Monthly Archives: November 2012

November 11th, 2012
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How To Make an Electricity-Free Refrigerator

Conventional refrigeration does an incredible job keeping food fresh. But that technology hasn’t helped desert dwellers without steady electricity. A more recent development in refrigeration—the Zeer pot-in-pot refrigerator—only requires water, sand, and a hot, dry climate to preserve produce through evaporative cooling. Here’s how to make the simple gadget.

Materials and Tools Required

  • two terra cotta pots with a 2-3 inch difference in diameter. The smaller pot should be glazed and preferably lacking a drainage hole. If the inner container is double glazed (on its inner and outer walls), non-potable water—say seawater—can be employed.
  • a bag of sterile sand
  • a square of burlap cloth large enough to cover the top of the inner pot
  • a trowel

Building It

  • 1. If your pots have drainage holes, plug them with a bit of cork, caulk, or other waterproof material. If you don’t, moisture from the sand will seep into the lower pot and immerse the stored goods or seep out the bottom of the larger one.
  • 2. Put down a one-inch deep, level layer of sand in the bottom of the large pot. Set the smaller pot on top of that layer and center it in the larger one. Make sure that the smaller pot’s lip is even with the larger one’s.
  • 3. Fill sand in around the sides of the of the two pots, leaving about an inch of space below the lip.
  • 4. Pour cold water over the sand until it is thoroughly saturated. Put your food into the smaller pot. Cover that with a burlap cloth, also soaked with water. That’s it! Just be sure to refill the water regularly, about once or twice a day.

How It Works

The Zeer was developed in 1995 by Mohammed Bah Abba, a Nigerian school teacher that hailed from a family of pot makers. The design is incredibly simple: a glazed earthen ware pot nestled inside a larger, porous one with a layer of wet sand separating them. As the water evaporates through the surface of the outer pot, it draws heat from the inner one, keeping up to 12kg food fresh for as long as three to four weeks without using a single watt of electricity.

For his efforts, Bah Abba was awarded the $75,000 Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2000 and the World Shell Award for Sustainable Development in 2001 to help spur its development. Presently, Bah Abba sells about 30,000 Zeer per year for 200 Nigerian naira ($1.30) a piece.

Why It Matters

For unprotected food in the North African heat, there is no such thing as a shelf life. Fresh fruit and vegetables last maybe a day or two, and meat spoils within hours. This means that most food must be either sold or consumed immediately. Taking produce to market, in Sudan at least, is a task that typically falls on the women. This tight freshness deadline leaves little free time for their education. But if they had to go to market only weekly, rather than daily, they might actually have time for school—that’s the promise of the Zeer.

The Zeer benefits not just individuals but the greater Sudanese society as well. Farmers are granted greater negotiating power when they don’t have to sell their wares right there and then. Parents see fewer cases of food-borne illness. And when disease does occur, water and temperature-sensitive medicines can also be preserved in the cool pots.

For the rest of the world, the Zeer represents a zero-electricity option for refrigeration. In extended power outages like the ones we’ve seen this summer, long after the local store sells its last bag of ice, the Zeer could be your best chance to keep critical perishable goods from spoiling in the heat.

Via: gizmodo

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November 10th, 2012
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Radiation Detection App for iPhone / iPad

While I am not normally a great fan of stuffing my phone full of apps that are entertaining but useless at best, here is one that I came across that can actually prove very useful for those that have the older Civil Defense survey meters that have and audio output that lets you hear the clicks as the Geiger tube is detecting hits. This will work with any meter that gives audible clicks for activity that is being detected by the Geiger tube, the app needs the external input through the microphone on the iPad / iPhone or a patch cable made to utilize direct input.

What’s more important about this app is the accuracy that can be attained with it. The CDV-700 that was used to test this was calibrated by a lab in the late 90’s so I have a fairly high confidence that its meter is reading correctly, all the readings that were taken with the application using the audio from the survey meter matched what it was showing on the analog meter.

             iPhone version

The application is called Geiger Bot, and it is available on iTunes for free. Yes, you heard me right, free. Now if this app on an iPhone were to be coupled up with the compact Geiger Counter that is offered by GQ Electronics LLC for $95.00 you have a good handheld radiation detector that will even alert you if the background radiation rises above safe levels.

I will not detail out all of the functionality of the application, the author of it has already done a great job on his web site (http://sites.google.com/site/geigerbot/).

