In this weeks episode hosts Aaron and Jonathan discuss their opinions about  TEOTWAWKI.

Special Notice: We now have an ITRH Urban Survival Forum. Join today and come be part of the community.

Topics:

• Why Aaron and Jonathan joke about Zombies.
• The pitfalls of focusing on TEOTWAWKI.
• The Disaster Probability and Commonality Matrix.
• Fallacies of the Horde.
• Planning for societal break downs using environmental context.
• EMPs
• Red Flags in Survival Articles, Books, and Conversations
  • Referenced material is a related stretch.
  • Using Movies or TV shows to backup a stance on anything other than Movie or TV trivia.
  • Presenting opinions as facts and not referencing hard independent research.
  • Anything that references “the Hordes”.

Resources:

• Zombie Survival: A Metaphor For Disaster Survival
• Jack Spirko’s Disaster Commonality
• Dunbar’s Number
• Stanford Prison Experiment
• The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response
• Rebuttal to “The EMP threat: fact, fiction, and response”
• Fernando Ferfal Aguirre
• The War of Wealth
• One Second After

Hosts Aaron and Jonathan discuss preparing for Hurricanes. Listeners not affected by Hurricanes will find the episode useful when preparing for sever weather.

Topics:

• Simple technologies for staying on top of bad weather.
• Blackout Kits
• Attic Kits
• Storing water.
• Storing food.
• Tips for preparing your home for hurricane season.
• Considerations for your vehicles in hurricane season.
• Gasoline “copy canning” and storage.
• Pet considerations in hurricane preparations.

Resources:

• How To Build A Blackout Kit
• 4 – 1 Emergency Tool
• National Hurricane Center
• Weather Channel Weather Alerts
• Episode 4: Dogs
• Episode 6: Generators
• Episode 10: Food Storage Basics
• Episode 16: Survival Bags
• Reliance Water Containers
• WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage
• Ron Hood’s Urban Master Videos
• Joos Orange
• NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid

The Every Day Carry (EDC) Bag, as the name implies, is going to be your go-to bag in the survival bag biz. In fact, you probably already have it. You may even already carry it every day. All you need to do is add a few items to it and it goes from being a purse, shoulder bag or backpack into a vital urban survival tool.

The suggestion of putting “survival items” in a handbag is going to sound silly to some people, but it’s likely those people have never experienced a real emergency, and take it for granted that the world – particularly their part of town – is a very safe place. Besides, those items take up valuable space that could be used for other more important items.

But, that’s precisely the point. There may come a time when the most important thing in your bag is the one thing that isn’t there, because you didn’t think ahead. I’m reminded of a clever character in a movie who once said, “It’s better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.”

And, that pretty much sums up the entire philosophy of the EDC Bag and its contents.

Contents

There are some basic contents that apply across the board, and if you’re going to upgrade your bag to an EDC Bag you may as well do it right. These include:

• Pocketknife or multi-tool
• Pocket flashlight or penlight
• Lighter
• Styptic pen, Band-Aids or liquid bandage
• Mace/Pepper spray

Now, a couple notes on these basic items. They may not seem like they could make the difference, but remember that a tool is only as good as the person using it. These items, aside from the pepper spray, are not designed to save your life.

(Side note: Don’t think you’re too hard to carry pepper spray. Almost everyone who has been jumped will tell you they were surprised as hell, and would have probably fared better with pepper spray.)

These survival tools are to help someone who already has survivalist sensibilities. Are you going to stab someone with your pocketknife? No, probably not. But, you will be better prepared to dig gum out of your lock, or cut your pant cuff out of an escalator. Are you going to escape a damp, dark kidnapper’s lair with only the aid of your penlight? Nope. But, you could more quickly find your keys or your medication if you drop them in a dark place.

And, the time you saved finding those items could make the difference between getting home safe and getting mugged.

