PREPARING ON A BUDGET Written By Shine Fox

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2 PREPARING ON A BUDGET Written By Shine Fox Question: I live in the city, not much money to spare, and have no LTC plan. (Long Term Care) How can I be better prepared for a "Collapse of Society" without breaking the Bank? People who live in a city might face challenges that people who live in a more rural setting may not have. Regardless of where a person lives a bug out bag, (AKA: Survival Kit, Emergency Kit etc.) needs to be prepared before something happens. In a larger more developed area fire is something that could be a serious problem. Should the power go out fire hydrants will not have sufficient pressure to pump well. One small fire could easily spread. Having an emergency bag to grab and go will provide some security for you and your family. Each person needs a bug out bag of their own. Even babies and toddlers need their own bag even if a parent or older sibling has to carry it. Babies and Toddlers: Since neither can carry a bag (or carry one a heavy bag) their bags should be small and contain at least: > One change of clothes, (2 for infants) > Age appropriated over the counter medications and multi-vitamin (if the baby or toddler is taking prescription medication > 2 weeks supply of any prescription medications with a copy of the original doctors prescription, 30 days is better but that may be difficult without the support of the physician) > Bottle or sippy cup, infant formula or dried milk > Age appropriate foods (snacks for a child of that age, baby food, instant oatmeal, instant cream of wheat, instant soups etc.) > At least one liter of bottled water. If the toddler is capable of carrying their own bag an adult or older sibling can carry the water allowing the child to carry their own. > Be sure to include a few toys, crayons or colored pencils something to color on, and if the child has a security blanket or toy it must be included. > Keeping a couple extra space blankets and a minimum of 30ft of lightweight string is important for all bug out bags. With these tools makeshift suntarps, raintarps and sleeping areas can be rigged up in minutes. >>> > Keeping a small bag of hard candy or lollipops will go a long way to soothing a small child in an emergency. > Diapers will have to be included. Storing disposable diapers in ziploc type baggies will prevent them from moisture and water. Consider keeping a few cloth diapers, wool nappies or rubber pants in a baby's bag. Unlike disposable cloth diapers can be rinsed out and re-used. > Shake lights are good for children and toddlers as there are no batteries to remove and shaking their light will not be a problem and may provide a distraction for them during an emergency.

3 Babies and Toddlers - Continued School age children and teenagers should be taught basic first aid and be able to manage their own first aid kits. It is important to keep all medications, over the counter or prescription, out of first aid kits for children under the age of 14. For minor scrapes and scratches children can and should be encouraged to be able to clean and cover these types of minor injuries. Practice first aid with children and teens, as learning to take care of themselves is a great boost to their self esteem. Documentation: Everyone should keep copies of their vital documents, stored in ziploc type bags in their bug out bags. Copies of their drivers licenses, social security cards, car and home insurance statements, bank account information, credit card information, birth certificates, marriage-divorce and custody paperwork, deeds, titles to vehicles, emergency contact information including physical address, land telephone line, name relationship to the family and address. Adult Bug Out Bags: In addition to the above mentioned items consider the following for Adult Bug Out Bags: > Long term storable foods that are ready to eat should be included. > Personal hygiene items including soap, toothbrush and paste, washcloth and towel are the minimum. > Plastic tarps and or space blankets > 30 feet of strong thin string, (dental floss is an option since it has many uses, is lightweight and inexpensive,) > A small backpacker type can opener. > Water purification tablets (or a system to purify water) > At least one change of clothing. > A blanket or lightweight sleeping bag. (Remember Katrina) > A small metal cup, plate and silverware. Camp Mess Kits work great. > A multi-purpose tool. > A small knife. Tactical Pocket Knife, Partial serated blade works great too. > A couple of feet of 1/8 inch wire or a coat hanger that has been cut into two pieces (without the curved top) > A couple of rolled and rubber-banded garbage bags > Half a dozen plastic grocery bags also rolled and rubber-banded (these become waste containers in the event that sewer systems fail) > Toilet paper (remove the inside cardboard, flatten and place inside a ziploc type bag) > Disposable lighter, (matches, fire-starter etc) > A small pot (an alternative to packing a small pot is to pack a can of ready to eat food that is fat and short that can be re-used as a small pot for boiling water or making food,such as a stew can) > Duct tape minimum of 10 feet rolled around a section of plastic from a pop bottle or plastic milk jug

