Prepping For Basic Emergencies

January 27, 2017 By ParkerMama 9 Comments

Prepping for basic emergencies doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be a huge expense. I work with many people who immediately get that dear in the headlights look when the topic is preparing families for emergencies.

Prepping for basic emergencies can be as easy as taking a trip to your local grocery or big box store.

Let There Be Light

Nobody likes to be stuck in the dark. These items are inexpensive and will make getting through an emergency a much safer experience.

*this post contains affiliate links

Flashlights

Batteries

Light Sticks (Ultra Bright)

LED Solar Lights

Water. And More Water.

Water is your friend, boys and girls. Make sure you have 1 gallon of water per person per day. More if you are hoping to flush toilets, or brush your teeth.

I’d suggest a LifeStraw water filter that can easily fit into a backpack.

Ready to eat, shelf stable foods.

Quick and easy is the name of the game. Peanut butter. Crackers. Those ready to eat packets of tuna. Again, things you can pick up a little at a time each time you make a grocery run.

As a BIG fan of Freeze Dried Meals in emergency situations, the Mountain House Just in Case Essential Bucket is one of my favorites. Unlike many other buckets of this kind, Mountain House has put together a trio that even my kids will eat. You’ll need a way to heat water to add to these meals. Don’t forget the matches!

Toilet Paper

Don’t be stuck spraying your sweet patoot clean with a honey bear filled with cold water unless the apocalypse really is in full swing. Until then stock up on the TP.

After Hurricane Harvey, toilet paper was listed as one of the 6 most sought after items. Hurricane survivors underestimated how much toilet paper they needed to make it through the aftermath. Toilet paper is used every day and when it runs out, things can get disgusting……quickly.

Magical Miracle Tape

Duct tape is truly the stuff miracles are made of. In case you need some inspiration check out our post on this glorious product.

Black Contractor Bags

Not garbage bags. Not leaf bags. On the box it will state CONTRACTOR bags. Those are what you want. Exactly WHAT will you use these for? Here’s a few ideas:

Ground Cover.
Poncho
Line a 5 gallon bucket with a contractor bag for an emergency potty.
Cover broken or blown out windows after an earthquake.

Here are more ways to use these versatile bags.

Over The Counter Medications and Prescriptions

Aspirins. Allergy Medication. Cough Syrup. Prescription medications. I have a week’s worth of medications sorted by day in one of these handy little travel pill organizers. In an emergency you want to make things as simple as possible.

Basic First Aid Kit

Chances are you’re not a doctor, nor do you play one on T.V. You aren’t going to be performing a tracheotomy or needing to crack someone’s chest to massage their heart. A basic First Aid Kit will serve you well.

Breathe Easy

There is a good chance that during or after an emergency event the air quality may be less than stellar.

N95 Respiratory Masks will protect you from dust, allergens and other forms of air pollution.

We’ve broken down the respiratory mask code to help you decide which mask will best protect your family.

Odds and Ends

Have some cash on hand, with small bills being best.
Make copies of all important papers and include them in your basic emergency kit.
Include a change of clothes and good, sturdy shoes

Taking Prepping to a Higher Level

Can you take preparedness to a higher level? Of course! Most people start with the basics, get the bug, so to say, and then continue to grow their preparedness goals. The point is that you don’t have to jump onto the Expert Level to make sure your family can make it through a rough time. And every thing listed above can be purchased either at your grocery store or a big box store, on sale, and often with coupons.

Don’t panic.

Start simply. Pick up a few items each time you get paid. Sell some of your stuff that you are no longer using, and put that money towards a prepping goal. Put your foundation in place and then work to meet your personal preparedness goals.

Self sufficiency is a mind set, an every day way of thinking. It’s a journey to a simpler, less worry filled life.

Where are YOU in your emergency preparedness goals? How can I help you achieve those goals?

Are You Preparing For December 21?

December 17, 2012 By Barb Leave a Comment

The much discussed Mayan end of the world prediction date of 12/21/12 is just a few days. Are you preparing for December 21 any differently than you normally prep? Have you felt an urgency to step up your prepping regime in anticipation for Friday? Or are you just starting to think that perhaps prepper’s aren’t so crazy and you better get stocked up in the next 4 days?

