DAY 1: PREPARE (Friday, September 21st)

WAR IS LOOMING!!! Your country is in the middle of an international skirmish and rumors are flying that you could be attacked any day now. No one can guess how or where the attacks will occur, so we are going to spend today getting our preps in order for any scenario.

Here is a list of things we are going to work on today. These are things you may have been putting off for a while so we are using today to “prepare” instead of jumping right in to a disaster situation. Feel free to buy some of these things or locate them if you have them already.

For a printable checklist click here

Last Minute Preparedness Checklist:

72 hour kits
-Replace clothes family members have outgrown
-Check and replace diapers
-Check food expiration dates and replace
-Check to see if you are missing supplies
-Do you have cash in small bills?

Lighting/Power
-Locate flashlights
-Check batteries in all flashlights
-Charge any solar powered battery packs
-Charge all your electronic devices and keep them charged just in case you lose power
-Get solar outdoor lights, you can use olive oil in jars with wicks as well
-Pick up a solar phone charger then you will still have power for your cell phone
-If you have to use a gas-powered generator, make sure to have a little extra fuel on hand; just be very careful where you put it, and be mindful of your local laws on how much you can have on hand at one time

Water
-Fill all your water containers
-Consider filling your waterbob (link) or plug your bath tub and fill it out
-Consider filling big rubbermaid totes with water but MAKE sure they are covered if you have young children around
-Have a rain barrel to collect water you can use to flush toilets

Family Communication/Planning
-Keep a list of emergency numbers handy, along with family members’ phone numbers. —-Write them down if you only have them stored in your phone
-Have an emergency escape plan from your home and make sure all family members know it and know where to meet.
-Make sure you have and/or locate your radio to stay connected
-Prepare an evacuation list of things you would need to grab in case you need to evacuate.
-Have an emergency binder with all important paperwork ready to go
-Take pictures of every room and closet in your house – it makes a huge difference if you have to deal with insurance companies

Cooking
-If you have a gas grill, make sure you have a full tank of propane
-Check and replace other types of fuels
-If you need internet for instructions on how to use any of your powerless cooking tools go online and print the instructions now
-Make sure you have and/or locate a non-electric can opener

Food
(If you haven’t started on the food part of your food storage, 1 day is hardly enough to prepare. You’ll just have to wing it or see how you do with this one)
-Have lots of non-perishables on hand
-Turn fridge and freezer to a colder setting
-If you have extra space in your freezer, take containers or zip-loc bags full of water and fill in the extra space
-Make a few meals and snacks that will last without power
-Have enough food and litter for your pets

Sanitation/Health
-Improvise an emergency toilet with a bucket lined with a bin bag and some sawdust or cat litter to cover the contents after each use
-Have your prescriptions filled
-Do your laundry now, so you have clothes that are dry and clean. Locate items necessary to do laundry by hand.
-Find your glasses so you don’t have to deal with contacts in an emergency
-Anyone with an oxygen tank – make certain you have 1) a travel tank 2) a generator or means to operate your home device

Other
-Have books and other non electric entertainment like board games ready for everyone
-Fill your gas tank
-Don’t forget to pay attention to fire prevention measures. Have your extinguisher handy

Remember to get everyone in your house involved. TOMORROW we will start the practice portion of the challenge. Kids will be more likely to want to participate in the practice if they have helped to prepare for it. Remember, in order to receive each day’s emergency scenario in your email you need to sign up for the 7 Day Challenge email list.

MAKE SURE to visit the group page on Facebook to discuss your progress and share pictures and tips. It’s a great place to learn from other people’s experience and knowledge.


I will also be posting a lot on instagram (@foodstoragemadeeasy) over the next few days. Come join the fun there with hash tag #fsme7daychallenge

-Jodi Weiss Schroeder
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net