Preparedness Review

Preparedness is a process and constant maintenance. Find a time that you can use it to review your preparedness and to make appropriate changes if needed. I’d like to review for you what my idea of preparedness is.
I must put a disclaimer here. I have been involved in preparedness my entire life. Even my childhood was filled with my Mother canning and baking homemade bread to my Father teaching me self-sufficiency by learning carpentry and mechanical skills. My parents taught preparedness to all of us kids. So my idea of preparedness may not be the same as yours. My guess is my idea of preparedness may seem a little excessive to you. Unless you’re paranoid too! I’m not really paranoid but I like options. Preparedness gives you options. So don’t be overwhelmed by what I think preparedness should be. Start small and work your way to your goal. My preparedness has been over 30 years in the making!
This is from Prepper Link
http://www.prepperlink.com/

Survival Plan
Bug In (or retreat): Retreat and home defense books for reference
Know your neighbors and surroundings
Immediate neighbors
Identify key infrastructure
Map your area
Neighborhood awareness group
Network with neighbors
Share information
Neighborhood protection plan
Command and control
Security responsibilities
Designated evacuation area (Related to Bug out)

Home defense plan
Identify vulnerable areas
Reinforced structures and defenses
Steel doors
Window bars or coverings
Fighting positions
Designated evacuation area (Related to Bug out)

Bug Out:
Bug out bag
Financial
Sanitation
Energy
Communication
Protection
Food
Water
Medical

Identify areas
Identify key infrastructure
State/Local government facilities
Military installations
Natural and weather hazards
Population density
National parks
Forestry lands
State owned lands
Family/Friends property
Scout areas
Practice bug out plan
Fuel
People
Obstacles



Medical
Knowledge (Level 1)
Medication
Stored medications
Prescription
Pet medications
(Knowledge connected to First Aid Kits)
Every adult should know:
Stabilize neck
Treat fractures
Treat chest wounds
Treat cuts
Control bleeding
Open airways
Treat shock
Administer an IV
Clinic
Medical records
Medical documents
Bulk medical supplies (related to First Aid Kits)
Reference materials (related to First Aid Kits)
First aid kits
Trauma kit
IFAK (Individual first aid kit)
Large kit
Bulk medical supplies (related to Clinic)
Reference materials (related to Clinic)
Desired medical personnel
Recruitment
Networking
Veterinarian
EMT/Paramedic
Doctor/Dentist
Knowledge (Level 2)
Advanced reference materials and medical equipment
Protection
State Laws
Property protection laws
Firearms restrictions
Conceal carry laws
Non-Lethal
Stun gun
Pepper/wasp spray
Baton
Lethal
Blades
Firearms –Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns
Storage- Ammo cans, gun cabinets, burial vaults
Ammunition
Training- Range, Shooting drills, Courses
Gear- Holsters, Carriers, Pouches, Slings
Maintenance
Cleaning supplies
Lubricants
Spare parts
Reference materials


