We suggest storing enough drinking water so that each person has access to 2 gallons per day for at least 30 days. There are other disasters that fall in extremes, such as an asteroid impact or a gamma-ray burst, but they are statistically unlikely and no amount of preparedness would likely make a difference anyway. If it's the end of the world as we know it, running out of toilet paper will be the least of our problems. In the general category of disasters, natural disasters are statistically more common and, with rare exceptions, such as a global pandemic, are usually localized.
What that means is that resources are often still available, although not so much at the local level. The current pandemic is a good example. While there have been shortages of some items locally, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, you can still buy just about anything from outside sources. This covers a wide range of considerations, from toilet paper to cleaning supplies.
It is a category that has shown direct evidence of the effect that scarcity can have as a result of a disaster such as a global pandemic. There is a possibility that trade will be radically altered by a long-term disaster. Conventional sales and the use of credit cards and even cash can be compromised. In a barter economy, there are certain barter items that have more value than others.
Bullets and gold coins are the standard assumption, but in some cases, tampons and infant Tylenol may have more value. There are a few basics that are universal for every prep list. These include water, food, and medicines. Almost everything else will change depending on your circumstances and what you're preparing for.
Not everyone has the same risk assessment or threat model. If you simply start preparing without thinking about what you are preparing for, you are preparing to face someone else's crisis. These are considered the two big milestones for most coaches. If you're just starting out, you should look to put together a preparedness checklist that will last you through a 72-hour crisis.
This includes enough food, water and medical supplies for you and your family to last 3 days. A two-week prep list is where things start to get a little more serious. As we have seen in recent history, some crisis situations can last much longer than 3 days. This means you want to be prepared for up to two weeks of difficult situations.
It's two weeks of food, two weeks of water, and enough of everything you need for you and your family to last 14 days. The next time you go shopping for food, use the “one for now, two for later” rule with canned goods. You can also start tracking your daily meals to start developing your preparation plan. Like water, food is a necessity for life that we cannot do without.
While water is a much more vital resource, you still can't go weeks without eating. You'll need some food reserves for an extended period of survival. How you prepare the foods on your checklist depends on your needs. A family with young children will have a different food preparation list than a single person.
Keep in mind that you're going to need more food than you think. One of the most important things you can do ahead of time is to encourage discipline with your food. This doesn't mean forcing yourself to ration every day, but it does mean being comfortable with abstention to preserve your food reserves. Accumulating two weeks of food is not good if you only eat it in five days.
Here are some items to prepare you for a minimum 3-day food supply. Things like food and water are going to be a must for everyone. You'll need a plan to maintain your water and food supply for as long as you expect a crisis situation to last. This can consist of building up a supply of food and water or learning to use water purification systems and growing or hunting your own food.
This is how you can store water for years. All you need to do is store the water in a food-safe container and add a few drops of household chlorine bleach. This will ensure that the water can last for at least several years. The Food and Drug Administration does not require that bottled water have an expiration date.
However, this does not mean that bottled water can last indefinitely. There's an almost endless supply of food that's great for storing. The biggest requirement here is that you opt for foods that have a long shelf life. Dry and canned foods are some of the best options.
Broad categories, such as “canned food” and “dry food”, are a good starting point, but sometimes specific details are needed. These are some of the foods that you should consider essential in your survival reserve. There are some basic elements that every coach should have. This includes water, non-perishable foods, and medicines.
However, there are some items that are outside of the things you can store and that every prepper needs to have. You may have some items to help you find or create a shelter, such as tents and emergency blankets, but your preparedness plan should consider appropriate housing. Exposure to the elements can cause serious physical danger, even if you have all the food and water in the world. Most foods can spoil even if stored properly, but there are some types of food that have an almost eternal shelf life.
These are considered essential by preparers because, if properly stored, they will never go bad. Here are some foods you can store that can last in any crisis situation. Your 3-month food supply may be different from another preparer. You'll want to build up a food reserve that will last you through a crisis that lasts three months.
This means slowly adding to your current pantry until you can endure an extended period of time without having access to a reliable food source. A key takeaway here is to store the food you're going to eat. Think about what you eat regularly and find ways to incorporate those flavors and foods into your 3-month food supply. The same goes for everyone in your family.
You can start increasing your food supply for 3 months by buying a little more here and there. If you're a big fan of rice, for example, buy a few extra pounds the next time you go shopping. You can even use a spreadsheet or diary to track your 3-month food supply and anticipate any shortages. Cover the basics first, such as water, food, and medicines.
After that, move up your hierarchy of needs. Don't forget clothing, equipment designed for specific hazards, and some entertainment to keep you sane while you survive. Not only is your location important when it comes to assessing potential disasters, but it also affects your lifestyle and the supplies you need to stay in that environment. Some old-school trainers followed the Lone Wolf mentality too much, where they kept everything secret and assumed that they would cross the wastelands alone with their shotgun and faithful dog while everything else collapses around them.
But GHB also serves as your only source of supplies if the nature of the emergency means you can't (or shouldn't) try to get home. Since the bag is always kept at home, if something happens in the house or you take shelter in place during a longer emergency, the supplies in the travel bag can be used if needed. The government website currently says: “Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies that last at least 72 hours. Since you don't know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and car.
Until recently, emergency preparedness guidelines typically recommended having 72 hours of supplies. This may seem like an unnecessary consideration and most homes have sufficient supplies for bedding and sleeping arrangements, but disasters often create a new challenge when it comes to sleeping arrangements. The following books do a good job of identifying the supplies you need and introducing the skills you need to learn. Once you take a look at the basics, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors.
The type of disaster you're preparing for will also shape the way you draw up your full preparedness list. When you gather your own supplies, there are bound to be things you want to add to the list, but the above items are a good start in the right direction. If you take a step back and look at the trends that accompany most disasters, it's easier to narrow down the range of supplies you need to have on hand. Another recommendation that often comes up is a 2-week deadline for survival supplies and equipment.
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