Preppers Aren’t Crazy
They are Prepared, You should Be too.
Hurricanes
Winter storms
Summer fires
Tornados
Earthquakes
Pandemics
And the newest, and latest, train derailments/toxic spills.
No matter what the crisis, preppers are ready!!
Prepper, conspiracy theorists, crazy.
All derogatory terms for people who prepare for disaster.
And I do not mean preparing for a nuclear or world war. Although, with the way things are going, that isn’t out of the question. China and Russia are pretty mad these days.
But I digress.
I really mean preparing for things that are likely to happen in your lifetime such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, summer fires, or WINTER STORMS!!!
Or just about anything that could cut the power to your home for an extended amount of time.
In the last three years, we have had a pandemic that caused supply shortages. And a plethora of natural disasters like severe winter storms, tornados, hurricanes, and wildfires. And now, the latest, toxic train derailments.
These natural disasters lead to loss of power for long periods of time and or immediate “go now” evacuations. Are you ready for either of these?
Would you know what to grab, if you only had five minutes to grab, what’s most important? Do you have any idea where the insurance papers are? Home/ auto paperwork.
If your power was going to be out for a long period, could your family eat? Could they keep warm?
Two weeks without power.
What would you do?
You are snowed or stormed in at home, without power.
The only resources are what you have on hand.
How prepared are you? Would you last a day, a week, or a year?
Most “preppers” can last many months without power or a grocery store. They often have months and even years’ worth of necessities on hand.
And while you don’t need to be that prepared, we should prepare you in case you are trapped in your home for any length of time.
Most emergency agencies, like FEMA, recommend AT LEAST 72 hours’ worth of supplies PER PERSON in your home.
Do you have any idea what that means? 72 hours of what?
What do you need when there’s no power, and you do not know when it’s expected to return?
Here’s a start
1) Three days of nonperishable food. Such as canned, freeze-dried, or dehydrated. (Plus, a manual can opener)
2) Three days or more of water (one gallon, per person, per day)
3) Flashlight/batteries/extra batteries and or lantern with oil or fuel.
**Check these things annually. I check all mine at back-to-school time, because it’s before winter when we need them more often.
4) Emergency first aid kit. (*That is never used until an emergency)
5) Waterproof matches, in a waterproof case. Or some sort of Firestarter.
6) Multiplier or small tool kit, pocket knife
7) Camp store or other means to cook without power. (With fuel/ batteries) (Again, important to check annually)
While you don’t have to be the prepper that could go for months or years without shopping and or power, it is wise to have the bare minimum on hand.
And what is the minimum?
72 hours’ worth of supplies for every person in your household.
If you have a baby, that should include diapers of the size, and formula, if necessary. In case you must grab your bags and evacuate in a hurry.
72 hours’ worth of supplies is the recommended minimum, but the best thing that you could do for your family is to prepare for at least a week or two.
If the last couple of years of winter has taught us anything, it is that our power grids and systems seriously need to be updated. Which means this could happen again at any time.
How prepared are you?
Being at least a little preparation will cut out quite a bit of stress in an emergency. Our children are looking at us to see how bad the situation is, so anything that can ease some stress is worth the time and money.
From my family to yours, Happy prepping 😊
Rowen is a mother, Wife, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, community volunteer, and nature lover. Most of her time is spent with her family or volunteering in her community. Rowen has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Family Counseling and Minoring in criminal justice. Writing has been her passion since high school, and she enjoys using it to help others.