Quick and Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Household is Prepared

Quick and Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Household is Prepared

household_emergency_preparedness_11_1Preparedness and planning resources have been a main topic of conversation on this site for quite some time. Preparedness is worth investing time into in order to ensure the safety and security for yourself and your family. In addition to taking the necessary steps to prepare a household for emergencies, it’s also important to establish a plan for protecting your home and saving specific items. Since recent data shows intense weather being the most frequent and main cause of death, it could be anything from a hurricane, to a home break-in that impacts your family. Because of this, knowing what items will keep you safe and allow you to feel secure moving forward is absolutely crucial.

Here are some areas you need to focus on while developing an emergency preparedness plan:

First and foremost, make a plan

Having a plan written down will teach your family how to react at a moment’s notice. This will not only keep them safe, but it’ll also give them peace of mind knowing that they’re prepared to react. Your plan should set multiple rendezvous locations near and far away from your home in order to account for multiple types of emergencies. It should also establish emergency contacts such as family members, neighbors, friends, etc. Be sure to thoroughly go over the plan, especially with any young children, and make a point to revisit and/or revise your emergency plan once or twice a year. Here are some tips on how to make your own.

Purchase adequate supplies

Emergency kits are a great way to make sure that you and your family have all of the essential items during a disaster or in the event of an emergency. The kit should include enough items to last a few days, or even up to a week, and should be placed in multiple locations around the house or place of work. The items included should be everything from food and water (at least one gallon per person), power sources like batteries or generators, various tools, and clothing or blankets. Remember to account for anyone who may have specific medical requirements as well. Having an adequate emergency kit will allow you to care for yourself and others, while also avoiding having to go out into potentially dangerous conditions.

Invest in security

Home security systems are often the first step individuals and families take toward protecting their households, and for good reason. These systems can be the perfect layer of defense for yourself, your family, and all of your valued belongings. It’s important to look for an all-inclusive system that monitors activity around your doors and windows, but also protects you from a multitude of situations such as fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and flooding. Even though it’s difficult to anticipate every disaster you may be susceptible to, it can be easy and affordable to take a few simple measures. Check out this page here for everything worth looking for if you’re considering investing in a home security system. Remember to look for comprehensive security systems that are easy to set up, offer 24/7 monitoring, and work in various environments. Allowing yourself a little peace of mind can definitely go a long way in terms of preparedness.

Safeguard your important documents

When disaster strikes or a family is caught in an emergency situation, many might think to save material things, if anything at all. However, there are a few items that are worth saving if you’re able to, or better yet, securely protecting from a disaster that could damage your belongings. Among the many things worth protecting, safeguarding personal documents and various forms of identification is incredibly important. Identification ranges from passports and driver’s licenses, to social security cards and birth certificates. This may seem like a small detail to some, but being able to produce proper identification can make or break your eligibility to receive medical treatment or relief aid. It could also greatly affect your ability to access transportation in the event of an evacuation.

Protecting financial information

Aside from the important documents mentioned above, protecting financial information is something to take very serious as well. Records such as emergency funds, investments, insurance policies, and wills are some that can be very difficult to replace. Whether a social security number is lost or stolen, or even sensitive financial records, this could put your family in a very vulnerable spot when it comes to identity theft. Not only could this affect you for several years, but it can cause extreme worry and discomfort, as well as have an immense impact on future financial security. Make sure you consider purchasing a fireproof safe or procuring a safety deposit box, and establish a family emergency fund that can last anywhere from three to eight months.

Introduction to Emergency Kits (like BOBs, INCH, GHB, IFAK, EDC, and GOOD bags)

Introduction to Emergency Kits (like BOBs, INCH, GHB, IFAK, EDC, and GOOD bags)
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From my experience working in disaster response, I know the work and thought that goes into running a shelter during a disaster.  Emergency management workers try very hard to make shelters safe and comfortable.  However, the lack of privacy, resources, and independence makes me pretty hesitant to choose to go to a shelter as long as I have other options.

Personally, it would take a very severe reason for me to evacuate or “bug out” from my home in the first place.  Leaving the house would entail me having to leave many of my in-place systems and make me more vulnerable to outlaws and well meaning (and otherwise) bureaucrats.

Want and Reality aren’t the Same

However, just because I don’t WANT to evacuate from my homestead doesn’t mean I won’t HAVE to evacuate.  I don’t want any kind of disaster to befall my family, but measuring risk says I should be prepared “just in case”.  This leads me to the subject of emergency kits.

Any prepper or interested party with access to the internet has probably noticed the love of acronyms as they relate to kits and gear. You have: BOB, INCH, GOOD, GHB, and EDC, IFAK, 72 hour kits, and 1st 2nd and 3rd line gear.  The confusion just piles on.

Basically, it all related to the stuff you need to survive and the philosophy that caused you to pack it all together.

