Week 2 of 52: Hardware List
Welcome to week 2 of our 52 Weeks to Preparedness series, which focuses on finding cost-effective ways to get you prepared for disasters.
This week we are going to focus on investing in basic hardware items. In later weeks, we will add additional hardware items to the list, but this week we are going to focus on laying a foundation.
A good rule of thumb when planning for emergencies is that a person is only as good as their tools. Good, quality tools are a sound investment and can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for. When purchasing hardware items such as the ones provided in the list below, take take to read online product and customer reviews before you make an investment. Also, avoid these 8 Rookie mistakes often made by preppers.
Preps to buy for Week 2:
- 32-gallon garbage can or- a sturdy storage box to hold disaster supplies
- Flashlight with alkaline-batteries or a hand-crank flashlight for each member of household that is over the age of 6. (Don’t forget extra batteries for the flashlights). Flashlights should also be purchased for each car, as well.
- Batteries in multiple-sizes.
- Heavy rope
- Duct tape
- Bic lighter and matches- to be stored in a waterproof container
- Multi-tool
- For furry friends, purchase a leash, or pet carrier and an extra set of I.D. tags.
Action Items:
1. Involve your children in your family preparedness efforts. Educate them on the different types of disasters and on your family’s disaster plans. Check out websites like Ready Kids for methods to teach your children about what to do in an emergency.
2. You should ask your child’s school and/or day care about what their disaster plans are. Here are a few questions that I asked our school:
- How will you communicate with a child’s family during a crisis?
- Do you store adequate food, water, and supplies for a disaster?
- Are you prepared for a shelter-in-place situation?
- If you have to evacuate, where do you go?
3. Find up-to-date pictures of each family member in case one of them gets separated from you during a disaster event, put the pictures in a waterproof or Ziploc bag, and place it in your emergency kit.
4. Prepare a personal information card for each family member.
5. As a family, discuss your emergency meeting places, contacts, and plans. Give your children the opportunity to express their feelings and to ask questions so they fully understand the disaster plan.
6. For family members who have special needs, ensure that those needs are accounted for in your emergency plan.
Author: Tess Pennington
Web Site: http://www.ReadyNutrition.com/
Date: July 19th, 2011
This is a wonderful website I have just stumbled upon. I am just now strating my prepping and have one question if you don’t mind. What would the heavy rope be used for? I don’t want to have supplies on hand that I have no clue what to use them for. Sorry if this seems like a silly question.
To hang ourselves with when the commies come!! Ha. Actually, you’d never believe how many uses you’d have for it if your house broke in half from an earthquake, etc…. in short do indeed get some!
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Rope’s pretty handy to have; In an earthquake, flood, or many other times, you could use a strong heavy rope to rescue others, get people safely up or down a cliff, get water from a well etc., tons of uses. I was in a Search and Rescue group for quite a while and when a team member turned their ankle, used my 40 foot rope to help them get back to the vehicle, we were in the deep woods with shale cliffs, hard enough without a hurt ankle, to get around.
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Myself, I’d toss in a big roll of black 8-mil plastic sheeting to that list, usable for shelter, to seal a broken window, for privacy, but then I live in the Pacific Northwest where we get “a little” rain
I would also add baling wire to the list. Can be found at farm supply stores, cheap, and endless uses. Strong, but still can be wrapped around broken handles and such by hand. Can even be “cut” by hand just by bending back and forth in the same place multiple times.
wire used to tie rebar is cheap and strong..get it at the home depot in large rolls (about the size of a roll of duct tape)
We are getting a lot of paracord instead. It is lighter but very strong. Is it an acceptable substitute?
Yes, paracord is an excellent choice and has many uses!
you should also consider changing out all your old incandecant bulb flashlights with l.e.d. flashlights..the batteries last alot longer and don’t quit working when you drop them ( maglites with regular bulbs had a spare bulb in a foam holder in the end cap for a good reason..drop the light..break the bulb!!!)
Zip ties are pretty handy to have around too.Â
I’m new to prepping but I like the concept of 52-Weeks to Preparedness! Small, doable action lists break up the very many steps needed to be fully prepared. Thank you!
However, the question I have is the need for the 32-gal. garbage can. It seems like a pretty large container for the materials that are listed to be gathered. I realize a “sturdy storage box” is also listed as an alternative, I guess I’m just wondering how much of each item you’re recommending to accumulate? Are we actually filling up this garbage can?! Thanks! And thanks for the help and great information.
RichÂ
Hi Rich,
The trashcan or storage box (your choice) will be used to fill up items for this week and additional weeks of suggested preparedness items.
Thanks again for your kind words and I’m glad you are enjoying the 52 Weeks program.
Tess
That trash can could also be used as a toiet. After that hurricane hit the east coast some people were using the hallway to deposit waste. Suppose it could be buried out in the yard and covered with plywood. Though not ideal it could be used to store/collect water.