When preparing for emergencies, having a well-thought-out plan for food is crucial. Here’s how you can effectively prepare:
Assess Your Needs
Number of People: Determine how many people in your household you will need to feed. Remember, 2100 calories a day per person for optimal health.
Dietary Restrictions: Consider any special dietary needs or medical conditions.
Normal Food: Consider the importance of storing foods that you already eat. Make sure you like what you will be forced to eat in an emergency. Don’t forget to stock some feel-good food, morale is an important consideration.
Stock Up on Non-Perishable Foods
Canned Goods: Beans, vegetables, fruits, meats, and soups. Stored properly, these will last several years and are ready to eat, even cold if necessary.
Dry Goods: Pasta, rice, oatmeal, and cereal.
Packaged Goods: Crackers, granola bars, and instant noodles.
Powdered or Canned Milk: Useful if fresh milk isn’t available.
Freeze Dried: Great shelf life, usually up to 25 years, and nutritious. More water is required for these stores.
Quantity: Aim for one gallon per person daily for cooking, and enough for at least three days. If you plan to use dry, freeze-dried, or powdered goods, additional water storage is required.
Storage: Keep it in clean, sealed containers and store them in a cool, dark place. Colored containers are best as they block out the light and reduce the risk of algae growth.
Consider Special Requirements
Babys: If you have infants, stock up on formula and baby food.
Medications: Include any special dietary supplements or medications that require specific storage.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Portable Stoves: Have a camping stove or other portable cooking equipment.
Fuel: Ensure you have enough fuel (e.g., propane, charcoal) for cooking.
Manual Can Opener: Essential if you have canned goods.
Food Storage and Safety
Rotation: Regularly check expiration dates and rotate your food stock.
Storage: Store food in a cool, dry place. Use airtight containers to protect from pests.
Local Assistance: Be aware of local shelters, or community resources that can provide additional help.
By preparing ahead and ensuring you have a good variety, you can be more confident in managing your food needs during an emergency.
Stay Vigilant and Be prepared
In addition, take these steps to ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.
National Preparedness Month is observed every September in the United States to promote awareness and encourage emergency preparedness. It’s a time for individuals, families, and communities to review and enhance their emergency plans, ensure they have the necessary supplies, and understand how to respond accordingly to different disasters.
National Preparedness Month typically focuses on a specific theme or set of themes. These provide guidance on various aspects of preparedness, such as creating emergency kits, developing communication plans, and staying informed about potential hazards.
Preparing for different types of disasters can certainly make a big difference in how you and your family handle emergencies. Here’s a simple guide to get started:
1. Assess Your Risks
Identify Hazards: Consider the types of disasters that are most likely to affect your area, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, or severe storms, and prepare accordingly.
Review Past Incidents: Look at past emergencies in your region to understand what could happen.
2. Create a Family Emergency Plan
Communication Plan: Establish how your family will communicate if separated. Choose a meeting spot and designate a family contact person outside your area.
Evacuation Plan: Identify multiple evacuation routes from your home and workplace. Know where your local shelters are located.
Emergency Contacts: List important contacts and share them with every family member.
3. Build an Emergency Kit
Basic Supplies: Include items like water (two gallons per person per day for at least three days), non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
Personal Items: Add medications, important documents (e.g., IDs, insurance papers), and personal hygiene items.
HygieneSupplies: Poor hygiene is a leading cause of illness during disasters.
Special Needs: Don’t forget supplies for babies, elderly family members, or pets.
Emergency Alerts: Sign up for local alerts and warnings and stay updated on emergencies. Wireless Emergency Alerts
Weather Information: Follow reliable sources for weather and emergency updates. NOAA Weather Radio
5. Practice and Review
Drills: Regularly practice your emergency plans with your family. Conduct fire drills, tornado drills, and other scenario-based exercises, particularly the ones of most concern to you, in your area.
Update Plans: Review and update your plan and emergency kit annually or whenever there’s a change in your family situation. Additionally, consider having plans based on the seasons, especially the contents of your emergency kits.
