| Preparing 101, Starting Out; Originally posted by MedicineMan | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 27 2009, 10:33 PM (227 Views) | |
| CindyLou62 | May 27 2009, 10:33 PM Post #1 |
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Oct 9 2005, 07:25 PM Preparing 101 by ECCMMDOC Remember, please, that this is just "the way we did it" and not the only way to go about it. I'll do my very best to keep up with it and add to it often. My name is... well, I'm known by more than a few as "MedicineMan".... and I'm from Mississippi. We got into preparing heavily about two years prior to Y2K. "WE", is now my wife "Rembrandt", and my daughter "Smiley". Although I have been of the general preparedness mindset for 25+ years, and my wife was raised "in the sticks" and learned how to rough it 24/7/365 because that's how her folks lived, we were "psudo-sheeple" for a while. Now I want to try to help others as well. Ok, So you're new to the board. You've become interested for some reason in being prepared for whatever. That's your first step. Figure out what are you preparing for??? Whether natural or manmade, you have to form a plan of action for whatever you're preparing against. Since I can only speak for what I know with any authority, I'll describe the position we found ourselves in and you can adapt from there. From our front door...... -150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Well within range of a medium-large hurricane. CAN YOU SPELL IVAN & KATRINA???? -In an area known for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, flash floods, ice storms, & drought. -At the extreme SouthWestern end of the Appalachian foothills. On an "inactive" faultline which has had several "minor" tremors in the last few years. -2 major Interstates and 3 U.S. highways within 2 miles. -3 military installations within 10 miles, with 2 being "flight training" installations. Student pilots and MS Air NG refueling tankers passing directly overhead at all times of day/night. -Major petrochemical pipelines running within 1/8 mile. -2 major rail lines. 1 running 200' away and next running 1/2 mile away from my front door. Each hauling tens of thousands of pounds of hazzardous materials. -And a nuclear powerplant "upwind" of us only 165 miles. -Add the possibility of Y2K to this at that time. WOW, with all the possibilities what are we gonna "DO" in case something happens??? That's what we asked ourselves. First, We decided whether we would be "Bugging In" or "Bugging Out". Some situations would require us to head for the hills, some would not. Second, We designed a multi-layered plan for each scenario. Third, We chose 2 primary locations as BugOut destinations, and a couple more as backup. Next, We made lists, and more lists, and then revised the lists, and then made more lists, until we had a working list of what provisions we would need to have for each scenario. And then we did more revising and listing and we're still at it. Fourth, We listed what we had and what we needed and researched each item. Then we bought additional items for different kits so we wouldn't get stuck in a "one kit for all scenarios" situation. We made house kits, vehicle kits, work kits, backack kits, "BOX" kits, and even some pocket kits. Winter and summer versions. We prepacked and unpacked and repacked. And spent hours on Frugal's Forums searching older posts and creating new ones to be sure about what we were doing. And slowly but surely many of even the most expensive preps came to be. Now, to end this first "installment", I'm going to give a piece of advice for those just now starting. Start slow and build steady. HOUSEHOLD 72HR KIT -Make a list of everything not a physical part of your body, and how much of it, that you use in 1 day. "EVERYTHING". -Make a separate list for each person in your family. -Make lists for several days running and include weekends. Compare the lists and note what you use most often. These are the items you "normally use". Now take the total of everyones amounts of those items you use and add 20%. Then multiply by 3. You now have an idea of what you need to START your 72 hour kit list with. Add to these things the other necessities of life and recommended supplies. There are "HUNDREDS" of 72hr kit lists on this site. Choose what you need from each listing. But don't forget the items your personal research (lists) showed "you" to use most often. To recap..... 1) Analyze your personal situation. 2) Prepare a plan for how you will react. 3) Plan for where you will go if you have to leave. 4) Start listing the items you already have. 5) List items you need to get. 6) Prepare your "FAMILY" 72 hour kit. More to come............... |
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8:12 AM Jul 11