Problems
Water
- life sustaining and continuing need
- easily contaminated and easy to break systems
- needed for - drinking, cleaning, irrigation, flushing, etc
- a lot is needed each day for each person
Food
- life sustaining and continuing need
- easily contaminated and hard to preserve
- gets used up fast and hoarded faster
- difficult without supply chains to produce enough to feed all
Medicine and injury treatment
- an acute need when needed
- often inadequately stocked in homes for an emergency
- doesn't last long and is often hoarded in emergency
- can be difficult for amateur to produce for exact needs
Shelter
- May be damaged
- May not be near home when disaster strikes
- May need to be fortified/better secured
- May want to take others in
Clothing
- needed for basic modesty, protection from weather, sun, etc
- wears out and needs replacing unless repairable
- needs washing for comfort and freshness
- takes particular skill and supplies/tools to produce well
Security
- disaster may increase need, desperation, violence, theft
- may also lead to more irrational or wreckless behaviors
- may be power struggle over what needs to be done
- other groups may form to attack and loot
Others
- may become isolated in an event
- may end up where others are all strangers or antagonistic
- may need others to work or trade with
- others fill emotional and psychological needs
Skill or expertise useful in situation
- skills may be non-relevant to emergency situation
- learning curves may be longer in difficult situations
- may not have experience doing things manually
- may not have any skill or knowledge useful to others
Power
- may need to operate mechanical devices
- may need to operate electronic devices
- may need for lighting
- may be needed for communication to get info
Communication
- may be cut off from others close to you
- may not be able to get info, news, etc
- may need to get outside help for emergency
- may need to get info out to others
Solutions: b4 = prep before disaster
Water
- b4 - stock as much drinking water as feasible
- b4 - save used milk or other jugs of water for flushing, etc
- b4 - have rainwater collection method ready
- b4 - have water filtration methods ready
Food
- b4 - stock as much emergency food as feasible
- b4 - learn and practice preserving and freeze-drying
- b4 - learn and practice growing food
- b4 - learn and practice fishing, hunting, foraging
Medicine and injury treatment
- b4 - stock up on medicine and bandaging, antiseptics, etc.
- b4 - learn and practice growing medicinal herbs
- b4 - learn how to treat medical issues as much as feasible
- b4 - learn preventive medicine and healthy lifestyle
Shelter
- b4 - learn how to make temporary shelter
- b4 - learn home repair and alteration
- b4 - figure out ways home can be better secured
- b4 - stock up on any tools/materials that might be needed
Clothing
- b4 - learn to sow/stitch, other repairs
- b4 - if feasible have extra clothing to replace
- b4 - get other items for safety - mask, headlamp, etc
- b4 - also maybe backpacks, 6-pocket pants, utility belts, etc
Security
- b4 - learn and train self-defense and/or weapon
- b4 - plan what to do if attacked in different ways
- b4 - plan for escape if defense not feasible
- b4 - learn to set homemade alarms that will wake you
Others
- b4 - prep plans with family members, maybe friends
- b4 - prep plans with close-knit group
- b4 - prep plans with neighbors
- b4 - prep plan for how to find others
Skill or expertise
- b4 - learn possibly relevant skill(s) and knowledge
- b4 - practice those
- b4 - develop to expertise time permitting
- b4 - pre-consider how to contribute or barter with these
Power
- b4 - look into portable solar panels
- b4 - hand-cranked powered devices
- b4 - pedal or treadle powered devices
- b4 - stock up on propane and devices
Communication
- b4 - learn and equip for ham radio
- b4 - stock up on walkie talkies, batteries
- b4 - faraday box to protect devices from emp attack
- b4 - learn signaling systems - morse, light, etc
For more info - books, videos, and items
Water
- An article on storing water for drinking, washing, etc
- Brief article on storing water for flushing and other things.
- Some books on rainwater harvesting
- A water purification guide
Food
- A look at some packs of emergency food
- Some books on preserving and freeze drying
- Various aspects of growing food
- Books on hunting, fishing, and foraging
Medicine and injury treatment
- Various medical kits available
- Some growing guides and seed kits
- A large guide including herbal treatments
- Interesting books on living healthy
Shelter
- Books on shelters and other bushcraft
- Some books on home repair and improvement
- A book on bugging in
- Book on basic wisdom and tools for the job
Clothing
- A site about repairing clothes
- Some advice on picking some durable clothing
- Some headlamps
- Some full backpacks
Security
- A few examples of self defense items
- Simple approach to plan for different attacks
- A site on emergency escape planning
- Various videos on how to make alarms
Others
- Good guide on preparing as a family
- A few books on group planning
- A guide for neighborhood emergency preparedness
- Book with a variety of off-grid communication info
Skill or expertise
- Some books on bushcraft and other skills
- Brief article on practicing survival skills
- Book on improving mastery of a skill
- Info on concepts, pitfalls, and examples here
Power
Communication