Communication
Security- Radio discipline, Call signs, Limit distance, Privacy (Codes, protocols)
Long term plan
Equipment
HAM- Long range, can send data, expensive, license, technical
CB- Cheap, anyone can use
VHF- Common to marine industry (Requires energy)
2 way- Cheap, anyone can use, GMRS, FRS, FRS/GMRS (Requires energy)
Other
Emergency plan
Weather radio
Meeting place
Corded phone- powered by utility
AM/FM radio
Police scanner
E-mail
Cell phone- Text messages may work
Short wave
Food
Hunting, fishing, foraging
Foraging-wild edibles, plant identification (take a guided trip), reference materials
Hunting-Firearms, trapping, slingshot, bow/sling bow
Hunting experience-Supporting equipment, field dressing
Fishing-Know your area (fish species & seasonal patterns)
Catching fish-Cast net/traps, trout/tree lines, rod and reel, survival kit
Cleaning fish-preparation, preservation (connected to food storage)
72 hour food supply (bug out/emergency supply)
1 month food supply (long term emergency)
1 year food supply (long term)
Gardening/Farming (water requirements for plants, irrigation, animals)
Growing crops-Sprouting, seeds
Hydroculture/hydroponics-infrastructure, tanks, pumps
Small scale gardening-Management, rotation, seasons, fertilizer, pest
Management, harvest
Large scale-Land assessment, Management (same as small scale)
Raising livestock
Water
Selecting livestock
Animal husbandry
Butchering
Aquaculture
Determining fish and plants
Food Storage
Canning-Short shelf-life, Heavy
Equipment-Jars, lids
Method-Water-bath or Pressure
Dehydrated Food
Fruits and vegetables-Long shelf-life
Meats and jerky-Short shelf-life
Dairy-Short shelf-life
Canned/Boxed food-Short shelf-life, Heavy (rotate often)
Hand packed dry foods
Grain-Mill needed
Whole-Long shelf-life
Flour-Short shelf-life
Pasta-Long shelf-life
Rice-Long shelf-life
Beans/Legumes-Long shelf-life
Spices
Dairy-Short shelf-life
Storing methods
Mylar bags-Need heat sealer
Pail or Bucket
Vacuum sealed bag-Need vacuum packer
Energy
Hydro
Water
Turbine-Generator
Controller
Battery Bank
Wind
Wind zones
Wind turbine
Controller
Battery Bank
Batteries
Single use
Rechargeable-Portable
Battery Plan
Solar
Solar zones
Solar panels
Portable vehicle systems
Grid tied
Controller
Battery Bank
Gasification
Gasifier-Requires fuel (wood, biomass)
Generator
Requires fuel
Gasoline-Short shelf-life
Diesel-Moderate shelf-life
Propane-Indefinite shelf-life
Fuel storage-Fuel treatment
Battery Bank-Size considerations
DC Power
Devices
Voltage
12 Volt system-Compatible with vehicles systems
24 Volt system-Best for long runs, step down for 12 V devices
Inverter
A/C Power-A/C devices
Financial
Stocks-Also diversify with physical investments
Goods for barter
Jewelry
Precious metals
Gold
Silver
Bullion-Coins, rounds, bars
Cash
Bills
Coins
Foreign currency
Storage
Burial vaults
Bug out bag
Safe
Vault (Domestic and remote)
Sanitation and Hygiene
Laundry
Detergent-Stored, Homemade
Rodents and Insect Control
Repellants-Bug spray, fly traps, mouse/rat traps
Trash-Bury, burn, trash bags
Teeth
Tooth brush
Tooth paste-Stored, natural remedies
Toilet
Regular toilet on grid, septic, cesspool
Requires water
RV Toilet
Requires water and emptying
Compost toilet
May require energy
Field toilet
Construction-Pit, outhouse, urinal tubes, trench
Disease Management
Emptying, bags, enzymes, lye
Bucket-Short term
Disease Management
Emptying, bags, enzymes, lye
Body and Hair
Bathing-Solar shower, hand pump sprayer, cup/bucket bath
Grooming supplies-Combs, brushes, nail clippers, razors, scissors, hair clippers
Soap and Sanitizer
Stored-Hand soap, bath soap, sanitizers, shampoo, conditioner
Homemade-Homemade soap, natural sanitizers, recipes/mixes
Stored supplies to make homemade products
Water
Stored-Rotation plan, pre-treatment
Non-traditional sources-Ice trays, hot water heater tank, toilet reservoir
Well-Deep well, shallow well, pumps (electric and hand)
Surface water-Swimming pools, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, ditches, solar still
Treatment/filtration
Treatment methods-Tablets, UV, Pool shock, Filters, Bleach, Iodine, Boil
Rainwater collection
Tarp
Cistern
Rain gutters/barrels
Open containers

This list is pretty all inclusive but you may have some other additions. In most of these areas I can be fairly confident but sometimes it’s good to review your own plans and preparations.
Being prepared gives you piece of mind but is far from “set it and forget it”. You must review, check, rotate and update. It’s a way of life.
I hope this helps you to think about your own preparedness program an gives you ideas.
This is from The Prepper Link and is called the Prepper Matrix. Check out their site for free downloads and further help and direction.
http://www.prepperlink.com/

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn