Chapter 3: Be Prepared

"Be prepared."  I was never a boyscout, but I knew that was their motto.  I actually think I learned that from a Snoopy cartoon.  I'm not sure...anyway...

I had a former employer who had a sign over his desk that said "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."  That's a tough tidbit of information to swallow, but it is a reality.  In a period of history when the majority of people seem to fly through life by their seats of their pants, seemingly very little thought is given to advanced preparation for difficult times.  So many of us have become accustomed to the conveniences of life that we seem incapable or unwilling to go without them.  Technology has changed our world in such critical ways that people are actually fighting addictions to their phones, computers, and other techno-gadgets.

The problem is, in a crisis situation, we soon realize that most of the things we consider necessities are actually unavailable luxuries.  In situations like that, those who have had to "do without" usually have an edge over those whose lives typically include these luxuries.  It's sort of the equivalent of someone who went to school when calculators were forbidden compared to now, when so much schoolwork requires a calculator or even a computer.  Many students these days are incapable of doing long division without some sort of technological aid.

I'm not saying technology is bad.  Not at all.  Think about it.  The pencil with which I did long division in school is actually a technological improvement over the techniques that came before it.  The computer on which I'm typing this blog represents more computing power than was used to launch the first moon-landing.  There is a difference, however, between using technology and having your life run by it.

My last post focused on the concept of thinking and forming a plan for difficult times. There are two factors that seem to hinder some from forming a plan.  Both factors are related.  The first is that everyone talks about how the need for an emergency plan is necessary right now, and most of us don't know where to start.  The second is that it seems there are so many things to consider that many become overwhelmed and decide, either by default or by conscious choice, to take their chances.  The problem is that if you choose to take your chances, when things go sour, few people will be willing or able to pick up the slack for your family when they've put all their efforts into preparing for their own.  Hence the sign:  Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.  Let's be blunt:  The citizens of New Orleans knew that the only things protecting them from the ocean rolling into their neighborhoods were the levies.  They knew that their city was built below sea level.  They knew they lived in an area prone to hurricanes.  Given this information, does it strike you as curious that so many were unprepared when tragedy struck?  The concept that the hardest hit folks in New Orleans tended to be those who largely relied upon government resources for their daily sustenance is not often acknowledged because it angers too many and leads to accusations of intolerance and bigotry.  However, other areas along the coastline were hit just as hard, but those folks were more accustomed to fending for themselves.  They cleaned up their debris, made their choices based upon the resources they had available, and have recovered much better.  When disaster strikes, do you want to be one of those who can recover quickly, or do you want to be at the whim and control of government officials who may or may not be sympathetic to your plight?  

Therefore, it behooves each of us to get our preparations in place to protect, provide for, and sustain our families when and if hard times come.  Considering the fact that much of the nation's financial strain is caused by a widespread public ideology that someone else will take care of us and someone else will provide for our needs, let's not carry that failed philosophy into our planning for survival and recovery.

As to the enormity of the preparation issue, my dad used to say something very useful.  We've all heard it.  Let's put it into practice:  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  

Let's break down the basic needs we'll have in a survival situation and tackle them one by one.

Please note:  Any links to specific companies are not an endorsement of products or services.  They are merely meant as examples for possible resources.  I am not connected with any of these companies, nor do I have personal experience with the services available from some of them. 

1.  Shelter 

• Shelter is one of the most basic necessities for human beings.  Without basic shelter, a person can quickly succumb to the ravages of the elements.  Wind, rain, cold, heat... they can all lead to serious issues if shelter is not available or adequate.
• Step one on your list of things to do is to plan for your need for shelter.  Obviously, your house will be your primary source of shelter.  However, in the case of a natural disaster or armed incursion, your house may not be suitable and relocation may be necessary.  Plan for at least two specific sources of shelter away from your current dwelling.  Know where they are and how best to get there, both by well-traveled roads and through "off the beaten path" routes.  Know how long it will take you to reach them by vehicle and by foot, for vehicles might not always be readily available.
• In the event that you have no pre-made shelters available to you, learn how to build basic shelters from surrounding items.  * * * 
• I can not stress enough how important this is:  Now is the time for you to choose your emergency shelter, not later when an emergency strikes!
• In my last post I spoke of planning rally points for my family.  We have multiple meeting locations and almost every one of them has an available source of shelter for us.  You should do the same.

2.  Water

•  If you are on city water, chances are that power outages will not immediately effect your ability to obtain water.  However, contamination of a community's water supply is a possibility. *  Therefore, secure water storage measures should be taken. *
• If your water is provided by a well, a power failure will almost certainly interrupt your access to water.  Plan accordingly.
• As a rule of thumb, we've all been told to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  That's a half-gallon.  With strenuous exercise, extreme weather conditions, stress, or certain physical ailments comes a need for higher water intake.  It is better to have excess water available rather than too little.  
• Plan enough water for the ability to wash dishes, toiletry needs, wash clothes, and for first-aid needs.  Again, it is best to have more than enough.
• There are many sources of water storage containers.  Think about where you will store it.  Think about the weight of water (8 lb/gallon), and how much stress that will place upon the floor or shelving that will be holding your water supply. * * *
• Don't plan to rely solely on a river, stream, spring or lake.  These can become contaminated and can pose a danger to your family.  Your best bet is to have water from a safe source secured for your family's use.
• You'll need a water purifier of some sort.  Preferably, one that does not rely on electricity to function.  In a disaster scenario, electricity might not be an option.

3.  Food

• When and if things go seriously awry, you're going to need to have food for your family.  Unless you are a fantastic hunter who can still hunt once all his ammunition is expended, you need to have food storage.  While foraging for food is a useful skill, easy-to-prepare foods could be crucial to your survival.
• Myriad sources of information are available out there touting MREs and long-term food storage options.  Some are good and some are not.  One has to do some research to see which is which.  I can not, in the space of this blog, do all of the leg-work for you.  Each kind of food storage has its positives and negatives.  You must decide which method, or combination of methods, is best for you and your family. * * * *
• Pre-prepared food items can be costly.  For a family on a budget like mine, that can be intimidating.  Start by purchasing a few extra cans of food each time you go to the grocery store.  Soon, you'll have a closet full of food set aside for emergency situations.  Organize it, box it, and store it.  A little self-discipline and you'll be able to stockpile a good stash of food without a great impact to your budget.
• Couponing is a great way to accumulate vast quantities of food supplies without breaking the bank.  Do some research on the subject.  There are countless sources of information on coupon clipping.  
• To contain your food, you'll need airtight, moisture tight containers.  Think of how discouraging it would be to tap into your emergency food reserves, only to find that bugs or rodents had visited it before you.

Shelter, water and food.  These are the basic needs of the human being.  We'll spend more time on other ancillary supplies.  However, the main point of this post is to urge you to PREPARE!  Don't hesitate.  Start now.  Formulate your plan and implement it!  We never know when a disaster might strike.  We only know it will.