So for those that have an old CDV-700 meter and an iPhone or iPad, here is a way to bring it forward into the digital age for a minimum cost.


              iPad Version

Via: tpass

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November 9th, 2012
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Airtight Storage on the Cheap

One thing that most people that are storing things away for a rainy day are short on is good airtight/watertight storage containers. Granted there is the usual school of using 5 gallon buckets, while this is all well and good (excellent for the test of time), but what about smaller sizes? Not necessarily food, but other items that are sensitive to moisture like seeds.

There is a myriad of solutions that are available on the shelves of the local big box and there is the good old Mason Jar, but the latter is rather fragile when it comes to being dropped or roughly handled. Ironically enough when I was wandering through the local big box home improvement warehouse I spotted a good alternative that was very easy on the wallet, empty paint cans that come with lids. Their purpose being to store leftover paint or custom colors that you have mixed yourself.

For the low price of $2.97 ea. one can obtain quart sized cans that hold a reasonable amount of dry goods (or non-edible liquids that are not corrosive). The cans are fully lined and while not the perfect solution, they will last for many years while keeping their contents safe and dry (or liquid).

Always keep in mind that food items still need something else the just the can (Mylar or maybe vacuum packed).

Available at Lowes and other big box home improvement stores.

As to exactly what you can store, use your imagination.

Via: tpass

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November 8th, 2012
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Why Store Food Anyway?

We live in the land of plenty here in the United States.   There are grocery stores in every town, convenience stores scattered everywhere, and even hardware stores, video game shops, and just about every place we go have snacks and drinks for sale. Food and drink seem to be everywhere.

Most of us have income in the form of paychecks from our jobs, and others have checks from retirement funds of one kind or another.

We have a safety net for those in need, in the form of other types of checks and food assistance programs.   The most commonly known one is food stamps.   In addition to that program there are food banks run by various organizations in many towns and cities, as well as soup kitchens and other meal programs.

FEMA, the Red Cross, and others have plans and supplies to help when natural disasters occur.   They may not have functioned as well as they should in some recent events, but they are always working to improve their preparedness plans and hopefully get better.

So, again… why store food?

I can think of a lot of reasons.  Fresh in our minds is Hurricane Katrina.   Resources were stretched beyond thin.   There wasn’t enough to go around, and the disaster was too wide-spread to reach everyone in a timely manner. Even Sandy the storm that just came through had seen a lack of food and water for many people for quite a while.

New England has been hammered with some pretty big snowstorms the last couple of winters.   Electricity was off for days in some areas, and driving anywhere wasn’t safe while trees, limbs, and lines were down. Kentucky had ice storms with weeks at a time without power and the same type of driving issues.

Tornadoes have been known to tear up wide swaths of land and destroy whole towns.   Floods have forced people to flee their homes, or isolated them when roads were underwater and they couldn’t get to the grocery store.

There are also economic reasons to store food.

Gas is expensive and getting higher almost by the day (sometimes by the hour it seems).   Every trip to the store costs more than 3 times what it did 10 years ago.   If you don’t have to go as often, you’re saving money, and that money can be put toward more stores of food.

In the last several years there have been huge numbers of workers laid off.   Unemployment checks are usually not enough to keep a person’s bills paid, let alone buy groceries.   If it happens to you and you have some basic food stored, you can greatly increase your comfort and lesson the financial strain.

Again, there are safety nets for people who find themselves in that position, but it can take time to complete the application process and begin receiving assistance.   At the very least it’s good to have enough food to carry you through those first few weeks. It’s a personal decision how much food you think you would feel comfortable storing.

The best thing you can do is to formulate a plan of your own.

In the coming posts I hope to share with you some easy ways to start this plan, even if you can barely afford to buy food each week.

I will share information from others that have also talked about this same subject.

For now just think about what has been said. Can you see any reason why you should “not” try to store some food?

Via:  Poverty Prepping: How to Stock up For Tomorrow When You Can’t Afford To Eat Today

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November 7th, 2012
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Preparedness in the Mainstream (Again)

At the beginning of this year the mindset of preparedness has once again rearing its head in the mainstream media in a positive light, this time in the form of educational television programming geared towards children. Yep, you heard me right; the mainstream media is preaching the positive aspects of preparedness to our children!

Mighty Kids Media’s Danger Rangers® animated edutainment series, which “SuperEmpowers” children ages 4-8 years-old with the knowledge to take on life’s challenges, will teach viewers the importance of emergency preparedness and paying attention to rules in this week’s episode.

