Are you ready for an emergency?

Recently, we had a heavy snowstorm. Although I have studded tires, I decided to stay home to avoid running into trouble, including unskilled and unprepared drivers.

After five days, my food was starting to get boring. I’d eaten all my fresh food, gone through my canned food, and was thinking about soaking beans.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan are making me think seriously about what would happen if we have a big quake here in the Pacific Northwest. Like Japan, this is earthquake country.

CNN reported on one Japanese family, with a disabled adult, rode out the earthquake and tsunami in the second story of their home. They ran out of food in five days.

How much food and water should you have on hand for an emergency?

You should have a kit that contains food, water, and supplies for at least three days, recommends the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Store water in food-grade storage containers, or if you want to make your own containers, use two-liter plastic soft drink bottles. Don’t use plastic jugs that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars can’t be adequately be removed so bacteria could grow in those containers.

You’ll need one gallon of water daily for each person for three days.

For food, avoid foods that will make people thirsty. Select salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content. Dry mixes and other staples that don’t require refrigeration or cooking also are good choices. Be sure to include a manual can opener.

See FEMA’s “Are You Ready?” booklet for information on getting other basics you’ll need, developing an emergency plan, seeking shelter during different types of hazards, and identifying evacuation routes. The guide has checklists to help you get prepared.