Basic Preparedness: For Normal People Too

Bad things only happen to other people in other places, right? You know, like the places you see on the news, but not in places like your neighborhood and certainly on your street. Right? If it something did happen on your street all you have to do is call 911 and someone will swoop in and save you. Right?

Well, no, not really. And if you think it is super-duper hard or super-duper expensive then, I’m sorry, that’s not really true either. It is, however, a little more difficult and a little more expensive than avoiding preparedness. So, let’s assume the person reading this is interested and willing to be just a little more prepared than many others. And let’s assume that person is preparing a family of four for a mild to moderate disaster.

First, for the sake of argument, a mild disaster is something that lasts 1–2 days and a moderate disaster is one that lasts 3–5 days after which everything returns to complete normalcy. That way we are all on the same page. Secondly, we will begin as if we are talking to someone who is 0% prepared. Finally, we do not claim this will save your life or some other person’s life simply because you have read this, but that if you commit to becoming prepared for disaster then your odds have improved.

Step one: First-Aid. Take a CPR & First Aid class with the American Red Cross. Afterwards, go to your favorite one-buck or overstock store and purchase some basic first aid items. Some things your learned about in your class. Gauze, bandages, tape, antiseptic wipes, etc. It will cost very little if you shop at those places.

Step two: Water. If you do nothing else written here, you must have water stockpiled. You need at least one gallon per person per day for drinking. In this case we are talking 8 to 20 gallons. You can either by that quantity in drinking bottles or in one-gallon jugs. It will be less expensive to purchase 5-gallon containers like what you see in office water coolers. It is a good idea to have water for sanitation too. Without going into too much detail, if the sewer service stops you can flush the toilet by pouring water into the toilet bowl. But you don’t want to use your drinking water for that. My recommendation is to purchase five or six 5-gallon buckets & lids at Wally-world for $4 each and fill them with tap water and set them aside for that purpose. Eventually you might want to look into an emergency water filter, but you won’t be able to get that at the one-buck store.

Step three: Food. A lot of people think emergency food storage means having half a ton of rice, dry beans, and oatmeal. Nothing is further from the truth. Actually, I’m telling you right now do not buy any of that stuff. If there is no electricity how would you cook that stuff? Maybe on your BBQ grill. If you live in an apartment that may not even be an option. Think canned goods. Stuff you can eat without cooking. Even if it would be your preference to eat it hot, consider it if you could eat it cold. Things like canned chicken and/or tuna, canned pastas, canned veggies, canned beans, canned potatoes. You get the idea. A good beginning goal is to have four cans of food per person per day; 8–20 cans. Oh, and, remember you need a manual can opener.

You need a place to put all that stuff. I get it. I really do. You may not have much room where you live even if you do have the time and the money to collect all that. That is a legitimate argument. If it happens that you truly cannot follow these three steps for one reason or another then you absolutely must have a bug-out bag. But that is a topic for another article. Take care, y’all, and God bless.

De oppresso liber

Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked. [Psalm 82:3–4]