Preparedness

Selecting the right survival gear is important to your preparedness plan. Remember your most important survival gear is your brain. Mental preparedness, knowledge and skills are a most. Without that, nothing else really matters.

Customize your equipment to the environment you experience.Test your equipment prior to departure. Make sure you understand how to use your equipment and that it’s working properly.

A few key items in your home and backpack can make the difference between failure and success. Well spent time and the care that you take in the selection process of your gear and equipment, is time well spent. It is also recommened that you take the time to collect books that teach various ways to survive off the grid. This information could prove to be highly valuable in the near future if the internet is no longer working.

Home Preparedness

Water Storage Containers Plastic 1-Liter Bottles Camping Style 1 Quart capacity Zipper Lock Freezer Baggies Juice Milk Jugs Collapsible Containers Lg/Sm Camping Style 5-7 Jerry Cans 55 Gallon Water Drum Large Glass Galvanized metal Filter Bleach Iodine	Food Storage Containers Plastic 1 Quart 3.5 - 5 Gallon Buckets Glass 1 Quart Mason 2 Gallon Food Dried Canned Compressed Whole Grains (full page of info coming soon)	Alternative Energy Solar Wind Geo Thermal Generator	Illumination Lanterns Extra Flashlights     Gardening Organic Seeds Shovels and Tools Compost Bin Fertilizer Soil
Security Police Scanner Bear Spray Fire extinguisher Duct Tape Plastic Sheeting/Clear-Black First Aid Kit Money and Small Bills Identification and Important papers Watch / Clock Gas Masks Potassium Idodate	Fuel Propane Tank Gasoline Diesel Generator Kerosene Firewood	Boats Rafts Kayat Tools Ax	Extras Goggles Watch Platic Bags Garbage Bags   Cooking Gear Solar Oven Propane Stove Charcoal Grill

In the Backpack

Shelter Tent 8 x 10 Tarp Poles/Stakes Thermal Emergency Blanket Sleeping Bag Sleeping Mat	Water Containers Plastic Quart Non Lubricated condoms Ziplock baggies Filter Purification Tablets UAV Light	Knives Knife Swiss Army Knife Multitool Folding Fixed Blade Handsaw Hatchet Wire saw Sharpener	Hygiene Razor Toothbrush/paste Shaving Foam Eyedropper Soap/Shampoo WashclothToothpicks Dental Floss
Illumination Flashlight Light Sticks Candles   Ropes Nylon Parachute Cord Polypropolene Cotton/Poly	Food Compressed Energy Bars Nuts/Trail Mix/Granola Dried Rice Chocolate Bars Rice Lentils Kidney Beans Oat Instant hot dinners in a bag	First Aid Bandages Cotton Wool Scissors Padded Dressings Medical Tape Tweezers Antiseptic Iodine Sun Block Aspirin Antihistamine Antibiotic Ointment Burn Spray Tincture of Benzoine Lip Balm	Clothing Pants Shoes Coat Poncho Polypropolene Wool Clothing Gloves Hat Bandanas Thermal Footwear Boots Waterproof Shoes
Fire Flint/Striker Lighters Waterproof Matches Steel Wool 9Volt Battery Compressed Fuel	Cooking Titanium Pot Smal Stove Plate Cutlery	Extras Binoculars Night Vision GPS Receiver Divebag Inspirational book Plant Identification Books	Misc Items Spare Batteries Sewing Kit Safety Pins Line and Split Head Weights Fish Hooks Button Compass Plastic Bags Mesh Bags Mini Flashlight Small Hand Mirror Duct Tape Thermometer Compass Flashlight Hand Shovel Bleach Sun glasses Emergency Radio Whistle Pen Writng Pad

General Information

Define what survival means to you.

Avoid over packing. It is tempting and it will take some discipline. A pack that is too large or heavy is as useless as no pack at all.

Shelter is one of the highest priorities. The sun will bake you, the rain will freeze you (hypothermia can set in quickly during the fall, spring, and winter if you are wet), and unless you are lucky enough to be stuck in a benign environment, lack of shelter will be more than an inconvenience. Shelter can be a tent or tarp, a trash bag or tube tent.

Ensure that you have water, 30-60 oz per day minimum, depending on your size.

Take 2,000 calories of food per person per day. There are plenty of options but the best require no preparation, utensils or dishes.

Get warm bedding. Wool and fleece are the best blanket choices. Both retain heat even when wet, wool is flame retardant, fleece is very lightweight. Cotton wicks heat from your body when it is moist, so stay away from that material.

Pack the hygiene items you need to stay comfortable, but don’t overdo it.

Try it out! Take it camping, use it often. Buy the items as camping gear and store them in your 72 hour kit.

A Chemical Attack

A chemical attack is the deliberate release of a toxic gas, liquid or solid that can poison people and the environment.

Possible Signs of chemical threat may be seeing many people suffering from watery eyes, twitching, choking, having trouble breathing or losing coordination. Many sick or dead birds, dead fish or dead small animals are also cause for suspicion.

If You See Signs of Chemical Attack: Find Clean Air Quickly.

Quickly try to define the impacted area or where the chemical is coming from, if possible. Protect your eyes with the goggles and protect yourself with the Poncho and rubber gloves then take immediate action to get away. If your eyes are watering, your skin is stinging, and you are having trouble breathing, you may have been exposed to a chemical.

If you think you may have been exposed to a chemical, strip immediately and wash. Look for a hose, fountain, or any source of water, and wash, with soap if possible, being sure not to scrub the chemical into your skin.

A Biological Attack

A biological attack is the deliberate release of germs or other biological substances that can make you ill.

Unlike an explosion, a biological attack may or may not be immediately obvious. In the event of a biological attack, public health officials may not immediately be able to provide information on what you should do. It will take time to determine exactly what the illness is, how it should be treated, and who is in danger.

If you are potentially exposed: Quickly get away. Protect yourself. Cover your mouth and nose with a dust mask or layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow breathing. Examples include two to three layers of cotton such as a t-shirt, handkerchief or towel. Otherwise, several layers of tissue or paper towels may help. Wash with soap and water.

Don't Panic!

Fear can rob you of normal, sensible reactions to the unexpected occurance. Blind, or paralyzing fear is one of the reasons that some people do not survive. Most people have never been truly alone. It is not unreasonable to expect to be afraid when thrust into a situation where "normal" seems to be the exception. Be aware of your surroundings and see what can be used to fix your current location to help enable you to survive.

Recognize Fear as a normal thing and accept it. Set your fear aside, keep busy and set up your campsite using local materials. The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude, and to work with the idea that an unexpected thing has happened to you and so YOU must make it bearable, and survivable, for yourself.