Basically it all starts with the 72 hour kit, which comes from the US military and is based around the fact that American soldiers are resupplied so often that they only need to be self-sufficient for three days at a time.  This level is what the US government recommends for all citizens, because in the event of a federally declared disaster it will take FEMA approximately three days to get a supply system organized to provide relief.  A 72 hour kit should have basic cooking, lighting, shelter, water, and food to survive for three days.

Prepper Terms

EDC

EDC or everyday carry are things you have on you everyday.  A whole prepper subset has evolved around EDC.  Generally for me my EDC is a couple knives, a cell phone, a cheap screwdriver set and P-38 on my key chain, and if I am carrying my “baur bag” to school some Altoids tins with containing a sewing kit and OTC medicine, and some car charger adaptors.  I would love to have a pistol in my EDC, but I work on a National Guard Base so that is verboten.

Bob

BOB, bob, or B.o.B means Bug Out Bag.  A BOB is a small bag that is basically a portable 72 hour kit.  The idea is that if a fire or something broke out and you had to leave RIGHT NOW, you can throw on your shoes, grab your BOB and have whatever essential medicines, food, and clothes that you would need.  A good idea is to have copies of vital records in your bob, so that you won’t loose them if you don’t have time to dig around in your filing cabinet.

GHB

A GHB or Get Home Bag is practically the same as a BOB, but philosophically the opposite.  A GHB is a portable kit containing the essentials you would need if you have to find an alternate route home if disaster struck while you were away from home.  I work inNashville, but I live about a 45 minute drive away.  If something happened and I had to leave my car and walk home, I would want a light backpack type kit that allowed me to change out of my work clothes, and gave me some comfort and security on a long trek home.

I keep a GHB in both mine, and my wife’s vehicles, and due to the nature of cars, my GHB is actually a box that has a lot of stuff, both for light repairs, minimalist camping, and a walk home.  Space and weight is not an issue in the car, so I have things in my box that I can pick through to make a bag that best fits my situation.

Many people keep firearms in their GHB’s and I totally understand that, however, if you have a AR or other long arm and change into a multi-cam uniform, your going to attract unwanted attention.  Consider a more concealable approach to defensive weaponry.  Personally, I want to look like Joe Sixpack with no more on me than anyone else.  In a disaster I want to blend in until I have to stand out.

Good Bag

A GOOD bag or Get out of Dodge is a larger BOB, but still small enough to pack quickly.  It’s pretty much interchangeable with a BOB.  Some preppers have GOOD trailers or GOOD vehicles that are pre-packed.  I use big plastic totes with a color code system.  Each food tote contains approximately a month of food rather than a single commodity.  In an emergency I can grab as many as I have room for and not have to worry about grabbing a 50 pound bucket of wheat but forgetting the salt or grinder.

Inch Bag

An INCH bag on the other hand means “I’m Never Coming Home”. Its more of a mad max/ the road/Postman type problem where you have to take what you can carry, but all you get it what you take.  My inch bag would contain everything in my GOOD kit, plus extras like my hand reloading press, more tools, and reference materials.

Military Terms

IFAK

IFAK is not a general preparedness kit, but it took me a minute to connect the dots so I will throw it in as a “good to know” IFAK is an improved first aid kit. This improved kit that is part of a new military Soldier in a system initiative.  It basically is a one pound kit that addresses major blood loss and airway distress.

Line gear is also a military concept and centers around the gear you would need to complete a mission.  It’s not exactly applicable to citizen preppers, but it is related in many ways.

First Line Gear is your EDC

It focuses on what you would carry on your person.  This would include your clothing, knife, weapon and maybe a small survival and first aid kit.  Obviously, if you’re a office worker your EDC would be much different than a law enforcement officer, or a coal miner.  Don’t go mall ninja on me though and carry a bunch of neato jiffy wow stuff to feel cool.  Everything needs a use or you won’t carry it all the time.’

2nd line gear is your “fighting load,”

When I have my “baur bag” (my wife calls it a “murse” but jack pack, messenger bag are all appropriate terms.)  I can carry more prepper stuff, flashlights, hand held radio, batteries, power bars.  It also can go with me almost everywhere and gives me more capability without sacrificing a lot of maneuverability.  IF it was a full on WROL (without rule of law – VERY unlikely) this would most likely take the form of a load bearing vest, or chest rig to hold ammunition for your rifle.

3rd line gear is your pack

Sustainment items you need for a longer term.  Your not going to fight wearing your rucksack, you would drop it and depend on your 1st and 2nd line gear during the fight and then go back and get your pack to refill your empty magazines.

The thing is, who cares what you call your stuff, organize it to suit your needs and as long as you understand what your doing and why you are light years ahead of guys that follow the conventional prepper wisdom and build kits based upon what some internet guru wrote in a list.  Your also Galaxies ahead of people that don’t even have a thought about prepping.

