Planning Your Food Supplies

Planning your food supplies for emergencies takes more than just stuffing cans or boxes on your shelves.

Why?

First, because you can't count on being able to just pop back out to the store to pick up something you forgot.  

Severe winter weather could make using roads crazy talk.   Trucker strikes could halt food shipments into your area.  Power outs could force stores to shut down.  Godzilla could decide to walk through your city and squish everything. 

The point is, you might not be able to just go pick up something from the store.

And second, because your food supplies need to do more than just fill your stomach--they actually have to take care of your needs.

So what are your needs?

Well, to find out what your needs are, start by considering the following twelve factors:

*Group Size--How many people do you need to plan for?  Could there be any unexpected additions to this number?

*Duration of Need--How long could you need to rely on your food supplies without the opportunity to restock?

*Exertion Levels--What is the maximum level of physical work you might need to do?  Over how many hours, days, weeks, or months?

*Weather--What is the worst possible conditions you could be exposed to?  For how many hours, days, weeks, or months?

*Nutritional Balance--What foods do you need to stay in prime health?  Are you planning a food supply which will let you do everything you might need to do?  Have you planned correctly for the nutritional needs of any special groups in your home--children, elderly, pregnant females, etc?

*Individual Dietary Needs--Are there any special dietary requirements you need to plan for?  Do you need to compensate for any allergies, illnesses, diseases, religious requirements, or any other necessary food choice alterations for yourself or anyone else? 

*Food Preferences--What do you and your people like to eat?

*Expense and Availability--What is your financial budget for building your emergency food supplies?  Are there items which may become unavailable to purchase before others?  In what order of importance should you acquire items?

*Storage--What foods store well over long periods of time?  Where will you store your food supplies?  Are the places you choose, secure and pest (or other threat of damage or loss) free?  Do you have the skills and materials to properly and safely store additional food as it becomes available?  Can you protect your supplies in these locations?

*Preparations--What do you require to prepare these supplies for eating?  Do you need any repair, maintenance or replacement items for this?  If there is no power, do you have sufficient fuel stored to prepare your foods?  What is your alternative preparation means for when you run out of fuel?  What skills do you need to use your supplies?

*Mobility--Can you relocate your food supplies quickly if needed?  Do you have the equipment or physical assistance needed to help you do this?  If you can't move all of your supplies, what portion is your designated evacuation supply?  Where is it kept?  Where will you move your supplies to?

*Safety Net--Do you have any extra supplies for unexpected losses or needs?  What safety margin have you given yourself to counter any errors in food storage planning?  Do you have the knowledge, skills and equipment needed to add to or replace your food supplies?


Once you have considered these factors, you need to look at your base calorie requirements. 

What is your base calorie requirements?

It is simply this:  You need to eat a certain amount of food, containing a certain amount of calories-- based on the type of weather you will be exposed to and the amount of exertion you will be performing.   This is something the military knows very well for feeding its troops in the field--and it works very well for you in planning for your emergency food supplies.

I recommend the following guide, which comes from NOLS to give you a good idea of how much poundage and calories you need to aim at for each person per day.   Personally, I really recommend planning for the absolute maximum possible need you might have--rather than risk planning too little.  Think of Murphy's Law and go for a planning counter!

NOLS Guide:

*1.5 lbs, 2,500-3,000 calories for leisure days with hot days/warm nights
*1.75-2 lbs, 3,000-3,500 calories for moderate to active days with warm or cool days/nights
*2-2.25 lbs, 3,500-4,500 calories for heavy work days with cool days/cold nights
*2.5 lbs, 4,000-5,000 + calories for extremely strenuous work days with cold days/extremely cold nights


So now that you know your needs, sit down and plan out your food supplies.  Take your time and do your research--consider the above factors and your base calorie requirements in this planning.

Remember that you are planning to take care of yourself and your people in emergencies--so plan well!

And get started now.

Work Kit

Clark Kent was a reporter.  Bruce Wayne was a corporate businessman.  Wonder Woman was an ambassador.  But they never counted on villains politely waiting until after work hours before trying to take over the world.

And neither should you.

Whether you work in the classic corner office, lay claim only to a locker, or just shove your bag into a crew room somewhere--it doesn't matter.  You can plan to take on an emergency just the same.

You just need to make your own version of Batman's utility belt and create a mini-me Bat Cave.

You need a Work Kit.

