A beginner’s guide for personal preparation in an uncertain world.
PREPPING 101
EUGENE / JUNE 25, 2020 – It’s pretty hypocritical of me to work in the emergency preparedness industry but not be prepared for a crisis myself. Living in an environmentally stable region (Oregon isn’t prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.), I had never really considered an emergency preparedness plan for my household. Sure, I remember going over the fire escape plan with my family growing up or practicing earthquake drills at school, but in my adult life I hadn’t given much thought to how I would respond to a crisis until COVID-19 hit (granted, I didn’t work for DLX yet). Suddenly, in the face of a global pandemic and a stay-at-home order, I became critically aware of just how unready I was. Admittedly, I took part in the panic buying of dried and canned food, water, matches and cleaning supplies, which somehow made me feel even more unprepared. That sense of helplessness was not unique to me – evident by the eerily empty store shelves. Just a few days into the shelter-in-place order I was fortunate enough to be given a job at DLX. As the Hustle Evangelist, I’ve learned how to talk the emergency preparedness talk, but now it’s time for me to walk the walk. Let’s dive into tips on how to create an emergency preparedness kit with our checklist.
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF PLANNING
Being prepared looks different for all of us depending on the crisis itself, our household makeup, geographical location, and level of financial stability; however, the need for preparedness is the same across the board. As made apparent by COVID-19, no one is exempt from a global crisis but some are better positioned to handle it than others. Educating yourself on the emergency preparedness cycle and about what hazards you’re most likely to face is the first step. Creating a plan of action that will address as many of these hazards as possible is the second. Gathering supplies is the third.
To get a better idea of where to start my personal prepping endeavor, I spoke with Marcel Schur, Team Leader for the Red Deer County Technical Rescue Team and co-founder of Canada International Rescue Organization. Schur has been active in the urban search and rescue community in Alberta, Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. When I asked what I should do to prepare my household, Schur said that having an emergency preparedness plan is even more important than having gear: “Once you have a plan, you can fill in all the things you need to make that plan successful.” Without an idea of how or when you will use your emergency kit, it’s just a bag of stuff. Schur also pointed to the importance of having backup plans, saying, “If it doesn’t have a plan B…it’s not a plan. It’s a wish.”
WHY PREPARE?
Picture yourself right now if you didn’t have access to power, water, or cell phone service. What would you do? Preparedness isn’t glamorous but it makes all the difference when disaster strikes. A concrete, exercised plan means you can focus on getting yourself out of harm’s way quickly, while everyone frantically tries to figure out what you already know. Preparing ahead of time also means you are less likely to forget something important or deal with supply chain shortages (aka: empty store shelves) caused by a disaster. Aside from being better positioned to come out on top of an emergency scenario, Schur explained that being unprepared puts you – and the people whose job it is to rescue you – in real danger. Every week his crew responds to life and death situations that could have been prevented with better planning.
WHAT SHOULD MY PLAN INCLUDE?
One of the most important cornerstones of a good plan are clearly designated meet up locations or “rally points.” Imagine a severe earthquake hits while you’re at work and your kids are at a grandma’s house. Cell phone service is down, and your city is being evacuated because of tsunami warnings. How do you reunite with your family before moving to higher ground? This is where the importance of rally points becomes obvious. Unfortunately, our increasing expectation that technology will always work for us has created a scenario in which rally points are often left out of emergency response plans. Remember, the best plans take every worst-case scenario into account.
Another feature of a fool-proof plan is addressing the unique needs of your household. Infants, the elderly, people with disabilities, and pets typically require specialized supplies on a daily basis, so make sure these things are included in your kit. Another thing to consider is the physical space you live in (house vs. apartment, rental vs. owned) and how that will inform your emergency plan. For example, many (not all) rentals provide fire extinguishers to their tenants but if you’re a homeowner, you’ll need to buy one.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK
There is a plethora of fancy survivalist gear available on the internet but everything you need for an emergency kit can be found at grocery, hardware, and thrift stores. Not having much disposable income is not an excuse to be ill prepared. Chris Starbuck, Healthcare Preparedness Coordinator for the Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition at Vidant Medical Center, said that one of the most common mistakes he sees is people spending an arm and a leg on equipment that isn’t necessary or specific to their needs. He explained, “I am not an advocate for the premade kits. I think you can go online and identify what is in the kit that you may need, and just go buy that. You can literally go to the Dollar General and put together your kit. You don’t have to spend a lot of money.” Here are some free and low-cost methods you can get started with:
- Write out a list of important contacts, phone numbers, addresses, and rally points or fill out an emergency plan sheet like the one templated here.
- Make copies of the contact sheet or plan for every person in your household
- Make physical and digital copies of important documents and store in weatherproof material (ID cards, passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance cards, bank account records, tax records, etc.)
