The topic on having enought to survive in savings got me thinking.

Being prepared has been waying heavy on my mind lately! Me and DH have started working on 73 hour kits, and trying to buy extra food each time we shop to stock up on. You know stuff that doesnt parish.

Anyone else taking action to be prepared for the unexcpected?

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Living Life One Dirty Diaper and One Heartwarming Baby Giggle At a Time!

We made a list of things that contribute to our security and preparedness. Over the years, the importance of each item has changed depending on our circumstances and other factors like the economy and our jobs.

Retirement accounts
Savings/checking/income
home/land/garden
guns/training
gold/silver

There is short term emergencies, mid, and long term emergency preparedness.
My stockpile is mid term emergency preparedness - a few months

My short term is the 72-hour kit (duffel bag from army surplus)

Cathleen

Yeah, we have bottled water and non-perishable food stored up, as well as batteries and hand-cranked radios and flashlights. We have some MREs, too. I also have a portable 9 volt chargeable power station (you can use it to jump start a car or run things that charge in the cigarette lighter like cell phones). That thing could power my portable DVD player for days!

But, we have way more than 72 hours worth. After Katrina (even though we don't live in a hurricane zone we saw the breakdown of basic services on the news), we made it a point to have at least a week's worth of water and two week's worth of food. We know how to make a solar still if we run out of water.

we do not have anything ready. Reading this really makes me think about it though. We usually stock up on can foods anyway but we do not have reserve water or extra battries for flash lights. I do not even think we own a radio that runs off battires in case of a real emergency.

sonicblue,

You can buy hand-cranked combo flashlight/radios at Walmart for about $10. For another $10 (total of $20), you can get one that you can attach a cellphone charger to. They aren't as bright as a regular flashlight, but they are better than nothing and you know they will always work as long as you have a hand to crank it! Kids also love turning the crank. This would be ideal for camping as well.

I encourage everyone to buy these (and no, I don't own stock in the company...lol). Being prepared is very important. If something happens, who do you want to be? The people who were able to stay in their homes or the people who got stuck in the Superdome? I would also advise keeping at least $400 in small bills in cash in your house somewhere hidden, like behind a picture in a frame. When electricity goes out, the first thing that grocery stores stop taking are credit cards and debit cards. Same with gas stations. You want to be able to buy gas on your way out of town if you evacuate!!

Although you may not live near a hurricane, last week's earthquake in IL should get everyone thinking!!

Those people in the Superdome were not allowed to stay in their homes. Being prepared is great, but if public water is unavailable for any lengthy period, it wouldn't matter how much you had put away, the authorities would likely force the evacuation to something like the Superdome. Scary!!!

Part of being prepared is thinking about how you may be at odds with authorities. I like helping my neighbors. Local charities and businesses do great things in times of disaster. The bigger the disaster, the less control you will have over your own survival. Local groups cede control to the federal government.

I have not heard of anyone who was physically forced out of their homes by government agencies. The vast majority were voluntary evacuations once the people realized that they weren't prepared and couldn't stay in their homes, either due to rising waters, or lack of supplies. I would be very interested in reading about any incidents of government forced removal from a home. Most of the accounts that I have read and seen involve agencies persuading people to leave, not actually putting handcuffs on them and dragging them out of their homes. Do you have a link where that occurred?

Once they were there at the Superdome, they became a faceless mass of people, at the whim of whatever resources were available, being restricted as to movement, and becoming refugees. By choosing to shelter with thousands of people they didn't know, they in essence gave up their freedoms and exposed themselves to a terrible situation. It was a tragedy, one that has profoundly changed the way that I view preparedness. I am prepared to stay in my home, but I am also prepared to leave it if conditions deteriorate and I warrant that it is no longer safe--including evacuation before a disaster hits. The people who ended up at the Superdome were not prepared.

I have to agree with you. If I have everything I need to survive in my home it is going to take alot to get me to leave it!!!!

We are aiming to have a 3 month supply once we get settled after the move. This isnt only for when disaster strikes it good to have in case of losing a job or something like this. If you have food your good, and can use what money you have for bills.

72 hour kits are important to have in case you do HAVE to leave your home, you want to keep it minimal and keep in mind your packing it out on your back. I have a great 72 hour kit list if anyone is interested.

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Living Life One Dirty Diaper and One Heartwarming Baby Giggle At a Time!

I am not trying to be a smart-alec, but for some reason I didn't think gas pumps would work with the electricity off? JW!?

I am a bit confused are you preparing for a recession or a Hurricane or other act of God?

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Mom to Kellan 12-16-2000
Brooklyn 12-27-2005
Nolan 10-15-2007
Wife to Russell 10-14-2005