6. Get Involved
Community: Join local preparedness programs or workshops. Being part of a community effort can surely provide additional resources and support.
7. Develop Emergency Skills
CPR/AED – First Aid: This training is a crucial component of first aid preparedness. Knowing how to perform CPR and use an AED can make a life-saving difference in emergencies. Basic first-aid skills can be a game changer in a disaster. Schedule your private group session today
Stop The Bleed: Blood loss is the number one preventable cause of death after injury. Learning the skills to identify and treat traumatic life-threatening bleeding is extremely valuable when your local EMS is overwhelmed by a disaster. Register Here
Stay Vigilant and Be prepared
In addition, take these steps to ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.
In an ever-changing world, civil unrest can emerge unexpectedly, challenging the stability of communities and putting citizens at risk. While we hope for peace, it is essential to be prepared for the unexpected, as hope is not a strategy. This article aims to provide a starting point for disaster preparedness during civil unrest, equipping you with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate challenging times.
Stay Informed:
Knowledge is a powerful tool in times of civil unrest. Stay informed about local and global events through reliable news sources. Social media can be a valuable tool for real-time updates, and disaster preparedness, but verify information before sharing, as misinformation can spread quickly during periods of unrest.
Develop a Communication Plan:
Establish a communication plan with family, friends, and neighbors. Identify primary and alternative communication methods, such as text messages, social media, or walkie-talkies. Having a designated meeting point or a centralized contact person can help in case regular communication channels are disrupted.
Create a Disaster Preparedness Emergency Kit:
Prepare an emergency kit that includes essential supplies for at least 72 hours.
Non-perishable food items,
Water (one gallon per person per day – minimum),
First aid supplies,
Prescription medications,
Flashlights and Batteries,
Important documents (ID, insurance papers, etc.),
Cash in small denominations,
Basic hygiene items
Secure Your Home:
Take measures to secure your home in case of civil unrest. Reinforce doors and windows, and consider investing in a home security system. Create a safe room where you can seek refuge if necessary. Develop evacuation routes and practice them with your family.
Stay Neutral and Avoid Conflict:
In times of civil unrest, tensions can run high. It is crucial to remain neutral and avoid engaging in confrontations. If possible, stay indoors and away from crowds. Do not participate in activities that could escalate the situation.
Know Your Community:
Build relationships with your neighbors and community members. In times of crisis, a strong support network can be invaluable. Collaborate on neighborhood watch programs or community emergency response teams to enhance overall preparedness.
Stay Physically and Mentally Prepared:
Maintain your physical and mental well-being. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep contribute to overall resilience. Practice stress-reducing activities such as meditation or deep breathing exercises to cope with the emotional toll of civil unrest.
Know Your Rights:
Familiarize yourself with your legal rights and responsibilities during civil unrest. Understand the local laws and regulations governing peaceful assembly and the role of law enforcement. Document any encounters with authorities for future reference.
Conclusion:
Civil unrest can be a challenging and unpredictable situation, but with proper disaster preparedness, individuals can increase their resilience and enhance their ability to navigate these tumultuous times. By staying informed, creating communication plans, securing homes, building community connections, and maintaining overall well-being, individuals can contribute to a safer and more resilient society in the face of civil unrest.
We are headed into the time of year when travel reaches its peak level, especially by passenger and/or recreational vehicles. That means it is time to get them in tip-top road ready condition. This includes making certain that we have emergency supplies that are congruent with our travel plans. We don’t want to be the ones in the news that fell prey to an unforeseen incident that left us unprepared and vulnerable. We don’t want to be lost, stuck or disabled without the tools and supplies that will help us prevail in whatever situation we find ourselves. That being said it is untenable to prepare for every situation, but we can prepare for most.
Frequent traveler
As an instructor, I travel year round all around the NW. Often times I find that I am the only vehicle on the road. That is actually my favorite time to travel. I have a keen sense that most times the only thing separating me and the oncoming traffic is a painted line. You are at the mercy of every other driver out there when you travel. You can be doing everything right and pay the price for the mistake or indiscretion of someone else at any time. I often see debris on the roadways from storms, improperly secured loads, and accidents. These hazards can and will cause problems for you, the recreational traveler if you are not careful and prepared.