4 Adult Bug Out Bags - Continued > A few nails. > A permanent magic marker. > A note pad, pencils, (pencils can be sharpened, ink pens that fail can not be re-used) > Cash in small denominations, large amounts of cash could cause problems but having no cash could also cause problems. > Small flashlights (with extra batteries) are a must have item for every bug out bag. > Headlamps are amazingly efficient and allow you to use your hands while in the dark. Child sized headlamps are available and most use lightweight AAA batteries. Shake and crank flashlights are easy lightweight alternatives to battery operated ones. Check the life of the crank item before you need it. Some are better than others. First Aid Kits: All bug out bags should have a small first aid type kit in them even babies and toddlers as they require special over the counter medications. A basic first aid kit should contain: > Band-aids, (properly cut a band-aid can be turned into butterfly sutures) >> > Splinter removing tweezers. > Small pair of sharp scissors. > Roll of gauze. > Gauze pads > Acetaminophen > Ibuprofen > Anti-diarrhea medication > Anti-vomiting medications > Cough drops > Chest salve > Anti-bacterial cream > Anti-itch cream > Sunscreen > Insect repellent > Chap stick > Thermometer > Q-tips > Cotton balls > Shoe strings > Triangular bandage and ace type wraps (co-flex works as well) > Prescription medications

5 First Aid Kits - Continued Anyone taking prescription medications daily needs to have a minimum of 2 weeks supply in their bug out bag along with a copy of the prescribing physicians original prescription. If a situation lasts longer than a couple of weeks having a copy of the original prescription could allow you to have it refilled without obtaining physician approval this is especially true for heart medications, asthma, allergies, high blood pressure medications and insulin. Multi-vitamins are a must have as these can supplement a poor diet and keep the body healthy. Dry electrolyte replacement is another must have. Electrolyte powders are available in single use packages in the infant/baby aisle of most grocery and drug stores. Most first aid kits come in hard plastic containers but the supplies can be swapped over to a less rigid container. Soft sided make-up or cosmetic bags make great soft first aid kits. Soft containers pack better and use less space and are less heavy. Food: Light weight and ready to eat foods are available at any grocery. These include pouched meats including tuna, chicken, beef etc. ready to eat rice, pasta and other foods high in carbohydrates are also available. Compared to the price of MRE's (meals ready to eat) purchasing ready to eat foods in non-metallic containers at a grocery or other retail store will cost about half. Instant soups, instant breakfast cereals and beverages are good to pack but these will require water. Even cold water will work in a pinch. Power bars, protein bars and high energy foods like nuts, crackers and dried fruits will provide calories, vitamins and energy. Milk powder, dry pudding (shake and eat type,) instant pudding (stir and eat) and dry jello are also good to pack. Dry jello can provide flavoring for water, as well as an energy boost when eaten dry. Lifeboat rations and survival tablets are helpful but are more expensive to purchase. A minimum of 2 to 3 days food per person is advisable. Keep all food in ziploc bags the bags can be re-used and will keep the food from water damage. Water: Water may be another problem area for city dwellers. If the power goes out so does available water. Plan to carry at least one gallon per adult or the items needed to purify water with. All bug out bags should contain a least one liter of drinkable water as well as the supplies to make more water safe to drink. Keeping a collapsible water bag, or collapsible bucket with the bug out bags will allow you to have more water available after the initial emergency has passed. There are many choices when it comes to purification tablets, purification systems choose one that works best for you.

6 Bedding: Every bug out bag should contain at least one emergency space blanket, a plastic tarp (painters tarps work well) one blanket or lightweight sleeping bag (Northerners will want a heavier bag just in case) including a pillow case will allow you to use extra clothing as a pillow. Clothing and Shoes: Walking for miles is hard, walking for miles in the wrong type of shoes or boots is even worse. Each bug out bag needs to have at least one pair of sturdy walking shoes, boots or tennis shoes. (you may want to include one pair of lightweight foot ware aka slippers, flip flops, moccasins etc. to change into during breaks or at night) extra socks (minimum of 3 pairs) one change of clothing, rain poncho (the disposable ones work but a decent raincoat works better raincoats can be draped over bug out bags for easier carrying) or a few extra garbage bags (these can be used as rain gear, water storage, waterproof storage of bug out bags etc) Bug out bags can be regular backpacks, small wheeled luggage works well for seniors and handicapped persons or military style packs work. Once your bug out bags are prepared you should keep them within easy access. Keeping them near the exit door is a good way to grab and go. Storing food and emergency preparations is like having an insurance policy. One hopes one will never need it but if it is needed it is ready. Spending a few dollars a week will allow anyone to store the necessary items for an emergency easily. The following lists can be used as guidelines for emergency preparations. It is important to purchase and store items that you personally will eat. Spending money on long term foods that you or your family will not eat is pointless.

