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.

National Preparedness Month Day 29--Prepper Precautions

Now that you have a good base for your prepping efforts, here are some precautionary things to consider:

• Don't spend all of your time prepping.  You have a life to live, your family has family stuff to do, so prepping shouldn't take over your life.  A few minutes a day with the occasional full day class or weekend backpacking trips should take care of your prepping needs.  When you are shopping, grab a few more items for your food stockpile.  When you are shopping online and see a great deal on prepper gear, snag it.  When you are having dinner, play "what would you do" in various emergency situations with the family.  This will spur discussion, take care of some preparedness training, and be accomplished without taking time out of your day.
• Don't spend all of your money on prepping.  Again, you have a life to live and little Jimmy shouldn't have to skip sports because you would rather buy a new gun for your prepper stocks.  Your money should be budgeted for all facets of your life--current needs, food stockpile, emergency fund, etc--and not just thrown at everything prepping.
• Keep your prepping on the down low.  There is no reason for everyone at work to know you have a massive armory in your basement or for your kid's schoolmates to know you have piles of gold in a safe at home.  The more people who know you have a massive stockpile of food/money/gear/guns/etc, the bigger target for theft, robbery, or worse you and your family will become.
• Don't be a prepping evangelist.  Preppers get kind of a bad rap because the only ones you really hear about in the news are the unhinged sort who may be a bit crazy to start with.  Add a couple of crazy or violent acts and all the sudden ALL preppers look like a threat to the "normal" community.  Of course if you are at a family dinner you can mention to your elderly aunt that a major snow storm is on its way and offer to split and stack some firewood for her.  You can blend into the "normal" community by having interesting hobbies (hunting, HAM radio) and by being useful (as a volunteer EMT).  However stark raving preppers tend to scare people.
• Stay within the law.  Know the laws as far as firearms (personal protection, concealed carry, where you can carry, etc), preventing trespassers on your property (even though you know how to rig some pretty cool booby traps, you can't really set traps that would maim or kill people as the legal system frowns on this), HAM radio (you can't broadcast without a license), making defensive IEDs (thoroughly illegal), etc.
• Rotate and review your stocks regularly.  If a disaster strikes 20 years from now, you don't want to be forced to eat food you stockpiled today.  You don't want to NEED a flashlight and find that the batteries had long ago corroded and ruined the entire device.  You don't want to grab your BOB and end up with only a size 42 pants to wear on your now physically fit 32 inch body.  Regularly checking and rotating your stocks and gear prevents these issues.

National Preparedness Month Day 28--Prepper Skills

So far most of the preps discussed this month have been things to have or to buy.  Gathering up cash, stocking food and water, etc. are good first steps towards being prepared for a disaster but perhaps even more important is learning the skills that will become very useful is a disaster situation.  You should know:

• How to swim
• How to ride a bicycle
• How to drive a motorcycle
• How to drive a car (manual and automatic)
• How to grow food
• How to forage for food
• How to preserve food
• How to hunt and dress an animal
• How to fish and prepare the fish for cooking
• How to use a variety of firearms and other weapons
• How to sharpen a knife
• How to perform basic and advanced first aid tasks
• How to cook
• How to bake
• How to survive in the wilderness for an extended period of time
• How to make plumbing repairs
• How to make electrical repairs
• How to make construction repairs
• How to make mechanical repairs
• How to raise animals for food
• How to train animals
• How to take care of infants/children/teenagers/the ill/the elderly
• How to brew beer and make wine
• How to knit and sew
• How to read the weather
• How to live without electricity
• How to physically defend yourself
• How to develop leadership skills
• How to develop interpersonal skills
• How to speak a second or third language
• How to manage and grow your money
• How to barter
• How to plan and manage projects 
• How to keep yourself strong and healthy
• How to prepare for and respond to a variety of man-made and natural disasters
• How to clean and maintain tools and weapons
• How to use a variety of power tools
• How to use a map and compass
• How to walk long distances
• How to travel internationally
• How to protect your identity
• How to run a business
• How to participate in a variety of team and individual sports
• How to drive in a variety of road and weather conditions
• How to make basic car repairs
• How to play an instrument
• How to play cards
• How to tie a variety of knots
• How to pick a lock
• How to communicate via HAM radio
• How to dress and behave in all social situations
• How to solve problems
• How to do "old timey" tasks (soap making, candle making, etc)

National Preparedness Month Day 27--Continuing Education

When it comes to being prepared, it isn't a "one and done" sort of thing.  In order to be ready for anything--and to be knowledgeable about the most current threats and how to deal with them--you need to continually educate yourself on a range of preparedness topics.  To do this, you should:

• Read or watch the news from a variety of sources on a daily basis.
• Take classes as they come available in your community which can help you become more prepared (shooting class at the range, "Stop the Bleed" class at your local hospital, CERT classes and activities, etc).
• Volunteer in your community to keep your skills sharp.
• Experiment at home.  Set up a HAM radio station, install a couple solar panels, camp out in the back yard, etc.
• Read incessantly on the topic (there are millions of pages online on preparedness and survival topics).
• Grow a garden and provide more and more of your family's food.
• Teach others survival and preparedness skills in your community (as a Red Cross volunteer, at your kid's scouting meetings, etc).

National Preparedness Month Day 26--Emergency Supply List

We've covered emergency food and water and firearms and medical kits.  Here are 100 more emergency supplies that you may want to add to you stockpile:

1. Flashlights
2. Candles/candle holders
3. Spare batteries
4. Duct tape
5. Plastic sheeting
6. Blue tarps (asst size)
7. Paracord
8. Rope
9. Sleeping bags
10. Freestanding tent
11. Buckets (asst)
12. Water containers
13. Fuel containers
14. Weather radio
15. Hand crank/solar AM/FM radio
16. Manual can opener
17. N95 masks
18. Handi Wipes (large containers of these)
19. Hand sanitizer (large container)
20. Paper map of local area and US
21. Heavy duty garbage bags (all sizes)
22. Heavy duty ziploc bags (all sizes)
23. Comprehensive set of tools
24. Chemical hand warmers
25. Glow sticks
26. Matches
27. Lighters
28. Cat litter
29. Water purification tabs
30. AC/DC power adapter
31. Whistle
32. Toilet paper
33. Paper towels
34. Rags/towels
35. Compass
36. Chlorine bleach (unscented kind)
37. Leather work gloves
38. Ax
39. Shovel
40. Fire extinguisher
41. Garden hose
42. Black spray paint
43. Emergency reference books
44. Life jackets
45. Bicycles (spare parts, repair kit)
46. Solar charger
47. HAM radio
48. Life raft
49. Insect repellant
50. Whiskey/alcohol
51. Chocolate/candy
52. Playing cards
53. Extension cords
54. Generator/extra fuel
55. Plywood/2x4s/nails/screws
56. Sunscreen
57. Wheelbarrow/wagon
58. Ladder
59. Cooler
60. Sharpie markers
61. Solar outdoor garden lights
62. Chainsaw/fuel
63. Rain gear/cold weather gear
64. Shut-off wrench for utilities
65. Sillcock key
66. Cook stove/fuel
67. Propane or kerosene heater/fuel
68. Fire starter
69. Knife sharpener
70. Headlamp/batteries
71. Goggles/protective eye wear
72. Bandannas
73. Fishing pole/equipment
74. Hand saw
75. Binoculars
76. Bolt cutters
77. Slingshot
78. Bungie cords
79. Roll fluorescent tape
80. Bag of lime
81. Wash tub/wash board
82. Sewing kit
83. Gallon Dr Bonners soap
84. Big kettle for boiling water
85. Canning supplies
86. Down throws/blankets
87. Case of emergency MREs
88. Grain mill
89. Safe
90. PPEs
91. Hunting knife
92. Mace/pepper spray
93. PLB locator
94. Bear spray
95. Utility knife/spare blades
96. WD40
97. Drybags
98. Zip ties (asst sizes)
99. Sandbags
100. Fire hydrant wrench