- Find battery-powered electronics like radios, flashlights, and device chargers at thrift stores. Bring a variety of batteries shopping with you to test items before purchasing
- Print local maps and evacuation routes
- Can openers, travel-sized toiletries, snap-top Tupperware, plastic bags, small packages of paper towels and toilet paper are good items to look for at a dollar store
- Collect small bills as you receive them for an emergency cash supply (will be necessary for purchasing during electrical blackouts)
USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE
You might be surprised by how much supplies you already have laying around the house or in the garage, so be sure to do a personal inventory before going shopping. With that being said, you shouldn’t bank on your typical household reserves of certain items (like food, toilet paper, and pet supplies) to get you through an emergency. Having an extra supply specifically for a crisis creates a safety net, so if something happens when you’re between grocery trips – you’re not screwed. Some things to check for at home before buying include:
- Tools (wrench, pliers, and screw drivers may be needed to disable utilities)
- Medicine (any prescription medication, over-the-counter painkillers, anti-diarrheal, antihistamines/allergy relief, and cold medicines)
- Personal hygiene supplies (think about all those hotel soaps and shampoos you hoard in your travel bag…maybe it’s time for them to have a change of scenery over in your emergency supply kit)
- A change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Pen, pencil, and paper
- Cleaning supplies
- Sleeping bags and/or blankets
- Flashlight
- Batteries in a variety of sizes
- A whistle
- First Aid Kit (band-aids, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, antibacterial ointment, gloves, tweezers, scissors, and a thermometer with extra batteries)
- Disposable plates and utensils
- Backup pet supplies like food and litter
- A tote for all the supplies to go in
PRIORITIZE AND REVISE
There are some things you might not have on hand for your kit, and that’s okay. If you’re planning on a budget, try to get the most important supplies first and add additional items as your income allows. There is a great twelve-week preparedness plan outlined here that doesn’t require much change to your routine but incorporates a few things you can do each week to build your kit. Once your kit is complete, it’s crucial to continually check your supplies, use things set to expire, and replace items promptly. One good practice is to label your kit with a “check by” date on the exterior and keep it somewhere you’ll see it regularly.
Here are some items I suggest getting first. Be sure to keep them up-to-date:
- Minimum three-day supply of drinking water (1 gallon per person, per day)
- Minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food per person (canned food, dried mixes, other “no cook,” high energy foods such as protein bars, applesauce, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, cereal, protein powder, and shelf-stable milk or milk alternatives)
- Chlorine bleach and medicine dropper, which can be used as a sanitizer (9:1 water to bleach ratio) or as an emergency water treatment
(16 medicine drops of bleach per gallon of water). Bleach begins to lose its potency after 6 months to a year, depending on the brand. - Matches in a waterproof container (matches degrade over time)
- Fire extinguisher (check yours to make sure it isn’t “expired” or depressurized)
- Batteries (most batteries degrade within 5-10 years)
A tip: buy canned or dried food that you will actually eat so that you can consume the items before they expire. Here are some things to keep an eye on and replace as necessary.
BUG-OUT BAG
In a perfect world, we’d all be safe and sound in our homes when faced with a disaster. Unfortunately, there are many situations where sheltering-in-place just isn’t an option: think of a rapidly spreading wildfire. Having supplies ready to go gives your household an upper hand when it’s time to hit the road. Experts suggest keeping one in your home, workplace, and car. Take a look at the photo below and move your cursor over the items to see what I keep in my car bug-out bag.
MAKE IT FUN
Preparing children for an emergency may feel like a daunting task, but well-equipped and well-informed kids will only solidify your family’s plan. Starbuck is a father of elementary aged kids, so I asked him if he had any advice on how to approach the topic of preparedness with children. He suggests engaging them in the process: “Incorporate it so it’s enjoyable, not a struggle. Talk to them about what’s going on…don’t try to shield them from it completely.” He shared a few strategies that his family uses, like having the kids help pack their own bug-out bags, including one special item they wouldn’t want to leave behind, and making ID bracelets for the kids (great for use on vacation but should be kept in the bug-out bag otherwise).
STRONGER TOGETHER
During a conversation with Randy Hoffman, Healthcare Preparedness Coordinator for the Mid Carolina Coalition, the topic of neighborhood planning was brought up. Up to this point I had only considered my own household’s emergency plan, but Hoffman emphasized “If I can recommend anything: it’s to make it into a community thing. In my old neighborhood we put the kids in charge of doing welfare checks during power outages and they loved it. It’s really useful to know where the vulnerabilities and resources are in your neighborhood: preparing together helps you do that. If you can develop a plan that includes your neighbors, even just a few, it makes for a resilient community.” He also pointed to the fact that a group mentality creates access to more skillsets, which can be useful when it comes time to hunker down or get out of dodge. Another benefit of planning with your neighbors comes from a psychological standpoint. There’s a level of security that comes from knowing someone outside your household has your back when the going gets tough.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN
Thinking about how you’d respond to an emergency can be overwhelming, but there are tons of resources out there designed to curb that anxiety and make you feel capable in the face of a crisis. I included an emergency essentials list below. COVID-19 revealed just how unprepared most of the world was for a medical emergency, but as governments and healthcare systems continue to be blasted with fault for their response to the pandemic, I can’t help but wonder what the people placing blame have done to be personally prepared. Readiness starts with each of us taking accountability for our own well-being and actively engaging in the preparedness process. As Hoffman said so eloquently: “If we’re prepared as individuals then we will be prepared as families. If we’re prepared as families then we’ll be prepared as neighborhoods and communities, and counties and states.” We owe it to ourselves and to each other to plan for the worst, as we hope for the best.
RESOURCES REFERENCED
https://www.ready.gov/
https://www.ready.gov/kit
https://lanecounty.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=5818424
https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/prepareyourhealth/PlanAhead.htm
https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/emergency-preparedness-checklist-for-your-home/
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html
