Grog's prepping and resource guide.
So you want to prep, but you have questions and or limitations. Be it Budget, Skills, what ever.
This not an end all, be all, know it all guide. Far far from it. Jerry D. Young at Jerry D. Young's Family Readiness Guideright click and save as for any mentioned works,same for Canuck in Denver from Canucks getting started guide both are Fantastic resources and are in depth but not overwhelming..
Even so, there are various ideas, guides etc. on the topic of prepping/survivalism.
My Goal is to help you help yourself with getting started. From there,better for you and those you care about. The links to other on line resources are both to inform you and educate you.
Any resource in this document not my own is given credit to the Author or Agency who generated the information. Due to the dynamic nature of the internet, over time links may change.
At the time of this document the links to those resources worked.
In 2004 ~2005 , I did an instructional lecture for an Oregon National Guard class, while working towards my Instructors Certification for the Non Commissioned Officers Academy team.
If you are interested it can be located here. 72 Hour Kit Presentation .
Here are the more important pieces of that presentation and some other information you may just find to be of use.
Now , please understand, this is for getting started and is at its core basic.
Why prep? Disaster, unemployment are two good reasons. Disaster is not always catastrophic. It could be something an extended power outage. Bad weather either flooding , severe rain, cold or even heat waves.
So now we begin:
•Identify what you need. If you are unable to walk, then your needs are going to be different that some one else.
•How to pack it in case of evacuation. Yes evacuation to a shelter or alternate location.
Too many cities lack this in their plans, so you have to do so for your self.
Most shelters are not taking pets, but may take assistant animals. Plan for your pets and assistance animals along with yourself.
•Special needs for you or a family member or neighbor. This goes hand in hand in the process.
Kit parts / components:
Water, Minimum 1 Gallon Per person per day, My suggestion 2 gallon per person and pet per day.
Food and prepare items pots, plates, flatware, heating can opener etc.
First aid supplies, Special Medications, for you , your pets or assistance animals etc.
Clothing and bedding, (remember weather conditions)
Tools and emergency supplies
Special items.
Now I am writing this with certain considerations.
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You do not have a big budget.
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You are getting started.
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You do not have a BOL (Bug out Location) BOV (Bug out Vehicle) or BOB (Bug out Bag).
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You have some time to get things going.
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You are doing this by yourself, unless you have assistance like a family member or helper, situation depending. About Firearms, This topic is not covered or addressed. Each state/ county has specific regulations that must be met, I am not an Attorney and will not claim to have specific knowledge.
Note: You may have a vehicle, this writing bases a vehicle as not being 4 wheel drive, or EMP proof (Electrical Magnetic Pulse), Uses Gasoline, not Diesel.
Some items in your kit may be:
Can opener, heating equipment for food or drink, (e.g. Sterno and stove, heat tabs, MREs with heaters etc.)
Flashlight with batteries and spare bulbs. Radio with AM/FM battery powered or hand crank powered and a pre paid phone card)Addresses and phone numbers of relatives or friends to contact, use a source for family communications A friend can get the calls you can not, and inform other members of where you are and who has called (Great for when you must evacuate). Hygiene items, toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste, soap, tampons/maxi pads, shampoo, razors, lotion if needed. Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of potable water each day. ( note I personally recommend doubling this per person per day.)
Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. If you are in cold weather, you still need to stay hydrated, so again stock up as much as possible on water. Yes weight and storage space are a big consideration.
Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need more.
Water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and special items.
Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in easy to carry containers.
Suggested items are marked with an asterisk (*).
Possible containers include a large, covered trash container, Camping Backpack, or a Duffle bag. Store two gallons of water per person and pet per day (one gallon and two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation/sanitation).
Keep at least a three-day supply of water for each person and pet in your household.
Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of gelled fuel. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. (bring a small pot to cook in)
Include a selection of the following in your kit:
Multivitamins, prescription medications and foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets. Note check with your Primary Care Provider about medications.
Comfort/stress foods cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags.
Foods should be easy to prepare, if canned, make a second non electrically powered can opener available in your kit.
•Entertainment, Games and books
•Important Family Documents
•Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:
–Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
–Passports, social security cards, immunization records
–Bank account numbers
–Credit card account numbers and companies
•Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
•Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
•Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car.
•Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
•Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
•Extra eye glasses
•Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.
Now how does one get a kit put together? Good Question.
Here are some suggestions for assembling a kit over the course of 12 months.
Week 1: Get 1 or better 2 Gallons of Water, Note Distilled water is NOT what you want.
Distilled Water does not contain the minerals your body needs for hydration. The two and a half gallon containers tend to leak in my personal experience, so get 1 gallon bottles. If this is hard to store, get the 12 ounce or liter bottles. This may be a bit higher in price, so be aware that in addition to the water, you may have a per bottle deposits, Distilled water can still be used, but ensure you are eating to provide electrolytes.
1 Large Jar Peanut Butter 2 cans of ready to drink fruit juice. (Juice not punch which traditionally has more chemicals and fewer nutrients.) Manual can opener, Canned meat 2 each (note the type is up to you, check for sodium if this is a concern for you.)
Permanent marker to mark containers for buy dates and label your containers.
More on marking buy dates later, when discussing food rotation.
If applicable: Pet Food, Baby food and diapers (Note Diapers may be adjusted, depending on the baby, a six month old is not a 2 year old, so keep this in mind. I will not debate disposable versus re useable, however sanitation and hygiene should guide your decision.)
To do: Decide on and notify out-of-area contact who can coordinate information for scattered family members.
Week 2, Heavy cotton or hemp rope, 2 flashlights with batteries, Waterproof matches for outside use, ONLY with appropriate stove or grill. Leash or pet carrier Extra set of I.D. tags
Things To Do: Sign up for First Aid/CPR classes, Red Cross and American Heart Association both train CPR.
