50 Things You Need for Disaster Clean Up

While most people prepare for actual disasters (food, water, supplies, etc), they often forget to prepare for after the disaster.  This usually involves a copious amount of clean up--and a need for clean-up supplies just when everyone else in the area is hitting up Walmart and Home Depot because they didn't prepare for the clean-up part either.  Here are the basic items to have on hand to clean up after a disaster...

1. Steel-toed work books with puncture-resistant insoles
2. Rubber boots
3. Gloves: nitrile gloves, rubber kitchen gloves, leather work gloves
4. Face mask: N95 masks, respirator with extra cartridges
5. Safety goggles
6. Baseball cap or other head covering
7. Hardhat
8. Disposable PPEs/coveralls
9. Duct tape
10. Garbage bags: small, medium, and large
11. 5 gallon buckets
12. Large trashcans
13. Paper towels
14. Bleach
15. Household cleaner (never mix this with bleach)
16. Rags/sponges/scouring pads
17. Scrub brushes
18. Broom and dustpan
19. Mop
20. Wet/dry shop vac
21. Shovel
22. Rake
23. Wheelbarrow
24. Cutting tools: utility knife, tin snips, bolt cutters, scissors
25. Basic tools: hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc
26. Repair materials: screws, nails, zipties, staple gun, etc
27. Water/gas shut-off tool
28. Prybar
29. Saw/chainsaw/ax
30. Sledgehammer
31. Rope
32. Tarps/plastic sheeting
33. Cordless power tools with extra batteries: screwdriver, drill, circular saw, etc
34. Flashlights, headlamps, lanterns
35. Ladders
36. Wench/come-along
37. Plywood/assorted framing material
38. Power source: generator, battery bank, etc.
39. Garden hoses
40. Extension cords
41. Fans/portable heaters
42. Caution tape/high-viz safety vest
43. Sanitizing supplies: wet wipes, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, etc
44. Earplugs
45. Spare: gas, batteries, propane if using a propane heater, etc.
46. First aid kit
47. Knee pads
48. Sharpies
49. Worksite amenities: Port A Potty, tent/other shelter, sleeping bags, personal protection (gun, Mace, etc), camp stove, etc.
50. Personal care items: food, water, sunblock, cell battery bank, change of clothing, cash, battery powered radio, etc

And some cautionary notes:

• Do not start clean-up until you have thoroughly documented the damage and have the go-ahead from your insurance company which may want to send an adjuster before any clean-up has started.
• Do know how to safely clean up after a disaster (study this topic BEFORE you need the information).

When Disaster Strikes

If you are in the US check your local PBS station for a new series called 'When Disaster Strikes'.  The show gives an interesting overview of how the international response is managed when a major disaster strikes a region.  Some things I learned from the first episode: the UN uses disaster response 'clusters' to divide up the responsibilities of major disasters, Team Rubicon is one of the major response organizations from the US, and there are several recipes online for the energy biscuits they were using to keep people from starving right after the disaster.  Check it out!

5 Things to Prepare for Now

2020 isn't over yet and if there is anything we have learned from this year so far, it is to be prepared--even more prepared than usual.  It's also been a pretty crappy year and the crappiness seems like it is set to continue.  Here are five things to be prepared for in the coming months:

1. Winter storms.  It isn't if but when winter storms will pummel most of the country.  The east coast got a preview of what can happen recently when a powerful storm hit and took out power for millions for days on end.
2. Civil unrest.  Again, we got a preview of what could happen with all of the BLM protests and take-overs of sections of cities during the past couple months.  With the elections coming up, plan on fairly dramatic civil unrest events no matter who wins the election.
3. Illness.  Covid is already here and doesn't look like it will be going away for a while; add the upcoming flu season on top of the coronavirus and things could go to hell in a handbasket fairly quickly.
4. Poverty + mass evictions + food shortages + mass job losses.  With eviction moratoriums ending soon, state and federal government which isn't providing adequate financial support to its citizens, many many people with no jobs to go back to, and rumbles of food shortages...this fall may culminate in misery for many.  Prepare accordingly.
5. A noticeable lack of services usually provided by your state's government.  School--and its funding--is already up in the air due to covid, many state unemployment systems are running out of funds, defunding police either due to lack of money or lack of political will to, you know, fund a very necessary service...and the term "fend for yourself" may develop a whole new meaning over the next several months.  Again, prepare accordingly.

100 Super Cheap Preps for the Next Disaster (51-75)

Part 1.  Part 2.