In addition to the basic items, people who have advanced training or are first responders may consider carrying additional items that are pertinent to their skills in their EDC Bags. For example, it may be appropriate for a nurse to have smelling salts in her bag to rouse a bystander who has fainted in a dangerous place (i.e. a train platform).

So you may be wondering, if you’re not a first responder or otherwise an emergency-savvy individual, how do you get survivalist sensibilities? Well, there are always self-defense courses, books and the like. But really, having these items in your EDC Bag will help remind you when the need arises. And, that is skill-building, plain and simple.

While not a substitute for a good Red Cross class, many app makers now sell first aid apps for smart phones. Hazardous material apps also make for a handy resource at time, especially with CERT training.

Additional Considerations:

• Breathing Barrier
• Quick Clot
• Note Pad With ECNs and Health Insurance Info

Note pads can be an invaluable tool. On the outside cover I write, “1st RESPONDER: Emergency #s and Info Inside”. On the inside of the cover I put: Health Insurance, Primary Physician, Medical Alerts, and Driver’s License Number. On the first page I keep a list of my most important contact telephone numbers. After family, I include the highest-ranking friend from each named and unnamed law enforcement agency I know. This all works best using a waterproof marker, like a Sharpie, and a “Rite in the Rain” all-weather notebook.

I guarantee you that once you place these items in your bag, the day will shortly come when you stumble across a situation and you’ll say, “I have just the thing for that!” Or, maybe you’ll just be screaming maniacally as you drench some thug with pepper spray, but either way you’ll be prepared.

Hosts Aaron and Jonathan discuss the basics of storing food and consumables. Rational preparedness is about doing things that improve your life in good times too.

Think storing is silly and a little too “doomsday thinking” for you? Storing food and consumables can get you through those person trials as well as have a beneficial financial impact on your life.

Aaron also discusses taking thing up a notch by becoming a producer of the foods that you eat and introduces a new project he is starting.

Topics

• Reasons beyond disasters to store food.
• Just In Time Inventory and how it can effect you in a disaster.
• Food storage as capital deferment.
• Storing in a slow rational way.
• What is Copy Canning.
• Eat what you store and store what you eat.
• Food storage as a better hedge against inflation.
• Beyond food, storing consumables.
• Water storage and how long it lasts.
• The soft sell. Getting loved ones on board with storing.

Notes

• Store a minium of seven days of water and at least 1 Gallon of water per day per person. Individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate. Double in warmer climates.
• Store a minimum of seven days of water for each pet and at least 1/2 Gallon of water for every 50 pounds your pet weighs per day.
• DO NOT store water in plastic containers directly on concrete.
• Use 8-16 drops of regular household bleach and 1 gallon of water to disinfect water containers before storing water. Shake well.

Resources

• Just In Time Inventory
• Ron Hood - Copy Canning
• Alaska DHSEM 7 Day Survival Kit
• Pet concerns in storage
• Reliance 7 Gallon Water Container
• Lifesaver Jerry Can
• Storey’s Guide to Raising Rabbits, 4th Edition
• Appleseed Radio

It’s in your car!

Now that we have that settled, let’s move on to the finer details. One of the great things about the Car Bag is the freedom that comes with not having to carry it around, or think so much about what should go in and what should stay out because you might need to carry it.

Now, that’s not to say you’ll never carry your Car Bag, but guess what? If you do have to carry it and it proves too heavy, just take some stuff out and leave it in the trunk. I know, I know – it’s so easy it’s ridiculous.

Since the Car Bag makes its home in your car, it’s best to think of it as supplemental to one or more of the bags you should already have. But, since you may have to make your home in your car at some point in time, the Car Bag is the perfect place to store things that a) make that less likely and b) make it more comfortable if it does happen.

Car Maintenance Items

It’s true that you could just keep this kind of gear scattered in your trunk, but a bag really does help “organize” these types of things, if only in your mind. In other words, if you have a Car Bag checklist, then you can be sure it’s all in there. I have had a car bag for years, and it really works. It helps me remember what I have and where it is (in the big blue bag!), as well as keep it separated from other things in my trunk that are going in and out more often.

