Emergencies (both big and small) can happen at any time I found out on Monday. My “emergency” occurred when my apartment building (and entire neighborhood as it turned out) lost power.

Planning to head back to bed, after being awoken by the power down, I grabbed my cell to set an alarm, but it had died. Great. So, I hopped out of bed and found an old flashlight only to watch it burn out as I turned it on. Since I didn’t have another, I grabbed a hoodie and my purse and headed into the flood light filled hallway at 3 in the morning to grab a few emergency items. This could have been avoided if I had assembled myself an apartment emergency kit before I needed it. Here are 10 essential items that no apartment or renter should be without.

• First Aid Kit. At least have the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, etc. Injuries can happen quickly and can be devastating when you’re not prepared.
• Battery Powered Radio. This item will become your best friend if your electricity goes out and you need to hear weather or other emergency reports.
• Flashlight. (One with a floodlight feature or stand is best.) Power outages don’t always happen at ideal times and being able to find what you are looking for is a necessity.
• Tool Kit. You never know what can happen, and you may have to MacGyver your way out of a situation. At least with a tool kit you’ll have more to work with than a paper clip and rubber band.
• Fire Extinguisher. Fires can occur at any time and having an extinguisher handy could mean the difference between life and death. It’s also important to know how to use before you need it.
• Batteries. Keep enough batteries around to ensure extended usage of battery-powered items. Also, make sure you have the correct batteries for those items.
• Candles. Candles are a good stationary light source and can even serve as a small source of heat.
• Matches. You may need matches to light the candles or any gas burners for cooking.
• Bottled Water and Food Stuffs. It’s always important to have some nonperishable food items and bottled water in case you’re unable to leave your apartment.
• Emergency Number List. Last but not least, you should have a list of important phone numbers easily accessible. Important numbers to include would be the electric company, water company, fire department, police department and poison control.

I was caught unprepared, but won’t be again with my newly assembled emergency kit. What other items do you keep in your apartment in case of emergencies?