51.  Take your cell phone and video tape all of your possessions.  Be sure to video everything in the house, garage, and outbuildings as well as any possessions in the yard.  Back up these videos with your regular files to use in the event of an insurance claim.
52.  Develop some hobbies.  As we saw during the pandemic lockdown, people had a lot of time that they didn't know what to do with.  Other than bingeing Netflix or YouTube, it is a good idea to develop non-internet-related hobbies to entertain yourself and your family when you have free time.
53.  Pre-prepare and pre-stage your disaster gear.  If you live in a flood-prone area, put your survival gear in the attic along with the tools to extricate yourself from said attic if this becomes necessary.  If you live in tornado alley, stage your emergency gear in the basement.  If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, put your gear where you can access it even if the house falls down.
54.  Make a list of every bill you pay (monthly, biannually, annually, etc) and look for ways to reduce these bills.  This can be as simple as changing cell plans to checking with you local assessors office to see if they offer any type of property tax exemptions that you qualify for.
55.  Slowly build up your food stockpile.  Buy a few extra things (bag of beans, canned food, etc) each time you go to the grocery store in order to build up your stockpile.  Be sure to keep this food organized and rotate it in with your regular food so it doesn't go bad.
56.  Consider buying an Instapot when you find one on sale.  These do-everything crockpots/pressure cookers are a great way to cook everything from beans to meats quickly and easily.
57.  Spend a week or two this summer camping or backpacking with the family.  This is a great way to practicing wilderness survival skills when the weather is good.
58.  Take a walk around your neighborhood and find resources that could be useful in a disaster: water sources, dumpsters, fruit/nuts growing wild, etc.
59.  Take a walk around your home and neighborhood at night at see what you can find.  This will be a good reminder to close the blinds at night otherwise you can see everything in people's homes and they won't be able to see you standing outside.  You will also get a feel for who is home and who is gone at night, as well as what other activities are happening in your neighborhood at night.
60.  Practice using alternate forms of transportation besides your vehicle.  Walk or ride a bike to do errands, ride the city bus, take a train or Flix bus to a more distant place for the day or weekend.
61.  Improve the security of your home by doing free or cheap tasks that will make your home safer.
62.  Review, update, and improve all of your medical kits.  Check your EDC first aid kit, vehicle first and kit, and home first aid kit and make sure the supplies aren't expired, and that you aren't missing any critical items (many of which can be bought cheaply at the Dollar Store or local pharmacy).
63.  If you live in an area prone to tornadoes or hurricanes, buy a NOAA weather alert radio.  Your safety is well worth the $30 cost of one of these valuable radios.
64.  Spend the weekend doing a "Swedish Death Cleaning" of your home.  Getting rid of stuff you no longer need can both open up more space in your home and make you some extra cash if you decide to sell the stuff you don't need at a garage sale or online.
65.  Put all of your emergency supplies in one place where they are organized and easily accessible.  You don't want to have to run all through your house to find candles and matches when the power goes out, hunt down a flashlight in one place and batteries in another place, or gather stuff from all over the house when you only have minutes to evacuate your home.
66.  Do some research and find out what the most likely disasters are in your area.  This is especially important to do when you move to a new area.  Do you live in an earthquake or flood-prone area?  Do you live where a dam could break or where winter storms are common.  After you find out what disasters are most likely to happen, use this knowledge to prioritize where you spend your disaster preparedness time and money.
67.  Invest in items that you can use everyday that will help save you money.  If you have lots of trees on your property, a wood stove may be a good investment to provide heat as well as a place to cook.  Lehman's Store will give you lots of ideas for useful, old fashioned items you might find useful (don't forget to look for these items at your local thrift stores and garage sales to find them even cheaper!).
68.  Pick up a hobby that will both save you money as well as give you options for earning money.  Computer repair, building computers, solar tech, building furniture, etc. are all fun hobbies, can save you money, and are usually in demand for paying gigs as well.
69.  Look into gig-type jobs if you need to build up your savings quickly.  Driving for Uber or Lyft, delivering pizza, short-term contract work, etc. are all quick ways to make some extra cash.
70.  Do a bit of searching to see if there is unclaimed money waiting for you (add this money to your savings or buy more emergency preparedness supplies with it!).
71.  Speaking of free, did you know that there are still places that will give you free land?  If you are looking to get away from the crowds, this may be an interesting opportunity to look into.
72.  Spend quality time with your kids (sans electronics and internet).  Play chess, play Monopoly, play tag, play hide and seek, set up an archery range if you have room on your property, play paintball...play games together, have fun, and the kids won't even know they are learning useful survival skills.
73.  Work on big projects.  You can start with a cheap, broken down bicycle you find at the thrift store and fix it up to usable condition.  Maybe move on to motorcycles and cars.  This way you learn valuable skills and end up with items you can either use or sell.
74.  When you do decide to splurge on higher priced items, check discount sites first like Steep and Cheap, several online discount ammo stores, Tech Bargains, etc.
75.  See if paying an annual fee will net you a bigger discount than paying the regular individual price.  You can save big on car insurance by paying six months at a time, a cell phone plan by paying a year at a time, buying a lifetime National Parks Pass or an annual state park pass will save a lot over paying the daily entry fee, etc.

Part 4....

100 Super Cheap Preps for the Next Disaster (26-50)

You can check out part 1 here.  Moving right along...

26.  Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.  There are a lot of simple, inexpensive things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready to bug out at the last minute.  Buying vehicle air filters on Amazon and changing them yourself can save around $50 over the cost of the dealership doing this for you.
27.  Review and update your car BOB.  Make sure the clothing is appropriate for the season, batteries are changed out or charged, food and water is rotated, etc.
28.  Get a HAM radio (and get licensed to use it).  The licensing process is simple and inexpensive, and you can get an inexpensive BaoFeng radio for around $25.  This is an excellent emergency communication system if the cell/landline systems go down.
29.  Get your concealed carry license.  There were so many people, mid pandemic, wanting to buy guns but unable to carry them concealed because the CCW classes and licensing agencies were shut down.  If you want to be able to carry concealed, get licensed now and not in the middle of a disaster.  You will also have a wider selection of classes (and prices for classes) available to you this way.
30.  Buy guns and ammo now.  Ditto the above.  A month before the pandemic, you could walk into a gun store and buy a gun within minutes.  Mid-pandemic and now with the riots, lines at guns stores are wrapped around the block and ammo is pretty scarce.  It seems like the price of firearms and ammo has increased as well with all of the shortages so buying these items when there isn't a disaster happening can be a good cost-saving move.
31.  Buy supplies now and not at the top of the market.  Whenever there is panic buying of an item, the price of that item--when you can even find it in the stores--usually shoots up.  Before the pandemic you could buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol for $1, during the pandemic, I saw a store selling the stuff for $5 a bottle!  ditto hand sanitizer, face masks, wipes, etc.  This can be price-gouging or it can be suppliers increasing the price to align with costs, but either way, it's best to buy the things you need at a time that everyone and their brother isn't panic buying said item.
32.  Do major projects now, not during a disaster.  Like buying survival gear, you don't want to get a major service done when everyone is having the same issue.  If your AC system is on its last leg, it's better to replace the system in the winter and not wait until it dies, mid summer, when AC service providers are backed up and charging premium prices.
33.  Take care of medical/dental/vision/etc services ASAP.  Firstly, you don't want to have to hunt down a tetanus shot during a disaster, you don't want to have a dental emergency when the vast majority of dentists have been closed down as was the case during the pandemic, and if you time all of these services right, one annual deductible can be met and the insurance can pick up the rest of the costs for all of the medical/dental/vision/hearing services you need.
34.  Look into minimalism, zero-waste, anti-consumption, buy it for life, and similarly related consumer lifestyles.  These people generally practice reduce/reuse/recycle skills that can stretch--or even eliminate the need for--many consumer items that the average person wastes money on.
35.  Live below your means.  This is kind of a no-brainer, but the more you can live below your means, the more money you can save for an emergency.
36.  Be debt free.  The only thing worse than suffering through a disaster, is suffering through a disaster with creditors hounding you at the same time.  Get out of debt--including the car and house--and stay out of debt.
37.  Put together an emergency fund of six to twelve month's worth of living expenses.  No one could have predicted that the entire world would shut down for months on end but the people who had fat and fluffy emergency funds weathered this disaster much better than those who were living paycheck to paycheck.
38.  Practice going without important needs/services for a weekend.  Obviously don't go without your insulin or pull the plug on granddad's CPAP, but challenge yourself and the family to go without electricity for a weekend, go without toilet paper for a weekend, only eat dried stored foods for a weekend (nothing from the fridge or freezer), go without the internet for the weekend...basically any challenge that would help you develop your resiliency and survival skills (without putting yourself and your family in actual peril!).
39.  Develop friendships/relationships with family/neighbors/acquaintances.  You don't have to be buddy-buddy with the neighbor but having short conversations with them when you see them outside is a good way to build a community safety net which can be useful during a disaster.  Likewise, strengthening relationships with friends and family can pay dividends when TSHTF.
40.  Recall any issues you had during the pandemic shut down and work on preparing for similar circumstances in the future.  We needed an electric hair trimmer which were sold out during the pandemic (FWIW a beard and mustache trimmer did a pretty good hair cutting job, just took a bit longer).  Eventually they were restocked at Target for $40 but I ended up picking up a complete hair trimmer kit at Ross for only $14.  Similarly, people were panicking about not being able to find yeast during the pandemic.  While I was well supplied with yeast, I did make up some sourdough starter just for the experience.
41.  Summer is a great time to prepare your yard for a disaster.  This means getting your yard ready for wildfire season, preparing your yard for hurricane season, and making your yard more secure overall.
42.  There are also a hundred small tasks you can do to make your home safer overall.
43.  Take some time to fill out a family disaster plan then make copies of this plan available to each family member.  Examples here, here, and here.
44.  Gather all of your important documents, digitally back them up (scanning or photos), then put them together in a secure location.
45.  Consider volunteering at a community organization that will teach you disaster preparedness skills (search and rescue, Red Cross, volunteer EMT, etc).
46.  Every time your insurance--car, home, life, etc--comes up for renewal, call around to other insurance companies for quotes; you may be able to secure insurance at a lower price this way (also ask about bundling insurance coverages together for an even greater discount).
47.  Put some free disaster apps on your cell phone.  Ditto for the family's cell phones.
48.  Dump out your EDC (everyday carry) bag, review the items you have, change out batteries, determine if there are items you need to add or delete from the bag, then repack it.
49.  Dump out your BOB (bug out bag), review the items you have, change out batteries/food.water, determine if there are items you need to add or delete from the bag, then repack it.
50.  Slowly stockpile emergency water supplies.  You can buy bottled water when it is on sale, buy an extra 5 gallon jug of water each week, store tap water in appropriate containers, etc.

