Basic Emergency Preparation

There is a lot of information available, telling people to secure their important documents, keep medications and clean water, etc. This information is going to be much more in depth. This is not how to prepare for a minor concern, this is how to prepare for a worst case scenario. Take it or leave it, your ability to take care of yourself and your family is ultimately your responsibility. Regardless of the cause of the emergency, including natural disaster, accident or attack, the ability to sustain without outside resources and assistance during a crisis is essential.


What To Store

Medications: Any essential daily medications, try to keep an extra month’s supply on hand, particularly if they are required to survive. A three month supply would be preferred, but a one month supply is good. Keep a well stocked First Aid Kit, with extras of the essentials such as bandages, alcohol, iodine and antibiotic ointment.

Water: Humans can survive for weeks without any food, but only days without any water. A couple of bottles of water will not last you long. Find a way to store large quantities of clean water, and sterilize it for storage. If you have a recreational vehicle, use the built in facilities, but be careful not to let it freeze and damage the unit. If you can store one hundred gallons of drinking water, you are far ahead of where you would be with nothing to drink during an emergency. An easy way to decide how much water to store is: number of people times days times .5 gallons. This does not include water for sanitation, but should cover cooking and drinking supplies. I recommend storing an additional and separate water supply for sanitation purposes.

Food: Only store food that is capable of keeping long term, and that can be used to provide essential nutrients. Dry goods such as dry beans, rice and flour are good choices. Some foods are not capable of storing long term, and will go rancid. Be careful in your storage selections. Canned goods such as vegetables and meat are useful items, but be careful that they will store, and be careful to ration the use during emergencies.

Heat: No matter the climate, the ability to produce heat is needed if you want to cook. Unless you store only food that is ready to eat, you will need cooking capabilities. Camp stoves are excellent backup cooking sources, but do not forget they require large amounts of fuel to be stored. If you are in colder locations, the ability to stay warm may be a deciding factor between life and death, making blankets and sleeping bags essential items.

Shelter: This can mean many things to different people. There are other things to consider other than just weather when selecting shelter options, including the type of emergency you are preparing for. Shelters to protect from radiation or chemical incidents are not the same as shelters to protect from moderate temperatures. Basic shelter requirements include the ability to maintain a dry environment above freezing temperatures, not for comfort purposes, but to be able to maintain basic functions. It is very difficult to drink ice. Cooking with ice, or thawing ice to drink, will take additional heat resources. Shelters to protect from dangerous substances are designed for short term use only, and will keep you safe from the danger for a short time until it is considered safe to evacuate the area. Consider a secondary location where you can store supplies, as you may not be able to take supplies with you from a contaminated area.

Money: During an emergency, cash or valuables will most likely be the only currency, and that still may not be accepted or useable. Take anything you have available, and use it how you can to maintain your essential supplies only.

Firearms: Many people have emergency supplies that include firearms. Many people that don’t wish they did. The right type of firearm is an excellent addition. It can be used to gather meat, as well as protect yourself if needed.


That is a basic introduction to Emergency Preparation. If you have specific topics or questions, submit them as comments for review.


Jeff Citizen