WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PLAN!
Family takes special consideration when planning for unforeseen emergencies. In fact, many of you probably are prepping because of your families - to keep them safe. And it's not just some apocalyptic event when emergency storage will come in use. Local water shortages/contamination, unemployment, and other unexpected family emergencies will assuredly be easier to weather when you have back-up supplies. Here are 5 easy tips to follow for families practicing preparedness.
1) DESIGNATE A 1ST AND 2ND RENDEZ-VOUS POINT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
Many times, the ideal plan would be for everybody to meet at home. If something goes down causing chaos to your area while everybody is out doing their own thing, you want your family members to already know a well-memorized plan to meet at home; but, what if home wasn't an option? It's important to know a different "safe" place your family can use as an rendez-vous alternative, in case they can't get home or the home is off-guards.
If the phones are out, how do you plan on telling the other family members where to meet? Decisions like this should be planned beforehand.
2) PHONE TREE/ RADIO CHANNEL
When any emergency strikes, it's good to have a well-documented phone tree to alert the members in your group. Start with your family, then move on to contact your survival group or extended family (when appropriate). ADDITIONALLY, in case the phones are out, and you're prepared enough to have a cb or 2-3 way radio/walkie-talkie, have a pre-agreed upon cb radio channel on which to contact each other ICE.
3) FIRE/TORNADO/INTRUDER/FLOOD DRILLS
Life would be easier if we could get by with one emergency plan that applied to everything, but unfortunately that's not the case. If the house catches on fire, for example, you want an organized exit of your family to go across the street, where they call 911. If a tornado hits, you want the complete opposite and to stay inside, go down in the basement, underneath a structural wall, doorway, or in the bathtub, and stay put. In case of an intruder, what plan do you have ready with your family? What do your little girls do when they hear a break-in? Different circumstances call for different plans... do you have yours?
4) 3 DAYS' SUPPLY PACK PER FAMILY MEMBER
Start small. A great way to break into prepping is to understand the basic human needs for survival in a 24-hour period: Shelter, warmth, water, hygeine, defense, food, medicine, entertainment.
Start by giving an old backpack to every member of the family. Try to use backpacks of children's cartoon characters, not military packs. Pack 24 hours worth of survival items for each person, then eventually expand the supplies to cover 48 hours per person, then 72 hours.
Don't forget to add: A warm set of flannel long underwear can be put into each 3 day pack. Hint: It's easier and lighter to carry a personal water filter straw than lug a big jug of water around. Hint: Crushing up several packs of ramen noodles and putting them all in a big ziplock is lighter and easier to carry and has enough protein, calories, and vitamins to get you through. Or if carrying isn't an issue, use whatever is closest to expiring in your food storage.
5) DON'T FORGET THE SMALL ONES:
Careful planning is required for all the small ones in your household; including young children and pets. ICE, who's going to pick up the children from daycare? Did you add diapers and cleaning wipes to their emergency pack? Do you have enough dog/cat food and water? If you have to hide out in your basement, do you have a plan for potty breaks? Where are your kids going to go to the bathroom? Where is the dog going to go to the bathroom if he can't go outside? Do you have something packed to occupy the little ones from getting bored?
Putting together bug-out bags is only one part of preparedness; you also must have a plan for each of various scenarios, and account for all the different members in your family according to each of their needs. Save this blog as a reference when preparing your family checklist. You'll feel much better knowing how well you've got your family covered in the worst situations.
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