In the business of emergency planning and disaster preparedness, we have a saying, “every disaster is local”. It’s unlikely that you, as an average citizen, can do much to prevent a major catastrophe, regardless of its nature. I’ve often said, “a hurricane is the only disaster that you can see coming.” That said, I never cease to be amazed at how many people see them coming, yet still do nothing to prepare themselves.
Don’t be that kind of person.
If we can agree that none of us knows exactly “what” the next major crisis will be, nor “when” that crisis might occur, let’s also agree that taking at least basic steps toward preparedness is a good thing.
“I’m not worried. If the shit hits the fan, FEMA will be there to help!” I’ve heard it a thousand times, and I say for the thousandth and first time: BULLSHIT!
FEMA is NOT a rescue agency. Period. Whatever the bad thing is from a major snowstorm to a hurricane, an earthquake to a terrorist attack, a massive power outage to a pandemic — YOU need to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family. It is your responsibility and no one else’s.
If only one person who reads these words actually acts upon them, I will have done my duty to humanity. That one person will be better prepared to SURVIVE.
Let’s start from the basics: you need a personal and/or family emergency preparedness plan. It is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your family during natural disasters, pandemics, power outages, or other emergency situations. There are great resources for developing such a plan, which I’ll direct you to, but I am also providing a solid framework, right here.
This plan outlines steps to take, supplies to gather, and resources to consult to be better prepared for a variety of emergencies, regardless of their nature.
Most of this comes from publicly available sources. Some of the guidance is based on my first-hand, boots-in-the-mud experience, gained through living through some of the largest and most impactful disasters of our lifetime.
Supplies and Materials
Based on recommendations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), American Red Cross, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following supplies should be included in your emergency preparedness kit:
• Water: At least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days (Minyard recommends at least one week!)
o Take this one further. Water, as you know, is the elixir of life. Consider investing in a Berkey water filtration system. It requires no power and will make pure water from virtually any source.
o If that doesn’t work for you, at least invest in several Life Straws. They offer similar filtration.
• Food: A minimum of a three-day supply of nonperishable food items for each person (FEMA). Minyard says, think ahead!
o In most situations, three days could be enough. I’ve seen much, much longer. Consider investing in easy to store, long lasting emergency food, such as available from 4Patriots.
• First aid kit: Bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, pain relievers, and a digital thermometer (American Red Cross)
o Consider the long term. Take a first aid course and a CPR / AED course. Invest in an AED.
o Get a real medical kit. Look at products from MFASCO or Dark Angel.
• Medications and medical supplies: A seven-day supply of prescription medications, as well as nonprescription medications such as pain relievers, antacids, and allergy medications (CDC). Seven days of medicine but only three days of water? Hmmm…
o Minyard says consider more of your prescription meds. The other stuff will be in the kits I recommended, but verify that you have enough for everyone for at least a few weeks.
• Personal hygiene items: Toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and diapers if necessary (CDC).
o Remember 2020? Stock up before you need it. No need to horde more than you need, but have enough on hand to weather the initial rush. You’ve already seen how things can go.
• Clothing and bedding: A change of clothing for each person, including warm layers, sturdy shoes, and rain gear, as well as blankets or sleeping bags (FEMA).
o Have several resilient, easy to wash items.
• Tools and equipment: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights, extra batteries, a multi-purpose tool, a manual can opener, and a whistle (FEMA).
o Consider investing in rechargeable batteries and a solar battery charger
o Knives – more than one, for different purposes
o Solar garden lights. Charge them all day and use then at night. Darkness sucks in a disaster. Light is your friend.
• Communication and documentation: A fully charged cell phone with a backup power source, a list of emergency contact numbers, and copies of important documents such as passports, driver’s licenses, and insurance policies in a waterproof container (FEMA).
o If the cell towers remain operational, that is. I’ve personally lived through situations wherein cell service was virtually nonexistent for over a month or longer. If you can afford to do so, consider investing in an iridium satphone solution. They aren’t cheap but could save your life.
• Cash and coins: A small amount of cash and coins for emergency use, as ATMs and credit card machines may be unavailable during disasters (CDC)
o In most cases, these machines will be useless. Cash is king.
o Bartering has saved me on several occasions. Even if you don’t smoke, tobacco is valuable for trading. As is alcohol, chocolate, gold, and small caliber ammunition.
• Pet supplies: Food, water, medications, and a carrier or leash for each pet, as well as vaccination records and contact information for your veterinarian (FEMA).
• Firearms: I recognize that this is a touchy subject for some, but it needs to be mentioned here. I’m not talking about “assault weapons” (whatever that means). I’m talking about firearms for self-defense and for hunting.
o Like it or not, you may need a weapon. If you do choose to arm yourself, get ahead of the game – get some proper training! I’m a strong proponent of gun owners knowing what they’re doing. Even driver’s licenses have to be renewed, after all.
