Are you overwhelmed yet? Are you even paying attention to the world around you? Do you have a backup plan, a food and cash reserve? What are you doing to prepare your home for an emergency?
Living a homestead/farm life for a lot of years now, I've learned a lot of tricks and preparation strategies. It really isn't an option to not plan when you live so rural. Expecting the unexpected is pretty much the only plan you can count on. You have a plan for every letter of the alphabet...sometimes multiple plans. Making sure you have security in knowing that you could have a few days to a few weeks of not leaving your farm, is a reality. So, today, I want to touch on a few things and hopefully, it will give a start for your planning and remove a little overwhelm. I know there are many that just race through their days, but I need to encourage you to slow down enough to pay attention. Slow down enough to have some sort of back up plan and talk to your family about that plan. All the events over the past 2-3 years, has taught me that having a back up plan has never been more important.
Hopefully, you have already started, but if not - start now! Start today with 5 cans of food to put in your pantry, a handful of backup over-the-counter meds or first aid supplies, a couple cases of water, etc. To build up a reliable supply, you need to do this every time you go to a store. Instead of a night binge watching NetFlix, take one night a week to learn some sort of useful skill - gardening, container gardening, livestock care, soil care, how to purify water, how to make foods from scratch, how to cook over an open fire(it is truly different for anything else). These types of skills will help even in a minor emergency. Know what you have in your pantry, freezer, garage, property, etc. Theft happens a lot more when times are tough, and no one is immune to this, no matter where you live. Even if you have never done or had interest in it, take a class on firearms. Learn how to defend yourself - whether through your 2A rights or through a self defense class. I will share with you all what I tell my kids almost daily, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. So, let me share a list of items that I suggest in all conversations:
First aid: band-aids, triple antibiotic ointments, gauze and tape, ace bandages, cotton balls, rubbing alcohol, peroxide, hydrocortisone creme.
Over-the-counters: Tylonal, Iburoprofin, allergy medications, cold/flu/sinus medications, tooth brushes, tooth paste, Orajel, dental floss.
Paper products: paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, disposable utensils, foil pans.
Foods: While I always recommend growing your own and preserving first, having backups is necessary. This includes - canned soups, canned stews, tuna fish, ravioli type canned goods, vegetables, fruits, dried beans, rice. I plan for foods that could be eaten as a meal alone, such as a can of ravioli could feed one person for one day if need be. That is the bare minimum a person needs to survive. Water - before I go too far on this, understand the amount of water used daily. We wash dishes, laundry, our bodies, but we also cook, brush our teeth, and flush toilets. If the power went out, unless you have a hand pump well, your water will not work either. My rough figures show it takes a minimum of 3-5 gallons of water per day per person. Items such as flour, sugar, yeast, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices will help extend your cooking options.
Outdoor cooking: understand the pans you use on a stove will not withstand the heat of a wood fire. Obviously, having cast iron cookware is the best, but not everyone has that. Having marshmallow sticks, those pie cookers made for bonfires, having heavy duty foil pans, and metal utensils. Keep in mind if you have a gas or charcoal grill...those won't work without propane, or charcoal/lighter fluid/ matches or some form of lighting device.
Not so obvious items: clothing needed for the season - while we have had a mild winter, having warm socks, good boots, insulated bibs, a heavy coat, gloves, layering clothing will help during cold. Garden seed, containers or land ready to utilize for those seeds, gardening tools, wood cutting tools, plenty of matches/lighters, candles, pet supplies, and for those with young kids....have plenty of drawing paper, crayons, pencils, markers, board games, etc. to help them not be too overwhelmed too.
In my planning, I look at what we would need if the power were to go out for an extended period of time. I don't think people realize how much we are dependent on electricity and water. We believe that nothing will ever happen to us, and if the power does go out...it won't be out long. God willing, that will always be the way it works...but what if it doesn't? What happens if you are left with no power and no water for 3-5 days?
When you start breaking everything down, think about what would be effected by an outage of just 3-5 days. Grocers could not be open, and their cold foods would be trash. There would be no working ATM's, no working card machines to purchase foods/gas/necessities. Most businesses today would not be able to function without electricity. Think about how many would go crazy when they couldn't be on the internet. When people get desperate, times get really scary! We only have to think back to a couple of Summers ago, to see what can happen in desperate times.
I don't buy into the doomsday, or second coming, or whatever...I do, however, but into the very real possibility of a cyber attack on our power grid, the outbreak of war, or an EMP attack by another country to start a war. I also know what kind of havoc the weather itself can create. Just think about hurricane season or tornado season, or any number of winter storms that have shuttered entire states for days. Having a plan, talking it out with your family, having back up plans, and being prepared is the responsible thing to do. It's taking charge of your life so you will not be a victim.
It can be overwhelming and from the many I have spoken directly to, having the space to be prepared or having the money to do so, is a problem. I get that, but it is not an excuse to not do it either. All we need to do is look to East Palastine, Ohio this month to see how quickly your life can change. Being forced from their homes, getting no federal aid, having to pay for hotel rooms, not able to drink their water; what would you do? Would you be able to withstand the additional costs out of your own pocket? Would you have a plan to go to a family/friend's home?
Sadly, I have seen the need to have multiple plans increase tremendously over the past decade. It has increased ten fold in the past 3 years. Never, in my mind, has having back up plans been more important. If you are not sure where to start, what to do, or just have questions; get with someone you trust to get started or expand your planning.
I hope this will help someone!
Salli
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