Part 3....

100 Super Cheap Preps for the Next Disaster (1-25)

The next disaster may happen tomorrow for all we know (and with the way 2020 is going, that wouldn't surprise me at all).  When the pandemic was starting and people were running out to stores and panic buying everything in sight, you could tell just how many people were not prepared for a disaster.  On the one hand, people can get lazy and complacent and think that nothing really bad will happen and/or the government will take care of them (LOL), on the other hand, there are many people who simply think they can't afford to prepare so don't even try.  While being rich is certainly helpful when it comes to preparedness, there are a lot of things people can do to prepare for a disaster that cost little to no money.  Here are the first 25 of 100 things to do, on the cheap, to get prepared for the next disaster:

1. Exercise.  This is free and is of the utmost importance during and after a disaster.  Walk, jog, do calisthenics...free exercise opportunities can be found everywhere.
2. Practice dumpster diving.  Also, know the laws about dumpster diving in your area so you don't get fined for doing this, thus defeating the "cheap" part of dumpster diving.
3. Buy the stuff you need (clothes, tools, outdoor gear, etc) at the Goodwill or other thrift stores.  Of course, shop sale days at these places to save even more money.
4. Use other shopping skills (shopping sales, using coupons, etc) to save money on the things you need (first aid supplies, food to stockpile, etc).
5. Write out a shopping list of all of the prep supplies you need, keep this list with you, and buy the items on your list as they come on sale.  This can save a lot of money over buying everything at once at top price, also this will help keep you from buying unnecessary duplicate items.
6. Take a Community Emergency Response Team training course.  This class is free, teaches valuable disaster prep skills, and at the end of the course they give you a big backpack of free disaster gear (at least this was the case when I took the course).
7. Download all of the free disaster preparedness documents and books you can find.  There are a multitude of sources for these free educational sources online.
8. Consider making your own outdoor/survival gear.  This can be a cheaper way to acquire gear than paying full retail price.
9. Let friends and family know that you would be happy to take anything they don't want off their hands.  This could include clothing, produce from the garden, old fishing gear, etc.
10. Learn survival skills from YouTube.  There are a bajillion videos on every possible survival topic under the sun.  Watch, learn, and practice these skills.
11. Hit up the Dollar Tree and other dollar type stores for useful survival supplies.  You can buy matches, canned goods, bandannas, bungee cords, blue tarps, and a multitude of other items that would be useful in a disaster for only a dollar at these places.
12. Stockpile multiples of necessary items so that you won't need to restock for a while.  Instead of buying one toothbrush at the Dollar Tree, buy 12 and you will not need to buy more toothbrushes for a year.
13. When you stockpile food, be sure to rotate it through your regular food supply often so you don't spend a lot of money on food which then spoils because it wasn't eaten in a timely manner.
14. Learn how to can, freeze, pickle, dry, and otherwise preserve food so that when you have an abundant garden or get a great deal at the grocery store, you can preserve the food for later use.
15. Grow your own food.  If you have the space and start plants from seed, you can save a lot of money over the cost of grocery store produce.
16. Take advantage of any free things offered in your community.  Free CPR classes, free smoke detectors, free Master Gardeners classes, etc.
17. Join your local Buy Nothing group and receive items you want or need for free.  There are similar "freebie" pages on Craigslist, on local Facebook pages, etc.
18. Ask at local businesses for useful, free survival items like 5 gallon buckets at restaurants, leftover Tyvek at building sites, free wooden pallets, etc.
19. Learn how to barter.  This is yet another way to get useful survival items for free/free-ish.
20. Regularly do microadventures to practice your survival skills.  These can range from camping to hiking to picnicking, etc.
21. Consider buying items that have multiple survival uses.  This saves money, saves space, and gives you multiple options for using an item.
22. Buy a cheap cell phone (with cash) and get a prepaid sim/plan (with cash) to keep with your survival gear.  There are multiple reasons you may need to use this phone in a disaster.
23. Shop around for the best price to get your concealed carry license (permit fees are fixed but the required class fee can vary a great deal in many areas), HAM radio license (again, the license fee is usually set but class fees can vary), EMT license (some people pay full price for these classes while others can get free training if they volunteer at the local fire department), etc.
24. Learn how to cook from scratch.  Learn how to cook food from many cultures.  Learn how to cook/bake a wide range of foods.  These are the best ways to utilize whatever food is on sale, save money over eating out everyday, and make yourself healthier.
25. Take advantage of every free service you qualify for.  Free or reduced price kid's school lunches, food stamps if you are laid off from work, free vaccinations at the health district, free clinic for physical or mental health issues...if you qualify, sign up!