It is good that the message of preparedness is being presented to our children, and I would really like to see more programming like this that is aimed at adult audiences as well. There are some public service type announcements that I have seen aired on the subject, but something more substantial is really needed to promote the preparedness lifestyle to the American public.

Incidents like the Fukushima disaster after the tsunami swamped the reactor complex really brought the reality of how one disaster can trigger another into sharp focus for many in the US and brought back the memories of the damage that Katrina did when it blew through the southeast US.

Perhaps you landed here because you are already one that pursues the preparedness lifestyle and are seeking more information, or perhaps you landed here and are reading this because you are curious about ‘that preparedness thing’. If it is the latter, we fully encourage you to learn as much as you can and make an educated decision about what is right for you and your family. I can tell you from our personal experiences in the past that living life with preparedness always in mind is one of the best things that we have ever done. When you are prepared there are not many surprises that you can’t navigate with minimal disruption to your normal routine.

For those that landed here while seeking more information, we will be posting more articles to address specific preparedness issues.

Via: tpass

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November 6th, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Wyoming drawing up doomsday bill to plan for the fall of the United States.

Wyoming state representatives have voted to create a doomsday government task force in the event the state must self-sufficiently operate during a national economic or political collapse.

Passing on its first reading, House Bill 85 would permit an investigation on issues like alternative currency, food distribution, a possible state military draft, and obtaining military aircraft. The bill faces two more House votes before it goes to the Senate for approval.

‘To put your head in the sand and think that nothing bad’s going to happen, and that we have no obligation to the citizens of the state of Wyoming to at least have the discussion, is not healthy,’ Rep Lorraine Quarberg, a Republican of Thermopolis said according to the Casper Star Tribune.

News of Wyoming’s economic doomsday preparations comes on the heels of a report released  that found that the United States may hit the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling “sooner than expected — and possibly around the November election.”

Via: dontgetbit

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November 5th, 2012
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Fragility of the ‘Just in Time’ Supply System


Must people may not know about the ‘Just in Time’ (JIT) supply system that drives the US, namely the fragility of this system.

Growing up I remember getting fruit in my Christmas stocking, when I was young I could never figure this one out, later I learned the significance of this gift. It was a tradition that predated the JIT system that moves foods hundreds, and many times thousands, of miles from where it was produced to your local supermarket.

Prior to the JIT system oranges were not something that was available year round, let alone across the US from where they were mainly grown. The significance was the fact that it was an expensive treat back in the day to get fruits when you lived in an area where they would not grow.

Today with the JIT system we enjoy food and goods from all over the planet, the result of this is that local production and consumption has dropped to its lowest point in US history. The dependence on the JIT system to feed the population of the US is a disaster waiting to happen and the way that the system is put together it is extremely vulnerable to failure.

The main vulnerability is the interdependence of so many moving parts that when one breaks it affects almost the whole machine. An example that really shows this was when hurricane Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans. When this happened the stores that remained standing were quickly emptied of what little they had left and FEMA struggled for weeks trying to keep food and water deliveries flowing into the area.

This major failure is probably one of the reasons that FEMA came out and stated publicly that in the event of major disasters the reality is that they will not be able to provide help for days, weeks or even months depending on the magnitude of the disaster. During the aftermath of Katrina FEMA quickly found the limitations of the JIT system when it tried to reroute supplies quickly to the disaster area after its propositioned stockpiles were exhausted. That didn’t work out too well.

The JIT system relies on the fact that deliveries of food, fuel, fertilizer and other goods will happen on a daily basis and will arrive on time exactly when needed. There is no room for shocks to the system like Katrina provided, as a result it failed in that area.

Things like coordinated cyber-attacks against infrastructure and not just theories anymore, they are proven facts. Stuxnet was the first of these to be brought to light, a virus that specifically targeted Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA), and just recently the Flame virus was discovered and brought to light. Both are very sophisticated viruses that were capable of inflicting severe damage to infrastructure if they were instructed to do so.

The JIT system is highly dependent on the computer networks that carry information to place orders, confirm deliveries and track the whereabouts of goods in transit. The transportation system that underlies JIT, if for some reason the fuel stops flowing, so does the transportation system that keeps JIT alive.

Based on the American Truckers Association Report here are some interesting facts about what would happen if this transportation network were to be disrupted:

Food

  • Food shortages would begin in a little as three days, especially perishable items.
  • Consumer panic would significantly amplify this problem due to panic buying which could lead to potential civil unrest.

