After a storm, clinics may be closed and roads may be blocked. A home kit will not replace a doctor. It covers the cuts, fevers, and daily medicines that show up while you are waiting.

The core of the kit

• Adhesive bandages, sterile gauze, and tape
• Antiseptic wipes and plain soap
• An elastic bandage and a triangular cloth for a sling
• Tweezers, scissors, and disposable gloves
• A thermometer
• Pain and fever medicine you already know how to dose
• Any personal items: inhalers, epinephrine if prescribed, glucose for diabetes, and a spare pair of glasses

Ask a pharmacist about keeping an extra supply of daily prescriptions before the season. Do not wait until the pharmacy is flooded or the road to it is closed.

After the water drops

Floodwater can contain sewage, fuel, and debris. Wear boots and gloves for cleanup, wash cuts with soap and clean water, and watch for wounds that redden or swell. Standing water is also where mosquitoes breed, so empty containers in the yard once it is safe to go outside.

Keep a written list in the kit: names, allergies, medicines, and the phone number of each doctor. A photo of that list on your phone is useful. A paper copy still works when the phone is dead.