A: EMERGENCY PREPARATION LIST:
Water security:
Aim for a minimum of 1 litre of liquid/day. Store at least 90 litres at home
At first power outages fill bathtubs and fill as many pots and containers as possible with water. (for washing and toilet flushing)
Find a spring near your home. Many are inspected by municipalities for potability. www.FindaSpring.com lists some but not all springs around the world. You can also call 311 to ask your city where the springs are.
Buy a Lifestraw (allows you to drink from almost any source. www.good2goco.ca
Melt snow
Buy a rain barrel and start collecting rainwater for washing clothes.
Buy water filters Recommended ZEROWATER pitcher with filters, it’s preferable choice, and come with a water purity tester (TDS) and filter, and works much better than the Brita type brands. Buy additional filters as each one lasts between 3-6 months depending on usage.
Buy bottled water (largest containers)
Portable water purification systems
Halzone tablets
Chlorine
Befriend someone with a well
Add Tang or vitamin powder to your water for added energy, flavour and nutrition
Boil and filter your tap water when times are bad or water pressure is low
Transport spring water from a source to your friends
Don’t tell your neighbours you have a water supply
Other: Please add another tip
Food security:
Aim for at least 2000 calories per day, store at least 180,000 calories
Stock up on food, especially non-perishable foods, canned foods and dried foods
Buy seeds, learn how to grow foods that require little or no light, grow sprouts (recommended green peas for pea shoots and for sweetest flavour, also the most bang for a seed)
Buy canned meats, sardines, herring, tuna, salmon
In times of extreme food shortage, exercise less.
Dehydrate veggies & fruit, smoke fish and meat. Lighter than canned foods.
Fermented or pickled vegetables.
Buy nuts, rice, rolled oats (store in plastic or glass jars to avoid bugs)
Nutrition bars, meal replacement powder (undenatured whey protein is ideal)
Raise rabbits or quails. They’re silent, multiply fast, more protein than chicken.
Vodka can also be used as a fire-starter, sterilizing, medical instruments, sleep aid.
Don’t tell your neighbours you have a food supply
Have chickens or locate a farm with eggs. Eggs are a perfect protein and can be eaten raw easily. Raw maintains best nutritional value.
Visit the farmers in your neighborhood
Grow your own food. Keep one plant, some flowers (herbs), or fruit to create seeds for next year.
Learn what wild foods you have in your neck of the woods from dandelion to lemon sorrel to mulberry trees. These are in cities too.
Some plants (make teas) are healing and high in antioxidants, like Wonder of the World - easy to grow, Chaga - easy to buy in Canada, Thyme
Have a supply of healthy fats: coconut oil, ghee, hemp hearts, etc.
Vinegar and baking soda for cleaning
Buy some freeze dried food, food pellets
Look into foods that regenerate ex: celery
Have a supply of salt and spices
Have extra pet food, treats, litter on hand
Miso is fermented food, high in proteins and versatile.
Other:
Health security:
Take frequent Freedom chat walks with friends. Great for body and mind.
Buy first aid kit, first aid book, needle and thread - foil blanket(s) for shock but they make great warmers
Pain killers, inflammation reduction, fever reduction, cough suppressant…
Vitamins. Vitamins C and D are quite important during flu season.
Make weight loss non-meat patties. The keep you full longer and are very nutritious
Get fit before an emergency situation arises
Fill up your medical prescriptions for at least 2 months.
Research food alternatives to your medicine
Stay fit and manage your weight before any emergency
Mental health: Have books to read. Buy a journal or paper notebook.
Grow an aloe vera plant for burns.
STAY CALM - do not rush and do not panic.
Other: Please add another tip
Have a supply of zinc and echinacea (also good for the immune system)
Have a supply of Colloidal Silver. It kills bacteria and can be ingested and applied topically for humans and pets.
Communication security:
Citizen Alert Text: text me first 2 characters of your postal code 613-501-HELP
Walkie talkie sets (can communicate by relay)
CB radio
Short wave/ long wave crank radios
Solar powered radio
Hand crank USB chargers.
Ham radio (or befriend a neighbour who is a ham radio operator. You can look up your local amateur radio club to find a Ham operator or look for license plates that begin with VE or VA.))
Create your own community postal system with volunteers
Relay bike messenger system
If things shut down, have a designated place to meet with allies.
Have hard copies of maps.
