This weekend, most of the country will spring forward. Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March, when clocks move ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Most phones and computers adjust on their own, but the microwave, the car, and that old kitchen clock still need a human hand.
Since you are already walking around the house resetting clocks, it is the perfect time to do something many households put off all year: check the emergency kit. Pairing the two creates an easy, twice-a-year habit, once in March and again in November when the clocks fall back.
Why Spring Is a Good Time to Check
New England emergencies are not only a winter concern. Spring brings heavy rain, flooding in low areas, windstorms, and the occasional late-season snowstorm that knocks out power. A kit packed last fall may have been raided during a winter outage, and batteries, food, and medications may now be expired or running low.
A quick refresh takes about an hour and can make a real difference if the power goes out or you need to leave home quickly.
What a Basic Household Kit Should Include
Emergency kits do not need to be elaborate. The goal is to have enough supplies for each person in the household to get through several days without power or easy access to stores. Common recommendations include:
- Water: About one gallon per person per day, for several days
- Food: Nonperishable items that do not require cooking, plus a manual can opener
- Light: Flashlights or battery lanterns, plus extra batteries
- Communication: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and phone charging options, such as a charged power bank
- First aid: A basic kit with bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and any personal items you rely on
- Medications: A small supply of essential prescriptions and copies of prescription information
- Documents: Copies of IDs, insurance cards, and important contacts in a waterproof bag
- Warmth: Blankets, warm layers, and rain gear
- Hygiene: Wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and garbage bags
- Cash: Small bills, in case card systems are down
The Spring Refresh Checklist
Work through your kit item by item. This list keeps it quick:
- Check dates. Look at expiration dates on food, water, medications, and batteries. Use or replace anything expiring in the next six months.
- Test flashlights and radios. Turn each one on. Swap in fresh batteries if the light is dim.
- Recharge power banks. Many lose charge slowly even when unused.
- Update documents. Replace old insurance cards, update phone numbers, and add any new family members or pets.
- Review medications. Make sure any medication stored in the kit is current, and talk with a pharmacist or doctor if you have questions about keeping an emergency supply.
- Swap seasonal clothing. Trade heavy winter layers for rain gear and lighter warm layers, but keep at least one warm item per person.
- Restock what you used. If you dipped into the kit during a winter storm, replace those items now.
- Check the container. Make sure your bin or bag is easy to carry and stored somewhere everyone can reach.
Do Not Forget These Often-Missed Items
Many kits cover the basics but miss items that make a big difference in real situations:
- Spare eyeglasses or contact lens supplies
- Hearing aid batteries
- Pet food, a leash, and copies of pet vaccination records
- Baby supplies such as diapers, formula, and wipes
- A printed list of phone numbers, since many people no longer memorize them
- A whistle to signal for help
- Work gloves and a small multi-tool
Food That Actually Gets Eaten
One common mistake is packing food nobody likes. When food expires, it often gets thrown away instead of eaten. Choose items your household already enjoys, such as peanut butter, crackers, canned fruit, granola bars, and shelf-stable milk. When you refresh the kit, move the older items into your pantry and use them in regular meals. That way nothing goes to waste.
Helping a Neighbor With Their Kit
Some neighbors may not have a kit at all, whether because of cost, mobility, or simply not knowing where to start. Offering to help can be a real gift.
A gentle way to bring it up:
“I’m doing my emergency kit check this weekend while I change the clocks. Want me to bring the checklist over so we can look at yours too?”
Ways to help:
- Bring an extra flashlight and batteries if you have them.
- Help an older neighbor carry water or supplies from the store.
- Write important phone numbers on a card in large print.
- Set up a simple check-in plan for outages, such as a call or knock within a few hours.
- Note whether the neighbor relies on medical equipment that needs power, and encourage them to talk with their provider and utility about planning ahead.
Make It a Twice-a-Year Habit
The best emergency plan is one you actually keep up. Linking your kit check to the clock change makes it easy to remember. Write “Kit check” on your calendar for both the March and November time changes, or set a recurring phone reminder.
Some neighborhoods make it a group activity. A building or block can hold a short kit-check gathering, share a checklist, swap extra batteries, and make sure everyone has a buddy to check on them during outages. Preparedness is easier, and a lot more pleasant, when you do it together.
Quick Recap
- Change your clocks and check your kit the same weekend.
- Replace expired food, water, and batteries.
- Test lights and radios, and recharge power banks.
- Update documents, contacts, and medication information.
- Offer to help a neighbor with their kit.
Quick check: Why is it helpful to pair your emergency kit check with the Daylight Saving Time change?
- Emergency kits must be inspected by law at that time
- It creates an easy-to-remember twice-a-year habit
- Batteries only expire in March and November
Show answer
B. Linking the kit check to the clock change makes it simple to remember and keep up each spring and fall.