Handguns: Don’t get more than you can handle. Taking a good training course will help you to figure out what that means.
Long guns: You do not need an AR-15 or AK-47 for home defense. Sure, they’re cool and all, but a better option is a well-made .12-gauge pump shotgun. Few things will cause a bad actor to break out in a cold sweat like the sound of racking a shell into a shotgun. Bonus: you can hunt with it, too!
Small caliber rifle: a good .22 rifle will be a great addition to the kit. Small game is easier to find than big game.
Plenty of ammo: for shooting and for bartering
• Backup power: Without electricity, your world will deteriorate quickly. Plan ahead. If you can, consider alternatives to fossil-fuel generators, such as solar. At minimum, consider systems such as the ones listed below, from GoalZero or Renogy. Gas-operated generators are also a good choice as long as you have a reserve of fuel and follow all the appropriate safety guidelines. A whole-house solution is the best solution, regardless of whether you choose solar or fossil-fuel systems. An automatic transfer switch isn’t required, but certainly advisable.
o GoalZero — https://www.goalzero.com/pages/home-energy-storage
o Renogy — https://www.renogy.com/applications/home/
Emergency Plan
• Create a communication plan, including designated meeting spots and emergency contact numbers.
• Establish evacuation routes and practice them with your family.
o Make sure that every family member has a “Get Home” bag in their vehicles at all times!
o A Get Home bag is a short-term survival kit, typically stored in a backpack for ease of transport. Its function is to provide you with the basic tools of life should you have to evacuate a home or place of work quickly during an emergency, like a large-scale natural disaster.
• Learn about local hazards and emergency plans for your community.
• Teach family members how to shut off utilities such as gas, water, and electricity.
• Make sure all family members know how to call 911 and when to use it.
• Regularly review and update your emergency preparedness plan.
References
FEMA (2021). Build a Kit. Retrieved from https://www.ready.gov/kit
American Red Cross (2021). First Aid Kit. Retrieved from https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html
CDC (2021). Personal Needs. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/planforpoweroutage.html
To further enhance your family’s preparedness for emergencies, it’s beneficial to study prepper handbooks and survivalist guides. These resources cover a wide range of topics, from off-grid living to self-sufficiency during prolonged power outages. Here’s a list of reputable handbooks and guides to consider:
• “The Prepper’s Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster” by Bernie Carr This guide offers practical tips and checklists for preparing your home and family for various emergency scenarios.
• “SAS Survival Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere” by John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman This comprehensive guide, written by a former SAS soldier, covers essential survival skills and techniques to help you in any situation.
• “The Disaster Preparedness Handbook: A Guide for Families” by Arthur T. Bradley, Ph.D. This handbook provides a step-by-step approach to creating a customized disaster preparedness plan for your family.
• “When the Grid Goes Down: Disaster Preparations and Survival Gear for Making Your Home Self-Reliant” by Tony Nester This book focuses on how to make your home self-reliant during a prolonged power outage, including alternative energy sources, food storage, and water purification.
• “The Encyclopedia of Country Living: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself” by Carla Emery This extensive guide covers various aspects of self-sufficient living, from gardening and animal husbandry to preserving food and handcrafting household items.
• “The Off-Grid Solar Handbook: A Beginner’s Guide to Energy Independence” by Joseph Burdick and Philip Schmidt This guide provides an introduction to off-grid solar power systems, explaining how to design, install, and maintain a solar-powered electrical system for your home.
• “Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival” by Dave Canterbury This guide offers practical advice on essential outdoor survival skills, such as fire-making, shelter-building, and navigation.
• “The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants” by Samuel Thayer This book teaches you how to identify, harvest, and prepare edible wild plants, increasing your self-sufficiency during emergencies.
Remember to carefully review and evaluate the information provided in these guides, adapting their recommendations to your family’s specific needs and circumstances. Regularly practicing survival skills and discussing your emergency preparedness plan with your family will help ensure that you are ready for any situation that may arise.
The most important tip I can give you is: PAY ATTENTION! Many situations are predictable. Along with paying attention, be prepared to ACT when things get dicey. In her book The Unthinkable – Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why, Amanda Ripley reveals how human fear circuits and crowd dynamics work, why our instincts sometimes misfire in modern calamities and how we can prepare for inevitable calamities more intelligently.
Lastly, DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT! I started this novel with the following statement:
Complacency. It’s so comfortable. And so easy to accept. It’s always there, lurking in the shadows of great successes and long periods of boredom. And complacency is not your friend.
I don’t have room to post links to the obituaries of every person killed because they were complacent. Don’t be one of those people.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Without you, writing would not be nearly as satisfying.
Stay prepared!
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