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(Not Complete...But Why Wait?) |
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Preparedness Made Simple Is a preparedness plan designed for those that need a little help getting prepared. Many of us, when we think about getting prepared, become overwhelmed, don’t know where to start and fail to really start at all. Preparedness Made Simple is a checklist of items in priority order of what you need to do to prepare and see results. Upon completion of the program, you can call yourself prepared! Alongside each checklist item will be information explaining each principle along the way. This guidebook of information will provide you with the basic understanding of these concepts and direct you to other sources should you choose to learn more. Keep in mind that every person and family is different and has different needs. Some items may need to be altered to accommodate these needs. Certainly, this plan will not cover all your needs, however, by following it you will have prepared the basics and have learned the vision of what is needed to more fully prepare based on your individual needs. Preparedness is difficult when each person has to develop their own plan and often times “reinvent the wheel” along the way. Make your life easier and get prepared, the Preparedness Made Simple way. |
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3. A flashlight or chemical (Cyalume) light stick under each bed will help you see where you are going during an emergency that takes place at night. Many disasters are accompanied with power failures. It is especially critical for parents of young children to have a flashlight handy so they can make their way to help their children as soon as possible without fumbling for flashlights or replacing batteries. Teach your children where the flashlights are and when it is appropriate to use them. Other “Play” flashlights may need to be made available to distract from the novelty of the emergency flashlights under their beds. You should refrain from using these emergency flashlights under normal conditions, so you can ensure that your batteries are fully charged when you need them. Many flashlights now come with LED bulbs. LED bulbs use much less energy to operate so the batteries will last much longer while in use. |
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Additional Information (Beginning Level Phase 1) |
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true, in fact white is at the bottom of the scale for both brightness and duration. The brightest and longest lasting color is Green followed by Yellow then Orange. Blue, Purple then White are at the bottom of the scale. |
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4. We are fortunate to have a domestic water supply that pumps clean water directly to our homes. Situations may arise, however, that can interrupt or contaminate this supply of safe drinking water. |
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Chemical light sticks are inexpensive. They range in price from $.65 to $2.00 a piece. There are two types of “glow sticks”. “Novelty” and “Industrial”. The novelty type are less expensive and usually last anywhere from 1-6 hours. The “Industrial” or “Safety” type light sticks start around $1.10 each and last about 12 hours. These obviously will last longer than the novelty type light sticks and are brighter. Light sticks are sold in a foil wrapper which keeps them fresh longer. They should stay in this wrapper until ready for use. Glow Sticks are great to have around during power outages. They can be used as a comfort item or night-lights for children. They are also a great source of light during a gas leak when the use of a flashlight could ignite the gas vapor and cause an explosion. Glow sticks are available in several colors. One might assume that “White” would be the brightest or longest lasting color. This is not |
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Flashlight & Light Stick Under Bed |
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Attached to Bedrail with Velcro |
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Light Sticks |
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Clean drinking water is the single most important item you should store as you start your emergency preparedness measures. FEMA, Red Cross, and many other relief agencies recommend storing a minimum of 1 gallon of drinking water per day, for a 3 day period, in portable containers. This 1 gallon of water represents 2 quarts for drinking & 2 quarts for food preparation and cleaning purposes. 1 gallon of water per day clearly is a "bare bones" minimum of water you should store. It is based on just enough water for you to sit and wait out the emergency. It assumes you are in cool temperatures and that you will not be moving much at all (Basal Metabolism). It assumes you are healthy and not getting dirty enough to require more than the occasional “hand washing” or “wipe down” with a moist washcloth that the simplest hygiene measures would require. So, let’s suppose that we are faced with an emergency that requires us to be active. Let’s say we are performing search and rescue, or building a shelter, or walking to a neighboring town? What if this emergency happens in the middle of the |
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summer? What if a family member becomes ill, and requires more fluids to drink or more hygiene needs? What about babies? Without modern conveniences, maintaining their good hygiene could be difficult. All of these examples would increase your daily water requirement. Remember, we live in the desert. Our daily water requirement is even greater. I recommend storing 2 gallons of water per person per day or 6 gallons of water for each person. This emergency water supply, should be stored in small, portable containers that can be taken with you in an emergency. This water should be stored in a location in your garage or near an exit (next to your 72-hour kits) where they can be easily grabbed on your way out the door. If you have the room, store as much water as possible. You can never have too much clean drinking water. This water is different than your 2 week water supply that we will talk about later. Make sure that whatever containers you use, are food grade quality. 55 gallon barrels are a good water storage option as long as you are staying at home. We will discuss their use when we discuss the 14 day water supply. The |
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purpose of this water storage is mobility. It is water you can take with you in case you need to evacuate. Some possible “portable” storage containers include: 2-liter soda bottles, 1 gallon apple juice bottles, and 5 gallon water jugs. 1 gallon of water weighs approximately 8.33 lbs. Make sure that the bottles you select are food grade quality and have tight fitting screw-cap lids. Opaque containers are best. Translucent containers may allow algae growth, but rotating your water every 6-12 months will reduce this risk. Do not use milk jugs. Milk jugs do not have tight fitting lids and are bio-degradable. They will begin to break down within 6 months. Try to avoid using glass |