Good things to have in the Car Bag that fall into the maintenance category are:

• Jumper cables
• Jug of wiper fluid
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Quart of oil
• A small, empty gas can (I keep a “sip” of gas in mine, but that is not recommended)
• A tire iron
• A multi-tool or small tool set

Some will argue that keeping tools and fluid in your car is pointless if you don’t know where it goes, but that’s not a very smart argument. After all, someone may stop to help, and if you have the proper tools for your car, it could save you a tow truck bill.

Road Comfort Items

These items are as much about comfort as they are about safety, because one follows the other. If you feel safe, you’ll be more comfortable, and if you … well, you get the picture. Just think about what you’d like to have with you if you were stuck in your car for an extended period of time, and voila! You’ve got your own personalized list of items for this category. Suggested items include:

• Road flares
• Safety cones
• Extra cell phone car charger (sealed from damage)
• Rain slicker (for working on your car in the rain)
• Book of quick fix-it tips (for reading while you wait for the tow truck)
• Bottle of ibuprofen (to kill the frustration headache)

Although the Car Bag is important, and one of the easiest bags to implement in your life, there’s no need to let it take over your trunk. Think about your environment, consider the age and durability of your vehicle, and go from there. You’ll be on the road with more peace of mind in no time!

The Bug Out Bag (BOB) is the bag you grab when you’re leaving home in a hurry. More specifically, it’s the bag you grab when you’re leaving home and you don’t know where you’re going – you just know you’re getting the hell out of dodge.

This is what separates the BOB from a Go Bag (more on this later), or even a baby bag that one would keep by the door for a pregnant spouse. Those types of bags are packed with an idea of a destination and a specific job. The stuff in a baby bag should conform to a pregnant woman’s needs at a hospital – extra clothes, camera, iPod/books, toiletries, a TASER for obnoxious staff, etc.

The BOB’s main feature is versatility in an emergency. When you’re sitting at the table enjoying your morning coffee, and an emergency bulletin informs you there’s been a railroad accident and prevailing winds are now blowing a toxic cloud into your neighborhood – you should be ready to survive somewhere else for at least three days.

Why three days? Well, the main reason is that more than three days’ worth of gear wouldn’t be very easy to carry, which lowers your chances of survival. Also, we’re talking about urban survival, rather than survival in an austere environment like a jungle or desert.

But, those are mean streets out there, and it pays to be prepared. In fact, it can save you time – and maybe even your life – in a mass evacuation situation where exit routes get quickly clogged. So, what is a BOB exactly, what goes into it, and why should you have one?

The Bag

The bag is just a bag. It should be easy to carry, so a sturdy mid-sized backpack with adjustable straps works well. A bag that can be carried different ways, such as backpack with a suitcase-style handle,  is also a good choice. Pick a pack that, when full, will not be too much weight for the person carrying it.

A survival bag that is too heavy for you to carry comfortably is not helping you survive.

Bug Out Bag Contents

First, the basics Bug Out Bag Contents List:

• Essential clothing (socks, underwear, T-shirts, etc.)
• Money/emergency credit card
• a fully charged prepaid cell phone and phone card
• An extra cell phone charger for your phone
• A pocket flashlight
• A pocketknife
• A lighter
• Non-perishable food items (granola, dried fruit, jerky, nuts, etc.)
• A roll of good toilet paper
• Pen(s) and paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Spare toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and assorted travel toiletries
• At least one bottled water, and a storage container that can also be used for drinking

I know it sounds like a lot, but it’ll fit. And, there’ll be room for more …

I don’t want to sound evasive about the finer details, but the rest of what you pack will depend in part on where you live. If you live in the Southeast, hurricanes are a definite factor. If you live in the Southwest, persistent heat will be a factor. In the North, in the winter months, freezing cold is the killer. And so on. Here are some examples:

North

• Chemical hand warmers
• Thermal underwear
• An extra lighter
• Waterproof matches
• Hat, gloves, scarf, earmuffs, etc.