National Preparedness Month Day 25--Money

Money is so important to your preparedness that we covered it initially on day one when the topic was having an emergency fund.  Having money can be the difference between evacuating and being stranded, between eating and starving, and between having a roof over your head no matter the situation and homelessness.  Here are the money categories you need to work on in order to be prepared for anything:

• Emergency fund.  Covered on day one of this series.
• Frugal living.  Some people live like they are on "Housewives of whatever-city".  Spending every dime you earn and then some will bury you in a pit of debt and will impact your every decision from how much food you can stockpile to whether or not you can take your kid to the doctor.  Frugal living and living below your means is the way to both stay out of debt as well as allow you to put money aside for emergencies.
• Debt free.  Pay off all of your debts--credit cards, car loans, school loans, home loan, other debts--as quickly as possible.  If you only have to pay utilities and not a mountain of bills each month you can survive much longer on your emergency fund after a disaster.
• Investing.  There are several vehicles for investing your money.  Besides having a liquid emergency fund, also consider investing your money in a retirement fund (Roth, 401k, etc), in stocks/bonds/mutual funds, in real estate, in precious metals, etc.  See a financial planner for more information on this topic.
• Saving.  Save as much money as you can.  Your emergency fund is just the beginning.  Even after you get your emergency funds together, you want to continue to save money each and every month so that you will be well positioned for whatever disaster may strike--from being flooded out of your home and community after a hurricane to dealing with a severe illness or injury to being unemployed.
• Multiple sources of income.  If you have one source of income, like a regular job, and you end up laid off or fired, your financial situation will be toast.  If you have a half dozen different sources of income, you will be in a much less desperate situation if one source happens to go away.

National Preparedness Month Day 24--Kid Preps

If you have kids--from infants to teenagers--you are probably well versed in doing more to prep for them than if you are just talking about yourself or yourself and your spouse.  You make sure they are fed, have beverages with them, are safe, are entertained, have all of their sports gear with them when they head out to school and also have their homework with them, you ensure the baby has extra diapers and your hungriest teenager has extra food with them...in other words, you probably prep more for your kids on a daily basis than you do for yourself.

During an emergency, you want to be sure you have all of the kid prep stuff down--in triplicate--so that you will be able to take care of them as well as every other thing that needs to be dealt with.  You don't want to run out of diapers just as a major snow storm hits and you don't want to have only a few cans of soup in the pantry when a hurricane is set to hit.  Consider these extra preps if you have kids:

• Have kid-specific stuff in your first aid kit (children's Tylenol, etc).  Also have extra of any common prescriptions they use (for the love of all that's holy don't give them an antibiotic for every little sniffle...parents have been doing this for decades and it is not a good thing to do).
• Make sure they are vaccinated and keep digital copies of their vaccination and other medical records in your back-up files.
• If your kid has a medical condition like life-threatening allergies, stockpile EpiPens and other needed things (inhalers for asthma, etc).
• Stockpile the stuff your kids regularly use.  Diapers, formula, wipes, school supplies, etc.  If it is something you buy regularly for your kids, buy extra every time you shop to keep as a back up.  In the event your kid outgrows some of the stuff stockpiled, like diapers, just donate the leftovers to a charity that can use them.
• Consider stockpiling things you don't normally use for use during a disaster.  If you always use cloth diapers, stockpile some disposable diapers to use during a disaster.  Ditto formula even if you breastfeed, and canned baby food even is you usually make it yourself.
• Make sure each kid has EDC items with them like extra cash duct taped to the bottom of their backpack for use in an emergency as well as other emergency items.  Skip the weapons as schools tend to frown on kids with weapons.
• Make sure each kid has a BOB at home that they can grab in an emergency.  This should include all of the gear that you have but appropriate for them (kid-sized sleeping bag, etc).
• Make sure each kid is trained for emergencies in an age-appropriate manner.  Little kids can memorize their address and parents phone numbers.  All kids should know how to call 911.  Older kids can learn how to shut off utilities, escape the home during fire drills, and perform basic first aid skills.
• Once kids can go off on their own they should have their own cell phone with a tracking app on it.
• Kids should be kept busy so they stay out of trouble.  A useful way to do this (which is complementary to prepping) is to have them play sports, join cooking club, join scouting programs, etc.
• Let kids do for themselves as much as possible.  I know one mom who still cuts her teenager's meat at dinner.  Both of them will probably be useless in a disaster but kids who have a lot of skills can be really helpful in a disaster.  Kids who can take care of pets and younger children are helpful, kids who can cook dinner for the family are helpful, kids who have lots of experience camping and backpacking are helpful.  The whole helicopter/lawnmower parenting style is stupid.
• Stockpile special food (candy, favorite foods) and special entertainment (coloring books, games) that the kids don't know about and bring it out during a disaster as both a diversion and a way to keep kids entertained.
• Teach kids what to do in the event of various types of disasters (school shooting, fire at home, car accident, etc).
• Make sure your kids are as skilled as possible (swimming, ride a bicycle, self defense, shooting, etc).
• Make sure each kid has a written communication/meet up plan in their school backpacks.  In case the family gets separated, they need to know how to meet up again.
• Give your kids age-appropriate responsibilities during and after a disaster.  This will give them something to do besides worry and will teach them how to work together as a team.
• Have all of the things you would need on hand if your child turns up missing--a recent photo, physical description, dental records, even a DNA sample.
• After a disaster pay attention to any psychological issues your child may have and take appropriate steps to help them.

National Preparedness Month Day 23--Pet Preps

As we've seen in countless disasters, the need to make special preps for pets usually makes the evening news.  Whether you have household pets or livestock, prepping ahead of time for emergencies is vital if you want to be able to evacuate them from the scene of a disaster like a flood or a wildfire.  Here are some things to consider:

• Have a "bug out bag" for your pets.  Include a crate or cage, extra food, bedding, a leash, an ID tag with your contact info on it, pee pads, muzzle, registration and vaccination records, water bottle/bowl, towels, garbage bags, etc.
• Microchip your pet to ensure that if they are lost a local vet will be able to identify who they belong to.
• Know where you would be able to keep your pet in the event of an evacuation.  Does the hotel you are going to allow pets?  Does the emergency shelter in your town allow evacuees to bring pets with them?  Will local kennels shelter your pets if you can't take them with you?
• Will your method of transportation out of a disaster area allow you to take your pets with you?
• Are you skilled in basic animal first aid and have an animal-specific first aid kit on hand?
• Does your county extension office/livestock management agency have a disaster plan for area livestock?
• Do you have the equipment and means to evacuate your livestock ahead of a disaster?
• If you do evacuate your livestock where will you put them once you leave the area?
• If you must leave your pets or livestock behind, have you left them a way to escape (animals will often find higher ground on their own), taken off any harnesses or leads so they won't get tangled on anything, left food and water available for them, etc.
• Are your pets/livestock vaccinations up to date?
• Do you have a way to keep snakes/birds/other reptiles warm during and after evacuation?
• If you need to look for your pet after a disaster, do you have recent photos of them plus all pertinent information (age, breed, etc) that can be put on a flyer?

National Preparedness Month Day 22--Firearms

We touched on this topic briefly in the post on self defense but the idea of firearms and preparedness is so intertwined that it deserves its own post.