Unprepared travelers
All too often we hear of someone who was caught unprepared while traveling. Whether it was weather related, mechanical failure, poor planning, or just bad luck the result is the same. They are forced into survival mode trying to improvise for shelter, food, and water occasionally resulting in death or severe injury. Something I say in all my classes is, “It costs us very little to be prepared and safe, but could cost us a great deal if we are not”, it is relevant to almost all aspects of our lives.
How do we prepare?
Skills first
As an instructor, I will always start by developing your skills. The skills that are relevant to this topic are easily attainable. The key is to learn the skills before you need them.
Learn how to check your tire pressure
Learn how to change a tire
Learn how to check your oil
Learn how to check your coolant level
Learn how to check your transmission fluid
Learn how to check and change fuses in your vehicle(s)
Learn how to use a weather radio
Learn how to read a paper map (not google maps)
Learn how to use a compass
Learn how to properly place flares
Learn how to use your fire extinguisher
Learn how to use jumper cables
Learn how to use a water filter
Learn how to use a portable stove
Tools and Supplies
Now that we have an idea of what skills we need, lets put together the tools and supplies to compliment those skills.
Flares (preferably electronic to avoid combustion hazard)
Fire extinguisher (ABC)
Jumper cables
Portable Battery Jump Starter
Small shovel
Tow Rope
For the people
Candles
Lighters
Matches
Duct tape (we like Gorilla tape)
Disposable gloves
Well-stocked first aid kit (with any prescription meds you may be dependant on, such as an EpiPen, insulin, etc…)
Solar blankets
Wool blankets
Warm socks
Raincoat or poncho
Good all-weather coat
Cash (small bills and coins)
Stocking cap
Sun hat
Umbrella
Heavy gloves (work gloves)
Sleeping bag for the current season
Tent
Sleeping pads (one for each person)
Paper and pencils
Whistle
List of important phone numbers (on paper)
Can opener
Knife
Scissors
Garbage bags in various sizes
Sewing kit
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
Hand soap
Comb
Hairbrush
Toothbrush
Change of clothes (season appropriate)
Towels in a waterproof bag
Water (preferably one gallon per person or more)
Water filter (such as a Sawyer mini)
Backpack (small, for carrying supplies during excursions i.e. getting water, etc…)
Good walking shoes or boots
Portable camp stove (we like Jetboils)
Freeze Dried food (preferably 3 days per person)
100 feet of Paracord
25 feet of 3/8 inch rope
Pocket survival guide
A container for all your supplies
Important things to note
In cold weather, your water containers should have space to allow room for expansion when the contents freeze.
Always have a backpack for each person. If you are forced by circumstances to leave your vehicle on foot, you will want to be able to carry as much of your gear as possible. Always choose to stay with your vehicle if you can.
Your kit should change with the seasons, winter gear won’t do you much good in the heat of summer, but extra water will be invaluable.
When taking a longer trip, add extra food and water to your kit.
Don’t forget about communications: you can summon help with a cell phone or a two-way radio.
Depending on the laws where you live and your personal preferences, weapons and ammunition can be a useful addition to your vehicle kit.
Urban vs. Remote
This article is focused on remote travel where you would not be able to depend on services like AAA or other roadside assistance. Although these skills, tools, and supplies will benefit you wherever you travel you may not need to prepare for the extremes that I have. Not everybody needs everything on this list. Pick the items that are relevant to your situation, your environment, and your disaster scenarios. No list can be comprehensive for everyone, but this has done well by me. As I said before, “It costs us very little to be prepared and safe, but could cost us a great deal if we are not”
I hope it has been long enough to be sensitive, but not so long that you don’t remember. I have to say it angered me greatly to listen to the news about the man and his dog that survived 5 days in the wilderness on nothing more than 3 packets of taco sauce. They not only completely misrepresented what it takes to survive, they essentially made the idiot a hero. The media going to the extreme and Taco Bell stepping up to salute the young man for being so resourceful and rewarding him is ridiculous and dangerous.