Southeast

• Compact desalinization kit
• Waterproofed clothing items
• Rain slicker

Southwest

• Extra bottled water (think about removing bulkier “essential items” to make room for more water

For more information on readiness in emergencies, visit Ready.gov to get ideas on how to prepare for that special day no one wants to have, but get stuck with anyway. And, good luck packing!

A couple of years ago, after reading Emergency by Neil Strauss, four friends and I enrolled in a CERT Program. It seemed like it would be a good first step on our road to preparedness and a great first step gaining practical Urban Survival Skills.

What Is CERT

Triage - Are They Dead Yet

CERT, short for Community Emergency Response Team, is an 8 – 9 week program (four hours every Saturday or Sunday depending on what is offered in your area) teaching people the basics of dealing with a disaster, natural or otherwise.

Participates are educated about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. They are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

The information is dispensed in a classroom setting through the use of slides, a text-book provided by FEMA and DHS, and topic relevant guest speakers that are professionals in the fields of; Emergency Medical, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighting, and Search and Rescue. These speakers provide first hand knowledge on the topics and offer real world perspectives, stories, and tips only industry experience provides. The class is typically taught in two part segments. The first half of the class is in the class room presentation. The second half of the class is hands on exercises to reinforce and further elaborate on the instruction.

How Did CERT Come About

Learning To Use Cribbing

The CERT concept was originally developed by the Los Angles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 and went by the name Disaster Preparedness Division. As the story goes, higher-ups in the LAFD noticed that after large Earth quakes, citizens tended to band together and attempt to render aid in a disorganized way. The LAFD decided that since their resources were stretched so thin during major disasters, it might be very helpful to properly train citizens to render aid on a scale impossible for emergency responders to accomplish on their own.

The program became a quick success and drew national attention. Eventually the CERT concept was adopted on a Federal level and taken under the wing of DHS and FEMA.

Why Does CERT Exist

The simple answer is, because during large disasters Emergency Responders can’t do it all and be everywhere all at once.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life-sustaining needs.

Was It Worth It

Learning To Use Fire Extinguishers

In total, my band of merry men and myself gave up nine Saturday mornings. If you asked us today if we thought it was worth it you would get mixed reviews. I felt the information given was too limited and felt like it was a way of getting private citizens to help, but mostly keep busy and out-of-the-way during a disaster. Over all though there was a lot of useful information. For instance, I had no idea how to properly search a building for survivors or the correct placement of a fire alarm before the CERT Course. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

The impression of the program I get is that in some areas CERT is a tightly knit community in which there are many opportunities to apply the skills learned and further your education. In other areas, the opposite is true.

So far I have received a boat load of emails asking for CERT Volunteers to help with local marathons, an Extreme Makeover episode, and other city events. Apparently, my city views CERT as a free labor pool for just about anything. Admittedly, I did consider volunteering for the Women’s Marathon, but figured the girlfriend would not think that was as funny as I did.

Emergency Response Chainsaw Class

To date, I have received two offers for continuing education. The first was a two-day intensive course on chain

saw operation and debris removal -Â which I took. The second was for a forty hour course with certification on History and Principles of Crime Prevention, Concepts of Security, Security Alarms, Security Lighting, Locks, Doors, Windows, Glass, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), Checks and Credit Cards, Shoplifting Awareness, Internal Theft Awareness, Robbery Awareness, Operation Identification, Neighborhood Watch Program overview, Crime Stoppers Program overview and both home security inspections and commercial security surveys to include Liabilities and Resources. Had I been paying attention to my emails, I would have attended this.

I know my tone sounds like I am not a fan. The contrary is true; just trying not to raise people’s expectations beyond where they should be. If you have the time and inclination I would highly recommend attending a CERT Course.

Going Beyond CERT

Once you have completed the CERT Program you can check with your instructor for information and classes in your area to further your knowledge.