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or metal containers. Glass and metal containers are heavier than plastic and glass is more easily broken. Metal containers can give water a metallic taste. Water stored in metal containers should not be treated with bleach, prior to storage, the chlorine compound is corrosive to most metals. Also avoid using chlorine bleach bottles for storing water. They contain an anti-static agent which prevents accumulation of dust during storage. Plastic is permeable to certain vapors, water stored in plastic should not be near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances. It is advisable to store plastic water containers away from direct sunlight. If sunlight is unavoidable, replace the water every 6-12 months. Tap water is recommended for your long term water storage. It is clean, cheap and easy to rotate. Make sure that |
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you clean your containers with a dish soap and water solution or a bleach and water solution before filling them with the water. Clean the containers each time you rotate your water (Every 6-12 months). If you have done a good job cleaning your containers, no water treatment should be necessary. Since there is no guarantee that the water is bacteria-free and as a precaution against any lingering organisms in storage containers that may have been missed during the cleaning process, it wouldn’t hurt to treat your water with 5-8 drops of bleach for every gallon of water. Although, this is not normally necessary. The liquid chlorine bleach you should use should contain 4-6 % sodium hypochlorite. (Most bleaches contain 5.25 %) The bleach should not contain any dyes, phosphates, perfumes, fragrances, softeners or soap additives. Stored water should be checked occasionally. If you notice any changes, such as cloudiness or odor, discard the water, clean the container, and refill. Long term water storage can make your water taste “flat". As the water sits still it loses the oxygen trapped between its molecules. You can improve the taste by pouring the water back and forth between containers to aerate it , by beating it with a hand egg beater or shaking it in a closed “half-full” container . You can also store some powdered drink mixes (kool-aid, lemonade, etc.) to add to your water. Children (and some adults) need some encouragement to drink their daily requirement of water. If water supplies run low, never ration it. Drink the amount you need today, and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool. See Water Treatment Section for more information
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Preparedness Made Simple! |
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Beginning - Phase 1 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. Create an Emergency Contact List and post it where it can be seen by everyone. 3. Place a flashlight with fresh batteries and/or a chemical light stick under each family member’s bed. 4. Store at least 3 (preferably 6) gallons of water per person in portable containers. 5. Select a family code word and teach your children how to use it: don't go with anyone unless they know and say the family code word. It is important that your children never tell the code word to anyone, but if they do, change it immediately. Beginning - Phase 2 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. Locate Water Main, Gas Shutoff Valves and Electricity Circuit Breaker and learn how to shut them off. 3. Allocate Funds for Emergency Preparedness in your Monthly Budget. 4. Prepare for a possible extended power outage, by having some or all of the following on hand: (flashlights, batteries, chemical light sticks, candles, matches, lanterns, lantern fuel, etc…). 5. Make a list of Natural and Man-Made Disasters that can happen in your area. Rate them by their likelihood of occurring. Focus your preparations on the most likely events first. Beginning - Phase 3 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. If you have an infant in your home, Buy at least a 3 month supply of diapers, wipes, formula, Baby food, and common medications. 3. Decide what contents you will put into each family member's Emergency Evacuation Kit (72-Hour Kit). 4. Make sure you have smoke alarms in needed areas in your home, and that they have fresh batteries. 5. Setup “Regroup Locations” and an out-of-state contact. Beginning - Phase 4 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. Store at least a 14 day supply of water for your family. |
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3. Determine how much debt you currently owe. 4. Acquire the bags you will use for your Emergency Evacuation Kit (72-Hour Kit). 5. Select a safe location for Important Documents. Place your Birth Certificates and other important documents in this location. (Consider a Red File). Beginning - Phase 5 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. Buy several boxes of matches and disposable lighters. 3. Setup a home fire escape plan. 4. Gather what items you already own that you wish to put in each family member's Emergency Evacuation Kit (72-Hour Kit) and place them in each kit. 5. Obtain a copy of your Credit Report. Clean or clear-up old, obsolete or incorrect information. Save a copy with your important documents. Beginning - Phase 6 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. If you take prescription medication, talk to your Doctor about ways you can build up an emergency supply. 3. Acquire a dynamo (hand-crank) powered radio so you can stay informed. Make sure you can receive NOAA Weather stations. 4. Buy or build First Aid Kits for your Home, Automobiles and Office. 5. Learn several ways to treat water to make it safe to drink. Select at least 2 methods and gather the supplies to treat enough water to last your family for 3 months (1 year would be better). Beginning - Phase 7 1. Pick a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu from the list of 90 Day Food Supply menus (or choose your own) and buy enough for 13 meals each (Repeating each of the 3 meals once a week for 13 weeks). 2. Make a list of your Loan Information, Account Numbers, Passwords, Contact Information and add this list to your important document file (Mortgage, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Cars, Etc). 3. Learn several ways to light a fire (other than matches and lighters). Select at least 2 methods and gather the needed supplies to make at least 100 fires. 4. Research No-Electricity Cooking Methods. Select at least 3 methods and gather the supplies and fuel to cook all the meals in your 90 Day Food Supply. 5. Place your Emergency Evacuation Kits (72-Hour Kits) where they can be easily grabbed on the way out of your house (Preferably near a door or easily accessible in the garage.