Part 2....

5 Other Things to Prep For

With all of the talk about pandemic this and pandemic that, people may have forgotten that there are several disasters on the horizon that people should also prepare for as soon as possible including...

1. Spring storms.  While I am basking in near 100 degree temps in the desert southwest, my daughter called today from Maine and said "It's snowing!"  Needless to say--for those who live in Maine at least--spring storms, even this late in the year, can still bring snow and winter temps so always being prepared for this possibility is a good idea, especially if you live in northern climes.
2. It's still tornado season in a large swath of the country.  Again, if you live in tornado alley, being prepared for this eventuality is a given but tornadoes have been known to hit in other unexpected areas so everyone should have basic tornado preps on hand.
3. Hurricane season "officially" starts on June 1st but hurricanes have also been know to hit before this date so everyone on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf coast should be prepared for a hurricane season which could be 'one of the busiest in years'.  
4. Another natural disaster to prepare for is the increasing risk of extreme wildfire season which begins earlier in the year and lasts longer than in previous decades.  Again, if you live in an area prone to wildfires, you know to prepare early for this but no matter where you live, being proactive to keep fires--wildfires or a neighboring home on fire--from encroaching on your property is a good idea as well as having an evacuation plan for a worst case scenario.
5. And back to the pandemic...no one knows for sure, but there is a distinct possibility that even if we can quell the coronavirus soon, there could be a resurgence of the virus in the fall.  Prepare accordingly.

50 Prepper Tips for the COVID-19 Pandemic

It's a pretty crazy time right now.  The global coronavirus pandemic has brought out the best--and the worst--in people.  Here's some prepper tips to keep in mind...

1. Pay cash for the stuff you buy and shred the receipt when you get home.  The government can't confiscate what they don't know you have.
2. Instead of shopping at only one store, shop at a variety of places.  It pays to be consistently inconsistent.
3. Don't shop at membership clubs like Costco or use grocery store apps.  These places track your every purchase and can cough up a list of everything you have ever bought from them.
4. At this point in time, wearing a mask, gloves, dark glasses and a hat is considered a safety thing and not a 'planning to rob the place' thing.  These items can also thwart facial recognition programs.
5. When you return from shopping, pull into your garage and close the garage door before unloading your vehicle.  This keeps the neighbors from seeing what you have bought.
6. If you are storing your survival gear/guns/food in your garage, consider covering the shelves with black curtains or other material to conceal what you have.  Whenever I drive by an open garage and see a gun safe I shake my head and the person's lack of awareness.
7. Shop at different times, on different days, instead of on the same day and time every week.  Again, consistent inconsistency is a good thing.
8. When you do shop, buy a little extra of everything (like you are shopping for a family of four instead of two) instead of filling up three carts a la many hoarders.  People notice shoppers like this, often take pictures of them, and blast these photos out in viral social media posts.  You don't want to be the face of a viral social media post.
9. Don't post photos of yourself with your stockpiled food/toilet paper/firearms, or in your bunker.  This will make you and your home a huge target for needy neighbors/relatives and/or burglars/robbers.
10. Better yet, don't use social media at all.  Dropping all social media at once may be too obvious so you may want to slowly disappear from social media (and delete/cancel your accounts) over a period of time.
11. If you do decide to help others, do it discretely.  If your mom needs toilet paper, drop her off a four-pack when needed.  If you drop off five mega-packs of toilet paper at once, both neighbors and relatives will talk about you.  This pertains to food, difficult to get medications, etc.
12. When you do go out, leave your cell phone, smart watch, etc. at home so your movements can't be tracked.
13. When you go out, look like the most ordinary of ordinary people.  Leave the Rolex at home, the flashy clothes and jewelry at home, drive the beater truck instead of the Mercedes, etc.  People may also remember you for the unique glasses you wear, the memorable cologne you wear, the jewelry you wear, etc. so plan accordingly.
14. When you have the option to buy gear in basic black or tacticool camo, choose basic black every time.  Looking like Rambo makes you an obvious target for the marauding hoards.
15. At the same time, you don't want to look like a weak target when out in public.  Walk with purpose, keep your head up, pay attention to your surroundings, etc.
16. Always make your home look lived in at all times of the day and night, this is a good burglar deterrent.
17. Never tell anyone about your BOB, BOV, BOL, or anything else that would suggest your prepper skills go way beyond having a couple week's worth of food at home.
18. Also, never talk about money (or the precious metals you have in your safe, your investment accounts, your firearms, etc).  The more average you seem, the better.  As is the case with most Americans, average is broke and semi-desperate these days.
19. You may want to teach your kids and spouse as many prepper skills as you can, yet keep other information (your precious metal stash, your cash stash, etc) private so they won't inadvertently "spill the beans" about your actual situation.  Hopefully you can trust your spouse with this information.
20. Be careful with purchases you make that are delivered to your home.  Doing a major home renovation with workers and materials coming in and out of your home may tip off your neighbors that you aren't as desperate as everyone else in the neighborhood.
21. Instead of having Amazon deliver to your home on the regular, consider having the deliveries sent to your office or an Amazon lock box if this is a safe option.
22. If you do buy large and/or expensive purchases, be sure to discreetly dispose of the boxes.  Cut up big TV boxes into small pieces and put them in your recycling bin instead of leaving the giant box in front of your home on garbage pick up day.
23. Strive for a minimum of garbage that goes into your waste bin each week.  Neighbors and other people interested in your activities will find your garbage most informative if you toss out everything without taking security precautions.
24. Shred all documents and other sensitive info before throwing it in the garbage.  Ditto medication disposal (grind pills and dissolve in water to make them unusable), disposing of cell phone boxes (some have the IMIE number on them), etc.
25. Consider having sensitive mail and packages sent to a secure, off-site location such as a PO box, a PMB, your office address, a mail forwarder, etc.
26. When you send outgoing mail, instead of putting it in your own mail box to be picked up by the postman, drop it off at a stand-alone mail box.
27. In very difficult times, you don't want to do things that draw people to your home.  If people are sitting in the dark, hearing your generator run, can draw attention to your home.  If people are hungry, barbecuing steaks on the grill will have the same affect.
28. The more self sufficient and off grid you want to be, the more you should consider locating your homestead WAY off the beaten path; somewhere that only the most hardy souls will travel to get to.  Currently there is a major exodus from NYC to Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and even Maine by people "escaping to the country".
29. Depending on where you live (and your firearms laws) I highly recommend concealed carry.  While open carry is legal in many places, there are very few situations in which I would recommend this.
30. Secure your home, but do so in a way that doesn't draw attention.  A home surrounded with a six-foot fence topped with razor wire and a 24-module security camera set-up draws way more attention than a more subtle security system.
31. Consider getting a dog.  They make good companions and, depending on the dog, a good security alert system.
32. Look at the situation you are in then determine how NOT to draw attention to yourself.  For example, right now, people driving cars with New York license plates in surrounding states are drawing a lot of negative attention to themselves.  Better to rent a car with local plates if you find yourself in this situation.
33. Whether you are buying food or ammo, or in recent days, toilet paper, spread your purchases out over time.  Buying an extra package of toilet paper each time you shop or a couple boxes of 50 rounds of ammo is less memorable than the guy that buys 10 cases of toilet paper all at once or 1000 rounds of ammo all at once.
34. If people do happen to comment on your purchases, feel free to make up a story to mislead them.  One guy was buying a dozen gallons of bleach a couple years ago and a lady commented on this.  He said he was buying all of the bleach to donate to the local animal shelter.  Whether he was actually doing this or was keeping it all for himself, being able to deflect someone's curiosity with a reasonably believable story is a good skill to have.
35. Don't be a panic buyer during a crisis like people who wait in hours-long lines at the gun store/Walmart/Costco/etc.  You should be purchasing your firearms (or food, or toilet paper, etc), one at a time, over a long period of time (and maybe in places where the "gun show loophole" is still a thing when it comes to firearms) in order to deflect interest in what you are buying.
36. When it comes to a bug out vehicle, a bug out motorcycle, or a bug out bicycle, keeping it on the down low or disguising it to make it less memorable is a good idea.  A Sprinter van draws attention, an old Ford Econoline does not.  A Harley draws attention, a Suzuki doesn't.  A Cannondale draws attention, the same Cannondale covered with stickers, mud, and scuffs looks less memorable.
37. Speaking of vehicles, pre-1994 vehicles don't have black boxes in them.  Imagine driving and not having your every movement tracked (note that license plate readers still apply).
38. If you must travel under the radar, try to travel via country roads.  Freeways, toll ways, and similar high-traffic roads generally have Automated License Plate Readers.
39. Always be polite to neighbors but direct the conversation to them and away from yourself.  The less you say about yourself the better, besides people generally like to talk about themselves.
40. When talking to people, avoid contentious topics.  Politics, religion, being a prepper...these are things you don't want to talk about.  The weather is a good topic, showing basic concern about the current situation also makes you sound like an "average" person.
41. If you must travel, whether by car, bike, or on foot, either do so at night under the cover of darkness, or do so along with everyone else (ie: if you are scouting an area in your neighborhood, walk in the morning when all of the neighbors are out walking.  Wave and keep up a brisk pace, heading to your destination while looking like you are just out exercising).
42. One of your best options during the pandemic (barring extreme social unrest in some cases), is to stay secure in your home (and yard, of course).  Being out with the infected crowds is generally a bad idea.
43. Be prepared to change your usual activities.  It's popular to go out shooting in the desert near where I live.  With every wannabe Rambo who just stood in line for hours to buy a gun and now wants to try it out...needless to say, I've got enough practice under my belt that I can skip a month or so in order to not be around these people.
44. Try to avoid the crowds at popular places in your area.  During the quarantine, a lot of people want to go out and socially distance themselves by getting back to nature.  Unfortunately half the city has the same idea and they all tend to end up at the same popular outdoor spots.
45. Consider gathering your food and supplies from unconventional sources.  Some restaurant supply places are now selling restaurant-sized food products to the public, and bartering your bread for a neighbor's eggs is another good idea.
46. Now may be a good time to consider foraging for wild food in your area.  This is a skill that takes a bit of effort to learn (avoid foraging for mushrooms unless you go with someone who knows what they are doing) and, of course, it's always a good idea to be stealthy about this.
47. Gardening should be one of your top hobbies, especially at a time like this.  If possible, hide your garden as much as possible from the public, ditto your bee hives, chicken coops, etc.
48. Take excellent care of your health, especially at a time like this.  The last place you want to end up is in the emergency room at a hospital mixed in with a sea of covid patients.
49. This also goes for accidental injuries.  Taking physical risks is questionable on a good day but highly inadvisable when emergency medical care may be impossible to access or significantly delayed.
50. Protect your health.  Wear a mask if you go out in public, wash your hands, avoid people, etc.  Monitor your symptoms if you fall ill and take care of your illness at home unless you are seriously ill and need professional medical care.