The next step for additional Emergency Medical training is to go through a Red Cross First Aid and AED course. Once you have completed all that the Red Cross has to offer, finding further Emergency Medical training is pretty tricky unless you have the time to go through an EMT program. You will notice a drastically different mindset in the Emergency Medical taught by CERT vs Red Cross (I will cover in a future article about the Red Cross).

If you are interested in the CERT program, also checkout the book What to Do When the Shit Hits the Fan.

Also checkout Ready.gov

Five years ago, after another Hurricane, I decided it was time to take the safety of my property and person seriously. For the first couple of years the focus was just on Hurricanes and run of the mill home safety. One day an email came to my inbox announcing that one of my favorite authors had a new book coming out – Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life. The title and summary didn’t make much sense. It was so far outside the realm of Neil Strauss’s typical adventures that I assumed it was a joke, but pre-ordered it anyway. Months later the book arrived and I found myself riveted to another Gonzo Journalism-style story from Strauss, but this time it was not about Porn Stars, Rock Stars, or Pickup Artists. Instead it was a story of a guy realizing he did not know how to fend for himself or save himself from bad situations, and then diving in and really doing something about it.

Emergency by Neil Strauss is the book that really lit a fire under my backside when it comes to preparedness; it was my springboard. Emergency took me from concerning myself solely with Hurricanes to embarking on a journey of self-sufficiency, preparedness, personal improvement, and a higher quality of life.

What The Book Is

Emergency is a wildly funny ride, starting in paranoia and ending in personal enlightenment, with plenty of unusual characters and places. It is a story of one man’s transformation from sheep to sheep dog, with good information scattered throughout the book. Strauss’s story starts in a similar manner to many Prepper’s beginnings. Initially it involves a sort of panicked acquisition of supplies. Strauss then talks about learning some skills. Finally, he develops a balance of mentality, preparedness, skills, and a sense of civic duty.

What The Book Is Not

Emergency is not a comprehensive manual or how-to guide. This is something a reader should know right from the start. The assumption, based on the title, would lead one to think it was more detailed. However, fans of the author will know going into it that a manual is outside the realm the author’s writing style, and that his titles are typically facetious. Neil Strauss, as of late, focuses primarily on personal stories.

This book is not a poor man’s, nor a practical Prepper’s tale. In fact, Strauss lays out large amounts of cash for expensive classes, gadgets, supplies, and a bug out location in a foreign land – not practical for most people.

Resources

If you are looking for an all-inclusive manual, it does not exist. However, there are a plethora of resources and information in books and on the web to fill your head with. See our Survival Book List.

Online Resources

• CERT
• Family Preparedness Guide
• Ready.gov

Final Thoughts

Emergency by Neil Strauss is a thoroughly entertaining book. The self-discovery Strauss goes through; the characters, and the adventures, keep the pages turning without boredom.

People who are already well on their way in the Prepper and Survivalist Community will find a good deal of humor in the book – both with Strauss’s adventure and perhaps also looking back at their own experience starting out.

This is not the proverbial first book I would recommend to someone getting started as a Prepper or Survivalist. It’s very easy to get caught up in the first two-thirds of the book’s excitement and completely miss the underlying message at the end. If you want to know what that underlying message is, you will just have to read the book.

Warning

Don’t buy this book looking for answers. Don’t buy this book if profanity bothers you. Don’t buy this book if you can’t compare and contrast the main character’s views in the beginning of the book with his views at the end of the book. Don’t buy this book if you can’t take someone’s political views for what they are – someone else’s. Buy this book for a laugh and an entertaining read.

Buy Emergency

Emergency By Neil Strauss is available through Amazon.com

If you have already read Emergency, you may also like: The Last American Man

If a blackout or emergency arises in the middle of the night, will you be prepared? Outages that leave you in the dark can be extremely disruptive and dangerous. Aside from outfitting your home with a generator, one of the best things you can do to mitigate issues that arise during a blackout is to put together a Blackout Kit.

