Welcome to the 2024 7 Day Challenge. For 7 days, we are testing our Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage Plans. Each day will bring about a NEW mini challenge that will focus on a different aspect of our preparedness plans.

In order to receive each day’s emergency scenario in your email please sign up for the 7 Day Challenge email list or subscribe via text by texting 7daychallenge to 717-788-3663.

REMEMBER: To get the most out of the challenge, don’t be too literal about the scenarios. Modify them to fit YOUR family’s situation. Also, try to actually DO each day’s challenge. Don’t try to justify why you wouldn’t “need” to. The point is to PRACTICE our skills!

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DAY 3: Car Kits

We keep 72 hour kits at our house in case we need to evacuate, but what if you are already out and about should emergency strike. It is critical to have a well-stocked car emergency kit and today’s mini challenge is going to go over that.

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

Vehicle Breakdowns: Flat tires, engine failure, car overheating, etc.
Bad Weather Conditions: Snowstorms/icy roads, heavy rain/flooding, extreme heat
Getting Stranded: Driving in remote areas, getting lost, out of cell signal range, etc.
Car Accidents: First aid for injuries, emergency signaling, trapped in the car
Unexpected Delays: Traffic james, road closures, gas shortages
Health/Medical Emergencies: Sudden illness, injury roadside, emergency baby delivery
Evacuations: Natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorist attack
Helping Others: Be a “first responder” if you come upon someone having a car emergency

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MINI CHALLENGE: Practice changing a car tire today!

Remember the mini challenge can be done at any time during the day that fits your schedule. Take some time to actually DO the task and don’t just “think” your way through it. (If you are a visual person and need to see a video of how to change a tire you can check out my VERY old tutorial here!)

🛞 Determine if your car has a donut or a full spare tire
🔧 Locate the tools needed to change your tire: jack, lug nut wrench, owner’s manual, etc.
🔩 Remove the hubcaps if necessary, then loosen your lug nuts
🚗 Locate your car’s jacking point, position the jack, and raise the car
✅ Remove nuts and the tire, put the new tire on, and hand tighten the nuts.
⬇️ Lower your car back down and then tighten the nuts and replace the hubcap
🖐️ Give yourself a high five for changing your tire!
⚠️ Inventory the items in your car emergency kit today, rotate any food and water, spare clothes, etc.
📷 Take some pictures along the way of your adventures today
🗣️ Share your experiences in our Facebook Group daily discussion thread
✔️ Go through the “evaluate” section below and look for any things missing or that need to up updated in regards to your emergency car storage. Add them to your worksheets found under the “plan” section.

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EVALUATE:

Inventory the resources in your car emergency kits. Here are a few questions to ask yourself :

• Car Kits: Do you have a fully-stocked car kit? Are your snacks expired? Do you have water containers that can withstand the elements? Have you thought through the possible scenarios you might be stranded? Do you have spare clothes/shoes for kids that need to be rotated? (view contents list for car kits here)
• Extras: Do you have supplies needed for babies or small children? (view my Mommy Emergency Kit for a fun kit idea
• Heating/Cooling: Do you have items to keep you warm or cool should you be stuck in your car for an extended period of time? (view my Coffee Can Heater post for one helpful idea)

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PLAN:

Print out the worksheets below and add items you need to do, to learn, and to buy as you find holes in your preparedness plans throughout the week. Print multiple sheets as needed. These worksheets will become your road map for improving your preps over the next few months.

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I will also be posting a lot on instagram (@jodi_foodstoragemadeeasy) over the next few days as I go through the challenges on my own. Come join the fun there and use hash tag #fsme7daychallenge if you are sharing your own adventures as well.