Survival: Prepare Before Disaster Strikes. Barbara Fix

Tax (IRS) paperwork, automobile title, mortgage information, automobile and homeowner’s insurance documentation (proving your policy is current), property tax information, banking and all other financial documentation such as annuities, 401K and other retirement plans, and stocks and bonds.

      This is only the most basic of paperwork you will need. From there, you will want to build your own list dependent upon your specific circumstances. Keeping copies of these documents in your car, or the office if you commute to work, is the obvious solution. If you are worried about sensitive information getting into the wrong hands, consider blacking out account numbers with an indelible marking pen and jotting them down on a separate piece of paper that can be tucked away in your wallet. To be doubly certain, you might consider keeping duplicate copies at home, at your workplace, and your getaway destination, if applicable.

      Unfortunately, emergencies do not come gift wrapped with instructions before hand, but it’s possible the Internet may experience disruptions. Institutions depend almost exclusively on digitized bytes for their records and you will need proof of your banking information, or that you hold title to your car or home, and you will want to be able to prove insurance coverage on your car and home. Short of that, you may find yourself in enough red tape to ticker tape the next Macy’s Day Parade!

      Beat the Bank Crunch

      Depending upon the emergency, it is possible banks will be closed for an extended period of time. During such an event, having as much cash on hand as possible will be a saving grace. Services such as grocers and hardware stores may still be open and you may need cash to purchase the goods and services you need. Keep small denominations—no more than $1’s, $5’s, and $10’s in case change for purchases is unavailable. I realize many have invested in gold, which has skyrocketed as the dollar continues its nosedive. But to have only bullion to offer in exchange for something like a loaf of bread when there is no change would be a terrible situation to be in. If you prefer tangible currency that will hold its value, consider keeping at least part of your investments in silver coins. That way the loss, should change be unavailable, will be merely an annoyance.

      The amount of cash you will want to have on hand varies with each person’s circumstances. Will you be driving a long distance to a getaway destination? If so, you will need cash for things like tires, snow chains, and sundry goods. But whatever you do, be sure to calculate your gas needs and have that available and stored in a safe place in transportable gas cans. It is almost a certainty that you will not find available gas during an extended trip.

      When Communications Fail

      When preparing for an emergency, it is wise to make contingency plans in the event communications are down, if only for a short time. EMP pulse from the sun or weaponry can render communication systems inoperable. Telco buildings are not known for overabundant security to protect them. Telecommunications are dependent on the electrical grid and battery backup, satellite, microwave, T-1 lines, and in the case of some cellular providers, are reliant on landline phone companies for switching services to hand off phone calls for their customers. Additionally, it is a common occurrence for landline and cell phone lines to get jammed during an emergency. Because of this, it isn’t prudent to expect your cell or landline phone to be operable during a national or local emergency. So please do not put all your eggs in that basket!

      Sheltering in Place

      Even when plans are to relocate to an alternate location, you should put aside food, water, and medical supplies, and have a workable solution for cooking and heating at home. If roads are gridlocked or blockaded due to dangerous conditions, travel may be impossible at the onset of a crisis. In the case of climatic disaster, roadways may remain impassable. To have all your preparedness goods in one location, outside walking distance to your home, leaves room for failure and failure in a time of crisis is not an option.

      Use What You Have Wisely

      If the electrical grid goes down in your area, stretch your food storage by consuming what is in the refrigerator first (with the exception of freezer perishables like ice cream). Consume frozen goods next, making certain to open the refrigerator and freezer as little as possible to avoid warming the interior.

      Nature’s Meal Plan

      I highly recommend including a book on edible plants with your emergency kit. Most likely, it will never be needed. For such a book to be a necessary, the state of the emergency would have to be of gargantuan proportions; either that, or you finally found the time and money for that dream vacation and Murphy’s Law took a chokehold on your plans. Still, it may be the best $10 you will ever spend if you find yourself stranded. Many books written on edible plants and herbs are zone specific, and if you can locate one for your climate zone, I suggest you buy it. I purchased two such books. My favorite, Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide by Elias & Dykeman, gives a close-up color photograph of the plant or herb. When a poisonous look-alike exists, the reader is warned and is supplied with a detailed description and a photograph of the imposter. It also supplies a state map next to the plant’s photograph, highlighting the area(s) where it grows and a description of where it is likely to be located (example: in moist fertile soil, at the margins of woods, etc…). It advises what time of year to harvest the plant or herb, how to cook it, and its nutritional benefits.

      Stake Your Water Claim

      Chapter 3 is devoted to water sources, purification, and storage, but as water is imperative for survival, we will touch upon it here. In a preparedness plan, water must always come first, for without it, you might as well use this and any other preparedness book you may read for kindling. Begin your preparedness with stored water and a good quality water purifier such as a Berkey or Katadyn. If the grid goes down and you live in an area that depends on municipal water supplies, you may continue to receive water, but only as long as the water plant’s battery or diesel backup lasts.

      If the electrical grid goes down during a crisis, this is an excellent time to fill bathtubs and sinks with every drop of water they will hold. But be careful. When calamity arrives in the form of Mother Nature, it is possible the water pouring from your taps may be unsafe to drink. Listen to emergency broadcasts on your hand-crank or battery-run radio (Yes, you do need one!) for alerts on water contamination.

      Vanity Makes House Calls

      For all my years of preparedness, I’ve cast my net far and stood toe to toe with trading a once spoiled consumer-crazed lifestyle for that of a penny-pincher in order to fill empty storage shelves. But even then, I can’t conceive of a time when bathing, or doing laundry, or washing dishes would be considered a luxury.

      The fault, I’ve decided, lies with Hollywood. Do you recall even a B-movie of apocalyptic proportions panning in on an actor whose hair has turned to dreadlocks, wearing filthy clothing with dirt embedded under their nails? Well, neither do I!

      But the reality is, if we don’t plan ahead, that’s where we’ll find ourselves. Arrange for a makeshift tub for bathing because unless you have a well with a manual hand pump and a septic system, once the battery backup gives out at the municipal water station, it’s likely your tub and sinks won’t drain when pumps become inoperable in a grid-down situation. Tuff Stuff makes tubs that work well for bathing that are relatively cheap. While you’re purchasing the tub, pick up a clothesline and clothes pegs. At the end of this chapter, I have listed the link for a do-it-yourself washing machine made out of a 5-gallon bucket and a toilet plunger. No, I’m not kidding!

      It’s a Stinky Subject

      At a time when water and electricity has been knocked off grid, waste management will have to be addressed. Compost toilets are available that can be neutralized with sawdust or dirt, but if you live in the city with little if any yard, I can’t see a landlord agreeing to let you store a mound of either material. The best option for those living in an urban setting is a camp toilet. There’s nothing “bling” about them, but at least they come with a toilet seat and a collapsible lid, and they cost next to nothing. Line them with heavy plastic bags so the contents can be carefully transferred outdoors. If possible, dig a hole deep enough for sanitary disposal.