Third Step in Preparing (It's Not What You Think)...

There really is no secret on how to prepare, it just a matter of actually taking the first steps and staying focused.  
Even our government recommends being prepared. They have lists that you can print out or download. Last week I shared what I consider the first steps...
Step 1) 72 Hours of Water
Step 2) 72 Hours of Food

I would recommend after water & food, start gathering the other items listed: 

Starting with cash on hand. 

Now we didn't start with this amount, we had to diligently save. Personally, from the very start we quickly established using 10% each payday to start our purchases, then increasing another 10% of our earnings for saving for our on hand cash & that is after personally tithing. 



While this is a silly video, I think it illustrates how people often think. If you start with disciplining yourself to set aside real money for your purchases, you will be way more prepared than most. A lot of these items are items you should already have because you are using them. I found that I just centrally located all my items we might need for an emergency. Then you are able to start purchasing the other items with cash:

Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit

This first group are items that I actually carry every day and has come in handy several times. 

Prescription medication & extra glasses 3 days worth stashed. 

Matches in water proof container or lighter(s)

Flashlight and extra batteries

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Feminine hygiene and personal hygiene supplies

Paper plates, cups, utensils, paper towels, mess kits

Wrench or pliers to turn of utilities

Can Opener for food

First Aid Kit

Whistle to signal for help

Face mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place

Local Maps (we keep ours in both cars)

Additional Items to Think About:

Sleeping bag, blankets

Battery powered or hand crank radio NOAA Weather Alert Radio. I would highly recommend the hand crank radio, that way you don't have to depend on having fresh batteries.

First Aid book

Documents

Activities

Change of sturdy clothing, shoes. Cold weather clothing

Just take these steps and establish your 72 hour kits. Then you will be able to breath easy as you continue on your journey of being prepared.
Next, it's time to look at tools for preparing.
The first tool I would consider getting is the FoodSaver and here is why:
Why the FoodSaver is the First Tool I would Buy

What you see here, is what I actually do. If you liked this article, please feel free to join our community (Perky Prepping Gramma) on facebook & keep up to date on things posted.  Thank you. ~Perky Prepping Gramma~ 

Also I participate in Amazon's associate program, where I receive a small percentage of recommended purchases. I only recommend things that I have used and like. There is no additional charge to you.

Second Step for Preparing...

Since we are moving all of our "prepping stuff", I decided I would try to write out posts that will help beginners find a logical plan that works, starting with preparing for a 72 hour emergency situation.

Initially, We made a list and began with the "use one, buy two" concept.
After we first got started we purchased two Mountain House 72 Hour Kits.
Each Mountain House “Just in Case…” 72 Hour Kit contains the following classic Mountain House meals:
 ● Breakfasts:  1) Granola with Milk and Blueberries, 2) 2 Scrambled Eggs with Bacon 
 ● Lunch and Dinner Entrees:  1) 2 Beef Stroganoff with Noodles, 2) 2 Chicken Teriyaki with Rice, 3) 1 Rice & Chicken, 4) 1 Pasta Primavera


Need I mention, that even with purchasing these prepared 72 hour kits, you will still need to have water on hand. But, if you are following the plan here you will already have at least three days supply of water.
Now, you don't have to start with purchasing a 72 hour kit, you can plan out meals for three days for each person. Just think simple, easy...
Food: Tuna, chicken, crackers, mayo. I recommend you actually set this aside so you don't eat through it & not have it for an emergency. 

While you are planning this stage, obviously you want to include infant formula or baby food (do you need to store extra water for your formula?) and diapers if you have a baby.

Don't forget a can opener!  I chose this one because of the incredible guarantee, plus it is made in the U.S.A. Or stock up on your P-38's.


Post: If you need to know How to Use a P-38

Don't forget your furbabies and other animals. Pet food and extra water for them.

For both of these, you might just commit to keep enough extra on hand. Before preparing we would just get dog food when we ran out. Now, we actually have extra stored.

First water...
Second food...
Next the Third Step...

What you see here, is what I actually do. If you liked this article, please feel free to join our community (Perky Prepping Gramma) on facebook & keep up to date on things posted.  Thank you. ~Perky Prepping Gramma~ 

Also I participate in Amazon's associate program, where I receive a small percentage of recommended purchases. I only recommend things that I have used and like. There is no additional charge to you.

First, things first...

Imagine the scenario: You have just woken up and you turn on your faucet and there is no water flowing...
What will you do? Do you have water stored? 

I am going out on a limb here. From what I have heard people usually put off getting a supply of water as one of the last things to prepare. You need to really think about this. But, not just think about, actually take the very first step: make the decision to start preparing.
Chances are if you list what you use each day, water is the first thing you use. Know your living situation. Since we started preparing the two times I have had to use my supplies: I needed heat sources (heat pump stopped working over a holiday weekend) & I have used the water during a short term contamination situation.
I will admit it took me over a year to store water. But, we have since made up for that with 6 months of stored water, plus extra for the puppies and for flushing. 

Water The general recommendation is one gallon per person each day. Note that is the bare minimum. I would strongly encourage you to actually store more. Will you need to add water to your food? Will you plan on making coffee? Personally I drink close to a gallon of water a day, I store at least 3 gallons a day for the two of us & additional water specifically for our dogs.

I got these bottles of Deer Park water for $1 each.

Do not get the kind that comes in the milk carton type of container. Too many times I have heard people talk about these containers leaking. 

Don't forget pets. For our puppies I washed out PET containers. 

This week I purchased another Sawyer Water Filter (left) to add to the one we already own (on the right). 

        
We have already moved our rain barrels and are going to move our in house water storage. That's 170 gallons of water stored.

What you see here, is what I actually do. If you liked this article, please feel free to join our community (Perky Prepping Gramma) on facebook & keep up to date on things posted.  Thank you. ~Perky Prepping Gramma~ 

Also I participate in Amazon's associate program, where I receive a small percentage of recommended purchases. I only recommend things that I have used and like. There is no additional charge to you.

Wait, here is more information on water storage & the next steps in preparing for you to read. 
Here are some other posts on our water storage:
Water Filtration
Water: A Real Conversation
Water Storge Update
Now that you have considered your water storage here are posts for the next simple steps:
Second Step for Preparing
Third Step for Preparing (It's not what you think)