build your own first aid kit as well if you've got bandages, adhesive tape and wipes, tweezers and scissors.
Dig into your closets as well, looking for rarely used clothes that could come in handy during an emergency.
"I always say do the best you can with what you have. There's ideal and then there's realistic," said Mathews. "And we understand you have to deal with what's realistic."
Work on it a little bit at a time and soon you'll have your disaster kit in place.
More information, including checklists for home and vehicle emergency kits, can be found here.
