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.QUIZ YOURSELF: Are You Prepared for a Disaster?
GET REAL:
- It’s NOT just like camping
- You CAN'T buy enough food and supplies to last forever
- Your neighbors will NOT gather around and help each other when things go bad
- "Gadgets" are a waste of money you need for real preparations. Gadgets break and you will have to learn to live without them anyway.
- There's a very good chance you may NOT get to your survival location when things go bad
- You CAN'T convince your "significant other" this is a good idea
- You DO need to prepare a special place to go (near or far) - just in case you can't get home or your home is uninhabitable
- Your kids will NOT be bored. They will learn so many new ways of living, so many daily activities and chores, connecting with nature in so many new ways, they won’t have time to be bored. Allow them the freedom to discover things like what bugs are in the grass around your home, what plants to grow for food or medicine, what wildlife is still abundant on this beautiful land. If your attitude is one of wonder and not worry, so will theirs be. Help them look at this as an adventure, not a burden.
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. Don't forget about situations where you or a member of your family/group, might not be at home when disaster strikes. Also consider working with others but be careful who you confide in.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
- Vehicles should always be in good condition and ready for an emergency evacuation. Inspect them frequently. Follow owner's manual for guidance. At a minimum: good tires, fresh and topped-off fluids, good brakes, good battery. Avoid letting the fuel tank get below 1/2 empty.
- Rotate and re-treat stored gasoline
- Store electronics in a Faraday "Cage"
- Keep food and water storage stocked and fresh
- Don't evacuate on a whim. Stay informed for accurate information on the current status of an emergency event. Be ready but don't do things to risk your job/livelihood.
- If an emergency enters a crisis mode, some societal groups might see that as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Their intentions might range from settling old scores to opportunistic looting of homes and/or stores. Be alert, be ready.
- Extra Clothes can help everyone stay warm, clean and comfortable but can also be used for rags and bandages.
- Dust Masks
help to filter contaminated air (dust, gas, etc.)
- An overstock of supplies can be used to barter for those things you do not have but need/want
- Attend Church regularly, attend to your duties, say your prayers, tend to your family, stay right with God.
Go To Emergency Preparations, Part 1
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 10 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