Avoid Last-Minute Panic

Few can deny the common sense behind preparing for something that is definitely going to happen, yet every year, an impending winter storm sends people rushing out to the store at the last minute, prepping for a blizzard that is due to hit in mere hours. Every winter, if you live in certain climates, blizzards are going to occur. Usually, at least one storm will hit that will cause you to be snowed in. Often, those storms mean you will also lose power. There is the inevitable rush to the store for milk and bread, during which people battle it out for the last supplies left on the shelves.

But you can avoid all that. You don’t have to be a bunker-dwelling, MRE-chomping, camo-clad prepper to see the logic behind keeping some extra food and other supplies on hand for something that happens every single year.

This year, avoid the last minute panic and the discomfort of being unprepared. This article is full of links to previous articles that will help you in prepping for a blizzard. Put together a at least the bare minimum kit for riding out the storm.  (Camo is optional.)

Bare Minimum

• Candles
• Flashlights (don’t forget batteries)
• Matches or Lighters
• Glow sticks (Great for kiddos – learn more HERE)

Advanced

• Garden stake solar lights
• Oil lamps and extra oil
• Hand crank lantern
• Solar lantern

Other tools and supplies

Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. The good thing is, most folks already have the supplies on the “bare minimum” list. All you need to do is collect them and put them in one easily accessible container.

Shopping Lists

Bare Minimum

• Lighter/waterproof matches
• Batteries in various sizes
• Manual can opener
• Basic tools: Pliers, screwdriver, wrench, hammer
• Duct tape
• Crazy glue

Advanced

• Survival Knife
• Multi-tool
• Bungee cords
• Magnesium firestarter
• Sewing supplies
• If you’d like to expand on the basic supplies, a more detailed list of tools and hardware can be found HERE.

First Aid kit

You probably won’t need a field trauma kit that allows you to amputate limbs or remove a bullet, but you definitely want to have a few things on hand. It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency.  Your kit should include basic wound care items and over-the-counter medications.

Shopping Lists

Bare Minimum

• Bandages
• Antibiotic ointments
• Disinfecting sprays
• Pain relief capsules
• Cold medicine
• Cough syrup
• Anti-nausea pills
• Allergy medication
• Anti-diarrheal medications
• First aid book

Advanced

• Prepper’s Natural Medicine (dealing with all sorts of illnesses and injuries with home remedies)
• Fully stocked medic kit
• QuikClot
• The Survival Medicine Handbook
• If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.

Special needs

This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods.  If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too.  The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a week or so.

Reprinted with permission from The Organic Prepper.

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