You Need to Be the Grayest of Gray Men These Days

During a regular disaster, it pays to keep your head down and not draw attention to yourself.  This is called the Gray Man Theory and it makes sense as the biggest target, well, looks like a big target.  Now as the pandemic unfolds and people are going from slightly agitated to a world bordering on  dystopian insanity, there are quite a few examples of why you don't want anyone to know you are a prepper, to know that you have firearms, to know that you are financially more than comfortable even in the midst of a financial disaster, or to know that you are anything but the boring guy who lives down the street with a boring car in front of his boring house.  Nothing to see here folks, you can move along now. 

In case you have missed some of the lessons learned about espousing your two years of stockpiled food or the fact that you only go to work to keep yourself entertained, not because you need the money, consider these situations:

• There was this guy whose neighbors noticed he was getting a delivery of...something.
• Or these people with a branch of the family tree that should have been pruned a while back.
• Just now, "Cuomo has authorized the National Guard to search for and take equipment."
• And then there are the (non-governmental) looters.

So keep your stuff hidden, your actions nondescript, your head down, and your mouth closed.

How is Life Going So Far?

For us, so far, the coronavirus, has been kind of a non-issue.  Of course it has interrupted our usual daily activities such as going to a casino, playing in poker games, hitting up the occasional restaurant for a meal, or dropping into a store and shopping, but for many preppers, as outlined in this article, being prepared means there is no reason to panic and freak out, even when there is a world-wide pandemic going on.

Having a good stockpile of food, water, and consumables means that when people are panic shopping, you can sit back and watch and be thankful you aren't one of them.  Being debt free and having multiple sources of income means that when people are worrying about how they are going to pay their rent next week, you aren't worried.  Of course, ideally, I would like to be living 100% off the grid and fully self sufficient right now which would put us in an even better position, but over all, the years of prepping have served us pretty well.