Water

  • The supply of clean drinking water could disappear in as little as two to four weeks. When the chemicals to treat the water are used up that’s all she wrote for safe water.

Healthcare

  • Many hospitals have moved to JIT inventory systems, any stoppage in the deliveries would cause immediate shortages in basic supplies that are needed to care for patients.
  • Hospitals and elder care facilities would exhaust food supplies in as little as 24 hours.
  • Prescription drugs will be depleted quickly, most of the 55,000 pharmacies depend on daily shipments.

Transportation

  • Gas station fuel supplies would start to run out in 24-48 hours.
  • Air, rail and maritime transportation would be disrupted.
  • Without fuel for personal transportation many people cannot access grocery stores, banks, healthcare facilities and other daily needs.
  • Public transportation would cease.
  • Without fuel emergency services would be paralyzed further jeopardizing public safety.

Waste Removal

  • Within days of curbside pickup Americans would be awash in a sea of garbage.
  • Processing facilities for waste would grind to a halt without fuel to power equipment.
  • Uncollected waste would become a breeding ground for disease, insects and other vermin.
  • Urban areas would be hit the hardest and the fastest with problems starting in days.

Retail / Manufacturing / Economy

  • Replenishment of goods would be disrupted. Retail stores that maintain low inventory levels that rely on JIT practices would have inventories depleted in short order.
  • Consumers would add to these woes as panic buying ensues, this behavior is routinely noted during hurricanes and other disasters.
  • Manufacturers that rely on JIT to supply raw materials, parts and components will shut down their production lines.

Financial Sector

  • Consumers access cash 24/7 from 370,000 ATMs nationwide. JP Morgan Chase, the nation’s second largest consumer bank, replenishes its 6,600 ATMs via armored truck delivery every two to three days. Given the increase in ATM activity that occurs before and after any type of crisis, ATMs would run out of cash much sooner.
  • Small and Medium businesses would lose access to cash.
  • Regular banking functions would cease.

While it may sound really far-fetched, you really need to ask yourself if it’s really possible. Consider the following when thinking about this:

  • Organized cyber warfare is no longer just a theory, it’s a proven fact (Stuxnet, Flame and hacktivists like Anonymous). Attacks against the very communications network that supports the JIT system are possible.
  • The existing electrical distribution infrastructure in the US is facing ever increasing demand and has not seen any real upgrades in decades.
  • International economic issues than can affect the price and availability of fuel that powers the JIT distribution system.
  • China and Russia have stopped using the US Dollar as the standard currency for purchasing oil from OPEC member countries; this further undermines the US dollar.

The fragility of the JIT system is just one of the reasons that we all should be looking to local producers for the food we eat and products that we buy whenever possible. It is also another reason why doing some amount of food supply stocking up would be a good idea. With the resurgence of urban and rural gardening for food, this helps, but it is still not a solution to the far reaching problems that the JIT system has created in America.

Not that I want to beat up on the JIT system too badly, it has brought many things to many people that would not otherwise have access to them, but the darker side it that the system has also created a dependence that is not easily broken. History has already shown when the system is taken away at a local or regional level that the withdrawals associated with that dependence are severe.

Via: tpass

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November 4th, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

IT’S A DISASTER!!! Now what?

Millions of Americans have been impacted by recent wildfires, violent wind storms, flooding and power outages across the country in recent days. And of course Hurricane Season is here so there is more mayhem to come.

After disaster strikes, families and businesses are faced with many questions including … now what?

This post is not intended to replace local officials’ instructions, but contains tips and resources about disaster response, assistance and recovery.

During the response phase of any major disaster, people must keep in mind First Responders will do everything in their power to help those in need, but it may take hours, days or possibly even weeks before the cavalry arrives.

In addition to locating survivors and the wounded, officials’ primary objective is to get utilities up and running, roads cleared, and confirm structural integrity of commercial and personal properties as quickly as possible. The partnerships and coordination of government, faith-based organizations and the private sector will also help alleviate some of the stress for citizens and businesses during the recovery mode.

Declaration Process:

Governors and mayors have the option to declare a state of emergency before, during or after an event which basically allows access to emergency funds to help with response and recovery efforts. If an incident is widespread, local, state and federal officials will begin assessing the damage to determine if a federal disaster declaration request will be submitted.

Quite often survivors get frustrated with delays and red tape, but there is a process officials must go through to seek Federal assistance.

