In light of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter on Sandy’s heels, it really got me thinking about how truly prepared we were to face a natural disaster that could leave us without power for days or weeks.
In all our efforts to live sustainably and self-sufficiently from our own land, I’m not sure my family has truly examined our level of preparedness if something were to occur in our region. Sure, we have canned food and extra water, but we haven’t stockpiled necessities like batteries, flash lights, gasoline, and other essentials. And what we do have we certainly don’t have enough of to last several weeks.
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| some of our canned food rations in our pantry |
A few advantages to our ability to survive on our own would be that we have working fireplaces and firewood stocked up that could supply heat if our heating system failed, we have a battery powered radio set up and ready to go, and as long as our chickens are here with us and fed, we could live off our garden, wild greens and other forest edibles, and the hens’ eggs/meat for quite a while.
With that said, I’m taking some steps now to prepare an emergency box or case with several needed items corralled together all in one place.
Our list of emergency supplies will include:
-Berkey Water Filter (this can turn any type of water into potable drinking water)
-flash lights, batteries, candles and matches
-a supply of seasoned firewood
-gasoline
-non-perishable canned food and water, manual can opener
-blankets and/or sleeping bags
-plastic tent or other protective covering
-sanitation and first aid supplies
-toilet paper
-knife and shotgun
-paper and pencil
-cooking oil
-aluminum foil
-garbage bags
-tools
-basic baking/cooking supplies
-salt
-fishing supplies
-duct tape
-baking soda and white vinegar (can be used for so many things)
-small safe with important documents
-survival guide book
I’m sure there is so much more I could add to this list. Every so many months, we will try to use up what is in our emergency kit in terms of food and resupply it. We also plan on investing in a generator. Although expensive, a generator is something we could desperately need since our water runs on electricity.
We have most of these things in the house already, but the difficulty is having them grouped together in a way that would be easy to grab and go if our house were to become damaged or uninhabitable.
So, what about you? Do you have an emergency disaster kit already prepared? I’d love to hear your suggestions of other items that would be important to add to this list!
We are unfortunately not prepared at all. I think we have plenty of food for a time, because I buy beans and rice in bulk and have all of my canned goods from the summer. I do have baking soda and vinegar because I use it for cleaning. We do not have a water filtration system – which is something I have been looking into. And as far as a first aid kit goes, my kids go through a lot of bandaids…and that is about all that I see in commercial first aid kits, so I am planning on putting my own together. I just started writing about preparedness on my blog last week, and more specifically preparedness with two babes. We are working on bug out bags, and trying to make it fun for my kids (2&4). I feel like it is really important especially since the natural disasters seem so much more common these days.
We are unfortunately not prepared at all. I think we have plenty of food for a time, because I buy beans and rice in bulk and have all of my canned goods from the summer. I do have baking soda and vinegar because I use it for cleaning. We do not have a water filtration system – which is something I have been looking into. And as far as a first aid kit goes, my kids go through a lot of bandaids…and that is about all that I see in commercial first aid kits, so I am planning on putting my own together. I just started writing about preparedness on my blog last week, and more specifically preparedness with two babes. We are working on bug out bags, and trying to make it fun for my kids (2&4). I feel like it is really important especially since the natural disasters seem so much more common these days.
We are unfortunately not prepared at all. I think we have plenty of food for a time, because I buy beans and rice in bulk and have all of my canned goods from the summer. I do have baking soda and vinegar because I use it for cleaning. We do not have a water filtration system – which is something I have been looking into. And as far as a first aid kit goes, my kids go through a lot of bandaids…and that is about all that I see in commercial first aid kits, so I am planning on putting my own together. I just started writing about preparedness on my blog last week, and more specifically preparedness with two babes. We are working on bug out bags, and trying to make it fun for my kids (2&4). I feel like it is really important especially since the natural disasters seem so much more common these days.
Such a great idea. We have been talking about this a lot lately so we need to get on it! I'll be referring back to your list for ideas.
We have been considering investing in a generator as well. Our water is pumped from our well with electricity so like you, no electricity = no water. Not a good situation!
Such a great idea. We have been talking about this a lot lately so we need to get on it! I'll be referring back to your list for ideas.
We have been considering investing in a generator as well. Our water is pumped from our well with electricity so like you, no electricity = no water. Not a good situation!
Such a great idea. We have been talking about this a lot lately so we need to get on it! I'll be referring back to your list for ideas.
We have been considering investing in a generator as well. Our water is pumped from our well with electricity so like you, no electricity = no water. Not a good situation!
Good advise…we should all be thinking about this!
Nice to meet you…great blog…
I'm your newest "follower"!!!!
Good advise…we should all be thinking about this!
Nice to meet you…great blog…
I'm your newest "follower"!!!!
Good advise…we should all be thinking about this!
Nice to meet you…great blog…
I'm your newest "follower"!!!!
Love that you're thinking about this! You never can tell what might happen and it's always better to prepare a little ahead of time than be sorry for it later 🙂 One item that I have found very helpful is a headlamp…just one of the simple ones you can get from any outdoor store that you would use for camping. It's great to have both hands free when you're attempting to do anything in the dark 😉
Oh, definitely! We use headlamps all the time now as it is. Good idea!
Oh, definitely! We use headlamps all the time now as it is. Good idea!
Oh, definitely! We use headlamps all the time now as it is. Good idea!
Hi Kathy, nice to meet you and thanks for visiting! I look forward to checking out your blog too!
Hi Kathy, nice to meet you and thanks for visiting! I look forward to checking out your blog too!
Hi Kathy, nice to meet you and thanks for visiting! I look forward to checking out your blog too!
I know, right? We have enough trouble with our water as it is because we think that our well might be drying up. Sometimes our water pump gives out on us too. We are hoping to get one of these filters for Christmas this year 🙂
I know, right? We have enough trouble with our water as it is because we think that our well might be drying up. Sometimes our water pump gives out on us too. We are hoping to get one of these filters for Christmas this year 🙂
I know, right? We have enough trouble with our water as it is because we think that our well might be drying up. Sometimes our water pump gives out on us too. We are hoping to get one of these filters for Christmas this year 🙂
I think if we take it one step at a time we can slowly become well-prepared instead of looking at putting it all together at once (which gets pretty overwhelming!). I have heard of bug out bags but don't know much about them–I will have to visit your blog to learn more! Thanks for visiting 🙂
I think if we take it one step at a time we can slowly become well-prepared instead of looking at putting it all together at once (which gets pretty overwhelming!). I have heard of bug out bags but don't know much about them–I will have to visit your blog to learn more! Thanks for visiting 🙂
I think if we take it one step at a time we can slowly become well-prepared instead of looking at putting it all together at once (which gets pretty overwhelming!). I have heard of bug out bags but don't know much about them–I will have to visit your blog to learn more! Thanks for visiting 🙂