About EK4A
Disaster preparation first became a renewed priority for our nation as a direct response to the devastation of September 11, 2001. Americans have been asked to become fully aware, trained and practiced on how to respond to potential threats and hazards.
A Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) survey shows that roughly 50% of Americans consider themselves “prepared,” yet further questioning reveals a lack of basic supplies nonetheless. For example, of those who said they were prepared only one-third had kits in their homes and workplace.[1]
Much like that diet that is always “going to start tomorrow,” there are many good intentions to put together an emergency kit but the process, the cost and the sheer logistics of pulling together the needed items from many different stores make it prohibitive. Good intentions are often overwhelmed and unfortunately the project is often pushed aside.
As a journalist in Los Angeles, founder Christal Smith spent years covering earthquakes and other disasters and the fall out after these events. She learned that the quality of life for survivors was directly related to their degree of preparedness. When she started to put together her own kit she learned first hand how daunting a process it was. After years of searching out the best, most cost effective and worthwhile items to store in her own kit, word got out that she knew what she was doing. For several years she made customized kits for friends and family based on all she had learned. This is how Emergency Kits 4 All first started.
The purpose of Emergency Kits 4 All is to demystify the complex kit assembly procedure and to make everything needed available in a “one stop shopping” experience. Our online menu will take each customer through the necessary steps to fully customize their own emergency kit to fit their needs and budget.
Emergency Kits 4 All distinguishes itself from the competition by offering thoughtfully customized kits – not the usual cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all solution.
Christal Smith, founder of Emergency Kits 4 All, has numerous years of involvement in disaster preparedness consulting and in designing personalized kits for her clients.
Ms. Smith holds certification as a level III First Responder with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s CERT program and is a manager with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team (CRT). She has received extensive training through the City of Los Angeles and the Red Cross as a neighborhood preparedness ambassador and holds a certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).
Ms. Smith is also certified by the Department of Homeland Security in biological and chemical warfare mitigation for urban areas. Ms. Smith holds a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications from New York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C.
In addition, Ms. Smith writes on emergency preparedness issues for The Huffington Post and is often interviewed on National Public Radio in Southern California as an expert on disaster preparedness. She gives presentations, leads workshops and offers consultations for all types of emergency preparedness.
[1] FEMA. “Personal Preparedness in America: Findings From the Citizen Corps National Survey.” June 2009. Obtained at: http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/press/2009/personal_preparedness_research_jun09.shtm