For example, the following explanation of the process for individual assistance appeared in an Indiana Department of Homeland Security 2011 press release and is similar to the “Disaster Sequence of Events” overview in a custom book recently…

  • An emergency or disaster incident occurs.
  • Local emergency and public safety personnel, volunteers, humanitarian organizations and other private groups provide emergency assistance.
  • A local disaster or emergency is declared.
  • Preliminary damage and impact information is reported to the State office by citizens and local emergency management entities.
  • The state determines whether to request joint preliminary damage assessments be conducted by federal, state and local officials.
  • Personnel from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration are deployed and join state and local representatives to conduct joint damage assessments.
  • State provides the findings of the joint damage assessments to the Governor’s Office.
  • Based on the magnitude and scope of the disaster, and results of the preliminary damage assessment, the Governor will determine whether to declare a state of disaster or emergency.
  • If a state of disaster emergency is declared, and if the Governor determines the extent of damage indicates full recovery is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments, the Governor submits a written request to the President asking that federal assistance be provided under a major disaster or emergency declaration.
  • FEMA reviews the request and findings of the joint damage assessments and advises the President whether a disaster or emergency declaration should be granted.
  • Federal assistance is granted or denied.
  • If FEMA Individual Assistance is granted, SBA loans will also be available. If FEMA Individual Assistance is denied, the Governor may file a supplementary request for SBA assistance.

Now… here’s the kicker. According to FEMA, less than 10% of all weather emergencies in the U.S. are actually declared. But during the above process, impacted communities and victims will be helped by many organizations and agencies including FEMA.

Getting Assistance:

FEMA suggests survivors do the following steps to receive assistance:

First, call your insurance agent. Insurance usually provides the largest amount of repair or rebuilding funding for many survivors.

Second, apply for disaster assistance with FEMA. This starts the process for federal assistance that you may be eligible for, such as temporary housing and home repairs. Renters also need to apply. If they are eligible, money is available for their personal property losses.

Ways to register for disaster assistance:

  • By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time. Operators are multilingual. For the speech or hearing impaired, the number is TTY 800-462-7585.
  • By visiting a disaster recovery center. Survivors can find the closest center by using the online disaster recovery center locator at go.usa.gov/CDc
  • By smartphone or tablet, go to m.fema.gov
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov

When you register with FEMA, you start the disaster assistance process. Additional information is available at any of the disaster recovery centers that open up in the disaster area. At the centers you can ask recovery specialists questions about your application or learn about available local, state and federal programs.

You may also receive a disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Homeowners and renters must complete and return it to be referred to other FEMA programs. Applicants are not required to accept the SBA loan.

FEMA assistance is limited to essential needs and can’t duplicate funds received from other sources. By registering, you will have access to the SBA and may be able to receive a low-interest disaster loan to cover residential or business losses. Survivors may apply to the SBA before insurance claims are settled.

A short FEMA video shares the story of a disaster survivor going through various stations at a disaster recovery center.

Learn more about disaster assistance at www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

Also — farmers can view and use the US Dept. of Agriculture disaster assistance programs online

If denied Assistance but have damage:

Sometimes victims receive denial letters from FEMA stating there was insufficient or no damage yet homes were partially or completely destroyed, as in some Alabama cases last spring. FEMA officials encourage those who believe they were wrongly declared “ineligible” to file for an appeal through a local disaster recovery center.

A study of 2011 Alabama claims revealed few disaster victims follow through after receiving a denial letter. It showed less than 1% of the 25,081 applicants initially declared ineligible for any reason had appealed, leaving the potential for millions of dollars in federal aid to go unclaimed. An applicant has 60 days from the date of the determination letter to appeal.

Some DOs and DON’Ts for the rest of us:

The images of disasters pull on people’s heartstrings causing those outside of the impacted area to want to do something to help. However, those good intentions can create nightmare scenarios for officials, volunteers and victims.