7 $5.00 Food and Medical Preparations: Purchasing emergency supplies can be done by spending only $5 each week. Different supplies are purchased each week. Within a month you will have purchased an additional month of supplies. (NOTE: These prices are based on shopping at a dollar type store or from the $1.00 aisle available in most retail all in one type stores) Week One: Ramin or other quick cook noodles or pasta $ cans of meat or fish (sardines, fish steaks, tuna, canned chicken, pork or beef) $2.00 Dried fruit and nut trail mix $1.00 Beverage powder, tea or instant coffee $1.00 Week Two: Over the counter medications: acetaminophen $1.00 Ibuprofen $1.00 Multi-vitamin $1.00 Anti-itch cream $1.00 Anti-histamine (aka generic benyadryll) $1.00 (alter these each month to include first aid supplies, oral care products like temporary filling wax, etc) Week Three: Bag of Sugar $3.00 Box of quick cook rice (long cook if you have a good supply of water) $2.00 Week Four: Toilet Paper $1.00 Dry pudding mix $1.00 Dry milk or no refrigeration required milk carton $1.00 Power bar or protein bar (highest calorie available most are around 300 per bar) $1.00 Cheese or peanut butter crackers $1.00 Each week different foods and items are purchased so that a variety is available.

8 $20.00 per week Food and Medical Preparations: Increasing the weekly amount spent can in a few weeks add up quickly. Week One: Dry goods: Sugar $3.00 Instant mashed potatoes $2.00 Pouched meats $5.00 Dried fruit $3.00 Beverage powders $2.00 Instant coffee or tea $2.00 Crackers with cheese or peanut butter $2.00 Bag of hard candy $1.00 Week Two: Canned vegetables focusing on green and orange $5.00 Canned Fruit (Use the liquid from canned fruit to make instant breakfast cereals with more nutrition less water requirements) $5.00 Canned meats $5.00 Peanut Butter $2.00 Plain crackers $2.00 Snack cakes $1.00 Week Three Long cook dry goods: Pasta $3.00 Dried beans $2.00 Rice $2.00 Flour $2.00 Baking soda $2.00 (medicinal and cleaning use) Vinegar $3.00 Cooking oil $3.00 Spices and salt $3.00

9 $20.00 per week Food and Medical Preparations: - Continued Week Four Multi-vitamins $2.00 Over the counter medications $3.00 Gallon of chlorine bleach (disinfectant, cleaning aid, laundry aid, can be used to purify water more for personal hygiene but also effective for making potable water) $2.00 Baby wipes or cleansing wipes (during any emergency personal hygiene is important to help prevent disease and to provide a sense of comfort baby and cleansing wipes allow you to clean up without using valuable water) $3.00 Ready to eat foods such as stew, ravioli or other canned ready to eat pasta $5.00 Add water pancake mix and syrup $3.00 First Aid supplies (band-aids, gauze etc.) $2.00 During the next month - alter the items purchased to add necessary items such as: First aid supplies Canned meats-vegetables-fruits-canned juices Personal hygiene items like toothpaste, mouthwash, bar soap and shampoo In three months an additional three months of food and personal care products will be available. By mixing up items and staying within your allotted budget the amount of preparations will add up quickly without affecting your regular budget. Think about how much you could buy to store with the money you use to buy one meal at a fast food restaurant or a few bottles of pop. Storage in small apartments can be tricky. Adding shelves to closets will provide some storage. Placing canned goods under the bed is an option. Foods like pasta and instant cereals may require a Tupperware type container to prevent insects and rodents, dogs and cats from getting into them. Ziploc's are wonderful items. You can put a meal in one making your own MRE. A beverage packet, a package of instant cereal, breakfast bar and a few pieces of hard candy is a quick and easy breakfast (plus a treat.) Instant soup, cheese crackers, a snack cake, beverage powder and a small bag of peanuts provides almost 500 calories in a small Ziploc. Pouched tuna, ready to eat rice, dried baby vegetables, crackers, snack cake and beverage powder is a good supper especially if you find yourself in cramped quarters. Any stored preparations are better than none. If purchased slowly so that the budget is not hit hard, it will be easy to store the items that will go a long way towards surviving an emergency situation. END