This is probably the worst thing that could have happened. It sets up a lot of ignorant albeit well-meaning people to fail in a survival situation. The facts are that this young man failed at everything but death. His situational awareness was non-existent, had he even the slightest bit he would have recognized that he was getting in over his head. He would have seen all the warning flags that were flying around his head. If he had any sense at all he would not have gotten in the bad situation in the first place. It is not as if some exigent circumstances caused the problem, it was sheer carelessness, and we paid for it. Who do you think paid for the search efforts?
Don’t get me wrong I’m happy he and his dog survived, but it wasn’t because of taco sauce. He did enough things right after the fact, that he survived, and he would have without the taco sauce! What is being missed here by the media, and all those watching it yet ignorant of reality is the rule of threes and how it relates to survival.
The rule of threes
You will not survive for longer than 3 seconds without staying calm
You will not survive for longer than 3 minutes without air
You will not survive for longer than 3 hours without shelter
You will not survive for longer than 3 days without water
You will not survive for longer than 3 weeks without food
You will not survive for longer than 3 months without community
As you can see from the list above he would have survived an additional two weeks without any food, let alone the taco sauce. It was completely irrelevant. We need to take our survival and preparedness seriously and not propagate these aggrandized misconceptions about survival, that helps no one.
I am an advocate of getting out there and exploring, pushing your limits, and expanding your skill sets. But I am wholeheartedly against being foolish and reckless, let alone the media making a circus out of such foolishness.
Remember, Knowledge is the easiest tool to carry!
Know where you are going.
Know who you are going with.
Know what you are taking with you.
Know the limits of your own skills.
Know when to turn around.
Know better than to foolishly put yourself at risk.
Here in the Northwest we recently experienced an extreme weather event. One that is unusual for this neck of the woods. We received a large amount of heavy wet snow in a short period of time. This caused a myriad of issues with our roads, the power, and even our railways. The impact of the storm was mostly felt in the Southern Willamette Valley and the Cascades in the same region.
I know of several people caught unprepared. They were without power and water for an extended period. Their house is on well water and the pump doesn’t run without power. Some friends and family were without needed medications with no way to get them due to road closures. Neighbors helping neighbors, as well as the young and strong coming to the aid of those less capable, was a normal day.
I myself was in Klamath Falls when the storm hit, 6 hours from home and on the wrong side of the Cascades. With multiple passes closed and another front moving in that threatened to close the remaining passes, I made my move.
Being Prepared
Don’t take this lightly, I travel in a 4-wheel drive vehicle with traction tires and chains. In my rig, I carry the tools, equipment, and supplies to survive for a week or longer without aid of any sort. I also have my General class Ham license and have a radio in my rig. I am prepared to take those kinds of risks. There were many times, in fact, most of the journey through the mountains, when there was not another vehicle in sight, I was mostly on my own.
Staying Vigilant
But, this is nothing new to me, I am constantly assessing my level of readiness and making improvements as needed. Seasonal adjustments are constantly being made to my equipment and supplies. Always erring on the side of being overly safe. I have the training and equipment (in my vehicle) to hike out, in any weather, if necessary. Do not attempt anything that you have not been trained to do or do not have the proper equipment.
As is very common, most don’t consider the threat going without until it hits them in the face, because of this we have a run on the store for supplies. Be responsible for your safety and security. Plan for the inevitable disaster. Get your supplies, equipment, and training before a disaster strikes. One secondafter the disaster strikes is too late.
Staying Calm
The most important consideration aside from physical training and equipment is mental preparation. You must spend the time and energy to train your mind. It is imperative that we are able to remain calm in the face of adversity. Remember the rule of threes, you will not survive for more than 3 seconds without staying calm, I can not put enough stress on this. It is vital to your survival that you develop this skill. Without it all else is worthless.
If you are reading this you have already come to the conclusion that you need to be prepared to handle whatever comes your way. It should be said that solutions are not found in equipment or supplies, they are found in the skills that allow you to use them. Don’t misunderstand me, we need the supplies and equipment. But, we must first and foremost get training and education that will empower us to use them.