Other: Please add another tip
Heat Security:
Test how much heat is generated by 2 candles in a small room in 1 hour
Think about how you will cook food and stay warm if power goes out
To learn about heat try backyard camping or sleep with bedroom window open
Candles - some candles give off toxins (not beeswax) don’t breathe in the smoke
Lighters, matches
Keep your water pipes from freezing if you are in a prolonged power failure
Flintstones
Dress in layers, wool breathes and keeps you warm
Woolen felt boot inserts
Styrofoam and bubble wrap are great insulators, so are crumpled newspapers
Cotton balls and (vaseline, Purell, vodka…) make great fire starters
SternSo cans
Foldable camping stove frame
Pipe stove, rocket stove, propane stove, BBQ, outdoor grills like a Turkish grill
Store fuel, propane
Firewood and newspapers
Hot water bottles
If power goes out, can keep clothes in bed for morning
Warm waterproof coats and snow pants
Plenty of high quality warm socks (wool keeps your feet from sweating)
Thin foil blankets
Sleeping bags
Insulate your home better but go outside for fresh air
Protect your mental health with meditation exercise, games, a deck of cards…
Other: Please add another tip
Physical security:
Create your own gang, don’t be a hermit Have friends with you or near you.
Always have an emergency backpack ready
Hide valuables in kid backpacks, burglars won’t steal them
Door brace
Don’t dress too rich when you go out. Do not wear jewelry.
Disable your car at night (under the hood)
Buy a tiger ultra flash light
Buy hornet or wasp spray
Cordage
Spend less time with non-essential contacts. Avoid gossipers.
Form your own neighborhood watch patrol
Buy a dog - train to bark if a noise
Lock your bikes
Do not isolate yourself from others. Make your own local tribe.
Share your emergency list with your friends
Have a backpack ready for 3 days in case of emergency evacuation. You can research what to have in it.
Arrange an emergency meeting spot for like-minded friends in your community
Buy a sound sensitive adapter and connect a lamp and dog recording near the door
Know a few self-defense moves
Have some weapons for self-defense or hunting: a cane with a knife, baseball bat, machete, bow and arrow, slingshot, traps.
Ensure your legal weapons have plenty of ammunitions
Sheets of plywood for nailing over windows on your home
Other: Please add another tip
Always have a folding knife or tactical pen on your person. Both have good self defence capabilities.
Economic security:
Take some money out of your bank this week
Start bartering
Liquidate non-essential assets, keep items that have high trading value
Keep cash handy
Find a job that allows you to work from home
Offer your services to your contacts, friends and family
Know your neighbours
Join our database
Other: Please add another tip
Hygiene:
Collect rainwater or melted snow to wash yourself or your clothes
baby wipes- great for cleaning yourself when water not available ( make your own)
lysol wipes-great for surfaces in same situation
Sanitizer - can make your own with witch hazel
Cloth diapers and sanitary pads
Reusable menstrual products (cloth pads, cups, menstrual underwear)
Portable shower kits
Soap for washing body, dishes, clothes
A washing board for washing clothes
Dental cleaning supplies and kit
Other: Please add another tip
Reusable handkerchiefs and toilet paper
Power:
Power generator
Solar power panels
Buy batteries
Hand crank items
Car battery booster. Can also get an adapter to charge phones.
Power generating stationary bikes
Extra fuel in canisters
Solar floating lamps that you keep near a window so they are always ready when you need them
In case of power failure, pour windshield wiper fluid (-40 C) down toilets
Propane generator - needs 100lb tanks and can run for 10 hours a day for 10 days. Not sure how many tanks you’d need (diesel gen systems are expensive but another option that can power an entire house - diesel stores in underground tanks) << this came from someone who worked for FEMA so they KNOW emergencies. ;)
Reflective foil blanket, or Faraday cage made from aluminum window screen, to wrap around your generator and prevent dead machine in case of EMP.
Backpack:
Water
Fishing and trapping supplies
Compass
Flashlights, batteries, knife, cordage, lighters, radio
Warm socks, T-shirts, raincoat
Survival guide, First aid kit and book
High calorie nuts, seeds, dried fruits, nutrition bars, Vodka (has several uses)
Other: Please add another tip
F: EMERGENCY SCENARIOS What things should you do when...
There’s a sudden power failure happens in the middle of the night in winter
There’s no more tap water or bottled water anywhere
The Internet goes down
The phones don’t work
You need to unite your local community
The hospitals are closed
There’s no work anywhere
The postal service is down
You can’t sleep
You are under total lockdown
You can’t get home services like snow shovelling
Answers will be given at our Google Meets on Mondays
Resources:
Websites:
http://www.survivalgearcanada.com
www.getprepared.gc.ca (Look up Your Emergency Preparedness Guide)
https://youtu.be/WkTlOiXftd4 DOLLAR TREE PREPPING ITEMS TO GET