First, once again sit down and go through the six areas we've talked about in previous posts--but this time, consider the areas centered from your workplace.  After all, this kit is for emergencies that might happen while you are at work.  So do some serious thinking about your workplace.  You need to know at least the following:

*What kinds of hazards or dangers are already present in my workplace--before anything new happens?

*What possible assists to me are already present present?  (Think of tools, supplies, skilled personnel, etc.)

*Are there any workplace emergency plans already in place?  Are they current and competent?

*Am I going to stay at work for the duration of an emergency or will I leave to go home?  (For some jobs, staying is a requirement--so know your job's requirements and plan accordingly!)

*Do I have any duties or responsibilities to perform in my workplace in the event of an emergency?

*How many other people are here regularly--any maintenance or supply delivery workers, fellow employees, customers?  Will I be facing an emergency with any of these or just by myself?  Are there any non-humans regularly present? 

Remember, every workplace has rules--so check them out carefully.  Getting fired for bringing in a pocket knife is silly--especially when there are other non-knife edged options available to you.  Use your brain.  This is where all the encouragement for you to be thinking according to need and not by item comes back in.   Think:  I need to be able to cut things in an emergency.  Not:  I need a knife.  After all, EMT shears, heavy duty scissors, box cutters, multi-tools, even pop top food cans, etc. all allow you to cut things, too.  So if your workplace doesn't allow one thing, don't freak out--just pick something else.  And don't forget local, state and federal rules, either.  Breaking those can get you a lot more than just fired!

Now, before you begin gathering your Work Kit's items, you need to think first about its mini-me Bat Cave.  Some workplaces have lockable spots or at least designated 'personal' spaces--some only have general employee rooms.  Theft may be something you need to counter--so either only put items you can stand possibly being lifted or store your kit in some kind of 'distraction safe' to increase the odds you'll keep your stuff. 

Distraction safes are simply containers designed to look like one thing, while actually being another.  They come in all sizes and you can make them yourself--check out Instructables in my Cool Sites to Check Out.  A hardback book just doesn't get the kind of curiosity an unwatched purse does.  Just don't forget, the size of the place you can store your Work Kit, will determine the size of the kit, itself. 

Just whatever you pick, if your kit can't be locked away, don't store it in anything that just screams 'steal me'.  No purses, no briefcases, no laptop bags.  Duffles are okay in some places.  Regular boxes, totes, tins (a fruitcake tin could probably hold gold and be safe), postal shipping boxes (sealed and addressed to yourself), etc., are all possible ideas.  If you need distraction safes:  books, fake plant pots (put the kit inside and arrange the plant on top to look like it is potted), Kleenex boxes, shaving cream or foot fungal cream containers, diaper boxes, feminine hygiene boxes (even better than a fruitcake tin for warding off curiosity), or anything else your clever mind and careful crafting can build.  You're not storing illegal or rule-breaking stuff at work--again, that would be stupid--you're just trying to improve the chances that when you need your kit, it's actually where you left it.

So don't get into it where other eyeballs can see you doing it--and only when you're updating or rotating items or when there is an actual emergency.  Using up your stuff or forgetting to put it back is bad--having someone else take it, isn't any better.

Okay, so now begin choosing items based on your workplace, the six areas you've considered, and your answers to the questions above.   If you find yourself stumped, think of filling the following categories:

*Safety--both things to stay safe in the workplace and to get out of it safely
*Medical and Hygiene--injuries, medical conditions, and sanitation concerns
*Light and Warmth--personal and area lighting, non-hazardous heat sources or retention items
*Needed Tools--to get out of the workplace as well as to successfully deal with stuff in it
*Food and Water--sealed, long-lasting food and water
*Entertainment and Comfort--things to do, snacks

Remember, you may not have the luxury of electrical power--this means lights may be out, elevators not working, the heat off, restrooms not functioning or backed up, piped water not running or contaminated, ventilation systems off, electrical tools unable to be used, even automatic emergency doors unintentionally locked or unlocked.  You might have a heavily damaged workplace--which means debris (large impact risks or respiratory hazards), gas shutoff needs, chemical spills, injuries, blocked or risky passageways, structural failures, etc.

Protect your eyes, breathing, hands, head and feet with special care.

Always remember to rotate, update, or change your Work Kit as items come up for expiration or your skills or needs change.

Hopefully, you'll have your EDC Kit on you and your Car Kit in your vehicle just outside.  But don't rely on having either of them when you plan your Work Kit--you could have forgotten to bring your EDC with you that morning, or your car could now be a super compact beneath a parking garage collapse.  Build your Work Kit as a stand-alone and then any other kit you end up having access to, will simply be added happiness.

