Prepping In A Pinch

If you are truly prepared and have nothing else that needs to be done, then this post may not hold much advice for you. However, if you are like most people who could always use a little bit more time and motivation to be better prepared, this information could be exactly what you’re looking for as something you can “set aside” until you need it.

Let’s pretend that as you are reading this the global markets are collapsing, a hurricane is coming your way, or NASA just informed the world that a sunspot is about to shut down the power grid for months (or a combination thereof).

What do you do?

For starters, communicate with your family and make sure you are all together. Second, go to the store, hopefully before everyone else gets there, and purchase what you can from the items listed below. At this point you cannot be too concerned with how much something might cost or how much you have left in savings at the end of your shopping spree. (Depending on the crisis that is developing you may not have a savings that is worth anything by the time it is over anyway.) Finally, while you are at the store, leave someone in charge at the house to start performing the other last minute tasks on this list.

Category 1: Water

□ Purchase drinking water (recommend 1 gallon per day / per person)

□ Don’t forget cooking water (1-2 gallons per day)

□ Fill containers around house for hygiene water (brushing teeth, sponge baths)

□ Consider purchasing a water filter for sourcing surface water

Category 2: Food

□ Purchase ready-to-eat food “essentials”

• Canned – fruits, vegetables, meats, soups, chili, etc.

• Dried – cereals, nuts, crackers, jerky, meal bars, etc.

• Fresh – fruit, bread, vegetables, other room temperature items

□ Purchase ready-to-eat food “wants”

• Food – candy, cookies, chips, other room temperature items

• Liquid – soda, alcohol, juice, other room temperature items

□ Consider food sourcing capabilities and prepare accordingly (hunting, fishing, neighbor’s orchard, local farms, etc.)

Category 3: Shelter

□ Weatherize property

• Bring in outside belongings

• Prepare property for corresponding event (wind, water, fire)

□ Finish outfitting bug-out-bag (BOB) (See Category Five’s BOB Quick Reference Guide at CategoryFive.org)

□ Set out BEST survival outfit to change into when needed

□ Purchase flashlights, candles, batteries, matches, other sources of light and heat

□ Purchase other survival items (blankets, sleeping bags, camping toilet, firewood, work gloves, propane tank, etc.)

Category 4: Power

□ Get “spare” cash from bank (small bills)

□ Consider purchase of generator

□ Fill gas cans for back up fuel

□ Fill vehicle tanks

□ Purchase 2-way radios

□ Purchase additional guidance (survival books, field medical book)

Category 5: Security

□ Defensive security (firearms, ammunition, mace, tazer, dog, etc.)

□ Purchase medical supplies (Check out CategoryFive.org for a FREE checklist of recommended medical supplies.)

□ Account for special needs within your family (diabetes, asthma, etc.)

□ Copy important documents (See last month’s post or check out CategoryFive.org for a FREE Document Checklist)

□ Establish emergency plans with your family

□ Give document copies to external family

Clearly, being “prepared” means that you already have all of these things taken care of BEFORE you need them. Nonetheless, even the most prepared individuals will need reminders and guidance when the world starts falling apart around them. For more FREE information and checklists visit www.CategoryFive.org.