Preparation Guidelines

Apartments & Other Small Living Areas

Including Campers and RV's. How do you store the necessary food, water & medical supplies needed for a lengthy Emergency Sitting In Place situation? Some tips can be found here ...
Moderator: ReadyMom

Babies & Pregnancy

Babies may be small ... but they come with large demands. There's a lot to consider to care for them, in an emergency situation. Before their birth, pregnant moms have a lot to consider in advanced preparations.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Bags-'Bug Out Bags', '72 Hour Bags' & Other Emergency Bags

Look here to find out about bags that are pre-packed and ready to grab in an emergency or emergency items you carry with you on a daily basis.

Batteries

Lots of things to consider when using batteries. What Size do you need? How can you recharge them? What is a 'Solar' or 'Marine' battery and much more.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Beverages

You don't have to drink just water. There are recipes for juices, teas, wines and other libations found here!
Moderator: ReadyMom

Caches-Hidey Holes & Secret Stashes

Do you keep all your emergency supplies in one place? Or do you hide some? This is where you can find discussion on WHAT a cache is, WHAT to put in your cache, Why you should consider having one (or several), HOW to make one.

Children

Prepping with children has it's special concerns: Items to stock, foods they will eat, putting easy-to-follow plans in place, having emergency supplies within their reach, self reliance. Could your children help themselves, if needed?
Moderator: ReadyMom

Cleaning Up Without Water & Cleaning & Cleaners

A clean home is a happy home. Can't get to a store? Need a cleaning product? Try some of these homemade versions.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Clothing,Footwear & HazMat Gear

If you wear it, you'll find it here. Make good clothing choices. Growing kids. You work in an office now, but not during SHTF. Gardening & more manual labor. What fabrics? Lots of jeans? Let's talk about this ... Includes: Clothing * Shoes * Gas Masks

College Students & Students Away From Home

Knowing that your college student is prepared to handle an emergency, when they are not able to get home will give them and their family peace of mind.

Communications-Phones-Mail-Internet

Telecommunications systems could be overwhelmed and we could loose use of telephones and internet. If Power goes down for extended periods of time, cordless phones would be useless. And just what do you do with any mail that might come through? Can you touch it? Is it safe? How do you work around internet concerns? Look here for help.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Cooking Without Electricity

Camping Stoves, Solar Ovens, propane & propane storage are just a few of the suggestions found here. Includes: Alternate Ways to Cook & Bake * Recipes
Moderator: ReadyMom

Cool Air (when there's NO air conditioning)

So, the electricity is OFF, and you are HOT! How do you stay cool? Some inventive ideas can be found here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Death & Burial

A challenging, uncomfortable topic for most, but something that may need to be considered, when health care and mortuary facilities are overwhelmed.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes don't just rumble through the ground and shake your wall, they can rattle your nerves if you hare not sufficiently prepared. Some tips are included here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Elderly & Disabled-Populations: Require Special Concerns

Medications, special equipment, emotional concerns are concerns that are somewhat unique in nature for these individuals in times of stress. There are guides and help available to corrdinate emergency pre-planning for those households.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Electronics-Misc Topics

Additional ideas for everything electric in our life. Does NOT include generators & solar ... they have their own forum.

Evacuation aka 'Bugging Out'

There may be times when you need to be prepared to leave home. Would you be ready? What would you take? What about Pets? Can you gather it all quickly? How much do you need? What do you need to do to your home to leave it for an indefinite amount of time?
Moderator: ReadyMom

Financial

Cash. Gold. Silver. Money matters. Especially during a time of emergency, when you may not be able to get to banking facilities to get some. Find out how to prepare here. Includes: Cash * Gold * Silver * Markets
Moderator: ReadyMom

Fire Safety

The threat of fire safety can be of real concern, if you do not have access to your local fire department during a community emergency. Some idea that may help can be found here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Floods

Floods can affect a single room or an entire community. It will help to have some supplies in place before one affects you. Even just a a Flooded basement can be a hazard to your family in several ways. Find some helpful tips here.

Food

Includes: Preserving *Storage *Recipes *Taste Tests * Individual Food Item Tips

Foraging

No Food? Hungry? Plants growing in the wild may save you. Learn what is safe to collect and eat. Berries. Green leaves. Trees and more.

Fuel

Fuel Sources & Storage. Matches, lighters, safety ... you'll find it here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Gardening

Prices are soaring. Product shortages. You've lost your job. Stores are Closed. Whatever your reason for needing a garden, there's a lot to
Moderator: ReadyMom

General Items

Lots of Lists to choose from in here including items such as paper goods, cleaners, emergency lighting, cooking, tools and much much more! Read them over, combine items from the various lists to make it just right for your particular family or group. There are a lot of good ideas here from a variety of sources.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Generators

Essential services, including electric may be down, now just during a pandemic but during plenty of other emergency or weather situations. Generators come in all shapes & sizes. Learn more here!
Moderator: ReadyMom

Heat & Winter

Information to help when your home heating system is inoperative for hours or days. Plus other helpful winter topics.