We don’t get to decide when or where a disaster or emergency will strike. The best we can do is prepare ourselves and be ready for it when it comes. It is important to assess your given needs and activities in order to build the appropriate skillsets. There are constants that apply to every given situation and our survival will always be dependant on certain basic needs. The rule of 3’s addresses these basic needs to maintain life.
These are general guidelines, of course, and your mileage may vary. When you consider these it becomes easier to prioritize what skillsets you need to foster and develop. It also becomes clear that you should have some minimum basic supplies at all times. One thing that is often overlooked is the need for PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) we need to protect our physical assets first, it will be difficult to survive without them.
Basic PPE
Wraparound Safety Glasses – if you wear prescription lenses get the kind that fit over your glasses. Dust mask (N95) – you need to protect your lungs Gloves – both leather and nitrile Sturdy footwear – you will be dependant on your feet to get you to safety.
Get your First aid/CPR/AED certification
You can never have too much training especially when it comes to first aid. More times than not your immediate care will depend on you, your skills and equipment. The more prepared you are to handle medical issues the better, for you and those around you. So get the training and the equipment to match your skills.
The Great Outdoors
It is important to remember we don’t get to choose when or where a disaster strikes. You could potentially find yourself in an outdoor survival situation. Take the time to develop at least a basic set of survival skills. Consider what season you are in and adjust your kit to match. Carry extra clothing including socks and underwear. Think about shelter, if you can put a tent in the trunk, do it. Carry potable water in a sturdy container. Put a yoga mat in your trunk it is a great insulator. Simple things that can make all the difference.
Let me start my story with a little background. Every since my Sophomore summer, when I grew 7 inches, I was a slender man. When I joined the service I was probably 175 pounds and 6’ 1”. I met what was then the standard for a healthy height/weight combo. The service, however, put some meat on my bones and hardened me a bit.
Through this process and the 25 years that followed, I developed an internal image of myself as a strong and capable man. One that was fit and dynamic aside from smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes a day. Which had been a constant companion since the early age of, let’s be conservative and say, 11 years old. Everyone is known for something, I was the smoker. But I was fit, I played on softball teams and volleyball teams. I went on long distance backpacking trips with friends and by myself. I was always unstoppable, indomitable.
When I was 46 years old I decided to quit smoking at the behest of all my loved ones, but mostly my constantly dogged daughter, Samantha. It wasn’t an easy road, but I prevailed. As in most things, I refused to fail permanently. This, and my now near 15 years of working a sedentary job started taking its toll on my body and fitness level, even though I spent a great deal of time golfing. No, not riding in a cart, but carrying my clubs on my back and walking the 7+ miles. It was such a gradual, almost imperceptible process, I didn’t even notice. In fact, my own internal image of myself had remained unchanged.
BEFORE
The awakening came during the summer of 2016. Just before my daughter Samantha’s 25th birthday in May, I asked her, “If you could have anything for your birthday, what would it be?” Now mind you, in my genetics lies a small unusual defect that has been the death of my father, his brother Ray, and their father Lloyd. It is to this point unknown exactly what it is, as the three led vastly different lives, as have I. But, the three of them died instantly from cardiac arrest at the age of 54. My father having recently, within 6 months, been given an A+ rating on his Cardio Pulmonary workup. My next birthday was my 54th, this probably added to her impetus.
Her answer was simple, “I want you to take me into the wilderness, to those magical places you have told me stories about my whole life”, this was very emotional for me. We had gone on adventures before, this would not be the first. But, it had been a long time since she had shown an interest in the wild and it stirred me greatly that she wanted me to take her there.
We had a bit of time to prepare, sort our gear, and plan our meals. It was exciting! We were going on a grand adventure into the wilderness that I had called home so many times. It is there that I truly feel at peace, it is there that I belong. My internal self-image, you know the one I mentioned earlier, failed me at this point and I did little physical preparation. After all, I was a strong and capable man! This was my folly.
