Are you prepared: The Basics

Photo courtesy of thesleuthjournal.com

If you were to ask 10 random people the question “are you prepared,” I would be willing to wager that 9 of them would say “for what?” What are you prepared for? Why should you prepare? These are all questions you have to ask yourself.

Why should you prepare?

There are dozens of disasters that could strike at any given moment and turn everyday life upside down. Natural disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, landslides, or tsunamis could all strike depending on where you live. But nature isn’t the only thing you have to be worried about. Financial collapses, biological warfare, nuclear warfare, civil unrest, riots, and terrorism are all things that could potentially also happen at any given time.

None of these things are guaranteed to happen. But some of them are fairly likely. And if they do happen, there is no guaranteed timetable as to when they will strike. A massive earthquake could strike 10 days or 10 years from now or any other time. You can’t predict that sort of thing. So should you be afraid of it? Yes. Look at what earthquakes have done to different countries like Haiti in 2010 or Japan in 2012, or even Los Angeles in 1994 or San Francisco in 1906. They level cities and take thousands of lives. What is the best way to make sure your life isn’t one of the ones taken?

Be prepared.

What are you prepared for?

Once you have decided that it’s a good idea to get prepared, you should evaluate what are the most likely disasters to affect you. If you live in the mountains or anywhere inland, obviously you don’t have to worry about a tsunami. Some regions like the Sierra Nevadas will never have to worry about tornadoes because it is physically impossible for them to form there. But if you live in the Midwest, you know you have to be ready for a tornado. If you live in California, you know you have to be ready for earthquakes.

These are just the basics. Read more and research to be fully prepared.
Photo courtesy of Guide to Prepping on YouTube

For earthquakes you should make sure heavy objects are strapped to the wall and breakable valuables are securely stored. If you live in a region that is prone to fires, learn your evacuation route, clean the area surrounding your house of pine needles and dry debris that will lead to your house going up in flames. If you live in an area prone to floods, don’t store your electronics on the ground. These are just basic tips and you should look up more extensive guidelines to show you how to prepare your home for the region you live in.

However, everyone should have some of the same basic emergency preparedness items and training. These include: a Bug Out Bag, two weeks’ worth of food and water, supplies to stay warm, a portable toilet, a first aid kit, a good flashlight, a good knife (or defense tool), and a plan. All of these are available at reasonable prices at www.prepandsave.com.

A bug out bag is a backpack filled with stuff you will need to survive in the wild or on the go for a while. It should have a sleeping bag, tent, Firestarter, emergency food, water filter, multi-tool, flashlight, and paracord in it, among other things. It can have a lot more depending on the size and weight. This is a bag designed for you to grab and go during an emergency, so you can survive if you need to get out of dodge. This is a good bug out bag to start out with and add to- http://www.prepandsave.com/emergency-gear/pre-packaged-kits/bug-out-bags/vehicle-endure-b-o-b.html. This one has most everything you'll need but is quite a bit more expensive- http://www.prepandsave.com/emergency-gear/pre-packaged-kits/bug-out-bags/complete-home-bug-out-bag.html

A bug out bag should be big enough to fit everything you need,
but light enough to be comfortable while hiking.
Photo courtesy of  survivortown.com

However, if this is not an emergency where you need to leave your house, then I would recommend that you stay there, because it provides a good source of shelter and heat. I recommend that you stock it up with at least two weeks’ worth of food and water. FEMA only recommends 3 days, but most emergencies will probably last longer than that. Two weeks is a good starting point. Ideally, we would recommend three months. But that is something you can build up to.

In the summer, you don’t really have to worry about staying warm. However, in the winter, nighttime temperatures can drop to the single digits or below, depending on where you live. If there is no power to heat your home, you will have to stay warm in different ways. A Mylar blanket is a good thing to have, as it reflects 90% of your body heat. You should also have a Firestarter and a place you can safely have a fire in or around your home. Grab one of these at- http://www.prepandsave.com/prep-and-save-fire-starter-kit.html

In an emergency, there is a good chance the water won’t work, and you won’t be able to flush the toilet. In which case, you should not use the toilet at all, not even for urine. Not being able to flush will cause an unbearable stench if the toilet is still used. Therefore you should have a portable toilet which uses trash bags to contain the waste and chemical powder to break it down and contain the smell. You should also stock up on as much toilet paper as you have room/a budget for. Toilet paper is cheap today, but it will be priceless during an emergency. Grab one of these- http://www.prepandsave.com/port-a-potty-honey-bucket-w-lid.html and several of these- http://www.prepandsave.com/disposable-travel-toilet.html

A good flashlight will help you see what you’re doing in the night if the powers out. It can show you where you’re going or be used as a defense tool to blind an attacker or hit them if they come to close. Speaking of defense tools, a good knife is imperative to protect yourself. It can also be used as an everyday tool to cut things. I recommend one of these- http://www.prepandsave.com/bear-grylls-ultimate-fixed-straight-edge-blade-knife.html

A checklist of what you have will help you get prepared.
Photo courtesy of patimes.org

The most important thing of all though is not something you can buy from us, nor is it something you can hold in your hand, it’s a plan. Planning is half the battle. Research and learn about different disasters and which ones are likely to affect you. Organize and write down what you have in your home already and what you still need to get. Talk to your family, plan for a place to meet up in case of an emergency, plan a route to take if you need to leave your home. If you have nothing else, at least you will have a plan to guide you through an emergency.

After getting all these things, you can confidently answer the question “are you prepared,” with a bold “yes I am.”
Check out www.prepandsave.com for more info and great products!