So take the time to plan this kit out--do your research, get any training, and practice anything that will give you an edge in any emergency.  Don't just slide through this, hoping someone else will cover your backside.  You are responsible for yourself.  And you need to actually be able to trust yourself.  Always keep in mind that you might be the only one at your workplace who has taken any training or prepared any supplies for an emergency.  In fact, you might seriously want to plan for it--or rather, around it.  Which means either getting management and fellow employees to take professional training and put in proper emergency plans and supplies, or realizing that you might find yourself either unofficially in charge or unfortunately even in possible conflict with others in an emergency. 

So plan carefully.

Just think:  What Would Batman Do?

And get to work building your Work Kit.

Personal Emergency Kit

It is a grim fact that a large portion of emergencies require us to leave our homes.  Sometimes this sudden requirement for living on the move is only for a short duration--a few days, a few weeks.  Sometimes, however, it can be for a lot longer--or even permanently.   And while often this means we merely relocate to relatives or friends or a FEMA/Red Cross shelter site, it can mean that we find ourselves homeless for a while.

This can be a rather frightening thought.

So what do we do?

Well, being independent and self-reliant people, we plan for the possibilities and do something smart about them now.

We create our own Personal Emergency Kit--or a Go Bag.

What is the difference between the Personal Emergency Kit and the EDC kit we learned about in a previous post?  Basically, the difference is the duration factor.  An EDC kit is meant to help take care of you in an emergency for a short term--usually just until you get back home or until emergency personnel can get to you.  A Personal Emergency Kit, however, is for use in an extended period of movement or relocation, where you may be entirely on your own without professional assistance or emergency resupply.

Think less like going on a Star Trek Away Team Mission and more like going through the Stargate to Atlantis without knowing if you can ever come back.

Because this kit is meant for some really serious use for possibly quite a long time, you need to plan it out very carefully.  Which means you need to do some very thorough and realistic self-education and training.

Again, I recommend The Hoodlums Adventure Team Forum noted in my Cool Sites to Check Out.  While FEMA and the Red Cross have a decent basic run, neither site is intended to help you be independent or self-reliant for a long term--they focus on the short term emergency, with government and emergency personnel assistance to step in with relief supplies to take care of you.  Don't get me wrong, this is useful and often needed.  But you might need more.  Hence the referral to the Hoodlums. 

Whatever educational source you choose, do it wisely--and never stop learning, training, and practicing.

Now, hopefully you remember the six areas talked about in previous posts--if not go back in and read them again.  Get some paper and a pencil, find a quiet spot, and go through those six areas again--this time with a mind focused on the real possibility of needing to rely on your Personal Emergency Kit entirely and completely alone for an extended period.

Once you've done this, now pull out some more paper and start applying your answers to the baseline needs of this kit--which are:

*Carrier
*Warmth, Light and Clothing
*Food and Water
*Shelter
*Medical and Hygiene
*Communication and Direction
*Tools and Weapons
*Comfort and Entertainment
*Documentation
*Currency and Trade Needs

I'm purposefully giving you the needs first in categories, not in listed items.  Categories teach you to actually think, not just grab an item on a list. 

So what,  you say?  Why is that important? 

Because we're about the qualities of self-reliance and independence here--and the ability to actually think things through and adapt correctly to fit your needs is essential to achieving them.

So let's begin planning your kit by going into these categories a bit.

Carrier

Because you're going to be mobile, obviously, you need to take your kit with you.  And though it may sound funny, you need to plan as carefully what you are carrying your gear in as you do the gear itself!  Why?  Because when you are mobile, your carrier becomes your new home.  This means it has to be of good construction so it lasts as long as possible, be repairable because it will get hard use, be a match for the climate and terrain of your area, be comfortable to wear for long periods of time over possibly destroyed or damaged environment, and it has to actually hold your entire kit properly.

That is a lot of requirements for just a carrier!

So start by considering a backpack or duffle.  For extended comfort and hard use, I find a backpack works best.   Don't get discouraged if finding the right one takes some effort and time--it is worth it!  And have some fun with it--this is your mobile home--if you find cool or funny patches, put them on, not only are you making your kit easy to identify as yours, but you're building in some psychological uplift into it as well.

Warmth, Clothing and Light

If you're mobile, you're exposed--this means you need to deal with your environment.

You need to make fire, stay dry, keep warm, and see what you are doing.  This means you need fire starters and tinder, sleeping protection, suitable clothing layers for your area, and flashlights or other portable light sources.

