It is spring, which means it's a good time to update emergency supplies before summer rolls in.
I consider myself a small-scale prepper. By which I mean that I am not interested in preparing for 'the end of the world as we know it' (TEOTWAWKI) or stocking up on weapons for the 'inevitable civil war.'
But I absolutely am interested in having enough emergency supplies laid in for actual emergencies.
My baseline is off of the 2003 Northeast blackout and several years of emergency relocations
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Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •I want two weeks supplies on hand in the house (blackout).
I want go bags with the necessities for everyone so that in the case of emergency hospital trips, building fires, or (god forbid) another 'we have less than 24 hours to load up whatever we can in the car and find a new place to live' I know we'll be okay for at least a few days.
I know 'prepper' has a bad name, and there's good reason for that. But often the most marginalized of us especially can really benefit from a bit of prep
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Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Related to this:
here's my thread from early COVID on ways to get a hold of extra medicine so you can have '2 extra weeks on hand' that everyone recommends 'in case of emergency' but then insurance makes it nearly impossible to get:
wandering.shop/@jessmahler/103…
Jess Mahler
2020-03-03 13:07:00
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Personal go-bags (one for each family member:
* 1 change of clothes
* 1 extra pair underwear and socks
* 2-4 weeks daily meds
* emergency blanket
* $25
* emergency letter w/ contact info and 'I am autistic/PTSD/etc, here's what it looks like when I have a panic attack and here's how to help
* book/toy/drawing supplies
* fave high energy snacks (usually granola bars and candy)
* fave stuffed animal/comfort object
* couple bottles water
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Family go-bag (large duffel, first parent to the door is responsible for grabbing it:
* 2 changes of clothes each
* emergency radio
* 3 days food
* water filters/sodium tablets
* emergency tools
* digital copies of important documents (drivers licenses, insurance cards, etc)
* paper copies of important documents
* family emergency contact info
* toys/games (Nintendo DS currently), books, etc
* $100
* hygiene stuff
* extra glasses
* flashlights
* duct tape
* tarp/rope for emergency shelter
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •There's other stuff I'd LIKE to have in there -- for instance, I'd LIKE to put a pre-paid phone in each individual go-bag. I'd LIKE to have extra pairs of shoes, and rain gear, and...
But basics first, 'extras' later (if/when tehre is money for them)
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •If you aren't used to thinking in terms of emergency prep, all this can seem excessive.
We tend to hit our emergency supplies about a half dozen times a year, for everything from 'someone is going to the hospital' to 'food stamps ran out' to 'fuck, I wasn't not healthy enough to do laundry for three weeks.'
They're also useful for kids having sleep overs, trips to visit family (you're already packed for a weekend trip).
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Obviously, not everyone can do this.
Hell, I can't do this and it's my plan! We have never had full paper copies of emergency documents, or $100, or a tarp w/ ropes in the family go-bag.
I THINK I'll finally be able to manage some of that this year. Hopefuly.
(Correction -- it should be two tarps. One ALWAYS goes on the ground, and if you have a second you can put it over you.)
But most folks can manage something.
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •Most folks can manage to stick a change of clothes in an old bookbag or purse.
Most folks can find a handful of bandaids to squirrel away, or a bottle of asprin.
Most folks can stick a bit of candy or nuts in a hideaway for a high-calorie emergency snack. (Pro-tip, avoid chocolate or anything that can melt)
As is often the case, doing something, even if it's 'not enough' is better than waiting until the 'right' time to do everything you want.
Jess Mahler
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •I'll probably pretty this up and turn it into an essay in the next several weeks.
In the meantime -- any other small-scale preppers want to share their tips?
(Note to self -- add a roll of toilet paper to go bags.
Cheap, easy to get and replace (usually), and has a wide variety of uses from tissues to first aid to, well, you know.)
MxFraud
in reply to Jess Mahler • • •some small card games and a few dice
(I also carry a few pen a spare A4 sheets of paper with me usually, but for people that do not, having a few different pen type including a sharpie is something I would say is pretty useful)
Elena ``of Valhalla''
in reply to Jess Mahler • •@Jess Mahler since for weekend trips and the like I already have to bring a pair of house shoes, I'm looking in the general direction of having something that can also work as emergency outdoors shoes (and can be washed afterwards to go back to being indoors only).
I'm thinking espadrille-shaped, but with rubber soles, but something like hiking sandals would also work.
Of course that's based on the assumption that one already needs house shoes for travel.
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Ether
Unknown parent • • •something that I want to do and isn't doing, on top of that, is keeping a digital copy of all important records, both on an HDD in the emergency bag AND a cloud solutions. Things like old payslips, blood test results, etc.
This is a great plan and mine is stuck at "I have a vague idea what bag I'd use" because anything more makes my head spin :(
Ether
Unknown parent • • •*pinches bridge of nose* none of the ones that come to mind feels any good, and I haven't had capacity to research it, to be honest. I'd have to check where it's hosted, and their interest in privacy, and also if it's kinda obscure it has more chances of flying under the radar of hackers.
Not that I have any sensitive documents besides my personal stuff, but might as well go with people I trust!