Beans & LegumesRural Area Preparedness…
With tornado season here and hurricane season coming up, we all need to be prepared. Some maybe more than others. If you live in a rural area there are things that you might not think about if a disaster strikes. Here are some helpful tips that you will want to keep in mind while you, your family and even your pets and livestock get prepared.
Food and Water: Fresh water is very important for everyone. Flood water could be very contaminated. Animals and children should never play or drink flood waters. You should have at least a 3 day supply of water for everyone. If you can’t carry a 3 day supply of water have a purifier to filter all of the water you and your pets drink. Keep enough food for 72 hours in a backpack for everyone. Pet treats are not considered a supply of food. Most pet food does not last as long as human food storage does so make sure you are rotating through the pet food. Don’t forget to have the proper containers for your pets to eat and drink out of.
Clothing/Transporting: Make sure you have jackets, pants, rubber boots, and hats for your family. Have a clean cage ready to transport smaller animals. For larger animals have a trailer ready to go. Ready to go means to have it filled with the tools needed, and gas. Also, make sure the lights and tires are in working order for a road trip. Don’t forget blankets for everyone to keep warm and even lay on for comfort.
Knowledge/Communication: Always have a flashlight and radio on hand. The dynamo powered radio/flashlight that also includes a solar power window and a port to charge cell phones are recommended. If the radio and/or flashlight take batteries have extra stocked. Make a note of what stations you need to listen to for emergency news. Write it down and tape it to the radio. You will want to know where to take your pets in case you are having to stay at a shelter, or motel that doesn’t allow them. For the larger pets, if possible, have a pasture that is up hill and fenced off from others and will keep the wild animals out.
Shelter/Surroundings: Have the proper sleeping bags and blankets with you or in a spot that is easily accessible. If possible have a tent. Get to know your surroundings. Know where it is safe to stay and the animals that live in that area. Keep in mind the wildlife and wild animals. Their home was destroyed too. They are going to be looking for food and water too.
Supplies/Sanitary Needs: Have extra clothing packed, along with any medication you would need for at least 3 days. Have rubber and leather working gloves, and toilet paper. For the pets have a leash and a long nylon rope to keep the pets close to you at all times. It is best if this is all kept in a backpack you can grab and go.
If you are forced to leave your home, it is not like camping. The local store won’t be there to help you out. You, your pets and livestock will be on their own. Don’t get caught off guard. Be prepared. Don’t loose everything you have. Make sure everyone you love is going to be fed and cared for.
If you have other tips on surviving in a rural area let us know!
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Great article! Add a great survival book of some sort to your pile as you never know what you will run into in a survival scenario and having something on hand that you can read and study will be comforting.
June 13th, 2011 at 4:14 amExcellent article. We just went to Home Depot today and bought a few hurricane supplies such as tarp, rope, battery operated fan, flashlights…including head strapped ones for each one in the family. I think we are pretty set now
June 13th, 2011 at 4:31 amI got some solar powered landscape lights that have an on/off switch from Harbor Freight. They work pretty well around the campsite if you run out of batteries.
June 13th, 2011 at 5:23 amLook at the 72 hour emergency kits to get a list of things useful for your grab and go bag if you are oding it on your own like we did. An old duffle bag (What we are using) or suitcase make a great grab and go container.
One additional thing to add:
Heating equipment. Hiot water is better for making meals and purifying water. Use a filter and boiling will make sure everything is dead. Also hot meals go a long way in a disaster. So add canned heat, or tablet or whatever soots your fancy. Also, waterproof matches are a must!
Another:
Have some cash and precious metal if possible. The store may be empty but other may have something you need that bartering won’t get you.
Make sure to checkout the emergency packs from several sites I ahve found bits and pieces in various places that others miss.
June 13th, 2011 at 7:27 amI heard a good tip concerning portability of water. Because water is heavy, if you’ve got water in several containers for the family, put the containers in luggage with wheels.
June 13th, 2011 at 11:39 amI have four large dogs. I bought each one a doggy backpack with sufficient food, water, containers, a leash and roll up blankets for 72 hours, plus extra meds for the one that needs them. If you shop around, you can do each one for around $20.00. It takes about 45 seconds to put the backpacks on each dog. My cat carrier has a small box with litter, water, food, bowls and a blanket inside. Knowing that in 5 minutes I can have all my animals packed up and ready to go is one of the most comforting parts of my readiness planning. The chickens and bees…they will have to stay put.