What Is A Blackout Survival Kit

A Blackout Kit loosely defined is a collection of items to help you through an emergency situation in the home. They are commonly referred to as Blackout Kits because you are most likely to need one, well, in a blackout.

What Blackout Kits allow you to do is keep a small cache of helpful items in a strategic location that can be quickly and easily gotten to.

Why Do You Need One

Power goes out in the middle of the night, reach in, grab a light, and keep from knocking yourself out by walking into walls while you try to figure out what has happened to the power. Random fire in the middle of the night, reach in, grab an extinguisher, and either put it out or fight your way out of the fire with it.

Blackout Kit Items

What kind of items go in a Blackout Kit? Items like flashlights, emergency tools, anything that would be useful in the event of an emergency.

Here is a list of items I have put together:

• Dry Box or bag to put everything in
• 4 in 1 Emergency Tool
• Small Flashlight
• Small Lantern
• Glow Sticks
• AA Batteries
• AAA Batteries
• Emergency Radio
• Headlamp
• Small ABC Class Fire Extinguisher
• First Aid Kit
• Tritium Glowring

Special Item Notes

Fire Extinguishers have three classifications: Class A is for Trash Wood Paper, Class B is for Liquids, Class C is for Electrical Fires, ABC Class Extinguishers cover all three. Every home should have at least one ABC Fire Extinguisher that is readily accessible in the kitchen. All Fire Extinguishers should be checked to ensure they are in proper working order on an annual basis, minimum. Everyone in a home of proper age should be instructed on how to use them. There is actually a technique as I found out while going through a CERT program.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUojO1HvC8c&feature=player_embedded

Emergency tools like the one listed are life savers when you have to turn off the water, gas, or pry something open. The understanding of how to use one should not be relegated to the moment when you “have to” use one.

Tritium Glowrings are a good inexpensive way of locating items in the dark as I discussed in the article “Tritium Glowring”. They should be tethered on a handle of the box/bag facing out so they can be seen.

Where to Store Your Blackout Kit

Blackout Kits should be stored in easily accessible places and everyone that resides in your house should be made aware of their placement and contents. Keeping them low makes them accessible in fires and to children old enough to use the contents. Mine is kept under my bed where I can reach for it without even getting out of bed. I still keep a small flashlight on the nightstand just because.

Something few people think about is storing a Blackout Kit at their place of work. Admittedly hard to do unless you have a cubicle or office. For that I would recommend a good EDC Bag. Considering how many hours a week most of us spend in our workplace, you are just as likely to run into issues there as you are at home.

If you live in a flood prone area, consider keeping an additional small Blackout Kit in your attic. Add a Hatchet or small Pry Bar. Either of these tools will aid you in creating an escape should you become trapped. It is always a very unfortunately thing to hear on the news that someone trying to escape flood waters died in their attic from over heating or heart attacks due to the stress of the heat in an attic. I would NOT recommend going into an attic for safe haven in the first place, but sometimes situations dictate it.

Warnings

People like emergency candles for blackouts. Candles can be an inexpensive and convenient way to light an area in an emergency. However, emergency candles can turn a bad situation into a tragic one in seconds.

Candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures, 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries, and $539 million in estimated direct property damage each year.

Claims US Fire Administration web page on Candle Fire Safety.

Granted, in reality this number is not that high and admittedly this information does not single out fires caused from emergency candles, but do you want to be even just one of those statistics?

I’ll pass.

If you insist on using Emergency Candles, I highly recommend you also use a Safety Lantern to prevent accidental fires. There only a couple extra bucks and could keep you out of trouble when the child, dog, cat, or clumsy person decides to knock one over.

A Quick Word on Oil and Gas Lamps

Lamps fueled by oil or gas put out a great amount of light fairly efficiently. However, when it comes to Blackout Kits, they are a little large.

Do not misconstrue this as a vote against Oil and or Gas Lamps as part of preparations and supplies. I happen to like them quite a lot. I am just saying they are unnecessarily cumbersome in a Blackout Survival Kit.

