Emergency Preparations 101 (Part 2)

So, you think you should start preparing for an emergency "outage" of some proportion. Good for you. The more people who are prepared the better. But don't make a common mistake that many make; trying to do too much too fast. They either get frustrated and quit or think they're all set but find they missed some important basics. Unless you have a lot of extra money to install a bunker/shelter and buy a couple of years worth of food at the drop of the hat, you need to start slow and in phases.

If you haven't already taken the Disaster Preparation Quizzes, do it now. They will help get or keep your preparation juices flowing. They will reinforce what you already know while educating you on things you may not know. It's educational. It's fun.

GET REAL:    [Blog Link]
When a disaster happens, some may feel they will role right into a survivalist mode with ease because they have been doing a lot of planning and prepping. Most likely, the disaster will be sudden and "ease" will not be part of its description. However, it's amazing to see just what we are capable of living through, and of accomplishing, when we depend only on ourselves [with God]. Understanding these "myths" should help to eliminate some assumptions and help to develop a documented plan of action and contingency plans. So, let's take a look at what reality might actually be like:
DON'T STOP BUILDING:
3 days of supplies is the basic preparedness recommendation. It's simple and doesn’t take a lot of money. Start there. When you've planned and saved for 3 days, begin working on plans for 2 weeks which will require you to look a little deeper into things. When you're set for 2 weeks go for a month, then 3 months, then 6 months, etc. Too much is when you begin to overflow all of your (reasonable) storage space. A year's worth of food is a good goal if you have somewhere to put it. Don't waste food/supplies that might expire or can't use because you can't find it; organize and inventory. Use your food/supplies as usual, and replenish what you use, to keep inventory fresh. Do what you can with the space you have and you will be better off than the majority of folks who aren't doing anything. Also consider working with others to increase storage/supplies but be careful who you confide in.

HIGH VALUE ITEMS TO STOCKPILE FOR PERSONAL USE AND BARTERING, BEFORE SHTF

Nonperishable Foods    [List 2]
Over-the-Counter Meds    [List 2]
Immune-Boosting Supplements
Antibiotics
Personal Care Hygiene Supplies    [List 2]
Home Health and Safety
House Cleaning Products
Bartering Items
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Duct Tape
[General List 1]    [General List 2]    [General List 3]    [General List 4]
Stockpiling vs Hoarding

ORGANIZE YOUR PREPS:
Just having preps is not enough. Keeping track of their status and knowing where they are when you actually need it is crucial; not just for you but anyone within your trusted survival network. After all, you may not be around when the SHTF so help them find the supplies.

If you're reading this web page, you probably have some food and water, fuel and ammunition stashed away (somewhere) for an emergency. Do you have enough? Where is it located? When does the next item expire? What is the serial number and cost of some item which got lost or destroyed (for an insurance claim)? Keeping track of it all CAN be done with paper and pencil, but a computer software spreadsheet or database can do it better. As long as the power stays on, that is. Fortunately, any decent database or spreadsheet can print out your inventory after significant changes (it's always good to have a paper copy of all important documents stored on a computer). Remember that this information must be kept confidential so secure and protect it as such.    [Article 1]    [Article 2]    [Article 3]
Organize and Inventory Long Term Food
Itemize Inventory of Your Home Assets for Insurance Purposes
Gather and Safeguard Important & Legal Documents

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
SAS Survival Guide on Amazon   [Video]      Wallet-Size Tiny Survival Guide on Amazon   [Video]

Go To Emergency Preparations, Part 1


Resources:
Emergency Preparations Checklist
When Disaster Strikes - A Emergency Plan Outline

See Also:
Top 8 Deadly Myths About Survivalism
21 Prepper Tips I Wish I’d Heard BEFORE I Started Prepping
How to Prepare for and Economic Collapse
The 11 Cs of an Emergency Kit
10 Products for the Beginning Prepper
10 Useful Items to Survive Catastrophes
Earthquake Safety
After Technology Fails
Survival Beyond Existing
Surviving Where You Are
Winter Storm Preparedness
Camping Check List
Preparing Your Home For Any Natural Disaster
How To Prepare?
Survival Lists and Kits
Weird Survival Tools-Supplies