Our adventure started with the excitement that is usual for such an endeavor. We laughed and talked excitedly about the days ahead and the wonders we were anticipating. When we got to the ranger station to get our passes we were blindsided and found that what we thought we needed to do to get the permits for where we wanted to go, was totally wrong, and we wouldn’t be going there. But, we found an alternative, and after much grumbling, and a few tears, we set ourselves against the adversity and made the best of it. But, that is another story.
Through this adventure, my internal self-image was destroyed. I was humbled and humiliated by my sheer lack of fitness and my inability to perform at the level I was used to. My will had not suffered the same fate as my physical ability and I managed to push through, but not without a large serving of embarrassment. I was supposed to be this larger than life man of the wilderness taking my now grown daughter out to show her the wonder that I was fond of. Instead, I was this broken down old man that was having difficulty keeping up. Barely managing not to be a burden on her and the others. It was a rude awakening, one I don’t care to have again.
When we got home from our adventure, which turned out to be wonderful, despite my failures, I resolved myself to fixing this problem and getting myself realigned with my self-image. I was not ready to acquiesce to the ravages of time and accept my lot as a broken down old man. I spent the next 6 months trying to find my way back there with little or no progress. Until March of the next year when I was watching a live feed from ReadyMan and Josh Tyler was talking about how he used a Ketogenic diet to maintain his muscle while burning the fat, all while eating bacon, among other things.
AFTER
I spent the next month doing research and preparing myself to convert to this new dietary paradigm. I had a complete blood panel and cardiac workup for a baseline and started my journey on April 1st, 2017. With the support of my family, and a lot of longing for all those things we are used to eating, like bread, potatoes, and the hardest for me, ice cream, I persevered. It was not without stumbles and cheat days or cheat months, but I kept coming back to it and have made much progress. Over the course of the last year, I have lost 47 pounds, more than that if you count the weight I lost more than once! I still have further to go, but I wanted to share this with all of you. Partly to reinforce it with me, but also to maybe give someone else some hope.
At the beginning of this year, I started swimming to get more cardio fitness and am swimming 1 ½ miles, 3 times a week now. I feel better than I have in nearly a decade and I am looking forward to this years adventures in the wilderness.
May you find yourselves surrounded by familiar faces, with your feet warm and a table filled with your favorite foods.
Lately the world has been filled with angst, anger and unrest and unfortunately most of it is understandable. So I ask everyone to set aside these feelings for one day and embrace those you love, fill their hearts with song and laughter, bring joy to all you touch today.
Most of all spend this day with love and grace in your heart and spread it around.
We live in a society that has trained us to eat meat on a daily basis. Fortunately we are moving away from this paradigm, as we have learned it is both unnecessary and problematic to the long-term health of our planet. That being said, when we are in a survival situation it may become necessary to our survival to harvest some fauna from the earth. Chances are you will not be packing around your hunting gear, if you even have any, when the need arises. So this will focus on methods that use your natural surroundings and a few basic tools.
There are many types of traps at your disposal. Snares, deadfalls and pits to name a few. If you are reading this I am assuming you have a certain level of readiness, like a pocket knife and some paracord.
Lets talk about snares, the two we will talk about today are spring snares and drag snares. Of these the spring snares are the most complicated of the two.
This is an illustration of what I call a drag snare. it is designed so that all that is needed is a well placed loop of cordage and the animals instinct to flee for successful operation. If you look closely you will see the loop is fashioned with a slip knot that will become tight when strained. This ensures that your prey does not escape. Placement is the key ingredient to success. Try to find an animal trail and place the loop so that your prey will pass through it while traveling normally. Make the loop the size of your intended prey. 3-4 inches for rabbits 2-3 inches for squirrels. You don’t want to catch a bear.
spring snare is quite effective but way more complicated in the setup and reduces your chances of releasing an unwanted captive, as it is more aggressive. But it tends to be more successful because it uses the critters body weight to maintain tension on the snare once it is tripped.
The single most important message I want to pass on is;
Traps are indiscriminate and must not be forgotten!
If we decide we need to set traps for our survival, we must be responsible in their placement and management. Taking life to maintain yours should never be taken lightly, be a good steward.
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