With the credibility of the recent Presidential Election being compromised, and mobs of ANTIFA and BLM threatening the peace and security of the American people, the uncertainty in today's America has made it so that there are real benefits to being prepared.
According to FEMA, whether its a Natural Disaster or Civil Unrest, there are benefits to being prepared, including:
So why prepare?
According to FEMA, whether its a Natural Disaster or Civil Unrest, there are benefits to being prepared, including:
• Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter during a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.
• People also can reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home or moving a home out of harm’s way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger completely. The need to prepare is real.
• Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property.
• If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.
• You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area—hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism.
• You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least thirty days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, sanitation, and prescriptions if you take medications. This is especially true for diabetics and persons with high blood pressure.
Could you make it on your own for at least thirty days?
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
• People also can reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home or moving a home out of harm’s way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger completely. The need to prepare is real.
• Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property.
• If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.
• You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area—hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism.
• You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least thirty days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, sanitation, and prescriptions if you take medications. This is especially true for diabetics and persons with high blood pressure.
Could you make it on your own for at least thirty days?
It’s crucial to plan for your regular needs and know what you would do if they become limited or unavailable. Your concern should be with the following:
- Food
- Water
- Medical Supplies
- Safety & Security
- Power & Heat
- Tools & Misc.
- Communications
- Comfort Items
Basic 30-Day Supplies
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least thirty days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food) to include: Sugar, Salt, Honey, Rice, Dried Beans, Oats, Wheat, Flour, Pasta, Powdered Milk/Canned Milk, Powdered Cheese/Canned Cheese, Canned Butter, Peanut Butter, Cooking Oil, Baking Powder/Soda, Coffee, Tea bags, Corn Starch, Spices, Apple Cider Vinegar, Canned goods including Canned Tuna, Canned Corn, Beans, Green Beans, Beets, Peaches, and Canned Meats.
- Filling your vehicles' gas tanks
- Having money on hand because banks and ATMs may be closed down.
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery. Extend the contract to not lose service.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Emergency blankets
- Matches
- Medications (30-day supply) and Medical Equipment
- First Aid Kit, to include: pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, laxatives, Hydrogen Peroxide, Band-Aids, Neosporin, ACE bandages, rolled gauze, butterfly bandages / sterisrtips, Burn Jel, Duoderm, first aid tape, scissors/shears, Nitrile gloves, alcohol pads, Tylenol/aspirin, Thermometer, snake bit kit, Benadryl, Vaseline, Pedialyte, Aloe-vera, tweezers, hand-sanitizer, Qtips/cotton balls, Vitamins/prescription meds, Insect repellent, Chapstick, smelling salts, Charcoal tablets, Antibiotics, Potassium/iodide tablets, and Isopropyl alcohol.
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Rain gear
- 8 to 10 inch Hunting Knife
- Ax
- Shovel
- Rope
- Generator if possible for use during a prolonged power outage.
- Manual can opener and Kitchen utensils including knives, spoons, forks, pots, and pans.
- Tools, including wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place
- Garbage bags, plastic ties, anti-bacteria dish soap
- Local maps
- Whistle to signal for help
- Work gloves
- Additional work clothing and work boots
- Any Additional Emergency Supplies Not Named
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
- Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces.
- Prescription medications
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children in isolation.
Use the guidelines below to prepare a plan for caring for pets and large animals. Guidelines for Pets Plan for pet disaster needs by:
• Identifying shelter.
• Gathering pet supplies.
• Ensuring your pet has proper ID and up-to-date veterinarian records.
• Providing a pet carrier and leash. Take the following steps to prepare to shelter your pet:
• Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information.
• Keep veterinary records to prove vaccinations are current.
• Find out which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are located. Be sure to research some outside your local area in case local facilities close.
• Know that, with the exception of service animals, pets are not typically permitted in emergency shelters as they may affect the health and safety of other occupants.
Guidelines for Large Animals
If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs on your property, be sure to prepare before a disaster. Use the following guidelines:
1. Have an extended amount of feed on hand
2. Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
3. Evacuate animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
4. Make available vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal.
5. Make available experienced handlers and drivers.
6. Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care, and handling equipment.
7. If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them out where they can find water and forage for food.
While the above recommendations come from FEMA, we must consider the needs of all family members and add those supplies to what you have on hand. Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Tom Correa
