Another blog post from RockyMtnHomeSolutions!!!
Lots of folks have received their federal "stimulus rebates"...and spent or saved or gave away or maybe even gambled it away. Or maybe some took long-awaited trips to London & Paris, or Bangkok or Melbourne, or perhaps that eco-cruise to Costa Rica or the Artic (gotta dig those whales and polar bears, right?).
But if you haven't got yours yet...or just dropped it into your savings acount at the bank...how about investing some of it into emergency preparedness/self-reliance/disaster readiness?
No matter where you live...north or south, east or west, rural or urban or maybe even suburban; no matter your political beliefs or political party; no matter your family situation or size; can't you think of a few smart things to buy now, and put away for a day of need? Here's just a few examples (no selling here, just product examples & concepts):
- How about a nice emergency radio? It should have AM, FM, SW (shortwave), and NOAA channel reception, at a minimum. Ideally, it would also include emergency services scanners to allow you to monitor fire, police & medical calls & responses. However, it is CRUCIAL that you have emergency backup and/or alternative power for your radio. We've got one that can charge from a household outlet OR a solar charge OR we can take out the batters and replace with new/fresh ones OR we can turn a crank handle in order. Get something at least as flexible in your radio! You can get cheapo versions for under $100; we recommend saving up and buying the higher quality ones, in the $150-200 range.
- The ability to PRODUCE clean, pure water during an emergency is hyper-critical. Buy a high-quality, backpacking style water filter, and maybe back it up with some water purification tablets (chlorine dioxide tablets are strongly recommended over the old-tech iodine tablets). You can get a REALLY good 0.2 microon filter for a little over $200 on the street, but very effective one can go for as little as $50, if you're willing to change the filter more often.. A 20-pack of Chlorine Dioxide water tablets costs less than $10.
- You gotta have food storage, if you're serious about emergency storage. But, you gotta pick what's right for you:
- Military-style MREs (Meal, Ready to Eat), for simplicity?
- Freezed-Dried for light weight, in case you have to carry a lot very far.
- Big buckets of wheats and grains (and of course, the grain grinders and such you'll need to work with them), for lower overall food costs and LONG shelf storage lives.
- Energy Bars? Energy Drinks?
- You can spend as much or as little as you want on this...the real question is: what do you already have, and what do you need to add???
- How about a good, STURDY backpack to be the backbone of your 72-hour kits (also known as "grab & go" bags)? Don't think you can get away with the $29.99 special from the local discount store. In a true emergency where you're having to evacuate your home, you'll find yourself cramming in everything but the kitchen sink to take with you. So plan realistically...get decent-sized packs big enough for your basic emergency supplies, but also your emergency legal papers, medicines, valuable family heirlooms & photos, etc. If you've got the resources, go ahead and get frame pack with a decent suspension...and make sure it is adjustable for both your body and the weight of the load you'll be carrying. Expect to pay at leasy $150 for such a strong, sturdy bag--pay special attention to the stitching, it needs to be tight, close and use strong thread--with plenty of pockets to help organize your supplies and gear.
Any of these items would make a worthy addition to your emergency preparedness/food storage/disaster readiness/self-reliance program. If you already have a cheaper version of one of these...consider buying a new, superior product and selling the old one on eBay!!!
One last thought: besides the major components of your program, like those above, don't forget to check and rotate your smaller items, too. Band-aids do have a shelf life, energy bars turn eventually to cardboard, medical supplies must be rotated occasionally. Once a year or so, open up your 72-hour kit and really go through it, looking to replace expired supplies.
Good luck, best wishes.
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