subject: Stocking Up On The Simple Things Will Prepare You For The Big Things [print this page] There are a lot of things that Americans take for granted every single day. Most Americans probably have this notion, however they don't stop to think about how such every day things would be affected by a disaster, whether economic, natural, or war related. There are many basic things that one can and should do to be prepared for any eventuality. Some of those things fall on a larger, more difficult scale, such as securing one's wealth through different, more stable means. Others, however, are steps that average everyday Americans can be taking on a daily basis to prepare for an eventual disaster.
When a natural disaster strikes, for example, one of the first things to go is often running water. Every single day, you probably don't realize how often you are using water. Every time you wash your hands, flush a toilet, shower, fill up an ice tray, clean up a spill, make Kool Aid, etc, water usage adds up. If you drink soda, start saving your two liter bottles and filling them up with water. The average person uses a staggering 50-200 gallons of water per day. Even by the low estimate, that is an incredible amount of water, so one can never have too much stored up.
Another thing people take for granted is power. Whenever one's power goes out, it is always like a slap to the face to realize how much one depends upon electricity for everything. Storing candles, flashlights, and lamps is a great idea, and not terribly expensive.
Food is obviously a crucial component to your emergency preparations. In a disaster, people flock to grocery stores and clear the shelves. Having enough food saved up for, at the very least, a couple of months is smart. A year would be even better. But start wherever your budget will allow. Purchase food with a long shelf life, and rotate it. Try to purchase and store things that you would normally eat. Remember, you eventually have to eat it. It might as well be something you'd actually desire to eat.
Storing other basic necessities such as toothpaste, toilet paper, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, and other items you typically replace on a monthly basis is a smart thing to do. Anything you feel like you would want on a typical day, is a good idea to have saved in your emergency storage.
Being prepared for any eventuality is important. Even though one may feel as though he or she is living in a very secure country, everything can change in the blink of an eye. Any eventual disaster can be weathered by those who are properly prepared, and being prepared will give you a peace of mind worth the effort.
