Check Your Emergency Supplies Now

Posted on September 14, 2017 by resourcefulman

Hello survivalists! Remember when we talked about preparing for the Day of Judgment for non-paranoid people ? How, in these uncertain times, we should all have a well-stocked emergency kit or, in my case, an emergency cabinet? If you purchased the basics of water, food, and equipment six months ago, now is the time to open your kit and check that your supplies are still functional, edible, and safe to drink. You don’t want to get into an accident and realize that your batteries are leaking rusty hard goo all over the Kind strips.

Take water , for example. Here’s an excellent FEMA brochure that you should probably look at every six months on how to prepare food and water in an emergency .

I store water in Waterbricks or rigid, rectangular and stackable containers because my previous supply of water, CVS gallon jugs, ended up leaking in my closet. (If you don’t want to buy Waterbricks – I needed them because I live in an apartment and need a compact solution – you can wash and sanitize 2L soda bottles, not milk or juice containers.) Change the water. every six months .

Also, make sure everything else is up to date and in good working order:

Do you have enough shelf-stable food for at least three days, and ideally two or three weeks? (Do you have a little extra for the assholes who said, “I’ll just come to your house in case of emergency”?)
Do you still have water purification tablets and / or odorless bleach and medicine dropper ? And instructions on how much bleach per gallon? (Sixteen drops, or 1/8 teaspoon, per gallon of water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes. If the water does not smell like bleach, throw it away. Write these instructions on the bottle with a Sharpie marker.)
Do you still have a supply of pet food, or did you raid your supplies on a Friday night when you were too lazy to go to the store?
Do you have an adequate first aid kit, tampax / pads, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer / baby wipes ? (Last dry?)
Have you opened or closed any bank accounts, got a new driver’s license, got married or got divorced? Check your inbox with photocopies of important documents to make sure you have all the important documents.
Have you changed any prescription or expired contraceptives ? Do you have the required OTC drugs (Claritin! Tylenol! Immodium!)?
Has your eyeglass prescription changed? Place a new pair of specs in your kit.
Are you recently in charge of an older person? Do they need special aids such as medications, adult diapers, hearing aid batteries, or colostomy supplies?
Do you have enough blankets in case of winter blackout or lack of warmth? You didn’t take one for the guests and put it down, did you? Is your raincoat / cold weather clothing / sun hat still in place?
Are your batteries not rusted and working? Is your radio and charger working?
Do you still have paper maps to get where you need to go? Your contingency plan remains the same (for example, do you all meet at Aunt Rita’s?)
Is your work bag kept in case you need to go home or shelter at work for a day or two (e.g. food, water, blanket, candle, warm clothing, sun hat, cards, sneakers, phone charger?. book, medicines, cash, documents in a zipper, respirator, whistle, garbage bag, TP, napkins, toothbrush and paste, radio, batteries ?)
For that matter, is your home backpack packed enough? How about your car ?
Do you still have a can opener, utility knife, flashlight, candles, zip matches and duct tape ? (No kid dragged it off for their silly childish games?)
Have you added a child to your family? Has your child grown up? Do you have diapers, formula and the right size bottles (even if you are EBF)? Do you need baby food ?
Cash in small bills? I know I’ve raided my wallet with money and it’s time to top up.
Still have a deck of cards and adequate chocolate ? Better eat what you have and buy more, just in case.