Oil and Gas Lamps should be used with care, whether you are using them in your home or out camping, as they produce a flame.

Final Thoughts

Blackout Kits, aren’t just for power outages. They can save you a lot of grief and avert emergencies and ease the pains of power outages.With a limited number of supplies you can handle a lot of situations that can happen in the middle of the night.

Whichever items you choose to flesh out your kit with, please consider them carefully. Your well-being could very well depend on any one of the contents.

Share your thoughts and ideas of other items in the comments below.

An EIP (Emergency Information Packet) is one of the most often overlooked items of Preppers and Modern Survivalists. Yet, putting one together can be one of the most important things you do. The fact is, even if you are not a Survivalist, Prepper, Sheepdog, Ostrich, or a Sheep, this really is something everyone should have.

EIPs are copies of your most important documents, licenses, Evacuation Plans, and financial information safely stored together in the event that you need to leave your home in less than ideal circumstances. People that have not built one often seem confused about how to do so. In this article I will walk you through the steps, what you need, and were to store them once they are complete.

Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why for a second (I always ask “why”). A natural disaster comes along and forces you to leave your house in an expedited manner. You return to find only a foundation where your home once stood. Any number of things can happen in life that could leave you in a situation where you are without the convenience of your documents and knowing who to call. Having a well put together packet alleviates all the frustration of trying to get copies and in touch with the right entities after the issue has passed.

Disclaimer: The author of this article assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages that may occur from the use of this information. By continuing to read, you are agreeing to said terms.

Let’s start with storage. First it should be water tight; we are after all talking about documents. Second, it should be of a sturdy enough material to withstand being poked, bent, and tussled around in a bag. Large Ziplock bags work ok, but won’t offer much protection beyond you spilling a soda on it or a leaky water bottle. Ziplock makes an Extra Large Bag that will fit documents. If you are going to do it on the cheap and use a Ziplock bag, double up. You can also hit the grocery store and buy a plastic container with a lid. Getting still a little more expensive, Map Pouches can also be a good choice or even the Kwik Tek Dry Pak. Beyond simple storage you can go as far as using a Pelican Case, small Fire-Safe, or hard case of your choosing.

Next, you are going to want to make a list of all the information and documents that are important to you. Below is a list of items I would recommend. This is not meant to be a complete list. This is a minimum I think everyone should have, but you may choose to include whatever you think is important.

Important note about your financial information. Using a simple cypher, such as substitution, you can encrypt the sensitive stuff in a way that is easy for you to decode, but not thieves. This will ease your mind about storing your EIP in a car(s).

• Insurance Paperwork
  • Home Owners / Renters
  • Vehicle
  • Health
  • Life
• Wills and Trusts
• Copies of Government Documents and Licenses
  • Birth Certificate
  • Driver’s License
  • Gun Permits
  • Social Security Card
• Financial
  • Credit Card Numbers and corresponding 800 numbers
  • Bank Account Numbers and corresponding 800 numbers
• Phone Book
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Doctors
  • Hotel Telephone Numbers for areas you would go to in an emergency
• Medical Documents
  • Medical History
  • Prescriptions
• Maps
  • Local
  • State
  • National
  • Bug Out Routes
  • Printed Maps

If you have the resources I highly suggest you turn all of this into a password protected Word Document or PDF. A decent scanner, a little time, and the proper software will allow you make multiple copies of your EIP once you are done. In an upcoming article we will go over taking a digital copy of your EIP and storing it out on the web securely.

Once you have finished pulling together everything make or print out several copies. Places to consider stashing copies would be: your car, a safety deposit box, a Fire-Box/Fre-Safe in your home, and a BOB (Bug Out Bag). If you have a spouse and kids of a driving age, involve them in the project and store a copy in their vehicle as well.

Last note of caution. I strongly urge you to use a waterproof Fire-Box, such as the First Alert 2017F or the SentrySafe H2300, for storing documents in your vehicle and put the key on your car keys.