Build Your Plan

Planning Considerations

For planning, decide (a) whether your plan is a 'shelter in place' - e.g., stay where you live, (b) "Bug Out" - meaning it is too risky to stay in your residence and you need to get outta Dodge. Plan for one or both depending on your circumstances. Note: if things are bad from the onset and you are ready to bug-out, leave as quickly as possible. It will be much more difficult to do later (traffic). Bugging out without a place to go means you are a 'refugee' - so better your plan include arrangements to stay somewhere else. Good factual information is critical when making your decision, so you'll want some way to keep up on current news.

Bugging out is not without its own set of risks. If you are not in good physical condition (able to walk great distances), and/or have never camped outdoors before, there are some key things to consider, not the least of which is how much can you carry for long distances (hiking). Keeping the weight of your items down is a common consideration for hikers. The following is a very incomplete list of items you will need and are here to get you thinking. Plenty of online resources available to help you with this topic.

o Staying Dry o Staying Warm o Boots/footwear o Shelter (tent) o Emergency Communications o H2O container/filter

o Food (dehydrated) o Fire Starter o Parachute Cord o Sleeping bag/mat o Toilet Paper o Knife/fork/Cookware/hatchet

black and white throw pillows on gray couch

Remain in Place "Bug out"

Building your plan requires you to think about the type of disasters that are the most likely to occur and how long those might last. The more localized the issue, the greater chance of someone coming from outsize the zone to help you. If the disaster is state-wide or multi-state, then the speed and/or likelihood Of receiving help will vary greatly. Generally areas with larger populations will receive attention first. Remote areas dependent on trucking materials in (like food) may be less apt to receive regular shipments. So perhaps you might determine that your location would mean slower response and supplies, therefore your plan might include storing more items such as food, water and fuel.

FEMA suggests all citizens have at least 3 days of food and water on hand. However, we strongly recommend your plan assumes a 7-10 day minimum as this is far more likely to provide options while you are sorting out the situation.

Building Your Scenarios

Building your plan requires you to create some test scenarios, then determine how you might solve problems that crop up, and what you would need to successfully address the problem. Let's say the topic is water, and I think i could manage to get water to meet my plan using the "Magic ABC Filter." In a chaotic situation, those may not be available. Also consider how likely it is that the scenario will occur.

Think through each element (Water) then create some "what if" exercises. For example, "What if the municipal water is available at onset of the crisis?" Then I'd do A, B and C. "What if the municipal water is contaminated or no longer available, how would I get clean water?" What is the water source?

Next, make a list of items you need, and prioritize based on your needs, finances, etc.

Once you read thru the Elements, it will make it will give you some ideas of what to consider. Read through it first, then start building your plan.

Plan Types

Plan Elements

Water

Drinking Water: Minimum 1.5g/day per person. Don't forget your pets.

Untreated Water: Avoid drinking this due to pathogens, bacteria and toxins. Always treat water (chlorine, water purification tablets, boiling 2mins) and/or high quality water filters to treat water you will consume.

Water Containers: Water is 8.3 lbs (3.8 kg). Size your containers based on storage needs, balanced with portability. 5 gallons is > 40 pounds, heavy to carry a long distance and hard for smaller folk and kids. Write your text here...