This is National Preparedness Month - Are You Prepared?

This is Week 4:

Week 4 September 20-26: Teach Youth About Preparedness

Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved.

This page has

https://www.ready.gov/september


Have you talked with your kids about what to do in an emergency?  


Maybe this year everyone is more prepared than in previous years.

I have been doing food storage for a long time.  Some of the items that I stock up on:

Flour, Cornmeal, Sugar, Rice, Salad Dressing, Canola Oil;

Canned Salmon, Tuna, Chicken, canned Green Beans, Carrots, and Pumpkin for the dog;

I admire those who are able to can all these for their family rather than buy them at the store.



This is my Emergency Food List: Water, Canned Fruit; Canned Chicken, Spam, Chili, Beef Stew; Canned Soup, Jars of Ragu, Jars of Gravy; Pasta products like spaghetti, macaroni, egg noodles.

We used to go every 3 or 4 months or less to a bigger city and shop for the big grocery chain or maybe Sam's Club.  
If you are not already doing food storage this maybe this thread will be of interest:

https://permies.com/t/93304/kitchen/Stocked-Food-Storage-Pantry


Do you have a good first aid kit?




What are you doing to be prepared?

Six months ago, when the pandemic was just a twinkle in the devil's eye, I stocked the medicine and pantry cabinets for myself and my daughter, and made a list I shared with a few friends based on a thread here, https://permies.com/t/135682/Surviving-severe-respiratory-disease-home . Everyone I shared it with found it very helpful for surviving lockdown (and beyond) and I am very grateful that I took a few minutes to think, make a list, and follow through.
(Keep in mind this post is from months ago, and some specific substances are no longer recommended, but you might find it helpful in stocking your own homes! (#7 was particularly useful)

I'm making another copy of my Family Resource Journal so I have one in my camping/evacuation/stuff-for-if-the-house-collapses-in-an-earthquake supplies. I like having one right by my door, and actually use it a lot to find directions. We also read over everything again a week ago when the pacific northwest was full of wildfires.

Tereza, stocking up on medicines is a great tip.

I got caught badly on this one.  In March before we self-quarantined,  I stock up on alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, hand sanitizers and apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and cloves.  These are all things that I use in place of traditional medicines.

Dear hubby takes several prescriptions which over time have been stockpiled.  One is an over the counter item that I only had an extra three month supply. I picked up an extra package of 25, just in case.  Now it is hard to get so I wished I had stocked up on more.

The "Family Resource Journal" that Nicole mentioned is a really handy item. It can be found here:

https://permies.com/t/70703/National-Preparedness-Month-prepare#597123

I have several lists in different locations so it would be really handy if I put them all in a journal. I do have taped to the front of my fridge door a list that has the sheriff's and fire department's phone number, our GPS location, our gate code, our telephone number, our address and direction on how to get to our property.  The reason for our phone number and address is that in an emergency sometimes people get confused or maybe someone else who does not live here is making the call.

This post also has some great information:

https://permies.com/t/70703/National-Preparedness-Month-prepare#765743

We have been well prepped on the food front for many years now and could easily go 3 months and much longer if needed. As far as I'm worried that is long enough to prep for any longer and I would be able to find another food source (wild game, neighbors cows, etc)

I have been focusing my efforts on backup heating and cooking as we have 6 or months of winter so cold is definitely something to prepare for. We have extra propane tanks and a stove and heaters to use it in.

Currently I am in the middle of building an outdoor wood fired furnace that will pump hot air into the house. I am planning on using a 12v fan to blow the air so I can start a small battery bank to be charged with solar and wind (or off the grid). From this bank I will be expanding in more off grid solutions that I can utilize the battery bank for.