Do your research!  You need hardy stuff that lasts but you also need to watch their weight and size, after all, the carrying capacity of your pack is as limited as your own.

Water and Food

You need to provide for your own food and water.  This means having some already in your kit to start out with.  Generally, it is a good idea to have anywhere from three days to two weeks of food in your kit--ten days is usually the average.  It all depends on what you choose and how compact it is. But eventually you'll run out, which also means that you need the ability to provide and cook additional food--and clean new sources of water and carry it with you. 

This area is going to require you to spend some serious time learning--hunting, fishing, trapping, plant identification, food preparation and preservation, scavenging, etc.  And lots and lots of time practicing.  As you learn and become proficient, you will know what tools to include in your kit to get the 'biggest bang for the buck'.  Remember that anyone else in the area, will also be hungry, so be prepared for conflict from the bad guys.

Shelter

While you are moving, you still need shelter.  This means body shelter--from proper clothing to an actual place to settle into.  This can range from anything like a poncho and tarp to one of the ultralight, multi-season tents.  Educate yourself and choose according to what you might face and how much weight you can comfortably carry over distance, through damaged areas, and in extreme weather.  And don't forget any weather-proofing, repair kits, or needed accessories.

As you train, you will learn how to build 'make-shift' shelters--and how to 'stealth' camp, so that you can increase the chances of a safe rest.

Medical and Hygiene

The medical area takes professional training.  Get the basic first aid training as well as whatever advanced levels or courses you can possibly take.  This should include both urban and wilderness areas and cover dealing with specific hazards or emergencies which you might encounter in your area.  

The Red Cross, your local emergency agencies/personnel, area colleges, and FEMA all offer classes--some hands on, some online.  Additional information can be found in books or online from reliable sources.  Take advantage of every quality source to learn everything you can--you are making your own difference!

The hygiene section does not take as much specialized training as the medical, but it still takes knowledge and practice.  How to eliminate waste and keep yourself clean, ironically, takes some skill outside of the bathroom--as does how to properly take a 'sponge' bath or clean your own clothes by hand.  Any female will note that she needs to tend her menstrual cycle or would like to urinate without having to expose herself entirely.  Knowing how to avoid contaminating your food or water, is a real need--as is how to provide clean your water, itself.

Do your research!

Communication and Direction

In an emergency, you need to be able to contact others, receive additional information, and get to a more secure location.  While your cell phone or other neat-o device has an address book and a cool internet connection for emails and MapQuest, it also has a battery life which you might not be able to recharge.  So think manually as backup. 

A small book with phone numbers, physical addresses, mailing addresses and email addresses--as well as any needed account or insurance contacts is a must.  If it isn't on waterproof paper, then keep it safe inside a double Ziplock bag setup.  A phone card or some coin for pay phones is a good idea.  Signalling devices are also a good idea--you might need help.  Maps of your area with information on predesignated emergency assistance sites or evacuation routes is really good. 

Tools and Weapons

What you choose for this section is heavily dependent on your training and the laws of your area.  Remember that official emergency shelters are really picky about what they let you take in--and martial law means a whole new set of issues itself! 

For tool choices, you need to consider everything you might need to do to take care of yourself over an extended time in an emergency or its recovery period.  This can include, but is not limited to: shelter building, fire making, food and water procurement, assisting others, moving through damaged or destroyed areas, clean-up, repair/maintenance of gear, etc.  You will need the tools themselves--but also the protective gear to keep yourself secure and uninjured while using these tools.

For weapon choices:  your training, the laws of your area, and possible governmental/martial response in a time of emergency all comes into play.  Realize that in disasters, law enforcement is spread brutally thin--and that violent crime skyrockets.   Serious training is a must--both for unarmed and armed defense and fighting.   Some people cringe when they hit this section.  Don't.  It's one of the reality bite marks that an emergency forces you to deal with.  Your options are to risk it untrained and unarmed or to face it trained and armed.  Remember that you are not limited to just guns--but have a whole range of make-shift or alternate protection possibilities available to you, lethal and non-lethal.  Make your choice seriously.

Comfort and Entertainment

It is absolutely important in extended emergencies to take special care of your mental and emotional state.  You are doing more with this area than just 'passing the time'--keeping your 'spirits up' is essential to success.  This can be anything from snacks to games to religious or entertainment reading--or to including laminated copies of meaningful photographs or personal 'talismans' or lucky items in your kit.  You don't have a lot of extra space in your kit or on your person, so pick what matters most to you and bring it.  Just don't rely on anything battery-operated.

