Getting Ready

Let's talk about getting ready for tough times.  You know, when things like storms or other emergencies hit. Most people rush to buy stuff just before, leaving the shelves empty. We're here to make it easy for you to be ready in advance.  Through our government or agencies like the Red Cross, we have been advised to have 72 hours of food, water, and other supplies (such as medicine and first aid supplies).  The whole idea of being prepared is not to rely on the government infrastructure to take care of us, but to become as self sufficient as possible.  

Being prepared for 72 hours is the standard level of preparedness.  I suspect that the majority of people are not prepared for three days because before an emergency such as a snow storm or hurricane, there is a rush for food, water, gas and toilet paper. Welcome empty shelves and gas lines! Research has shown that the average American household has less than a week's worth of food at home. It also shows that the average American grocery store has less than a week's worth of food in the store. It's easy to see how an emergency creates those empty shelves!  We will utilize checklists to check our current inventory and create a list of the first items we need to purchase to be 72 hours ready.  

We will next strive to have 30 days of supplies on hand.  This can be difficult as some people don't have the space to accommodate larger stockpiles of food, water, and gear. We will focus on a shelter in place survival kit as well as define what everyday carry options are good for our family.  Again, by utilizing checklists, we will determine what items we need to purchase, and prepare a monthly budget so we can do so.  

Now, this is a bit more challenging, but we're taking it slow. We want you to be prepared for 3 months. As we prepare for three months of stockpiling our food, water, and gear, we will also make sure we have a bug out bag and a get home bag for each individual in our family.

The final level of preparedness is going off the grid. This method, sometimes called homesteading, allows you and your family to become as self-sufficient as possible. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans are currently living off the grid.  It is a huge commitment requiring the need to meet the following challenges head-on:  location (where can you go where you are not restricted by the local community rules, such as being hooked up to city water and sewage), an alternative power source (such as solar energy), sourcing food and water, time management as you now have multiple full time jobs, expenses (setting up a homestead is expensive, depending on your level of comfort), and isolation.  Many of these challenges become easier to obtain if you elect to build a community of like-minded people.

Now that I have overwhelmed you, let's take it back to baby steps.

And our first step is we are going to begin our emergency binder.  This definitely needs to be a grab and go binder, so you will want to purchase a sturdy binder that is 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick.  I also like to use dividers to separate sections in my book.  I strongly recommend you use this format, instead of a digital copy, in case of loss of power.  

We will work off and on in our binder throughout 2024.  Our binder will eventually include our lists of stockpiled inventory as well as additional items we wish to purchase.  

One last thing before we begin our binders.  This book, in the wrong hands, will have devastating challenges for you and your family.  My best advice is not to call your binder your emergency binder or your grab and go binder.  You've just made it very easy for someone with ill intentions to have all your information.  It is unlikely that a thief would take a notebook called "Bible Study Notes," "Family Vacation," or "My Favorite Memories."  Name your binder something less appealing.   So begin thinking about what you are going to name your book.  

One more quick "homework" assignment!  Write down what your family typically eats for dinner during the week.  That's it....you don't have to share it or do anything with this information for now, just note what you typically eat.  

And that's it for this week!  Next week, we will begin adding pages to our binder as well as begin to discuss what we need to have stockpiled to meet our first level of preparedness - 72 hours worth of supplies.