First of all, do you need firearms in order to be prepared?  In the US you would probably get a resounding yes, in other countries they may see this as illegal/unnecessary/too much of a hassle.  I have always owned firearm as has nearly everyone I know and I don't see them as "bad" per the media soundbites, but rather as a tool.

That said, there are many people who probably shouldn't own firearms.  If someone in the home is mentally ill or suffers from depression, if there are domestic violence or anger management issues with any family members, if someone in the home is a felon, or if you simply hate guns and everything to do with them, by all means don't have guns in the house.  People with guns in the home are exponentially more likely to see their firearms used for suicide and occasionally murder than they are to use them for self defense if any of the aforementioned conditions are present in the home.

For people who choose to have firearms, here are several things to consider:

• Take gun safety, intro to firearms, and personal protection classes first before you purchase a gun.  This gives you a lot of information about owning firearms (at which point you may choose not to own one which is fine) and it also gives you access to a variety of firearms so you can decide which ones you like and would want to own.
• Have the proper equipment when shooting.  Hearing protection and eye protection are critical; you will add to your shooting bag as you go along (targets, tool, cleaning kits, etc).
• Everyone in the family should learn about firearms, in an age appropriate manner.  This includes the wife and the children even if they never intend to use guns.Knowing how to safely handle a firearm is critical for everyone who will be near one.
• Commit yourself to practicing (a lot) with your firearms.  If you take one class, buy one handgun, and never use it until someone tries to break into your home 20 years later, you will have issues.
• Consider a variety of firearms for various purposes.  Having a handgun, rifle, and shotgun covers most of your bases.  Also consider a variety of ammunition for various purposes (they will teach you about this in class).
• If you choose to carry concealed outside of your home, learn about city/county/state/federal laws which pertain to this.  City and state laws in particular can vary widely.  You will also want to have a concealed carry license if this is required in your area.
• To get in some practice while having fun at the same time, consider joining a shooting league, participating in USPSA/IPSC, even getting into specialized shooting (black powder, clays, etc).
• Most importantly, figure out how you will secure your guns from kids, guests, and thieves that might break into your home.  There are a variety of gun safes, quick release boxes, gun locks, etc. that you can use.
• Finally, continually expand your knowledge of firearms.  Learn how to clean and care for your firearms, consider a reloading class, take advanced firearms classes if possible, etc.

National Preparedness Month Day 21--50 Common Disasters

You may never live in a place that will experience a typhoon or a tornado or an earthquake but part of preparedness planning is to have a general knowledge of common disasters so that in the event that you find yourself in said disaster situation (on vacation perhaps?) you will at least some idea of how to react.  These are 50 common disasters you should know about:

1. Active shooter
2. Earthquake
3. Hurricane
4. Wild fire
5. Tornado
6. Flood/Flash flood
7. Heat wave
8. Winter storm
9. Extreme cold
10. Tsunami
11. Volcanic eruption
12. Landslide
13. Chemical spill
14. Biological agent
15. Radiological incident
16. Nuclear attack
17. EMP Attack
18. Common medical emergencies
19. Avalanche
20. Workplace emergency
21. Wildlife incident (wilderness)
22. Wildlife incident (water)
23. Influenza pandemic
24. Infectious disease outbreak
25. Famine
26. Airline crash
27. Railway accident
28. Major car accident
29. Tropical diseases
30. Social unrest
31. Societal collapse
32. Drought
33. House fire
34. Food poisoning
35. Wilderness emergency
36. Terrorist attack
37. Electrical storm
38. Power outage
39. Gas line break
40. Maritime disaster
41. Sink hole
42. Hail storm
43. Blizzard
44. Robbery
45. Financial crisis
46. Kidnapping
47. Oil spill
48. Mass evacuation
49. Infrastructure failure
50. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

National Preparedness Month Day 20--Sanitation

The topic of sanitation gets its own discussion because of how important it is.  On a normal day, sanitation practices are usually a moot point unless you have a mother telling you to use soap when you wash your hands.  Our sanitation needs are generally take care of thanks to the municipal water department, the sewer department, the trash collectors, etc.

During and after a disaster, the need for sanitation services usually increases 100-fold while the availability of sanitation services usually disappears for a good long while.  A year after the huge hurricane in Puerto Rico, residents are still lacking clean water to drink, and the mess that is North Carolina still hasn't been fully realized (although anyone who decides to take a nice swim in the flood waters which are laced with sewage needs their head examined...and a good tetanus booster).

Here are some considerations regarding your plans for sanitation services after a disaster:

• Make sure the water you drink is clean.  This means drinking stored bottled water and if that runs out, finding and purifying any water you use for cooking and drinking.
• Keep your hands clean.  And its corollary, don't touch your face/nose/eyes with your dirty hands.  This can be done with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, clean water and soap, Wet Wipes, etc.
• If you are doing clean up work or touching dirty, possibly infected things, wear gloves (latex, rubber, nitrile, etc).
• Keep garbage stored in a separate area and try to dispose of it if possible.  Food garbage, except meat products, can be put in the compost pile, other garbage can be burned, some communities will set up garbage dumps/collection points to alleviate the trash sitting everywhere problem.
• Have copious amounts of cleaning products on hand.  These include a big bottle of hand sanatizer, big containers of wet wipes, bottles of bleach, bottles of ammonia (don't mix this with bleach!), etc.
• Sewage waste needs to be dealt with lest you have a serious communicable disease situation on your hands.  Flushing the toilet if the sewer pipes are still functioning is a good idea (you can flush without running water by pouring ladles of preferably grey water down the toilet), if the sewer doesn't work, you can dig a latrine (make sure it is deep enough and a ways away from any well water or spring sources), you can also use a 5 gallon bucket for a toilet with a sturdy plastic bag and cat litter/lime to kill the smell--remember to seal it after each use with the lid!).
• Flood waters pose a special sanitation problem as the water is usually carrying anything that has come up from the ground including sewage, oil, bacteria, viruses, dead animals, etc.  In other words, stay out of flood waters if at all possible and if you must go into flood waters try to use PPEs and wash off thoroughly afterwards.
• If you have your own water and sewer systems (well and septic tank), you will need to have your well water tested after the disaster to ensure it is still safe to drink.  You will also need to ensure your septic system is still functioning correctly and make any repairs needed.
• Any sanitation-related illnesses, from diarrhea to giardia to infected injuries will need immediate medical attention.
• You will also need to ensure that food that you plan to eat has not spoiled or become infected.

For more information on this topic check here, here, and here.

National Preparedness Month Day 19--Vehicle Preparedness

Having a vehicle can be critical to your ability to bug out in the event of a disaster.  If you have a vehicle (I say "if" because many people in cities opt not to have one in favor of public transit and Uber), here is how to ensure that it is always ready to go:

• Always keep your vehicle in good working order.
• Do regular maintenance on your vehicle both to ensure that it is in good working order and to increase its lifespan (oil changes, air filter changes, topping off fluids, etc).
• Make sure your registration and proof of insurance is in the glove box.
• Consider window tinting for your vehicle as well as installing a dash cam.
• Never let your gas tank drop below half a tank.
• If you can safely store an extra can or two of gas for your vehicle at home, do so.  Be sure to rotate this fuel regularly.
• Have good tires on your vehicle.
• If you live in or travel to areas where there may be snow, have snow tires or tire chains on hand.
• Always keep water and food in your car (be sure to rotate these items frequently).
• Keep the following emergency items in your vehicle: first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, work gloves, tarp, emergency flares or reflectors, jack, spare tire, FixAFlat, fire extinguisher, jumper cables/jump starter, rain poncho, umbrella, tow straps, rope, fire extinguisher, rags, window breaker/emergency escape tool, basic tools (pliers, wrenches, hammer, screwdrivers, etc), zip ties, duct tape, ice scraper, cell phone charger, mylar blankets, matches, zip loc bags, plastic garbage bags, wet wipes, paper maps, extra cash, down throw, change of clothes and small toiletry kit, battery or hand crank radio, whistle, N95 mask, multipurpose tool, any special supplies (stuff for your dog/kids/infants/etc).
• If you can legally carry a concealed weapon in your vehicle, have your weapon, holster, and spare magazines/ammo in a secure place in your vehicle.
• Know how to drive in all weather conditions (if, for example, you don't know how to drive in snow, go practice in a parking lot before hitting the road).  There are also plenty of YouTube videos on this subject.

