I’ve spoken before about the need to prepare for emergencies, and with the advent of Hurricane Season (Sep/Oct), The wildfires in the West, and the coming winter, I thought it would be good to revisit. As the Boy Scouts say “Be Prepared.” I was reading an author with some good ideas (I won’t link, because some folks might not like his politics).

Here are the “must have” items that you will need:
- A two-month supply of your prescription medications and your over-the counter medications.
- 20 AA and 20 AAA batteries.
- Two good flashlights per person plus extra batteries
- 20 Bic lighters.
- 25 candles.
- Two portable radios plus extra batteries
- 3 rolls of Duck Tape
- 2 extra tarps.
- 200 feet of 550 lb. paracord.
- An everyday carry knife for each person
- A professional bleed/trauma first aid kit
- 2–3 bottles unscented household bleach
For this food section, the author attempted to generally balance the total calories — 50% carbs, 30% protein, and 20% fats. Buy items that you like to eat already; avoid items that you have never tried.
- Rice: 25 pounds total
- Dried Black Beans: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- Dried Pinto Beans: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- Dried Garbanzo Beans: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- Dried Kidney Beans: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- Dried Lentils: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- All Purpose Flour (unbleached): 1- 10-pound bag per person
- Yeast: 2 ounces per person
- Rolled Oats: 10 pounds
- Corn Bread Mix: 4 packages
- Muffin Mix: 4 packages
- Canned Tuna: 60 oz. total
- Canned Pink Salmon: 36 oz. total
- Spam or Beef Stew: 12 cans
- Chili and Beans: 12 cans
- Powdered Milk: 4 cups reconstituted per day per person
- Powdered Hot Cocoa Mix: 2 cups reconstituted per day per person
- Olive Oil: 1- 51 oz. bottle
- Canola Oil: 1- 48 oz. bottle
- Mayonnaise: 2- 20 oz. jars
- Peanut Butter: 2- 48 oz. jars
- Jam/Jelly/Honey: 3–4 large jars
- Salt: 1- 26 oz. Morton Salt
- Brown Sugar: 1- 32 oz. envelope
- White Sugar: 1- 4- or 5-pound bag
- Assorted Nuts: 1- 2.5 pound jar
Overall a good list of items. Some other points to consider:
- Keep your cars fueled up to at least ¾ of a tank (folks in NJ during Hurricane Sandy found that a large percentage of gas stations had no power – so no gas)
- Check car status (spare tire) and buy a couple of quarts of oil
- Fill propane tanks (can use grill to cook if needed)
- Check your cell phones OS and apps are updated
- Make sure your important papers are available and able to be moved. Maybe make a copy and send to someone you know
Stay healthy and be ready.
Mr, 39 Months