STEP ONE: LOCATION
Where you are located has a big impact on how you'll prepare. For example, if you live in a desert, water will be a big priority. If you live in the city, earthquakes can be a real danger.
STEP TWO: RULE OF 3
Being prepared means focusing on the most immediate needs first. If you're not prepared for the next 3 minutes, you won't be ready for the next 3 weeks.
To help you be prepared, we'll use the Rule of 3 to figure out what you need to be prepared with as quickly as possible.
3 Minutes. Your biggest priority will be things that you couldn't survive three minutes without - face masks for breathing clean air, first-aid material, etc.
3 Hours. Next, you'll want to be prepared with items you'll need to survive for three hours. This will include items like blankets, tents or shelter.
3 Days. Your body won't function without clean water for very long. That's why water storage is your third priority.
3 Weeks. You'll need food storage to survive for three weeks or more.
STEP 3: FIRST-AID AND 72-HOUR KITS
The most immediate need for emergency preparedness is short-term supplies. This will include items like first-aid kits, face masks, 72-hour kits and bug out bags. Without clean air to breathe, you'll only last a few minutes.
Statistically, forest areas are more at risk for disaster such as wildfires. That means, for 1 person that you'll need items like a 72-hour kit.
The type of kit that you pick will depend on the environment you plan on staying in. Since you are in the city, you'll want to make sure your 72-hour kit will help you in that environment. For example, you probably wouldn't want a lot of hunting gear if you're in the middle of a city.
STEP 4: WATER STORAGE
Without clean water, you'll only last for a few days. For your location, you can't readily depend on streams, rivers or lakes. For that reason, you need to plan ahead with barrels and containers of water storage.
It's recommended that you have at least ½ gallon of drinking water per person per day for emergencies. Ideally, you'd also have water for cleaning and cooking.
STEP 5: FOOD STORAGE
Food is vital to your emergency preparedness. Preparing with the right food is essential.
There are different types of food storage including freeze-dried, dehydrated, traditional staple foods and MREs.
Check below what you feel would be best for your family:
Freeze Dried
These foods will last the longest amount of time and offer the most convenience. They require water to rehydrated but you can choose from fruits, vegetables, meals and more.
Mix of Freeze Dried and Dehydrated
Dehydrated items offer a slightly shorter shelf life but are just as high-quality. They will be slightly less expensive then freeze dried items but aren't as convenient to prepare. Traditional staples
These are the items that your parents prepared with - grains, rices, beans, etc. They offer a very long shelf life but are more intensive to prepare. You'll typically need a grain mill for supplies like this.
Military meals ready-to-eat are dependable and don't require any preparation. You can just eat them straight out of the package. They have a wide variety of meal options but only have a guaranteed 5-year shelf life.
You'll want to prepare with 1,300-2,000 calories a day per person.