If you fail to plan, you plan to fail
Don't let this be the case for you and your family when an emergency strikes
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign that serves as a crucial reminder for everyone to prepare for emergencies and disasters.
Whether it's a food supply shortage, blackout, natural disaster, or simply being stuck at home, being prepared can make all the difference in keeping you, your family, and your community safe.
In honor of this important month, let’s explore the four pillars of preparedness and how you can build a disaster supplies kit that ensures your household is ready to face any situation!
the four pillars of preparedness
1. make a plan
------Assess Potential Risks: Begin by identifying the types of emergencies that are most likely to occur in your area, such as being snowed in, hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. Tailor your plan to address these specific threats.
Family Communication Plan: Ensure that all family members know how to contact each other if separated. Designate an out-of-town contact person, and establish a meeting place if you cannot return home.
Evacuation Routes and Shelter Locations: Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes and nearby shelters. Practice evacuating with your family and pets to ensure everyone knows what to do.
2. build a kit
------Essential Supplies: Your disaster supply kit should include the basics for survival, such as water, food, a first aid kit, and a flashlight. Aim to have enough supplies to last at least several days. See our example kit below!
Personal Needs: Tailor your kit to meet the specific needs of your household, including medications, life-maintaining equipment, dietary requirements, eyeglasses, pet supplies, and baby essentials.
Regular Updates: Check your kit every six months to replace expired items and ensure everything is in working order and stored safely.
READ MORE: A guide on storing bulk food safely
3. Know your neighbors
------Community Connections: In an emergency, your neighbors can be a valuable resource. Establish connections with those who live nearby and consider creating a community preparedness plan.
Shared Resources: Work together to share resources, such as generators, cooking equipment, and bulk food, and check on each other during a disaster.
Help Those in Need: Reach out to individuals needing additional assistance and how you can help them (or how they can help you). These include those with disabilities; living in institutionalized settings, seniors; having limited English proficiency or non-English speaking, or without transportation.
4. Stay informed
------Stay Alert: Keep up-to-date with local news and weather reports. Sign up for emergency alerts in your area to receive timely information. Make sure that your sources are reliable and trustworthy.
Know the Signs: Learn the warning signs of different disasters, whether it's the sirens of a tornado warning or the rumble of an earthquake. Understanding these signs can help you act quickly and effectively.
building your emergency kit
A well-prepared emergency kit is your lifeline in a disaster. Below is a guide to building a comprehensive kit that will help you survive on your own for several days.
Basic Supplies
- Water: The general recommendation is one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
- Food: Have a minimum of a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person. The more, the better, as you never know how long an emergency can last. Buying food in bulk is one sure-fire way to be prepared. Here are some of the benefits of buying food in bulk.
- Radio: A battery-powered or hand crank radio, preferably with a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
- Flashlight and Extra Batteries
- First Aid Kit: Antiseptics, antibiotics, band-aids, painkillers, gloves, gauze pads, burn dressings, emergency blankets, disinfectants, etc.
- Whistle: To signal for help.
- Dust Mask: To help filter contaminated air.
- Plastic Sheeting, Duct Tape, and Scissors
- Toiletpaper, Garbage Bags, and Plastic Ties
- Wrench or Pliers: To turn off utilities.
- Manual Can Opener
- Pocket knive
- Local Maps
- Telecommunication: Cell Phones with Chargers and a Backup Battery
Additional Supplies
- Medications: Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins.
- Eyeglasses and Contact Lens Solution
- Infant Care: Formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream.
- Pet Care: Pet food and extra water for your pets.
- Financial Preparedness: Cash or traveler's checks.
- Important Documents: Copies of insurance policies, identification, passports, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.
- Clothing and Warmth: A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person, a complete change of clothing, and sturdy shoes.
- Fire Safety: A fire extinguisher and matches.
- Hygiene: Feminine and personal hygiene items.
- Dining Supplies: Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils.
- Entertainment: Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children.
Being prepared for an emergency isn’t just about having the right supplies—it’s about peace of mind.
By following the four pillars of preparedness—making a plan, building a kit, knowing your neighbors, and staying informed—you can ensure that you and your loved ones are ready for whatever comes your way.
This National Preparedness Month, take the time to get ready and encourage others to do the same. Your efforts could save lives. We encourage you to have a look at ready.gov for more detailed information on being prepared for different situations.
Here at Country Life Natural Foods, our focus is on making healthy, natural bulk foods available to everyone. Buying your food in bulk can come in handy in an emergency situation or simply help you feed your family day to day.
We also offer a long-term food bundle that can last 3-6 months depending on the size of your household. See the video below for more info and read more here!
long-term food supply bundle
If you are ready to buy food in bulk, our new long-term food supply product line, Pantry Provisions, might just be what you are looking for!
Our food bundles are emergency meal kits or pre-packaged MREs. However, having 3-6 months of all your kitchen staples on hand would not be a bad thing to have in case of an emergency.
The hardest part of starting with long-term food storage is knowing what foods to buy and knowing if they will be good quality. Well, we've done the hard work for you! We've curated the perfect bundles, whether you are just starting or a seasoned food storage expert 🕵️
Here's what you can expect:
✅30 Organic products
✅750,000 Calories
✅28,000G of protein
✅700lb pallet
✅and much, much more!