Documentation

You need to carry proof of at least the following areas:  personal identity, home and vehicle ownership, insurance policies and contact information, financial accounts and contracts, medical records and prescription orders, marriage/divorce certificates, child identification, and pet identification.  Keep it in a waterproof 'packet'.

Obviously, this stuff is sensitive information--so store the waterproof packet in a very secure location until you leave.  And hide it well on your person or in your pack when you do.

Currency and Trade Needs

Given the possibilities of power outs, you may not be able to rely on credit or bank cards to give you the money you need in an emergency.  Those ATMs still operational will quickly be emptied of their cash supply by desperate people.  Checks, whether personal or traveler, are becoming a thing of only mail-in bills and few people will take them in an emergency--if any at all. 

You will need either cash itself, or a cash substitute.  The amount you carry is up to you, but keep bills small (it is seriously doubtful you will get change back) and hide them throughout your person and pack to increase your odds of keeping at least something if attacked.  Remember that in emergencies other forms of currency can include precious metals, jewelry, and other trade items.  The type of emergency and how long it lasts will determine what people find of value--Hurricane Katrina let us see soap as a barter item.


Make Your Choices Wisely

Just like your other layers of personal protection in an emergency, you're going to constantly be changing your Personal Emergency Kit as your skill levels change and your knowledge increases.

Whatever you choose for your Personal Emergency Kit, take the time to do it carefully.  Ask yourself if an item actually fills the need you are choosing it for--or if there is a better option available.  You are looking for quality, durability, and success of use.  Keep in mind that you are going to have to carry this kit--if it is more than one third your body weight, see if you can reduce it back down by choosing lighter weight options or by selecting items which fill more than one area of need.  Remember to keep your EDC kit on your person, even while you are carrying this larger kit--you could be forcibly separated from your backpack and you still need to have the basic tools to keep yourself going.  The more you know and are skilled at doing, the safer and more successful you will be.

Your Personal Emergency Kit is your mobile home in an emergency--one that you are leaning your life on.  Make it a good one!   Do your research, take the training, practice continually, and choose what you carry wisely.  Be your own best source of emergency assistance.

You can do it.

Every Day Carry (EDC)

Perhaps the most dangerous part of any emergency is its unexpectedness.  While some trouble can be 'seen coming', most can't.  So what do we do? 

We plan.

But how do we plan?

We use those six areas talked about in the post Planning the Layers:  Personal Emergency Preparedness:  skill levels, area, duration, needs, responsibilities and duties, previous and projected events.

Because we rarely if ever know where we'll be when an emergency happens, we need to plan to take care of ourselves everywhere we go--24/7.  This preparation is called Every Day Carry (EDC).

An EDC kit is, obviously, very personalized.  To actually be effective for you, you need to sit down someplace quiet and go through the six areas--and honesty is more than a virtue here, it could literally mean the difference between your life and death!  So while Rambo could happily take care of himself with just a knife, you might not.  Don't let that discourage you--in fact, let it motivate you to learn more, to practice harder and more consistently.

Some of the questions (but not all of them) you should answer in these six areas are:

What are my actual emergency skills?  Where am I usually at?  How long could an emergency last--and how long could its recovery last? What are my needs?  Who is depending or relying on me to come through for them (human or not)?  What are the emergency events that have happened in my area before--and what events could possibly happen in the future?

Depending on how you answer these and other concerns in the six areas, will be the deciding factors that build your EDC kit.   If you need some basic starting help, FEMA and the Red Cross both offer websites with instructional assistance.  They also offer education help.  For an even better source of emergency preparation and in depth skill building--and particularly for anyone wanting to be as independent and self-sufficient as possible--I recommend The Hoodlums Adventure Team Forum noted in my Cool Sites to Check Out.

As your education and skill levels change, you'll find that you will consider the six areas differently--so be prepared to change your EDC kit as you learn.

So let's start with a basic EDC kit.  Obviously, you need to follow the laws (local, state and federal)--or the rules of the places you'll be going into.  What is allowed 'on the street' is not the same as what is allowed in a federal building!  Don't let this frustrate you--just use your brain to make your choices.  I have found that it really helps to think of things according to the need, not the specific item.  This lets me 'think outside of the box' and encourages me to improve my adaptability.  For example, think:  I need a way to start a fire.  not   I need a lighter.