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Beginning Level |
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Preparing - Phase 1 1. Become First Aid, CPR and AED certified. 2. Build a Sanitation Kit. 3. Read the book "The Richest Man in Babylon". 4. Purchase the food you will use in your Emergency Evacuation Kit (72-Hour Kit) and store it near your portable bottles of water. 5. Place fire extinguishers in your kitchen, garage and other areas you feel are important. Preparing - Phase 2 1. Develop an Emergency Response Plan. (Need help? Go to www.iwillprepare.com/evacuation_files/Evacuation_Plan.htm). 2. Collect recent pictures of each family member, or take new ones and place them in your new location for important documents. 3. Implement an exercise program. 4. Setup a Debt Reduction Plan. 5. Set aside cash in small bills. (Select an amount that is appropriate for your family, ex. $100, $300, $500, etc.). Preparing - Phase 3 1. Prepare a shopping list of Emergency Evacuation Kit (72-Hour Kit) items you need to purchase and setup a plan for acquiring them. Add them to your kits as they are secured. 2. Establish a Local Message Drop Location. 3. Buy enough tents to shelter your family. Learn how to set them up. 4. Setup a Priority list of items to take with you in case you need to evacuation. List it in priority order so based on how much time you have; you always grab the most important things first. 5. Become Debt-Free (Consumer-Debt). Preparing - Phase 4 1. Buy a 3 month supply of common over-the-counter medications you typically use (Pain-Reliever, Cold Medication, Anti-Histamines, Cough Syrup, Anti-Diarrhea, Antacid, Etc…). 2. Make a copy of your important keys and place them with your important documents (Home, Cars, Safes, Business, RV, Mailbox, etc…). |
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3. Create an Identification pack for each child. Update it yearly. It can include: (Updated Pictures, Fingerprints, DNA samples, Dental Impressions, Voice Recordings, Etc.). 4. Update Your Résumé. 5. Setup a Savings Plan. Preparing - Phase 5 1. Gather your Genealogical Records and keep them with your Important Documents. 2. Buy or Build a Solar Oven. Use it to Cook at least 10 Meals. 3. Obtain a copy of and familiarize yourself with your Local (Neighborhood, Office, Town, Church, Area) Response or Evacuation plan. (If one does not exist, encourage responsible individuals to prepare one). 4. Obtain and maintain proper weight. 5. Take a course to improve your Vocational Abilities. Preparing - Phase 6 1. Learn about Pandemic Influenza and what is Necessary to Protect your Family. 2. Prepare a Pandemic Kit and Learn how to Properly Conduct a Self-Imposed Reverse Quarantine (SIRQ). 3. Setup a retirement savings plan, (401K, Investments, etc.) Review it every 2 years to make sure you are on track. 4. Acquire clothing for your family suitable for surviving in below freezing temperatures. (Coats, Hats, Gloves, Thermals, Foam Clothing, Etc,). 5. If possible, store a year's supply of fuel. (Wood and Charcoal are good choices). Preparing - Phase 7 1. Become a Ham Radio Operator and purchase a Ham Radio. 2. Become a CERT Member (Community Emergency Response Team) if Training is Available in your Area. 3. Obtain Sufficient Medical Insurance. 4. Buy Sleeping Bags or 2-3 Wool Blankets for each person. 5. Prepare a Family Will or Trust. |
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Preparing Level |
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Surviving - Phase 1 1. Acquire needed supplies to perform Water-Bath Canning. Learn Water-Bath Canning basics and put-up at least 5 different foods. 2. Build Financial Reserves (Start With 1 Month's Income. Continue building your reserve until you have 3-6 Months Income). 3. Volunteer at the Cannery, Bishop's Storehouse or Deseret Industries if you live close to one. 4. If you don't already have a garden, Select and prepare an area and plant vegetables suitable for your area. If you already have a garden, expand it. No room for a garden? Use pots or window boxes. 5. Attend an event or events to help you learn how to use your Ham Radio. |
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Surviving - Phase 2 1. Acquire needed supplies to perform Pressure Canning. Learn Pressure Canning basics and put-up at least 5 different foods. 2. Make Funeral and Burial Arrangements. 3. Acquire a supply of "Heirloom" Garden Seeds (Suitable for your Area). 4. Have Pets? Acquire food, medicines and supplies to handle their needs for 3-12 Months. 5. Plant Fruit Trees in your Yard. |
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Surviving Level |