Home Repair & Maintenance

Like other services, home repair can become a challenge, if you don't have access to the folks in the handy yellow pages! You may have to rely on tools you have at home and a little bit of knowledge to get you through. Find some tips on keeping your house running smoothly and what you need to do so here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Hunting-Fishing-Trapping & Snaring

Grocery shopping is not an option in a long-term emergency. You need to get your own food. Not a game hunter? There are solutions to help the novice who needs to provide food the old-fashioned way, and not wrapped in cellophane at the local grocer. Look here to find some ideas.* Fishing * Hunting * Trapping & Snaring *
Moderator: ReadyMom

Hurricanes & Tornadoes

Each and every year there are news reports of families that have been devastated by the wrath of wind that has torn through a community. There are preparations you can put in place. Read here to find out more.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Hygiene-Personal Hygiene

Trying to continue regular hygiene habits when supplies are limited my get difficult. Suggestions found here include: Toilet Paper, Showers, Shaving, Bathing, Hand Sanitizer, Hair Care, Soaps and much more!
Moderator: ReadyMom

Laundry

How can you get this done, when there is no electric? Plus recipes for home-made laundry detergent.

Lights/Lighting

LED's,Flashlights,Solar Lighting,Propane Camping Lanterns ... the alternate options to electricity are varied and discussions & information can be found here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Livestock

Animals will be a necessary for survival, when there are no stores to go to. Chickens, goats, rabbits are common 'small' animals for suburban families. Any livestock can be discussed here.

Masks-Non Medical

Look here for information on masks that are NOT for medical use. Masks for medical use can be found in the Medical Forum.

Medical Concerns

Lists for First Aid Kits, Over-The-Counter (OTC)Medicines to keep on hand,Masks & Protective Gear info,How-To Information for home care of family members and lots more. Includes: Dental * Pandemic Flu Concerns * Masks, Gloves and other Protective Gear
Moderator: ReadyMom

Music

Silence may be golden, but music is so uplifting. Recorded music or musical instruments. Look for it here.

Nuclear Attacks

A nuclear attack is one of the most frightening things that could happen. A nuclear blast can occur on the ground or in the air (an electromagnetic pulse "EMP"). What can you do to prepare?
Moderator: ReadyMom

Nutrition

Includes: Vitamins, Protein, Calcium & other dietary concerns.

Pets

How do we protect and care for our faithful friends? Some of the answers can be found here.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Quarantine

Isolation of households ... 'SIP' (Sheltering In Place) ... Quarentine ... they all mean the same thing: STAY PUT.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Rodents, Rats, Mice, Bugs and other annoying critters

The decline in the number of cats and dogs might result in an explosion of rats and mice and other small animal pests. The increase in trash not properly disposed of may increase those pests AND other creepy crawlers. How do we prepare for that possiblity?
Moderator: ReadyMom

Safety & Security

Ideas on keeping your home safe. The possibiity of 'civil unrest' is always there, in extreme situations. Some ideas to help you through this are found here. Includes: Guns/FireArms & Ammo
Moderator: ReadyMom

Sanitation

Trash, alternate 'Pottie' ideas and Waste Management ideas
Moderator: ReadyMom

Scavenging

Sewing, Knitting & Crocheting

Basic skills that you might need, if you cannot get to a store. How to fix a pair of socks (have you EVER done that before or did you just toss them out and buy a new pair?). Crochet & Knitting skills for blankets, footwear, household items. Lots of uses for an old skill that many don't have anymore.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Shelter in Place (AKA: SIP, AKA: Bugging In)

You've decided that you are not leaving home. Now what? What to consider if you stay home for a long time without your normal daily routine & ability to get supplies & travel around.

Shelters

If you can't be in the comfort of your own home, need to bug out or travel you'll need shelter. Find out how to make them, here.

Solar Power

Solar Power The grid is down and affects a significant number of communities. You've lost electricity and don't know how long till it comes back on. Solar power is an alternate energy source that is becoming more and more popular. For emergency situations, solar power can be a life-saver.
Moderator: ReadyMom

Storage Ideas

Storage solutions for small & large spaces. Apartments, homes, farms ... where ever you live. Cabinets, bookshelves, under beds, storage units and more.

Time, Telling Time & Time Pieces

How to tell time w/out your electric or battery operated clock! Includes Time Pieces, Ways to Use Nature, Calendar ideas.

Tools & Carpentry

Includes: Tools: for maintenance, Carpentry Tools, Make your own tools, Tools for around the House, Organizing your tools, Maintaining your Tools and MORE! Carpentry: Carpentry Skills & Conversation

Transportation-Getting Around or NO cars!

Gas is at a minimum or not available. You need to 'get around', get water, wood, other supplies. How do you do it? How do you maintain 'alternate transporation'?
Moderator: ReadyMom

Utilities

Do you know how to turn off your gas or water, if you need to?? Find out here!
Moderator: ReadyMom

Water

Includes: Water: General Information & Guidelines * Water: Water Filtering & Purification * Water Storage Options

Websites for Preparation Items

Sites where you can order Bulk Food (dried goods, 10# cans, long term storage goods, Storage options, etc.) can be found here
Moderator: ReadyMom

Wind Power