Trash bags for waste, garbage.
Toilet Paper and diaper wipes, soap, hand sanitizers, resealable container with lid or "portapotty" (for extended use if you are sheltering in place and there are water supply issues )
First aid Kit suggested items are:
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
Triangular bandages (3)
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
Scissors
Tweezers
Needle
Moistened towelettes
Antiseptic
Thermometer(Non Mercury and Non digital with case)
Tongue blades (2)
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Additional medications as needed by family members (babies, elderly)
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleansing agent/soap
Latex gloves (2 pair)
Sunscreen
Non-prescription drugs Aspirin or non aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center) Laxative
Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
CPR Mask
Optional additions : Portable Ice packs, Heat packs, SAM Splint, Space Blanket
•NOTE check any and all medications for expiration dates, check the kit and re stock when used or every 6 months minimum!
Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:
Multivitamins, prescription medications and foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets. Note check with your Primary Care Provider about medications.
Comfort/stress foods cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags.
Foods should be easy to prepare, if canned, make a second non electrically powered can opener available in your kit.
•Entertainment, Games and books
•Important Family Documents
•Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:
–Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
–Passports, social security cards, immunization records
–Bank account numbers
–Credit card account numbers and companies
•Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
•Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
•Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the kit in the trunk of your car.
•Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
And the same with:
•Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
•Extra eye glasses
•Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.
Now how does one get a kit put together? Good Question.
Here are some suggestions for assembling a kit over the course of 12 months.
Week 1: Get 1 or better 2 Gallons of Water, Note Distilled water is NOT what you want.
Distilled Water does not contain the minerals your body needs for hydration. The two and a half gallon containers tend to leak in my personal experience, so get 1 gallon bottles. If this is hard to store, get the 12 ounce or liter bottles. This may be a bit higher in price, so be aware that in addition to the water, you may have a per bottle deposits, Distilled water can still be used, but ensure you are eating to provide electrolytes.
1 Large Jar Peanut Butter 2 cans of ready to drink fruit juice. (Juice not punch which traditionally has more chemicals and fewer nutrients.) Manual can opener, Canned meat 2 each (note the type is up to you, check for sodium if this is a concern for you.)
Permanent marker to mark containers for buy dates and label your containers.
More on marking buy dates later, when discussing food rotation.
If applicable: Pet Food, Baby food and diapers (Note Diapers may be adjusted, depending on the baby, a six month old is not a 2 year old, so keep this in mind. I will not debate disposable versus re useable, however sanitation and hygiene should guide your decision.)
To do: Decide on and notify out-of-area contact who can coordinate information for scattered family members.
Week 2, Heavy cotton or hemp rope, 2 flashlights with batteries, Waterproof matches for outside use, ONLY with appropriate stove or grill. Leash or pet carrier Extra set of I.D. tags
Things To Do: Sign up for First Aid/CPR classes, Red Cross and American Heart Association both train CPR.
There is more information available here: http://survivalistssite.com/~grog/7DaySurvivalKit.pdf Note this is a product from the State of Alaska Emergency Management.
As we go on, there will be other links to on line resources. I encourage you to get the information, print it out and get it into binders that you keep two sets of, one in your kit, the other where you can read, review and adjust as your needs change.
Again this is not an all in one solution. This is simply a guide.
If you have camping gear, this is a plus, a sleeping bag and tent are shelter. Even if power goes out, setting up an interior shelter in your home may help to mitigate inclement weather.
I have put the link to the sub site on Http://survivalistssite.com/~grog as the url directly to the pdf has gaps in it that do not render properly for download.
I have put this together as information at the most basic level. You may be more advanced, if so great.
There are several other sources out there. Some are better than others. Some are strictly fear based to entice you to purchase from specific sites. I am not listing those sites in this document.
I may list certain products as nice to have, but please do not consider these to be any sort of recommendation to purchase. Example Hand cranked / dynamo powered radio or Water Filter. Both are important, but shop around. I try to avoid gadgets. Quality tools, be they hand tools or multi tools are not gadgets.
Other basic information can be found at http://ready,gov there is another site that gets into some detail as to what is lacking from the information the ready.gov site. Federation of American Scientists.org Really Ready .
Now then from personal experience I assembled my kit using the following ideas.
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I looked over my kitchen for stuff on hand, I had 4 can openers all manual. Two each went into a storage tub I already had. I added two flashlights with spare bulbs and two sets each of batteries. I had an AM Crystal Radio Build your self kit, into the container it went, along with a 9 volt powered AM/FM/SW receiver, also a build it yourself kit and saved my money to specifically purchase a hand cranked dynamo powered AM/FM radio that also can charge my cell phone. AM Amplitude , FM Frequency Modulated , SW Short wave.
2. I had some MREs, and a propane single burner stove. Into the kit they went. I found over the years I had 2. Both are now in the kit, with two bottles each of propane fuel.
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I added a few boxes of strike any where matches, stuffed into two ziplock gallon sized bags to further protect them. The same with 8 rolls of toilet paper with cores removed to reduce space. This, with 5 gallons of bottled water and some first aid items went into the kit. So did a camping cooking kit. This was a start. Adding some space blankets filled two containers. Not everything, true but better than nothing.
The items were gathered over the years, as I had been a bit of a camper and starting after getting out of the Army, This was pre Y2k (year 2000). Over time, the MREs were replaced, batteries rotated out. Over the Counter meds are packed, checked and rotated. The newest ones go into the kit. The older ones are rotated into the house. I do the same with canned food. To make things easier on top of each container contents I put an inventory sheet with item and date added.
