News this week that real estate agents will soon have an emergency preparedness guide to hand to new home buyers came as both a welcomed surprise and fodder for another idea whose time has come.

As part of National Preparedness Month in September 2004, the Homeownership Alliance teamed up with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop "Emergency Preparedness Guide: Protecting Your Family and Your Home."

The guide serves as a comprehensive source of information for new and existing homeowners on the practical measures necessary to prepare your home for different types of emergencies.

This week, the National Association of Realtors announced that the Alliance will assist it in making the booklets available in hard copy and electronically to its nearly 1 million members for distribution to home buyers and others who request it.

Frankly, given the nation's rash of harsh winters, brutal hurricane seasons and time that's elapsed since terrorists attacked America, it's surprising the industry hasn't previously conducted this widespread roll out of disaster preparedness information.

Real estate industry distribution gives the crucial information the immediate attention it deserves at an opportune time -- when new homeowners are setting up house.

However, given the reams of emergency preparedness guides already available from a host of government, private and social agencies, the industry could go one better.

Make an emergency preparedness kit the house warming gift of choice for every new household.

The mountain of paperwork that already glazes over the eyes of new home buyers will likely cause them to relegate yet another booklet, pamphlet or brochure to the "read-later" pile -- a pile which often gets read much too much later.

Emergency preparedness is not a "read-later" proposition.

That's where the kits come in.

The kits, by chance or on purpose, appeal to that put-away-for-safekeeping tendency. With a kit it's a tendency that needs only be adjusted to find a safe, protected put-away place that's easily and quickly accessed should disaster hit.

Kits can be as simple as packets containing three days of water and food and a first-aid kit or a more elaborate three-day survival backpack of supplies and equipment.

The key is, to use it, there's nothing to read, nothing to remember, nothing to put off. Put it away and when you need it, it's there, ready to go.

And no one knows emergency preparedness kits like the American Red Cross and its network of international response teams.

Red Cross agencies were at the tip of the spear when relief efforts thrust into the Indian Ocean's tsunami-devastated region. For decades, they've been first on the scene after countless fire storms, hurricanes, snow storms and other disasters, both man made and natural and in times of peace and in times of war, clothing, feeding and providing shelter for those in need.

Delivering survival kits of all kinds is just one of the myriad services the Red Cross provides.

Thousands of tsunami survivors have received ready-to-go hygiene kits with enough soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet tissue, razors, feminine hygiene products and laundry powder to serve a family of five. Kitchen kits with pots, pans, plates, bowls and eating utensils allow Red Cross tsunami shelter residents to prepare and eat the food when they wish and that lets them regain some personal control over their lives.

For $5 to $65, the Red Cross offers four different types of emergency kits and several first aid kits useful for households anywhere, anytime.

From the $5 Safety Tube of water, light, and other items that can be easily stowed in a purse, glovebox or desk drawer to the $65 Red Back Pack Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit containing three days of survival supplies and gear, the kits are unique house warming gifts that serve at least a couple of good causes.

First, along with information about disaster survival and emergency preparedness, every household should have gear they hope they never need to use.

Available from a non-profit agency that is often over-burdened with its calling, Red Cross emergency kits purchased for house warming gifts also appeal to the philanthropic profile of the real estate industry which has always been a major contributor to community and social causes from the March of Dimes to Habitat For Humanity.

"Only 100 percent cash donations come with tax deductions, but any money used to purchase the kits go back to the Red Cross and the price is very competitive. It would be much more expensive if you tried to put the kits together yourself," said Red Cross spokeswoman Amanda Mark.

More than a thoughtful house warming gesture, earmarking a share of contributions to purchase Red Cross emergency kits is a gift that gives back to an organization that always needs help and it's a gift that keeps on giving -- especially when a household needs it most.