National Preparedness Month Day 18--Doing Things the Old Fashioned Way

While society is racing towards the future at break-neck speed, there is something to be said for knowing how to do things "the old fashioned way".  Yes you can buy cheese at the local deli but have you ever made it yourself?  Or made jelly?  Hunted for your afternoon meal and turned the slain animal into a nice stew?

These days people can exist with very few actual skills.  You don't need to know how to fix your car or plumbing, many people have never gone fully off-grid into the wilderness and lived there for days or weeks on end, even being without their cell phone for an hour would send many people into fits without an always-on connection to the world at large.

If you get the opportunity (or if you can make the opportunity), by all means, experiment with doing things the old fashioned way.  Not only is this an interesting, informative way to spend your time, but in the event of something that sends our society back to the dark ages (a war, a massive power outage, a pandemic), you will be prepared for just about anything.

Some things to look into: gardening and canning your own produce, camping, bush craft skills, baking your own bread, fishing, making an item you always buy at the store (ketchup, mayonnaise, etc), knit or sew an outfit, make soap, build something (start with a simple bookshelf and move on from there)...the list of things you can do is pretty long.

National Preparedness Month Day 17--Home Safety

Since your home is your castle, you need to make sure it is a safe place for you and your family, on a daily basis as well as during an emergency.  Consider all of these ways to make your home more safe and secure:

• Have working smoke detectors in each bedroom and in common areas on each floor (change batteries each spring and fall).
• Have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home and garage/shop.
• Have your HVAC system serviced annually.
• Have your chimney cleaned annually.
• Make sure all doors and windows can be securely locked.
• Re-key locks when you move in and if people like roommates or renters have recently moved out.
• Make sure there are at least two ways to escape from each room of your home during a fire.
• Have fire extinguishers in your kitchen and garage/shop.
• Don't leave your garage door opener in your vehicle if the vehicle will be parked outside (thieves will break a window to get it then use it to enter your garage and then your home this way).
• Always keep your garage door closed unless you are actively using it.
• Keep all exterior doors locked when you are home unless you are actively using them.
• Fix all fall hazards in your home (wobbly steps, slippery area rugs, extension cords where people walk, etc).
• Keep poisons locked up and away from children and pets.
• Be aware of fire hazards such as candles, space heaters, etc.
• Fence your property for added security.
• Install an interior/exterior security system.
• Shred all documents with personal information on them before tossing them in the garbage.
• Prepare your home adequately for natural disasters (securing water heaters, bolting your home to its foundation, etc).
• Keep your blinds and drapes closed especially after dark so people can't see into your home.
• Make your home look lived in when you are away from home (lights on timers, etc).

National Preparedness Monday Day 16--Self Defense

Whether you are five or 95 years old, everyone needs to learn self defense.  And while many people automatically think self defense means hand to hand combat or shooting someone, there are a lot more things to learn--and a lot more ways to handle self defense situations--than those two options.

• The first, and most logical, method of self defense, is to not put yourself into a situation where you need to defend your life or that of a family member.  This could mean hardening your home to prevent intrusion (this topic will be covered later this month), staying away from high crime areas, not hanging out with people who others are gunning for (gang members and drug dealers top this list), not being out alone at night, not becoming intoxicated to the point of stupid in public, etc.
• Learning how to de-escalate a tense situation is another skill for avoiding the need for self defense.  Walking away from an incident that could evolve into a violent situation, not going back to a domestic violence abuser, not calling out a drunk fool in a bar who is running his mouth at you, not getting into a road rage incident if someone cuts you off in traffic...talking people down or simply walking away can stop a possible violent situation before it even starts.
• Running away--literally--from someone who is coming after you is not a bad idea.  If a bullied kid is faster than his opponent he has the upper hand when it comes to running.  And while I am all for standing up for yourself in a fair fight, these days every other coward is carrying a gun (yes, even junior high school-age kids) so the possible deadly outcome just isn't worth it.  If you find yourself in an active shooter situation, run if at all possible.  If you can escape a situation that could devolve into violence, leave.  It's that simple.
• Hiding is another option.  This is an especially useful skill for kids who could be easily overpowered.  This is also a good idea for victims of domestic violence or stalkers as well as people being chased by an active shooter.  If you can't be found, you can't end up in a situation where you need to defend your life.
• Learning physical self defense skills like karate or krav maga is a good idea for everyone.  Although getting into a hand-to-hand combat situation should be the very last way you defend yourself, having fighting skills to fall back on is a good idea (it's also good exercise).  Even if you are a big strong guy with a penchant for MMA, your opponent could always be stronger and better skilled, but you won't know this until you get your ass handed to you.  Plus the possibility that one wrong move--even being knocked down to the ground--could end up in a brain bleed and death, should put everyone off physical combat unless there is no other option.
• Less than lethal force options may be considered.  Using pepper spray or Mace which will give you enough time to escape once deployed is an option.  Having a knife or baseball bat is OK but too close to hand-to-hand combat to be a very good option for most people.  Ditto a taser or stun gun--you don't want an assailant close enough to disarm you because then you end up with no other options to protect yourself.
• Lethal force is a viable option for many people.  Note that this isn't an option for everyone because those who live in countries where gun ownership is restricted would have several problems defending themselves with a firearm.  Ditto keeping firearms in your home if someone in the home is often suicidal or prone to violence; the high likelihood that the firearm would be used for suicide or domestic violence in these situations should preclude having an accessible firearm in these cases.  For everyone else, shooting someone is self defense is a viable option--it keeps the assailant far enough away for them not to become a physical threat to you and has immediate stopping power depending on how accurate your shot is.  If you choose to use a firearm for self defense, know the laws in your area about this backwards and forwards, get trained on the use of your firearm (take both basic advanced firearm self defense classes if at all possible), and practice.  A lot.

National Preparedness Month Day 15--The Bug In Plan

There are certain situations, namely floods and wildfires, that will force you to bug out.  On the other hand, you also need to create a bug-in plan for situations in which you can stay at home as a way to protect yourself and your family.  Bugging in if at all possible is always a good idea as you have all of your gear and supplies with you and you aren't as vulnerable as being a roaming refugee.

When would bugging in be your optimal choice?  Things like winter snow storms, pandemic outbreaks and the like mean that you don't necessarily need to leave your home and in fact, you may actually be safer at home than out among the public.

The challenge when bugging in may well be...actually staying home.  Years ago, staying on the ranch and not going into town for days or even weeks was not uncommon.  Everything one needed was at home and going into town, especially if the next town was an hour or more down the road, was a major production.  These days most people live in more urban areas where nearly all of their life takes place somewhere other than at home.