At an absolute minimum, I recommend the following baseline EDC kit with some suggested examples of items to fill its needs:

EDC Kit

*sharp edge (pocket knife, multi tool, box cutter, EMT shears, heavy duty scissors, sharpener, etc.)
*fire starter and tinder (lighter, matches, ferro rod or other manual spark based source)
*light source (LED squeeze light or a small flashlight--a non-battery one is best or change out often)
*communication, both electronic and manual (cell phone, phone card, pencil/paper, whistle, etc.)
*personal identification and support (State ID, Driver's License, insurance cards, etc.)
*currency (cash, credit card, bank card--remember power outs affect card readability!)

A kit is only of use to you if you actually have it--so keep this kit on your person.

I like using my pockets and a cool Wonder Woman 'cigarette' wallet--everything is on my person at all times, but it takes up very little actual space.

Obviously, you can expand this baseline kit for some useful additions.  I strongly urge you to keep your baseline kit on your person--and the expansion items in an accompanying carrier of your choice (other than the personal protection section, which should remain on your person as well).  That way the likelihood of getting physically parted from your base needs are reduced.

EDC Kit Expansion:

*personal hygiene  (toilet paper, hand wipes, sanitizer, feminine articles, handkerchief, comb, etc.)
*medical  (prescriptions, first aid kit, eyeglasses in a hard shell case/extra contacts, etc.)
*sustenance (water in a bottle, packaged long-lasting/non-melting food, gum/hard candies)
*repair/maintenance (sewing kit, safety pens, duct tape, ziplock bags, small but strong cording, etc.)
*location assistance (maps in ziplock bags, gps, cell phone--for MapQuest, etc.)
*environment protection (face mask, large bandanas, umbrella, contractor garbage bags, poncho, etc.)
*personal protection (self-defense training, permit, and tools/weaponry)
*rescue assistance (car window punch, safety gloves, seat belt cutter, flare, glow sticks, etc.)
*entertainment (ipod, book, cards, travel game, etc.)

Remember that one part of your EDC Kit that most people forget to consider every time is what you are wearing.

You might not have access to a vehicle or the safety of a building--you might have to walk back home or even defend yourself--the weather might shift drastically or you find yourself suddenly exposed to it--you might have to assist in evacuations or rescues--you could have to escape from a heavily damaged building--the point is, you never know.  So plan what you are wearing with some care to more than just fashion.  If work requirements mean you need heels or a suit, then keep a duffle with a change of comfortable but sturdy shoes and good socks stuffed into your office.  Have your coat handy--and if it is winter or weather could be an issue, keep a skullcap and gloves in its pockets.

Now you know the baseline EDC Kit and its Expansion.

So sit down someplace quiet now and get started.  Go through the six areas carefully.  Then go through the EDC needs and choose the starting items of your kit.  Decide how you are going to carry it every day, every place you go, 24/7. 

You can do this!  And you need to do this.

Start now.





        

Planning the Layers: Personal Emergency Preparedness

As you plan to take care of yourself in an emergency, it is important that you think in 'layers'.  What you are doing is surrounding yourself with ever expanding protection.  Each layer is planned in consideration of the following six areas:

*Skill levels--your training, education, experience, or abilities
*Area--where you live, work, or play
*Duration--how long you might have to face an emergency or its aftermath
*Needs-- any special considerations (including medical) which you might need to plan for
*Responsibilities and Duties--to yourself, to those dependent on you, or to those relying on you
*Previous and Projected Events--emergencies which have occurred or which might occur near you

How carefully you plan your protective layers using these six areas will largely determine your success in handling emergencies.

Remember, you will constantly need to update and alter your layers--everything changes, including you!  And don't forget; your family (two-legged and four) needs their own custom built layers, too!

So what are these layers of personal emergency preparedness?  They are the organized kits or supplies designed to help you take on an emergency, no matter where you are.  The kits or supplies themselves go by many names, but here they are by each layer:

*Every Day Carry (EDC)--what you carry every day, everywhere
*Personal Emergency Kit or Go Bag--for when you must be mobile or need to relocate quickly
*Car Kit--for trouble during commutes or trips
*Work Kit--your 'office' support, including help to return home
*School Kit--specifically for children/teens waiting for parental pick up at schools
*Stay In Kit--for quarantines or other 'must stay inside' issues
*Home Storage Supply--for extended emergencies and long term recoveries

The coming posts will go into the details of these layers--including suggested lists of items to go into each kit.

Stay tuned--you can do this!