Getting Started - Be Prepared, or should we say Ready?

As we just completed our series on the the Rules of 3. If you missed the Rules of 3 please check out our previous posts for more details but here are the bullet points:

Rules of 3 for Survival:

You can live:
3 minutes without air
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

We touched on these areas and mentioned you need to start some place in building your preparations. Well it isn't just the tin foil hat crowd that thinks you need to be prepared. Would you believe that even the government is advertising for you to get ready???? Yep, it is true. See below for one of the ads that are running on the air:



The great thing about this ad is that it is making people more aware. The web site www.ready.gov outlines how to get started. The downside is that what they recommend is really just the starting point for making your preparations. They are focusing on the 72 hour kit as the minimum kit. This basic kit should last you and your family at least 72 hours. This should cover your water, food, medical supplies, and other essentials. Please use this as a starting point and is by no means the goal for most people to have 3 days worth of essential supplies. Look at most large events and you will see they typically can go into weeks and months so this preparation plan is just the place to start. I hope that people don't assume that if they have this in place they are done and don't have to do anything else. I would like to see them do a follow-up advertisement that encourages further development of not only their kits, but also training that is available. FEMA and your local authorities in many areas are offering training certification as well and we will take some time to cover that more in depth in another episode.

So let's look at the www.ready.gov site and look at their recommendations. You might start to see a pattern here if you have been reading our posts here on bepreparedchannel.com. :-)

From Ready.gov:

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Now this list is a great place to start. Things they touched on that we have not covered here are the things that are in plain view and that we don't give much thought. Personal hygiene items, bath tissue, feminine supplies, baby supplies, and pet supplies are often overlooked.

These are good, but don't forget the bath tissue, and sewage treatment requirements if the grid and utilities are down. Don't forget to get some batteries, and consider rechargables and a solar battery charging kit.

Here is another great video explaining basic supplies, planning, and being informed.



Now many of the things that are set forth in this list you may already have around your home. Now is the time to begin to set those things aside. Maybe you have a large plastic tote around or you can purchase one that you can put your 72 hour kit in. This way you know where everything is. You will want to consider having flash lights or some sort of easy access emergency lighting available throughout your home so that in the event of an emergency you know where to find these things without stumbling around in the dark wondering where something is.

Don't forget your energy needs during a time of crisis. You will want a way to boil water, and to prepare meals. So you should consider these items as well in your kit.

Over the next few episodes we will take some pictures of our kit and kit items for our basic 72 hour kit so that you can see what we have, and of course we would love to hear your comments and ideas on things that you might have done as well. This will be a fun way to start your preparation plan and to Be Prepared!

Please take some time to check out the Ready.gov site:
Get a Kit
Make a Plan
Be Informed

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