Should the need arise to stay home for an extended period of time, for example, if the news tells everyone in your community to shelter in place until the order is lifted, what would you do?  Consider these things when creating a bug-in plan:

• Do you know your neighbors and can you work cooperatively with them?  During major storms it may be hard for responders to even get to you due to road closures or downed trees for example.  In these situations neighbors often pull together for things such as storm clean up, clearing downed trees, helping elderly neighbors bring in firewood, etc.
• Do you have everything you need at home so you don't need to risk life and limb to get to a store that will probably be closed anyway?  If you have been doing the steps outlined here for the past two weeks the answer is probably yes.  You need water, food, toilet paper, diapers, and all of the other things that you would usually go to the store for stockpiled at home.
• How would you keep everyone entertained?  In our 24/7 connected lives, entertainment usually comes from outside the home--cable TV, interacting with people on social media, playing online video games, etc--so you need to plan for things to keep everyone entertained without access to the outside world.  Board games, books, gardening tasks, etc. keep everyone busy and boredom at bay.
• Can you protect yourself and your family from outside threats?  In a pandemic situation where a deadly and highly contagious virus is spreading rapidly in your area, cutting off all connections with other people until the threat has passed may be your only option.  That means not answering the door and not interacting with others.  In a major snow storm this may mean keeping deep snow off your roof so it doesn't collapse and not going out on the roads which have been closed.  In a TEOTWAWKI event, it may mean protecting your home, your family, and your supplies from looters with deadly force if necessary.
• Understand the various reasons for (and actions to take) based on why you are bugging in.  If a shelter in place order has been given due to a chemical spill, you may need to bring pets and all family members inside, turn off all HVAC systems, and seal all windows/doors/air vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting.  If you are bugging in due to a tornado approaching, you will want to get all of the family into the basement or interior room, put on helmets if available, and cover yourselves with mattresses or blankets.
• You will also need a way to receive information from the outside.  This can be through AM/FM radio (battery or solar powered if there is no electricity), TV news, social media, push alerts, HAM radio, etc.  During a disaster the community will be notified through these various methods of communication if you should boil water (or forgo tap water all together), turn off your gas service, when the threat has been neutralized, etc.

National Preparedness Month Day 14--Your Communications Plan

Everyone needs a disaster communications plan.  Include the following things in your plan:

• All family members should have each other's cell numbers both on their cell phones as well as having these numbers written down and kept in a wallet in case your cell phone goes dead.
• All family members should likewise have several other ways to reach each other including email addresses, social media user names, and work/school numbers.  Again this info should be on each other's cell phones as well as written down and kept in a wallet.
• Everyone should know that even if cell phone calls won't go through, often text messages will.
• Even if the entire family is in the same community, the family should agree on a contact who lives out of the area that can be the person everyone calls to check in with if they can't reach each other.  Sometimes local phone/cell networks will be down in the local area but calls to out of the area will go through.
• A fun hobby for the family which can turn into a critical method of communications during a disaster is HAM radio.  Consider becoming certified HAM operators as a family and using this old fashioned (but still quite useful) technology as a hobby.
• Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, even Reddit) can be used to share information and messages with the family as well as your extended network of friends and family to keep them updated on your situation.
• If the family is separated by disaster, they should also check in with Safe & Well as well as Facebook's Crisis Response.
• Put your entire contact list (this can be typed as a document or downloaded as a .cvs file) on your backup thumb drive and give each family member a copy of this.  I have separate lists, one for business contacts and one for family/friends/other relatives, and ensure that each family member has a recently updated family contact list in case they need to get in contact with anyone in the extended family.
• Always keep some coins in your EDC.  Sometimes all phone networks may be down but pay phones--if you can find them--may still be in service.
• For receiving emergency communications from local and national sources, consider carrying a small AM/FM radio in your EDC bag.  Although most cell phones have the capability of receiving AM/FM radio via the phone and not through an app, this capability is often turned off by the cell company.
• You can ask for help from local first responder agencies in several ways.  You can call 911, in some areas you can text 911 for help, you can also reach out to these agencies through their Facebook/Twitter pages (this should be a last resort as these may not be monitored 24/7 by these agencies).
• Sign up for emergency alerts to your cell phone.  Some you may already receive (Amber Alerts, emergency weather alerts) and some you need to sign up for (local news stations, NOAA, local emergency management department, etc).
• Find out if your cell phone can be used like a walkie talkie even if cell phone service is down.
• If all communications are down, arrange a few meeting places with your family to meet up at.  The first should be in your neighborhood, if that is not accessible, you should have a secondary meet up location in your town, a third option in another state, and a TEOTWAWKI location in another country.

National Preparedness Month Day 13--Volunteer

The way to learn survival skills and also learn how to function during a disaster is with hands-on training.  Note that this training doesn't often come during an actual disaster (in that case it would be called flying by the seat of your pants), however volunteering in your community will help you learn vital skills which will be useful during a disaster.  If you have the time--whether an hour a month or more--consider one (or more) of these useful volunteer opportunities:

• Scouts (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts)
• Red Cross
• Search and Rescue
• Ham Radio Club (ARES/RACES)
• Shooting Club
• Fire Department (volunteer as an EMT and/or firefighter)
• Department of Emergency Management
• Homeless Shelter
• Food pantry/free meal program
• Hospital
• FEMA
• CERT Team
• Public Health Department
• Medical Reserve Corps
• Public Parks/State Parks/National Parks
• Non profits (outdoor organizations, etc)
• Habitat for Humanity
• ESAR/VHP
• Citizen Corps
• Medical Response Teams (Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, etc)
• Law Enforcement Reserve Program

National Preparedness Month Day 12--The Bug Out Plan

As the people along the Carolina coast are making perfectly clear this week, everyone needs to have a bug out plan.  If you must flee your home due to an impending disaster (hurricane, wildfire, tornado, etc) where will you go, how will you get there, how will you pay for the evacuation, and what will you take?

Ideally (and with enough money) you would be able to hop on a plane (or hop in your car) and head out to a pre-determined bug out location which could be a hotel in another state, a vacation cabin, a friend or relative's home, or maybe make the exodus in your RV and have all the comforts of home with you.  You would take your BOB with you as well as any other things you can't live without, and you will have plenty of money/supplies to keep you and the family fed, watered, and sheltered until you are able to return home.

On the flip side, there were several buses headed out of coastal North Carolina this morning with the poor, the elderly, and the otherwise ill prepared who were given free transportation to shelters outside of the storm area.  Many of the buses had to stop at several shelters until they found a place to leave these people as shelters were full and moving the buses along further inland in the hopes of finding a place to house these people for an indeterminate time.  It is great that the people who have very little are offered shelter, food, water, and even medical care all for free yet these people have no control over what happens to them.  A couple people who I talked to who were on one of the buses said the normal two hour drive to Raleigh turned into a 16 hour ordeal until they finally found a shelter to take them in.  They have no idea how long they will be at the shelter and no idea what, if anything, they will return to.  If the hurricane is as big as the news is making it out to be, their homes may be washed away.

Thus the need for a bug out plan.  You need to have several options for where you would bug out to, several options for leaving your area (FWIW there wasn't a single plane, train, or bus ticket to be had out of the area yesterday or today), a plan for when to leave (earlier is better, the people leaving today were caught in a very slow, many mile long queue of backed up of traffic), a plan for having or acquiring gas/food/water/other supplies en route if needed as well as at your destination, a plan for a longer than usual term stay at your destination (depending on how much of the coastal towns are wiped out by the hurricane, authorities may not allow people to return for quite a while until electricity and other vital services are restored), and a plan for what to do after you return (this may include clean up and restoration of your home or, worst case scenario, you may return to a flat patch of ground and that's all).

As part of your preparedness planning, make a general bug out plan with as many details as possible and have as much money and other financial resources available for such an emergency.