Some things you CAN do…

  • Donate money to a recognized voluntary agency since it is the single best way to help disaster survivors. Cash doesn’t need to be sorted, stored or distributed, and it allows the voluntary agency to use the donation towards the needs that most urgently need addressing. The funds can also help stimulate the local economy.
  • If you need help in determining who to give to, National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster website has a list of major nonprofits active in disaster work at www.nvoad.org … or visit the National Donations Management Network
  • Learn what to say (and not say) to victims of disaster. Check out “Loss: What to Say After the Flood, Earthquake, or Disaster from Grief Expert Aurora Winter” on PRnewswire

Some things you DON’T want to do…

  • Don’t show up unannounced with unsolicited goods (things like clothing, miscellaneous household items, mixed or perishable foodstuffs, diapers, etc). Critical resources will be redirected from the important work of response and relief to managing what often becomes a crush of unneeded donated items.
  • Always work with a relief agency to confirm what items are needed. Do not begin collecting, packing or shipping until you have a known recipient who will accept the donation.
  • Don’t drive down to a disaster site to gawk. People who go into areas to see the destruction make it harder for everyone working to clean it up and for the people who live there.

For information on other ways to help visit www.fema.gov/volunteer-donate-responsibly

Via: itsadisaster

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November 3rd, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Are you prepared for anything? Here’s some links you WILL need!


A lot of people who are known as “Preppers” get a lot of crap from our friends, family and even strangers about they are trying to be prepared. Some make jokes about it and talk about a “Zombie Apocalypse” when asked questions about being prepared. The truth is that most never really believe that deceased humans will get up and walk around someday. We do however believe that if you take the Zombie out of Zombie Preparedness you are just left with Preparedness.

With all of the disasters that we have witnessed over the last few years from Japan to hurricanes and major storms, we always see Survivors. Sometimes it’s just blind luck that gets you through a disaster or terrorist attack, but what you do afterwards makes you a Survivor. The CDC’s has made an attempt at a tongue in cheek look at preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse recently, but what they were actually trying to do was put a new package on their message of “Be Prepared”. The exact same message we preach here every day.

So take a few minutes and look around you. What would you do if one minute you were sitting on your couch and the next everything in every direction was wiped off the face of the Earth. What would you have ready to save your friends, neighbors and family? Take some time this week to check out the following links we are providing you and get your house prepared. For the cost of a single night out on the town you can be a Survivor of any disaster, be it Zombies or a terrorist attack. Stay vigilant my friends.

– What is a Bug-Out Bag and what should go in it?
– The CDC webpage for Emergency Preparedness.
– A PDF Checklist for what’s in one Survival Kit.
– American Red Cross Preparing and Getting Trained.
– State by State Evacuation Routes and Emergency Numbers.
– World Health Organization’s Disease Outbreak RSS Feed
– FEMA Map Service Center

 

via:  dontgetbit

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November 2nd, 2012
post by policysup | | 0

Survival Kit

A survival kit is a collection of supplies which have been prepared to aid in the survival of a disaster or emergency situation such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. A good survival kit contains tools to provide the basic survival necessities such as shelter, food, water, and first aid.

There a few types of survival kits; stashes, mini-kits and bug-out kit. A stash is a large collection of horded food and supplies usually set up for long term use under siege situations. Mini kits hold basic supplies and are designed to fit in small places such as a motor vehicle. Bug-out kits or Bug Out Bags (BOBs) are portable survival kits also known as “Personal Emergency Relocation Kits”; these are used for quick escape and survival for a few days. BOBs usually also contain tools that aid in gathering resources for more prolonged times after limited supplies run out.

Before creating an emergency survival kit or kits you must ask yourself a few questions: What type of kit should I make? How many people will I be providing for? Where should I keep my kit? How much food and water do need? Where would I go under extreme conditions? First… Look at your surroundings. If an event were to happen right now are you in a safe location? This is a great deciding factor for preparing your kit. Think of any situation that could happen and consider preparation for the most probable dangers. What will you need in your kit? Every situation is different for everyone and kits can be modified for specific purposes.

Location matters, it might be smart to keep smaller emergency survival kits in your car or at work. Also you might want to keep different styles of kits depending on your location, for example: If you live in the mountains away from large populations in a fairly secure home you might consider keeping a long term stash. On the other hand if you live in an inner city location in a not so secure home you might want to rely more on a light bug-out kit to get you to a safer location.

Before specializing in any type of specific survival kit for emergency situations it is important to know what items are needed for basic survival. To set up a good survival kit foundation you should know what the most fundamental items needed in almost all disaster situations are.

Here is a list from the homeland security website;

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kits:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book survival manuals
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels-Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

These items are great for a basic kit. Creating a survival kit with these supplies would be great for smaller emergencies. These are usually a low grade event and everything is usually controlled and back to normal after a few days.

In larger event, the situation gets dramatically worse. It is unlikely that a small survival kit is enough to handle a large event.

 

via:  dontgetbit

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