Read on Twitter
basic shit you should try to get while its available, in these moments of comparative calm. basic individual/family preparation to better be community prepared. a thread.
multiple ways of filtering water. gravity filters like sawyer brand, or chemical disinfectant pills. light and cheap. if for household, maybe larger gravity or pump setups. strain through bandanna first if water has stuff in it.
multiple sources of light. not just your phone, tho your phone is a great tool. headlamp. small “tactical” flashlight. note that flashlight for self defense isnt for super cool martial arts moves its for fucking blinding people.
multiple ways to start fires for warmth. two bic lighters. thats probably enough. maybe firestarter in wet climates. practice if you can. wooden matches are cool. flint and steel is meh and needs training.
first aid kits. ill cover these more at length later. if you can afford it, get an ifak (for gunshots and other major trauma). but thats less vital than basic first aid. get some first aid shit around. learn how to use it.
emergency shelter. can be as simple as emergency blankets. one saved my life as a kid. tiny and cheap. keep em everywhere. tarps and tents are cool too. sleeping bags are great.
most 10-in-1 survival gizmos are bullshit. exceptions seem to be handcrank/solar radio / flashlights and the venerable multitools. get these maybe.
your phone. appropriate apps and data on your phone. backup batteries. seriously phones are like tricorders theyre amazing. plant id, gps.
nonphone stuff like tiny waterproof first aid and survival books. sometimes “access to info” is the best we can do instead of “learning and training all the time.”
keep extra food. every time you buy nonperishables buy a little more till you have a certain amount (a year?) saved up. ideally, eat what you stockpile, stockpile what you eat.
keep a copy of important documents in the cloud and on a USB, if it feels safe to do so. (if your main threat is your government, this might not make sense).
its a good time to learn to use chainsaws safely when youre not yet in crisis. some stupid percent of disaster deaths are chainsaw related (clearing debris from a road for example). i am a hypocrite, i hate using chainsaws and while slightly trained, i avoid them.
you want stuff to survive at home in case of interruptions of power and such. here’s where you can store the most. this is primary.
you also might want a “get home” bag in your vehicle with what youd need to make it back.
you also might want a “get home” bag in your vehicle with what youd need to make it back.
then there’s your go bag, in case you need to leave home. this might be wilderness stuff but it might be what youd need in a refugee center or even just your friend’s backyard in another state.
finally, what you keep on you in whatever bag or purse or pockets you have on you at all times. maybe: knife, multitool, usb stick, lighters, emergency blanket, flashlight, water filtration tablets, tiny first aid kit, whistle, essential meds.
if you have your own shit together, you’ll be better positioned to help other people around you and need less from outside relief. our best resource is always each other, and an abundance mindset will beat a scarcity mindset in the long run. allies are better than gear.