National Preparedness Month Day 11--Insurance

As part of your preparedness tasks, you need to look into your insurance coverages.  Years ago people could self-insure to some extent but with a basic visit to the emergency room costing $100k or more depending on your situation, self insurance is pretty much out of the question these days.  Consider the following types of insurance:

• Car insurance.  It is the law to have car insurance and for good reason, a simple wreck can cost many thousands of dollars in medical and car replacement costs.  Call around for the best rates as costs can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on the insurance company.  Also, make sure you have reasonable coverage (you don't want to carry a cheap $10k policy when a wreck could cost you $100k in which case you could end up in a lawsuit to recover the difference between what is owed and what the insurance company covered).  
• Homeowners insurance/renters insurance.  If you own a home (or even rent) it is pretty much a requirement to have homeowners/renters insurance.  One big disaster and you could be left standing in the street with nothing.  Renter's insurance is pretty basic and fairly inexpensive as it usually covers the contents of your home as well as liability in case someone is injured on your property.  Homeowner's insurance needs to be evaluated carefully so that you know what is covered.  Often earthquake damage requires an additional policy as does flood damage, tornado damage is usually covered and some hurricane damage may be covered.  Be sure you fully understand your policy and what it does and does not cover.
• Life insurance.  Single people with no responsibilities should have basic life insurance to cover the cost of their death (burial/cremation/funeral) should the unexpected happen.  People with more responsibilities such as a spouse, dependent kids, a business, etc. need more coverage.  A financial adviser can give you information on either whole life or term insurance policies as well as help you figure out how much insurance coverage you would need to "replace" yourself  and keep your family/business solvent in the event of your demise.
• Health insurance.  The fastest way to go bankrupt in the US these days is to have no or poor health insurance and have a major medical incident happen.  Our health insurance situation is the US is an expensive mess but any coverage you can get will be better than nothing.
• Long-term care insurance.  Most people don't give much thought to how they would cover expenses if they were not able to work for an extended period of time due to an accident or extended illness.  A good emergency fund will help out with this but if you need additional funds to cover a caregiver, a home remodel to accommodate medical equipment, or medical equipment that isn't covered by insurance, this could be a serious drain on your finances.
• Other insurance.  There are several other insurance coverages to consider depending on your situation including a general liability policy, business policy, riders for jewelry or art, etc.  A good insurance broker can give you more information on these.

National Preparedness Month Day 10--Threat Assessment

Part of being prepared is knowing what to be prepared for and part of knowing what to be prepared for is to do a threat assessment.  The most basic type of threat assessment you can do is to determine what types of hazards you are most likely to encounter where you live.  If the hazard occurs, how would it impact you and your community, then knowing what the impact may be, how would you prepare for such incidents?

There are a number of threat assessments which have already been done that can help you begin.  Each state has done threat assessments to determine what risks there are state-wide, and most counties and cities have done similar assessments.  Simply Google your state, county, and city to find similar plans for your area.  It's pretty dry reading but will give you a general overview of hazards you should be concerned with. 

Next, after doing some research, make a list of the natural and man-made hazards most likely to impact your area.  When you walk and drive around your community, make note of any specific hazards you see which could become future problems (like creeks near your home that could flood, natural gas pipelines that run near your home, etc).

Your list of threats should include personal (home fire, school shooter if you have kids in school), man-made (natural gas pipeline, railroad nearby which often is use to transport petroleum and chemicals, high profile tourist area, etc), and natural (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, etc) threats.  Put your list of potential hazards in order from most likely to happen to least likely to happen.  Eventually you want to become familiar with all types of hazards--from tsunamis and pandemics to tornadoes and wildfires since you never know what might happen when you are on vacation--but your top priority should be to prepare for what is most likely to happen in your area.

Google "how to prepare for (hazard)" for each of your most likely hazards then make a list of things you need to do.  If hurricanes are common in your area, you will find thousands and thousands of 'how to prepare for a hurricane' pages online.  Study these pages and then create a "to do" list to prepare for a hurricane which might include: determining how to evacuate, buying storm shutters, signing up for community alerts, checking your home insurance to see if you are covered for hurricanes, etc.

The more you know about common disasters in your area and the more prepared you are ahead of time, the more likely you are to survive when a disaster unexpectedly hits.

National Preparedness Month Day 9--Alternate Utilities

Today I want you to think about alternate ways to accomplish your everyday activities.  In the event that everything you have always taken for granted is wiped out--things like heating and air conditioning and electricity and running water and a working sewer system--consider how you would do things like staying warm, washing the dishes, and even using the bathroom.  As always when planning, make a triple-redundant plan.  Here are some examples:

• Heating.  When the heat goes out, what do you do?  In my part of the country you throw on an extra layer or grab a blanket and you are good but in places like the northeast, having heat is pretty important.  There are a number of alternate heat sources including having a generator with extra fuel, having a kerosene heater with extra fuel, bundling up with extra clothes/blankets/sleeping bags, as well as using several old fashioned tricks to conserve heat.
• Air conditioning.  For many people, having the air conditioning go out is an inconvenience but if you live in sweltering parts of the country, not having air conditioning can be deadly.  Believe it or not, though, we haven't always have air conditioning yet people still survived by using a number of "old fashioned" methods to keep cool.  Note that in some kinds of disasters, communities set up "cooling shelters" for people to seek relief from the heat.
• Electricity.  I remember one time the electricity went out and the kids had literally no idea what to do.  They kind of sat staring into their no longer functioning electronic devices for a while until they realized board games had been invented for some non-electric fun and entertainment.  Since having instant electricity is so ubiquitous it is pretty shocking when there suddenly isn't any.  Alternatives for when the power goes out may include solar power, a generator and extra fuel, hand powered items like radios and flashlights, using your car battery to charge small items like cell phones, or doing without.  The doing without part is best learned by taking weekend or longer trips into the wilderness and living sans electricity for a while.
• Gas.  Natural gas may power your clothes dryer, your hot water heater, your heating system, and/or your kitchen stove.  How would you do these tasks if there was suddenly no gas service?  For cooking we have a patio grill as well as backpacking stoves and extra fuel.  We could also whip up a bonfire in the backyard although a long term fuel source for this would be a problem.  For drying clothes we have sun and would need to only rig up a clothes line in the back yard.  For hot water heating the old-fashioned stove top/wood stove top method works (but requires a lot of fuel).  For heating, having a wood stove/fire place may be an option as well as having a kerosene heater with extra fuel on standby.
• Water.  When the water stops flowing, what do you do?  We have already covered stockpiling water for drinking and cooking in an emergency but for long-term situations with no water, you will need to use alternate water sources (and purification).  You will need buckets and containers to carry water from the source (lake, stream, public water distribution area), you will need a way to purify the water if needed, as well as a way to sterilize your water containers to prevent contamination (bleach works for this).  Depending on where you live you may also be able to hand-dig a well or catch rainwater for alternative water sources.
• Sewer.  If sewer service suddenly fails, you will have problems.  Depending on the type of sewer system you have, your problems may vary.  Septic systems have their own issues and if you own one, you probably know how to baby it along (fixing them often requires a backhoe and a lot of work and materials).  Municipal sewer failures can run the gamut from back flow to outflow into undesirable areas.  If your sewer system still works, it is only a matter of flushing the toilet which can be accomplished by pouring water down the toilet (reusing grey water for this is a good idea).  If the sewer system is literally broken and can't be used, your options are digging a privy in the backyard or using 5 gallon buckets full of cat litter.
• Garbage removal.  We are pretty spoiled these days with nearly instant garbage removal from our homes.  We can create mountains of trash then once or twice a week it disappears to who knows where.  If garbage removal completely stops, however, it won't take long for people to realize they have a big problem on their hands.  Some alternate options for trash removal include: composting, burning, and burying trash.  Reducing the amount of garbage your create is a good option, as is saving things that may be used later (folks who survived the Depression were experts at this.  I didn't know what it was like to drink from anything but jelly jars and Mason jars until I was an adult!).
• Phone.  I don't know anyone who still has wired phone service in their home, as most people rely on cell service.  In the event that cell service is wiped out, how would you communicate with others?  Possibilities include using a neighbor/neighboring business's landline phone, using a satellite phone (expensive), or using HAM radio.  Note that before phones, people's options were to walk/run/ride to bring a message, writing letters, or, in the not so distant past, we would tack written messages on trees (especially in the mountains when hunting) for people we knew would be passing through the area.
• Internet.  While most people get their internet through their cable provider, if this system is down, what are your alternatives?  You may consider: using the internet on your phone if it is still available, getting satellite internet (an expensive proposition), finding a public wifi hotspot, using DSL, or even using dial-up internet.  For most people in a disaster though, going without internet may be your only option.  Be prepared for this possibility.