Right now our best course of action is to stay home, lay low, and let the disaster blow over at some future date.  We don't want to add to the chaos at grocery stores, we (hopefully) don't want to be taking up space in a hospital and on a ventilator, and we don't want to be a financial/emotional burden on our children, friends, or relatives.  Of course we are doing what we can, from a distance, to help out others whether that means calling elderly shut-in relatives and friends to check on them and cheer them up or providing a little financial help to some of the kids who needed it, but being prepared means that you are both not a burden to yourself in a disaster situation (I swear some people are going to die of stress before the coroanvirus even gets to them) and you are not a burden to others and "the system".

Hopefully your years of prepping have had a similar outcome and you are sitting much more comfortably in the midst of disaster than people who didn't prepare.  But of course there are many lessons learned here, even for hard-core preppers, which will be enumerated in future posts.

How Did They Do Things in the "Olden Days"?

Just a quick note that while you are locked down at home, you may want to read up on (and practice!) how they did things "in the olden days".  Literally look at every single item you have/use/need/rely on and figure out how you could make this product, or a reasonable facsimile, yourself.  Toothpaste, ketchup, alternatives for toilet paper...there are rumblings that while the government is saying 'don't worry our supply chain is strong', basic manufacturing may hit some stumbling blocks whether because raw materials are in short supply/unavailable or because manufacturing can't keep up with demand. 

When a doctor buddy said in frustration that he was "fixin to have my wife make some cloth face masks" because their hospitals have literally no more alternatives for acquiring actual N 95 masks...well, my first thought was 'can people do that?' (yes they can although if you start seeing cloth masks in a hospital situation you know we are well and truly screwed) and my second thought was 'how'?   I may be whipping out the sewing machine this week.

Preparing for a Long-Term Disaster

Fortunately, so far, it looks like Hurricane Dorian is mostly going to miss the US as a major hurricane (it's currently been downgraded to a tropical storm).  Unfortunately, the hurricane hammered the Bahamas.  As this hurricane has shown, many disasters that people encounter won't be simple, quickly resolved situations but rather long-term disasters that will require comprehensive resources--and lots of time--for recovery.  Note that these sorts of long-term disasters can be anything from Katrina-esque hurricanes to major extended medical issues to a house fire that destroys your entire home, etc.  Here's how to prepare:

• Have insurance.  Home, life, health, auto, long-term care, etc.  By being insured, you will have the financial backing to restore your home/health/vehicle/family after a disaster has wiped you out.  As a side note, make sure you know exactly what your insurance covers.  You generally need special riders for things like floods, earthquakes, etc.
• Have an emergency fund.  The bigger, the better.  The people who have the least resources--financial, social, material--are the ones who have the most difficulty recovering from a long-term disaster.  Not only do they have no car to escape, once the disaster passes, they may end up homeless and at the mercy of the government and various service organizations for something as basic as food and water.
• Have an evacuation plan.  First, you need a way to escape the disaster (via car or air is usually the best option), and then you need a place to live until recovery is completed.  Can you stay in a hotel for shorter-term events?  Do you have a bug-out location or bug-out RV to shelter you for the longer term if needed?  Do you have family or friends you can stay with for longer term events?  Do you have the means, including money and good credit, to lease an apartment or house if you will be out of your home for months on end?
• Be debt free.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the fewer and smaller bills you have, the easier it will be to stay--or get back on--your feet after a disaster.
• Know what resources are available to you.  Know how to file an insurance claim after a disaster (and have all of your ducks in a row including a complete home inventory, etc).  Know how to access FEMA and other government resources to help you recover from a disaster.
• Have material goods on hand.  Some of the biggest needs after a disaster are the basics--water, food, gas, etc.--and for many people who haven't planned ahead, accessing these items can be near impossible until government help arrives.  Note that you want triple-redundant plans for these items such as storing bottled water in your home where it would be accessible after a disaster but if that water is washed away with your home in a hurricane, you want to have a water filtration system in your BOB, cases of bottled water in your bug-out vehicle, and even the means to create a wain-water collection system.  Ditto food preps, shelter preps, medical preps, etc.
• Be in good physical shape.  Again with the sounding like a broken record thing: the best way to be prepared for whatever may happen is to be in good physical shape.  I've seen plenty of disaster situations where people are left with literally just the clothes on their backs and have nothing more but their physical abilities and knowledge to help the survive until the disaster situation is resolved.
• Be able to relocate.  In some cases--Hurricane Katrina, for example--relocating to an entirely new place is the option some people decided to choose.  Can you pick up your life and move it, and all of your remaining possessions, to an new location?  How would you plan ahead for this?

10 Disaster Supplies You Can Improvise

If you head out to the grocery store the evening before a major storm is set to hit, you can pretty much be sure that stores will be running low on several items that people feel they absolutely must have, even if it means fighting over the last loaf of bread.  Fortunately preppers can improvise many things, including the most common "emergency" supplies...

1. Bread.  Yes buying bread is the easiest way to acquire this staple but head over a couple of aisles to the baking supplies area and for the price of a loaf of bread you can buy the ingredients to make a dozen loaves of bread.
2. Milk.  A gallon of milk is another critical item that people grab first when prepping for a weather emergency.  Head over a couple of aisles and grab a big container of Nido powdered milk and you will be able to make gallons of the stuff whenever you want it.  Bonus the stuff has a really long shelf life.
3. Toilet paper.  It's always nice to have a large supply of toilet paper on hand (giant packages of the Costco stuff is the best IMHO), but if you run out you can always substitute wet wipes, newspaper, leaves (!), or even a bandanna (be sure to wash in it a bucket of bleach water).
4. Bottled water.  Again, Costco bottled water is cheap and it is always a good idea to keep a few cases on hand but if you need emergency water you can: fill up the bathtub and any other containers you have on hand with tap water, bring water up by the bucket from a local creek and purify it, even melt snow if necessary.
5. Light.  A lantern and flashlights are things to always have on hand but there are several items that you can improvise a candle with including Crisco, crayons, and even rubbing alcohol.
6. Water filter.  Sometimes when the power grid goes down, so does your water supply (usually a well pump won't work without electricity).  Even if you have bottled water you may run out and end up needing to filter rain or creek water so here are a few ways to MacGyver some DIY water filters.
7. Mittens.  With a few inches of snow falling on Las Vegas yesterday evening, many people were unprepared because it rarely ever snows here.  Having snow gear isn't something many locals keep on hand but if you need to improvise such gear, it's easy enough to layer jackets then throw on a pair of wool socks in place of gloves.
8. Tourniquet.  Not many people keep an actual tourniquet on hand for an emergency (although this may be changing due to active shooter and Stop the Bleed training) but in an emergency you can improvise many items (sock, t shirt, belt, bandanna) to keep someone from bleeding out before they reach a hospital.
9. Baby supplies.  If you always use disposable diapers, keep a supply of cloth diapers/safety pins/plastic diaper covers on hand.  If the spouse breastfeeds, keep a canister of baby formula in reserve just in case.  If you always feed your baby jarred baby food, keep a mortar and pestle on hand in case you need to DIY your own baby food when the power goes out.
10. Evacuation.  If you don't have an easy and straight forward method to evacuate during a disaster, here are several examples of how to improvise such things.

