Zero Hour: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series (The Blackout Series Book 2) (34 page)

•     One year’s worth of food, in any combination of every day, minimum-prepared, and long-term storage foods, with the experience and equipment to prepare it

•     Portable capability for minimum-prepared foods for 30 days or more (for traveling)

•     Grow food and harvest the seeds for the next planting

•     Grow and tend livestock

•     Preserve food on indefinite basis (canning, smoking, jerking, etc)

•     Keep perishable food cold using alternative energy methods

•     Minimum-prepared foods are those that require little or no cooking before eating.

•     Disposable Flatware—plates, bowls, cups, spoons, forks, knives, napkins, etc. The idea of disposable flatware is to reduce consumption of water and is typically for shorter-term events.

•     Cooking Oils

Preparedness Plan

•     Acquire the proper insurance (home, renter, auto, health, life etc.) and safeguard the insurance plan and contact information

•     Document with pictures and/or video all possessions for insurance purposes, including writing down the serial numbers for guns and electronics.

•     Post in a quick-access location the numbers for all emergency services (police, fire, ambulance, poison control, utility services), and include non-emergency numbers for the same services as well as family, friends, neighbors, etc.

•     Post a list of important websites next to (or along with) the important phone numbers.

•     Copies of personal information like birth certificates, SS cards, driver licenses, with current pictures, kept in fire safe.

•     A list of “last-minute purchase items” – in case you have time to “top off”

Current inventory

•     Resource materials (books, CDs, etc.) covering a wide range of topics

•     Instruction and repair manuals for everything

•     Backups of all important computer files

•     Hard copies (printouts) of all critical information contained in computer files

•     Backup copies of your computer data on discs, USB flash drives, portable HDDs

•     An evacuation plan and prioritized grab list

•     Plans and equipment for making expedient antennas (see Communications and Computing)

•     Pocket list of contact numbers for family, friends, team members (see Communications and Computing)

•     Pocket list of radio frequencies used (see Communications and Computing)

•     Forms of entertainment (games, books, music, DVDs, CDs, MP3 players drawing, coloring, cards, football, frisbee, baseball/throwing ball, soccer ball, etc.)

•     Maps of surrounding area with extensive notes on routes and areas, including conditions at different times of the year (see Navigation and Signaling)

•     “Range cards” for your entire property

Personal Items

•     Purse

•     Wallet

•     ID

•     Watch

•     Money

•     A “last-minute checklist” is generally a bad thing to implement. It’s better to have all the equipment and supplies on hand before an event occurs.

•     A Grab List is a list of items that you want to take with you in case you need to evacuate your home. The grab list should include everything that you would want to take, in priority order, so that you don’t have to try and remember while you’re scrambling to evacuate.

•     Additional Entertainment considerations include games for kids, books (or reading material) for both education and learning resources, and books that show how to play more games (adult and children) using cards and other materials.

•     It’s a good idea to keep important documents in a fire-resistant safe

•     Lighting

•     Flashlights

•     Lanterns, Battery and Oil

•     Light Sticks

•     Solar Lights

•     Candles

•     Area light (prefer safe LED or fluorescent instead of flame-based light)

•     Spotlight, handheld, battery powered (see Alternate Energy)

•     Provide power to all normal light for home with Alternative Energy.

•     Spare parts for all lights (bulbs, etc.)

•     LED lights are preferred due to their lower consumption of battery power.

•     Navigation & Signaling

•     Maps of surrounding area, including topo, road atlas, etc. (see also Information and Plans)

•     Compass, several quality instruments

•     Protractor, rulers, grid squares, alcohol-erase markers, pencils, grease pencils etc. for map use

•     Waterproof map cases, waterproofed maps, or maps covered in clear acetate

•     GPS with built-in mapping software and direct-entry of information (coordinates, descriptions, etc), preloaded with the appropriate maps

•     Power support for GPS (see Alternative Energy)

•     Prepping for Pandemics, Nuclear + BioTerror Attacks

•     N100 or P100 masks/filters

•     Tyvek suits, including hood and over-boots

•     Nitrile gloves

•     Air filtration system capable of providing positive pressure in a saferoom area, with spare filters

•     EMP surge protectors on all sensitive equipment

•     Decontamination gear and supplies

•     6 mil plastic in rolls and metal tape for safe rooms plus back up materials

•     Potassium Iodine/Iodate (KI) tablets, enough for a minimum of 14 days for each person

•     Log book for noting exposures and readings, pencils, pens, calculator, ruler, log-log paper

•     Radiological Instruction manual (like “Fallout Survival” by Druce D. Clayton; FEMA)

•     Air filtration system capable of providing positive pressure to whole house, with spare filters

•     EMP surge protectors on all house outlets

•     Radiation meters (survey and dosimeters)

•     Fallout shelter

•     Hygiene & Sanitation

•     Toilet Paper

•     Two pairs of eyeglasses, both with current prescription

•     Eyeglass retaining straps

•     Toiletries: Make sure you can do everything in the bathroom that you do on a daily basis, including:

•     Bath / wash (soap)

•     Dental care

•     Denture care

•     Hand Wash

•     Clean eye contacts

•     Nail trimmers

•     Hair comb/brush

•     Makeup

•     Shave cream and disposable razors

•     deodorant/antiperspirant

•     Keep skin from drying (lotion)

•     Tweezers

•     Clean ears

•     Nose tissue

•     Dry self (towels)

•     Feminine hygiene items

•     Garbage disposal and recycle/reuse

•     Plastic trash bags for waste both human and other to keep buckets clean

•     Deodorizers (Lysol, baking soda and vinegar, liquid porta-potty enzymes, etc.)

•     Lice/Nit comb

•     Camp showers

•     Body Bags

Cleaning Supplies

•     Bleach/Pool Shock

•     Comet

•     Baking Soda

•     Washing Soda

•     Borax

•     Bar Soap

•     Vinegar

•     Mop and Bucket

•     Broom and Dust Pan

•     Scrub Brushes

•     Dish Pan

•     Trash Bags

•     Trash Cans

•     Burn Barrel

•     Compost garbage and waste

•     Spare buckets

Pets & Animals

•     30 days of stored food and water for each pet

•     Ability to handle pet waste if pet cannot go outside for 30 days

•     Pet care needs, special medications, toys, etc for 30 days

•     Leashes and kennels for each animal

•     Tie-down stake

•     Pest control for pets

•     Shot / Vet record

•     Up-to-date shots

•     90 or more days of stored food and water for each pet, eventually working towards an indefinite supply for all pets

•     Ability to handle pet waste if pet cannot go outside for 90+ days

•     Pet care needs, special medications, toys, etc for 90+ days

•     Pet first-Aid kit

•     Tested recipes for pet food from stored and/or gathered food sources, food scraps, etc.

•     Shelter, Fire & Warmth

•     Tents, enough tent space to contain all members and gear

•     Tarps, decent selection for general and miscellaneous use

•     Sleeping bag or other bedding of choice for each member, capable of keeping person warm in sub-freezing temperatures

•     Ability to make fire in, at least, 3 different ways