National Preparedness Month Day 8--Your BOB

Another preparedness item that everyone should have on hand is a Bug Out Bag (BOB).  The chances that you will need to grab this bag and flee at a moment's notice due to an apocalyptic event is close to nil but there are dozens of everyday reasons that having this prepacked "overnight bag on steroids" ready to go is a good idea. 

I've used my BOB when our neighborhood was evacuated due to an armed stand-off that took many hours to resolve, when the spouse had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital for a week, when I met a buddy in a city three hours from my home and decided to get a hotel overnight instead of driving back late at night...the possibilities are endless for the usefulness of your BOB.  I've also seen people evacuated due to wildfires/hurricanes/tornadoes with very little notice.  If they had a bag packed, they were far and away more prepared than people who got the evacuation notice and ended up in a panic because they didn't know what to take and what to leave behind.

The basic premise of putting your BOB together is to determine what you would need if you had five minutes to grab your bag and go for an undetermined amount of time.  What kind of stuff would you need?  Since I generally plan on getting a hotel in most instances when I can't return home, my BOB is pretty much an overnight bag.  I have separate gear for backpacking which I would take in the event that I was heading out to the wilderness for an undetermined amount of time.

The contents of your BOB should include:

• EDC bag (it goes with you everywhere)
• A bag.  I prefer a 35l backpack, others prefer a duffel bag or even a suitcase.
• Tech.  Laptop and charger, a mini travel mouse, extra batteries for the mouse, a power pack and on-ear headphones.  Note, your cell and charger should be in your EDC bag.
• Clothing.  Besides what you are wearing, pack a complete change of clothing which can be layered, a pair of flip flops, hat, gloves, poncho, rain gear, puffy jacket, buff, etc.
• Water and food.  A couple bottle of water in addition to enough food to last your for a few days to a week should be included in your BOB.
• Toiletries.  Include a basic toiletries kit which includes: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mirror, comb, soap, deodorant, razor, tweezers, nail clippers, nail file, and Vaseline.
• Fix it kit.  This should include sewing kit, folding scissors, zipties, rubberbands, and duct tape.
• Medical kit.  It should include bandaids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, moleskin, benadryl, acidophilous, aspirin, Tylenol, opiod pain killer tabs, Super Glue, gauze pads, medical tape, condom, Ace bandage, Thera Flu, and Quick Clot.  Also include extra prescription meds, feminine hygiene products, make up, an Epi Pen, glucose tabs, glasses, and hearing aids/batteries, etc. 
• Wilderness emergency packet including sunscreen, matches, lighter, paracord, emergency blanket, compass, whistle, magnifying glass, electrolyte tabs, water purification tabs, bandanna.
• Other backpacking gear.  For an extended outdoor trip pack a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, tent footprint, stove and fuel, toilet paper, bear spray, bug spray, trowel, GPS, maps, headlamp/batteries, water filter system, mess kit/spork, Bonners soap, trekking poles, ziploc bags, pack rain cover.
• General travel items.  These include: air/bus/train tickets, passport/visas, an unlocked cellphone, extra memory cards, power adapter, and cash.
• Depending on the situation you may want to add a concealed pistol, holster, spare magazine, box of ammo.

National Preparedness Month Day 7--Your EDC Bag

In order to be prepared for a disaster, you need to be prepared at all times.  If you are only prepared for a disaster when you are at home, what happens if disaster strikes when you are away from home?  One way to be prepared for whatever may happen each time you walk out the door is to put together a comprehensive EDC (everyday carry) bag.  Consider including the following contents:

• Bag (day pack, messenger bag, briefcase, purse, etc)
• Keys
• Watch
• Wallet/ID
• Cash/coins/credit cards
• Pre-paid cards or apps (gas, restaurants, coffee shops, subway, etc)
• Business cards
• Print out of emergency contacts (kept in wallet)
• Pen
• Mini Sharpie marker
• Small notebook
• Cell phone/charger
• UBS battery charger
• Spare batteries (for flashlight, radio, etc)
• Earbuds
• Mini USB drive (formatted, blank)
• Mini USB drive (with all back up files on it)
• Spare SD card (for cell phone)
• Small GPS tracker tag (in bag)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Hand lotion
• Personal items (glasses, hearing aids/batteries, denture cream, contacts/solution, etc)
• Bottle of water
• Mini thermos/stainless insulated water bottle
• Carabiner
• Paracord bracelet
• Packet of tissues
• Wet Wipes
• Dental floss
• First aid kit: Bandaids, packet of Tylenol, aspirin, and ibuprofin, packet of benadryl, packet of antacid, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment packet, cough drops, regular prescription meds, emergency prescription meds (antibiotics, pain killers, etc), glucose tabs, electrolyte tabs, needle, petroleum jelly
• Lip balm/make up
• Fit-it kit: safety pins, rubber bands, paper clips, mini Super Glue, zip ties, mini sewing kit
• Razor blade
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Vitamins
• Condom
• Tampon
• Bandanna
• Lighter
• Matches
• Magnesium fire stick
• Gum/breath mints
• Food: energy gels, granola bars, packets: soup, coffee, tuna, dried fruit, etc.; chocolate/candy
• Pocket knife or multi tool
• Small compass
• Small handgun
• Spare ammo/magazine
• Holster
• Locking/fixed blade knife
• Small whistle
• Mini flashlight
• Ziploc bag
• Plastic garbage bag
• Mylar emergency blanket
• Tiny AM/FM radio
• Hat
• Small mirror
• Mini can opener
• Small spool of thin wire
• Spork/chopsticks
• Duct tape
• Mace/pepper spray
• Water purification tabs
• Gloves 
• Umbrella
• Light jacket
• Rain gear (rain jacket, rain poncho, etc)
• Thin glow sticks (bracelet and necklace size)
• Toiletries (toothpaste/toothbrush, comb, deodorant, etc)
• Couple of individually wrapped toothpicks
• Piece of fluorescent fabric 

National Preparedness Month Day 6--First Aid

We use basic first aid skills all the time.  Your kid falls down, you disinfect the injury and put a band aid on it.  You have a headache, you take a Tylenol.  In order to add to your preparedness "tool box" you will need the following things to up your first aid game:

• A comprehensive first aid kit in your house (with items you know how to use).  As you gain first aid skills and knowledge, add items to the kit that correspond to your level of training.  I've seen people ask on forums where to find ET tubes and spreaders but have absolutely no advanced first aid training.  That is both a waste of money and a possible law suit.
• A good first aid kit for your car.  Yes we are being redundant but you may need first aid supplies when you are away from home.  This kit doesn't need to be as comprehensive as your home kit but it should still be pretty thorough.
• Smaller first aid kits for: your EDC (everyday carry bag), your BOB (bug out bag), your backpack, your RV, your boat, etc.
• Books on first aid, both the book kind and the e-book kind.  You can Google for free e-books on the topic (example) and often find good deals on used first aid books to keep at home in the event that your tablet/computer with your e-books on it becomes unusable.
• Basic first aid training.  Many community organizations (Red Cross, fire departments, hospitals, etc) offer basic first aid classes which cover things like CPR/AED/basic first aid skills, often for free.
• Advanced first aid training.  To really get a handle on how to deal with first aid emergencies when you are the only person around, consider getting advanced first aid training either by taking a course (example) or by becoming a volunteer EMT (two-month EMT school is often paid for by the agency you volunteer for).  The great thing about becoming an EMT, besides helping out communities that desperately need help in this area, is that you get field experience which you won't come by in any other situation unless you are a medic in the military.
• Even more advanced training.  Those with a career in medical care get some pretty useful lifesaving skills courtesy of their job.  Nurses, paramedics, doctors, surgeons...the time and money commitment to achieve these levels of training is pretty big but so is the skill set you end up with.
• Necessary medication.  If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, strive for an extra 90 day supply to have on hand in the event of a major disaster.  Remember to rotate this medication so it doesn't expire.
• Grow medicinal herbs in your garden.  These are good standbys to have in case of emergency.  Of course, learn how to use these herbs appropriately and knowledgeably.
• Consider other options in case of emergency.  The most obvious option is to evacuate the ill person ahead of any disaster so there is no interruption in critical medical care.  I've heard that some people will use easier to acquire animal antibiotics when they can't get a prescription for human antibiotics (I don't recommend this unless the only other option is death).  I've also seen "homestead medicine" in action (generally do it yourself sutures and the like...also not really recommended but generations of people lived through such experiences).  Prescription pain killers are always good to have in an emergency but getting the prescription can often be difficult because of the possibility of misuse (opiod epidemic and all that).
• Specialized first aid gear.  I think community-placed AEDs are a great idea.  These are pretty spendy but in the proper location (gyms, golf courses, first responder vehicles) they can save a life.  Some people choose to buy such gear for their own home, however this is usually done because of a known medical issue with a family member as opposed to having one "just in case".
• Volunteer for medical-related events just for the experience.  You often don't need credentialed medical skills to volunteer at community medical-related events like health fairs, vaccination clinics, disaster medical drills, etc.  These are interesting learning opportunities and also give you some good contacts in the medical community.
• If you or a family member are chronically ill, make a plan with your healthcare providers (doctor, home health aid, caregiver, etc) for what would happen during a disaster (oxygen delivery, medication delivery, long-term insulin storage, is remote-access care a possibility, etc).  And make the plan triple redundant.
• Keep copies of you and your family members' detailed medical histories, allergies, vaccinations, current prescriptions, doctor's name, health insurance info, etc. with your emergency planning documents (or stuck on the fridge in the case of an elderly or ill family member who lives alone so it will be easily accessible to first responders in the event of an emergency).
• Find out, in advance, if your community will set up shelter space for medically fragile people during a disaster.  Some communities do, some don't. 
• Have a list of all local medical services in your area: hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, fire departments, etc.

National Preparedness Month Day 5--Your Health

The most important way you can be prepared for anything is to be in good health.  Whether you need to escape an active shooter by running a good distance, find yourself in an area like Puerto Rico after a massive hurricane which wipes out all medical services, or have a smaller emergency which requires working a 16 hour shift/nursing a sick child all night/walking to work because your car is dead, being in excellent health to begin with will make all of these situations a little easier to deal with.

Your good health encompasses the following areas:

• Having your vaccinations up to date.  Anti vaxxers are idiots, don't listen to them; unless there is a solid medical reason for not being vaccinated, save yourself/your kid a bout of measles or polio and keep your vaccines up to date.  
• Eating nutritious food.  A Whole Food Plant Based diet works wonders for many people.  
• Exercising every day.  Include cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises such as stretching, walking/jogging, calisthenics, and weights.
• Mind your health metrics.  Keep your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol numbers in check.
• Have your vision and hearing checked/corrected as needed.
• Stay on top of your dental health as well (it's pretty heard to function with tooth pain, an abscess, or rotting teeth).
• Also take care of your mental health.  Stress reduction, developing coping skills, and asking for help when you need it are all important parts of your mental, and in fact, overall, health.
• If you must take prescription or OTC medication, try to stockpile at least a 90 day supply in case you can't get to a pharmacy to refill your prescriptions in a timely manner.
• If you have significant health issues, make a comprehensive plan for what you would do in an emergency (do you have someone to call in to help you, do you have back-up electricity for necessary medical devices, are you able to evacuate far in advance of any possible disaster headed your way, do you have back-up glasses/hearing aids, etc).

National Preparedness Month Day 4--Your Emergency Plans

Warm up your laptop and let's get to writing, you have some plans to make.  An emergency plan should be written, it should be updated at least twice a year or any time there are significant changes to make, and it should be available digitally so that it can be shared with family members.  You will need to following information:

• Personal information for each family member (full name, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, social media contact info, social security number, driver's license number, passport number, full physical description, recent face and full body photos, school/employer name and contact info).  If you have pets, have this information for pets as well.
• Scanned copies of personal documents: passport, driver's license, DD 214, military ID, diplomas/certificates/credentials, school records.
• The name/number/email address of friends or relatives who can be called in an emergency (someone in your local area, someone in your state, someone out of state, someone out of country if necessary).
• A copy of your children's school emergency plans, a copy of your employer's emergency plan, and copies of your local/city/county/state emergency plans.
• A local map showing important services and contact info (schools, vet, doctor, utility providers, grocery stores, pharmacies, police department, fire department, local hospitals, tsunami evacuation routes, community emergency shelters, etc).
• A list of emergency meeting places (in your neighborhood, in your town, in your state, out of your state, out of your country).
• A medical history, list of allergies, and list of current medications (prescription and OTC) for each family member.   Include medical insurance info, doctor's name and location, vaccination info, etc.
• A map of at least four different evacuation routes from your home to out of town.
• A digital copy/location of: will, medical directive/POLST, power of attorney, medical power of attorney, living will, bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance accounts, list of creditors, deeds and titles for property, health records, pet records, marriage certificates, death certificates, birth records, adoption records, divorce records, military records.  Include location of safety deposit box/keys as well as off-site storage locations and access info.
• Name and contact info for attorneys, CPAs, will executor, insurance agent. 
• A digital video/written inventory of everything in your home and on your property.  Include receipts for purchase of items, serial numbers, warranty info, etc.
• List of all income sources/future income sources (retirement plans, pensions, royalties, trust information, current pay stubs, tax records).
• List of legal/court documents (charging documents, court judgement, legal case disposition records, divorce decrees, parenting plans, child support orders, etc).
• Description of all vehicles owned (photos, description, make model, year, VIN#, registration info).
• Your bug-in plan.  How will everyone get home, what steps should be taken in an emergency (boarding up windows, shutting off utilities), how will your home be protected, etc.
• Your bug-out plan.  Where will you go (several options), how will you get there, how will you pay for getting there/gas/food/lodging, what will you take with you.
• List of the most common types of emergencies in your area and lists of ways you will prepare for these.

Resources:

• A comprehensive personal planning document.
• Ready.gov Checklists
• Red Cross Fillable Plan Form