Even with such assurances from NASA many people are feeling uneasy with the date fast approaching.

Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.

Answer (A):The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Preppers by and large view this as another Y2K. The real threat of the day will probably occur from people acting crazy and wanting to make something of the day. I am not worried a meteor will end the world but I am concerned that some idiot will choose it as a great day to wreak more havoc and evil on the world. It’s certainly not unthinkable that local man-made havoc will occur. We are not I hiding in our bunker but I also am not planning to go to crowded places that I don’t need to be. That just makes sense to me.

I don’t need to prep for Friday because I am by and large prepped for something to happen on any given day. But if the Mayans have pushed you to freak out and start preparing for December 21 I am so happy to have the excuse to get you here! Not specifically to my site, but to the preparedness movement that is underway!

This site focuses on prepping out of the panic and fear and getting you to a place where a silly date on the calendar doesn’t stress you out. Here is where I suggest beginning preppers start:

I must say I have had some uneasy feelings lately more than usual. It has made me consider plans for more long term sustainability. I can’t say why that it is but it has stirred some more plans and preps for longer term water storage and the ability to grow more food. Maybe its the Mayans reaching out from the past to remind us that there is no way we can continue on the path we are on. Or maybe its just my feelings about the political and fiscal unrest happening not only in the US but most of the world. Whatever it is, I am grateful for the reminders that prepping is an important part of my lifestyle and something we need to be constantly vigilant about.

What Is Self Reliance?

October 23, 2012 By Barb Leave a Comment

Self reliance is the ability to provide for you and your families basic needs without outside help. Sadly, most American families rely so heavily on outside factors that they could not be self reliant for more than a few days if need be.

The phrase “The First 72 Is Up To You” is a common slogan used by government agencies when encouraging families to be able to sustain their families for the first three days of an emergency. It is a great spring board for families to start on a road to self reliance. But that is all it is, a great place to start. Being self reliant for longer than that takes a commitment to “prepping”.

For some reason, “prepping” conjures up thoughts of bomb shelters, LDS storage rooms, full solar systems and homesteading farms. Prepping in reality is just planning for longer periods of self reliance. If you are fully prepared with all the water, medical supplies, food, lighting, heating/cooling, and security for 3 days, guess what? You are already a prepper!

The goal should be for every family first to meet the minimum requirements to sustain themselves unaided for at least 3 days. If you can’t confidently say that your family could survive in your home for 72 hours without running water or electricity you need to stop what you are doing NOW and watch this video from FEMA.

While the road to self reliance starts with the above basics it is a long and windy road that never really ends. The more families that are prepared to take care of themselves for the longest amounts of time possible, the less scary our society will be for us all in disaster situation.

The following is an emergency preparedness checklist provided by Ready.gov. Click on the link for a printable version.

Family Supply List

Emergency Supplies:
Water, food, and clean air are important things to have if an emergency happens. Each family or individual’s kit should be customized to meet specific needs, such as medications and infant formula. It should also be customized to include important family documents.

Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:
– Water, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. I have done a lot of the drinking water supply calculations for you.
– Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
– Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
– Flashlight and extra batteries
– First Aid kit
– Whistle to signal for help
– Infant formula and diapers, if you have an infant
– Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
– Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air
– Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
– Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. Make sure you know how to drain your water heater.
– Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

Clothing and Bedding:
If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes. One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:
– A jacket or coat
– Long pants
– A long sleeve shirt
– Sturdy shoes
– A hat and gloves
– A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its supply kit. Some of these items, especially those marked with a * can be dangerous, so please have an adult collect these supplies.
– Emergency reference materials such as a first aid book or a print out of the information on www.ready.gov
– Rain gear
– Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
– Cash or traveler’s checks, change
– Paper towels
– Fire Extinguisher
– Tent
– Compass
– Matches in a waterproof container*
– Signal flare*
– Paper, pencil
– Personal hygiene items including feminine supplies
– Disinfectant*
– Household chlorine bleach* – You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
– Medicine dropper
– Important Family Documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container