20 Things to Teach Your Kids This Weekend

Here are 20 simple things you can teach your kids this weekend that will be useful to know during a disaster...

1. How and why to turn off the main breaker in your electrical panel.
2. How and why to turn off the water coming into the house.
3. How and why to turn off the gas to your home.
4. How and when to check the smoke detector and CO detector (check that the batteries are good and that they still work).
5. How to escape from your home during a fire (at least two different ways).
6. How and why to lock down the house as quickly as possible.
7. When and where to go to the family meeting place away from your house but in your neighborhood.
8. How and why to use a fire extinguisher.
9. How to cook a half dozen simple meals that they can eat if no adults are home (age appropriate, of course).
10. How and why to make their own BOB (Bug Out Bag).  This should be a simple, general use bag they can take to grandma's house or take if they need to evacuate their town.
11. How, why, and when to call 911.
12. How to memorize at least two cell phone numbers (mom and dad, dad and grandma, etc).
13. How to safely use a sharp knife/pocket knife.
14. How to camp (set up a tent, open up a sleeping bag, sleep outside over night)
15. How to be safe around a bonfire (also how to start/extinguish a bonfire if they are older).
16. How to remember details and recite them back (look at that license plate then after the car turns the corner, recite the state and number on the license plate; look at that man and describe him to me, etc).
17. How to safely navigate local streets (how to walk safely along the street, how to safely cross streets, how to find their way around their neighborhood).
18. How to use simple tools such as scissors, a needle and thread for older children, how to hammer a nail, how to use pliers and wrenches, etc.
19. How to follow verbal and written (when they are older) instructions (games like Simon Says and following written instructions for a scavenger hunt are fun ways to learn these skills).
20. How to find and fix hazards around your home (overloaded electric outlets, rugs that can bunch up and cause falls, improperly stored chemicals, etc).

Two Disasters, Two Learning Opportunities

Two disasters in the last week offer several learning opportunities:

• Yesterday's snow storm on the east coast found many people unprepared.  Here are several links about what happened and how people responded (here, here, here, and here).
• Last week's wildfires in California were a horrific event for many.  Currently more than 60 people have been officially counted as killed in the fires and several hundred still remain missing/unaccounted for (info here, here, here, and here).

Use the information about these disasters to help with your own planning efforts for future disaster events.

How to Find Someone After a Disaster

As the California wildfires continue to rage, one of the difficult tasks responders have now is finding people who haven't been heard from since before the fires started.  If there is a wide-spread disaster that takes down all communications and scatters people far and wide, how do you go about finding a missing friend or loved one?  Consider these options...

• Have an emergency communications plan in place BEFORE a disaster happens.  Make sure all family members--and friends too if they are part of your planning efforts-- know the plan so everyone will know who to contact (a central person to call that can let everyone else know you are OK) in the event of a disaster.
• Make liberal use of social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, reddit, etc) to either let everyone know you are OK or search for a missing person.  Note that when using social media to search for a missing person it is a standard that you have already filed a police report and include the police contact info and case number in addition to a picture and other identifying information about the missing person; this ensures that the search is on the up and up and a stalker, for example, isn't looking for their victim.
• If you are in a disaster area or looking for someone in a disaster area, be sure to check in on Safe and Well and mark yourself as safe on Facebook.
• File a missing person report at the police department in the local jurisdiction where the person was last known to be.  Note you may need to do this at another agency (a neighboring town, a nearby city) if the town itself has been wiped off the map.
• Determine if the local disaster response agency has set up a missing person assistance center and contact them directly (examples here and here).
• Find ways to get as wide-spread publicity about your missing person as possible (example here).
• Put together as much information as you can on your missing person before you go to the police or social media (list of info here).
• Make a missing person flyer that includes a couple of photos as well as identifying information and contact information.
• Make a missing person kit which includes photos and a description of each family member, fingerprints, source for dental records, and DNA samples.
• Google for a list of local emergency shelters where people in the disaster area have been sent to and either visit or call each one looking for your missing loved one.
• You can also contact the hospitals/coroner's office near the disaster area (note that this may or may not be useful as hospitals usually can't give out personal information and all of these places may be overwhelmed if there is a disaster with lots of victims).
• If you are looking for an American citizen in a foreign country after a disaster, call the Department of State.
• Send text messages to the missing person/to your emergency contact in addition to trying to call, usually texts will go through when calls don't.
• Contact the local Search and Rescue agency.  These are usually volunteer groups that help after a disaster and can provide more information on how to go about your search or tell you how to enlist their help.

10 Annual Subscriptions to Help With Your Prepping

There are several annual subscription services that can help you with your prepping:

1. Amazon Prime.  Depending on how much you buy from Amazon, the free shipping alone that comes with Prime could cover your annual subscription cost.  There are several other Prime benefits such as free movies a la Netflix, free book downloads, and these other things.
2. Costco.  Besides buying stuff in bulk, from food to medical supplies to outdoor gear, this membership comes with several other benefits as well.
3. National Park Annual Pass.  If you visit national parks frequently, this annual membership (or if you are old enough, a one-time fee for a "forever" membership) will pay for itself in only a couple visits.  
4. Sam's Club membership.  Similar to a Costco membership, you can buy a lot of stuff in bulk and receive these added benefits as well with a Sam's Club membership.
5. AAA membership.  If you travel much, of even if you stick close to home but like the security of roadside assistance when needed, AAA offers a range of services to its members.
6. Gym membership.  The most important part of your prepping is keeping yourself fit and healthy.  If you will use it on a regular basis, such a membership will be well worth the money.
7. State park annual pass.  Again, if you will use it regularly, your state park system annual pass may be a great deal.  These often cover parking fees, park entrance fees, camping fees, etc.
8. Family passes for local attractions.  These passes will keep the kids occupied, educated, and entertained for an entire year.
9. AARP.  Once you hit 50 you don't need to find them, they will find you.  But an annual membership does include quite a few discounts and services which you may find useful.
10. Netflix.  Besides its usefulness when it comes to entertainment, you may be able to skip cable TV all together and got with a Netflix subscription/internet/OTA antenna which could save you a great deal of money every month.