June 13th, 2011 at 1:07 pmI shop at Sams so I bought a case of Sterno in their restaurant supply department. They are made for keeping food warm in chafing dishes for catering.
June 13th, 2011 at 2:37 pmThey will burn for several hours each for cooking on a portable BBQ like a small “Hibachi” type or even in place of wood for a cooking fire in an outdoor fire pit.
If the weather is wet, they are good in case you have no dry wood.
Don’t forget to keep your gas tank full if you need to take off. No gas-no go. Try not to let it get below 3/4 full. I top mine off every time I go to town. The Army makes great survival FM and TM manuals along with map reading manuals. Buy a “good” compass. They come in handy. Don’t forget to have a firearm or two. If you have and they don’t some won’t think twice of taking you out to take what you have. Always prepare for the worst.
June 13th, 2011 at 2:47 pmIodine. 10% Povidone-iodine comes in 8 oz bottle from bigmart for less than $10. One bottle can treat 3000 gals of dirty water. Yes, 3000 gals. You only need four drops in one liter or 3 drops in a quart. It can be used on wounds, cleaning any surface that needs to be sterile, even clean off food. 1/8 teaspoon spread on your skin, ie stomach, inside of your arm, etc., will provide a one day dose of iodine during a nuclear emergency, ie Japan. One bottle will last a family of five one month or more of daily doses. Pills for that long will cost you hundreds. A $10 emergency kit in a bottle.
June 13th, 2011 at 3:16 pm72 hours’ preparations is NEVER enough. No one will bail you out in 3 days, and serious emergencies can take longer than 72 hours to overcome.
Plan on being on your own for two weeks minimum in a large disaster.
72 hours will work for an emergency get-from-here-to-there, but don’t rely on that tiny amount of preparation to see you through anything major.
RE: Iodine: see also this method: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4786216.stm
You’d probably still want to filter your water, but you can sterilize it without iodine in a pinch.
June 14th, 2011 at 4:09 amKaren is spot on and sounds like a smart gal. 3 days is a start if there is a small inconvienance. What you should have is at least a year. Freeze dried food, paper plates water purification, firearms with ammo, toilet paper, seeds ect. I’ve been buying a stuff for about 4 years and I’m not stopping til there isn’t anymore. It’s not hoarding it’s just being prepared. If you are going to bet your life that the gov’t is going to be there to save you in a large scale disaster—you’re dead!
June 14th, 2011 at 2:16 pmThe 72-hrs is often cited but seldom explained. Best to look at local papers for past “disasters” and read on the response times and difficulties in order to rationally find a realistic number of days/weeks you may need to hold out. And if you are conservative, add a “fudge factor”.
No recent local disaster? Not a problem…look at Katrina, Haiti, Kobe, Sichuan and NE Japan’s recent quakes.
Fukushima is an object lesson of cascading problems and the synergy they have in challenging emergency responders.
Every place on the planet is a unique combination of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. And each has its own “hazard” and combinations of hazards. You should do a complete geohazards assessment for your area, rank them by frequency, and make plans and contingency plans based on local conditions rather than generic preparedness lists. If in a rural area, consider the population density is low. In disasters, priority is given to serving the greatest number in the shortest time. Hint: Rural outlying areas may have to wait even longer; think “fudge factor”.
Consider getting an amateur radio license and learn how to use a basic ham radio. This is way beyond CB, FSR, GMRS…really serious radio communications for emergencies for really serious communications, not just receiving information.
Emergency preparedness is like buying insurance. Most folks “can’t afford” it now, so put it off. Once the disaster hits, it way too late to try to prepare. Most things will be in short supply if any supplies survived. Preparedness adds a different dimension to the old Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be”.
Best wishes.
June 14th, 2011 at 11:25 pmAny ideas out there on how to convince my family that something is coming and to get prepared. I’m pretty sure they think I’m nuts with all my preparing but they need too also and I just can’t convince them. Welcome all suggestions. Thanks, Renee
July 4th, 2011 at 8:30 pmId love for you guys to make a section on livestock and other small pets when a disaster happens! I read a lot about people but not as many for livestock (horses). Most people will abandon their animals and I want to take mine with me. Maybe sometime soon you will supply things for us to buy to assist us with our animal survival. Thanks!
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:35 am