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Week 2 of 52: Hardware List

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.

wk 2

Welcome to week 2 of our 52 Weeks to Preparedness 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. One aspect about preparedness you need to understand is the more you plan, the better off you will be. In an emergency, plan on needing tools, these will simplify an already stressful situation and you will be happy they are near by.

There are a lot of preppers who boast saying all they need is their knife to get them through an emergency. Folks, this just isn’t so. Having tools on hand in an emergency can help you reinforce your home, help you board up windows or in a true shtf-emergency, help you rebuild your life. Simply put, we need tools and we are going to start with your most basic items. Because this is such a crucial section in preparedness, in later weeks, we will add additional hardware items to the list to build upon what we get this week. Our focus for now is to lay a foundation for the tools you will need in a short-term emergency.

At Ready Nutrition, we are big proponents on layering our preparedness supplies. Therefore, it is important to have essential tools not only for the home, but it would be in your best interest to pack yourself up a small tool kit for your vehicle as well. That way, all your bases are covered.

A Person is Only as Good as Their Tools

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. As well, they can be the very thing that helps us evacuate safely, protect ourselves and aid in rescue efforts. When purchasing hardware items, take time to read online product and customer reviews before you make an investment. Many of these items are low cost and can easy be purchased at hardware times or even on Amazon

It’s important to have basic hand tools in order to:

  • evacuate safely
  • protect ourselves and our property
  • Aid in search and rescue efforts
  • Live in an off-grid/survival situation
  • Repair damaged shelters and other structures

While power tools may be more time efficient, in an off-grid emergency, they will not do you any good if they don’t work. For now, let’s focus on those basic tools that can work in off-grid environments

Many good tools can be found in your local hardware store or home improvement stores. As well, check out garage and estate sales. Sometimes, you can get a complete set of tools for a serious discounted price. The list below is not comprehensive, but will be the very beginning items for your preparedness supplies.

Preps to Buy for Week 2:

  • 33-gallon garbage can or- a sturdy storage box to hold disaster supplies
  • Protective eye wear
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • 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.
  • Hammer Crowbar
  • Wood saw
  • Ax
  • Paracord
  • Shovel
  • Cordless drill
  • Matches
  • Work gloves
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Bic lighter and matches – to be stored in a waterproof container
  • Multitool (Here are some our favorites)
  • For furry friends, purchase a leash or pet carrier and an extra set of I.D. tags

Action Items:

  1. Check to see what tools you may already have. Most people possess some or all of the basics (hammers, shovels and lights).
  2. Gather the items you have and begin to organize your shtf tool kit.
  3.  Make a shopping list of other items needed to complete your tool kit.
  4. Check out online resources, home improvement stores, discount stores, etc.

 

Next week, we will start taking the first steps in creating a well-rounded medical supply. If you want to jump ahead, check out the complete 52-Weeks to Preparedness lists or purchase the best-selling book it was based around, The Prepper’s Blueprint.

 

This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on July 19th, 2011