You don’t need to be scared, but it is important that you take some time to develop a plan that you can work with.

Biblical Quotes on Preparedness

Biblical Quotes on Preparedness
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After the earlier post, I figured I should show some Biblical Quotes on Preparedness.

Genesis 6:21

“And remember; take enough food for your family and for all the animals”.

God could have easily provided enough food every day for all people and animals on board, but He had Noah prepare ahead of time. God told Noah to build the Ark BEFORE the flood.

Genesis 41:1-32

“I had a dream last night,” Pharaoh told him, “and none of these men can tell me what it means. But I have heard that you can interpret dreams, and that is why I have called for you.”

Joseph told the Pharaoh to stockpile seven years of grain. God used seven years of great prosperity to bless them in the seven years of famine.

Exodus 12:35

And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed and asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. 36 The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians!

God could have provided everything for them, but He instructed them to prepare certain things before leaving.

Proverbs 6:6 – 6:11

6:6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! 6:7 Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, 6:8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 6:9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: 6:10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest 6:11 and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Ants don’t take breaks, Prepping is hard, it’s not easy, and it takes resources from things that are fun. But that does not mean you should not have some self-discipline to put off instant gratification to ensure you have your needs met.

Timothy 5:8

“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

A man that refuses to provide is not a man. If you see a danger and refuse to take the appropriate precautions, then this verse applies as well.

Proverbs 27:12

“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

God through Solomon only gives us two choices

Our economy, the unemployed rate is almost 10%. With Quantitative easing round two the Federal Reserve in an attempt to jump-start the economy just angered much of the world by devaluing our dollar. The National Inflation Association has stated they believe we will see hyperinflation and expects the prices of food to skyrocket.

I’m not saying that we’re in “The End Times”, but inflation or hyperinflation is a real danger. Hyperinflation is the only way I can see a day’s wages paying for a loaf of bread as mentioned in Revelation 6:6.

Hebrews 11:7

“By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,…,prepared an ark to the saving of his house…”

Proverbs 21:20

“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.”

Luke 6: 46

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Genesis 41:34-36

“Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and let them guard it. “

Proverbs 13:16

 “Every prudent man deals with knowledge: but a fool lays open his folly.”

Proverbs 13:19

 “Desire realized is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.”

Proverbs 15:22

 “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

Proverbs 16:1

 “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

Proverb 16:9

 “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but, the Lord directeth his steps.”

Proverbs 20:18

 “Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance.”

Proverbs 21:5

 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.”

Proverbs 22:3

“The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.”

Proverbs 24:3-4

 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Proverbs 24:27

 “Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house.”

Proverbs 27:12

 “A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.”

Proverbs 27:23

 “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds;”

Ecclesiastes 11:2

 “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.”

Matthew 25:1-13

 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Luke 12:16-21

“And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 14:28-30

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. ‘”

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.”

1 Timothy 6:7

 “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”

Urban Search and Rescue Door Markings

 

Urban Search and Rescue Door Markings
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I do not like everything the US Federal Government does (but what’s new there)… However, they do get some things right on occasion. In my opinion, the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)  program is one of them.

I have written about CERT before.

Basically CERT educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that could impact their area and trains citizens in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

In this post we talk about the CERT and USAR Urban Search and Rescue Door Markings.

As far as USAR (urban search and rescue) is concerned – one problem is keeping track of your search teams and what has and has not been searched.

Keeping track of  multiple individual teams searching multiple areas in the wake of a large scale disaster is nearly impossible.

This is why shortcuts have been devised over the years to make the job easier.

One such trick is the use of the “FEMA marking system”.

This is a standardized marking system that allows for easy tracking of a search is in progress.

The FEMA marking system tracks:

  • How many times a building was searched
  • What was found
  • It also serves to alert responders of dangerous conditions.

It is easy to train, simple to use, and only requires a paint can or similar marking device.

Basically:

As the search begins, the team paints a single diagonal slash to indicate that a search in the building is in progress.

This is used to indicate searcher locations and to avoid duplication of the search effort.

 

 

Once the team comes out they paint another slash to complete an “X” to show the search complete.

 

 

At the top of the slash the searcher marks the time and date they left the building

 

 

At the bottom of the “X” the total number or victims inside is marked, it is changed as the remains are removed

 

 

To the left of the “X” the Team searching writes their ID

 

 

To the Right of the “X” they write what they found (i.e. Haz-Mat) and any other pertinent information

 

 

It is important to note, that this is not the only similar code, there is also an international USAR code system that is similar, as well as a building inspector box code to show if a building is safe to enter.

Lastly, searchers should take care to place the signs on walls, as doors or windows can be opened or closed, which may obscure the markings.

Hopefully you will never need to know this information, but if you need it, I hope this helps.