10 Tech Items to Have on Hand During a Disaster

In the case of the recent hurricane/flooding/etc. here are some tech items to consider having on hand to use during a disaster:

1. Personal locator beacon.  Pros: you can signal for rescue from this device, some let you send 'I'm safe' and other messages to people when phones and other communications fail.  Cons: expensive device and you need to pay for a subscription for it to stay active.
2. CB radio.  Pros: these radios are cheap and can be used by anyone, no need for a HAM license.  Cons: needs to have power source, range may be limited due to terrain.
3. Satellite phone.  Pros: will work when there are no phone lines/cell signal.  Cons: expensive device, expensive plans, may not be able to connect to the satellite for a variety of reasons.
4. Drone.  Pros: fun hobby, easy to learn how to use with practice, can give you a 'bird's eye view' of your area.  Cons: need to have a power source for charging, can give away your location, device can fly away and get lost.
5. Solar charger.  Pros: with sunlight it can be used to charge your electronic devices.  Cons: need sun.  Also, while the prices have come down on these items, it is still a good outlay of money for a device you may rarely if ever use.
6. BioLite camp stove.  Pros: a cool camp stove that burns sticks and twigs then uses energy from the fire you make to charge your devices (yeah, really).  Cons: again, an outlay of money for an item you may never use.
7. goTenna.  Pros: allows your cell phone to use texting and GPS when there is no cell service.  Cons: a somewhat spendy device that is very new to the market; limited range.
8. AquaPodKit.  Pros: a giant, food-grade plastic bag that turns your bathtub into a storage place for 65 gallons of water to use during a disaster; relatively inexpensive.  Cons: you need to have a bit of notice that there will be a disaster so you have time to fill it up, can't use your bathtub/shower when this is in use.
9. Composting toilet.  Pros: an excellent, sanitary toilet to use during a disaster or anywhere else that conventional toilets won't work.  Cons: expensive, needs much more attention than a regular toilet system.
10. Solar garden lights.  Pros: inexpensive, available at many stores (these are usually used as garden pathway lights which collect solar energy during the day then light up at night), can be brought inside in the evening to provide light during a power outage.  Cons: need sunlight to charge, not as bright as a conventional flashlight or lantern.

National Preparedness Month Day 30--Extreme Prepping

To wrap up our month of preparedness, we will touch on some things you can do if you really want to go extreme with your prepping...

• You can grow all of your own food.
• You can build a panic room.
• You can build/buy an extreme BOV.
• You can build an off-grid home.
• You can take some advanced shooting courses.
• You can go all out prepping for the apocalypse.
• You can make your own radio shack.
• You can train to be a ninja.
• You can travel...everywhere.
• You can cut yourself off from society all together.
• You can become as storm chaser.
• You can join--or create your own--'Cajun Navy'.
• You can join the military.
• You can join the French Foreign Legion.
• You can live without money.

Prepping for the Elderly

As we get older and our bodies break down, there are several extra things we need to take into consideration when prepping:

• Medications--do you have at least a month's medications in reserve in case you have no access to a pharmacy?  Also keep paper/digital records of all of your prescriptions.
• Eye glasses--if you can't see without them, consider getting a second pair to have in reserve.  Also have a copy of your eye glass prescription on hand.
• Hearing aids--keep your old ones just in case the new ones get lost/broken and have lots of spare batteries for both.
• Mobility--whether you need a cane, walker, wheel chair, or scooter, consider how you would evacuate/maneuver around your home during a disaster (earthquake, extended power outage, etc).
• Dentures--your old dentures won't fit after a month or so with new dentures so be able to fix the new ones if they break (Super Glue works for this).  Keep denture cleanser as well as denture adhesive in reserve. Other options may include permanent dentures or implants.  Dentures have a limited lifespan so plan on replacements as your dentist recommends.
• Evacuation--if you no longer drive or rely on public transit, consider how you would evacuate in the event of a disaster (call a friend or family member for a ride?).  Plan how you would evacuate from your home during a fire.
• Critical medical needs--if you rely on a ventilator, oxygen, dialysis, etc. and will die without these things, consider what would happen during a disaster.  Do you need to evacuate prior to a disaster?  Do you need a generator and spare fuel?  Does your community have a plan for oxygen delivery?
• Are you doing as much as you can everyday to keep your health in check such as eating well, strength and balance exercises, etc?
• Do you have assistive devices to meet your needs (such as smoke detectors that flash if you can't hear well, grab bars if you are unsteady on your feet, medical alert devices if needed, etc)?
• Do you have a plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to help you during a disaster?  
• Do neighbors, friends, or relatives have a key to your home and is their name/number posted on your front door/window with an "in case of emergency" notice?
• Are all of your important papers in order (and digitally backed up) including a Will, Medical Power of Attorney, life insurance, a pre-planned/pre-paid funeral, all financial documents, a list of passwords/access codes, etc?
• Do you have enough food, water, and supplies to stay in your home for up to a month without assistance from the outside (water should be rotated and easy enough for you to pick up, food should be easy to cook or able to eat cold if necessary, supplies should include toilet paper/adult diapers if needed/wet wipes/hand sanitizer/first aid supplies/etc).
• Do you have a plan for alternate heating/cooking/water supply/cooling without assistance from the outside?
• Has your home been "disaster proofed" in regard to the most common type of emergencies in your area?  Don't forget to "fall proof" your home as well.
• Do you have an emergency evacuation bag (BOB) that you can "grab and go" at a moment's notice?
• What will you do with your pets during a disaster?  Do you have extra food/supplies/gear for them on hand?
• Can you shut off your utilities during a disaster by yourself?
• Do you have several ways to communicate with friends/neighbors/relatives before, during, and after a disaster?
• Does your community have a way for you to register for additional assistance during a disaster (sometimes Senior Centers, Area Agency on Aging, the Red Cross keep a list of vulnerable people in the community)?
• Have you researched disaster prep options in your community (what do emergency sirens sound like, where are local emergency shelters/cooling stations, what are the best sources of local news and disaster alerts, etc)?
• Have you considered volunteering in your local community to prepare for a disaster (senior centers, the Red Cross, CERT teams, etc can always use more volunteers)?
• Do you have extra cash on hand (hidden of course) to use during a disaster?
• Are all of your insurance coverages up to date and paid for?
• Are you aware of what to do after a disaster (how to file insurance claims, how to apply for FEMA assistance if available, how to avoid scams, how to seek medical/psychological assistance if needed, etc)?

There's a baseline that everyone should have for being prepared but if you or someone you love has additional needs such as being elderly, ill, infirm, a small child, etc. additional preparedness should be done ahead of any possible disaster.