How Prepared Are You?
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- Jun 9, 2024
- 2 min read
Welcome to our comprehensive preparedness guide. This guide aims to help you assess your current level of preparedness and identify areas for improvement to ensure you and your family are ready for any emergency.
1. Books and Knowledge
Preparedness Library: Assemble a well-rounded library covering all major topics.
Read and Implement: Read these books and apply their suggestions in your daily life.
2. Clothing
Seasonal Gear: Have summer and winter sleeping bags for each family member.
Footwear: Ensure everyone has sturdy shoes/boots and a pair of shoes by their bedside.
3. Communications
Radios: Own an AM/FM/Shortwave radio that is battery or solar-powered.
Two-Way Radios (CB, FRS, GMRS): Have 2-way radios for family members with spare batteries or solar chargers.
Cell Phones: Ensure each family member has a cell phone and a non-utility power charging method.
HAM Radio: Obtain a HAM license and radio for extended communication capabilities.
4. Defense
Home Security: Use deadbolts, window locks, a burglar alarm, and consider having a dog.
Weapons: Have appropriate defensive weapons and a safe room. Develop and drill a home invasion plan.
5. Drills
Emergency Drills: Regularly stage fire, evacuation, intruder, and power/water outage drills.
6. Documents
Paper Copies: Maintain paper copies of important documents and a list of contacts.
Passports: Ensure all family members have current valid passports.
7. Evacuation
Destination: Plan a specific destination for emergency relocation.
Kits: Prepare a 72-hour kit and a bug-out bag for each family member. Keep paper maps handy.
8. Finances
Cash and Assets: Keep cash on hand and consider silver or gold coins for emergencies.
Emergency Fund: Save enough to cover monthly expenses for up to a year and pay off debts.
9. Food
Storage: Store a variety of food types, rotate regularly, and have a non-utility power cooking method.
10. Fuel
Backup Fuel: Store stabilized gasoline and other backup fuels like butane, propane, and wood.
11. Lighting
Flashlights: Place a flashlight in every bedroom and have backup lighting and long-burning candles. Include spare batteries.
12. Medical
First Aid: Be trained in first aid and keep a well-stocked medical kit with OTC medicine and sufficient prescription medications.
13. Nuclear Biological Chemical Preparedness
Equipment: Own a Geiger counter, decontamination kit, gas masks, and NBC suits.
14. Pandemic Readiness
Isolation Supplies: Have disposable gloves, masks, googles, booties and a prepared to create an isolation room.
15. Power
Generators: Own and regularly maintain a portable generator. Consider renewable energy systems.
16. Sanitation
Toilets: Have emergency sanitation solutions like chemical, luggable loo or organic toilets. Consider string lime and extra toilet paper or reusable cloths or portable bidet.
17. Shelter
Fire Extinguishers: Keep fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
18. Spiritual Preparedness
Daily Practices: Engage in personal and family prayer and scripture study.
19. Training
CERT Certification: Consider becoming Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) certified.
20. Transportation
Vehicle Preparedness: Maintain fuel levels, keep a bug-out bag, and have a GPS unit and first aid kit in your vehicle. Never let gas tank go below 1/2 tank.
21. Water
Storage and Treatment: Store enough water for your family and have water treatment chemicals and water purification systems. Consider having bleach, iodine, aerobic oxygen.
Article Copy
Taken from the LDS Prepared Manual. Questions to ask yourself.
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