End of the Year Prepping Tips

The end of the year is a great time to evaluate your current preparedness and make plans for the following year. As 2015 draws to a close, consider the following activities as easy ways to track and continue your progress:

Evaluate your food and water storage. How long could you and your family live on the food and water you have stored away? Do you have vital medicines that individuals in the family may need? Do you have water filters you can use if forced to drink from a contaminated supply? Check the expiration dates on all food and organize items in order with the soonest date in the front and the most distant date in the back.

Evaluate your equipment storage. Matches and flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries!) can be life savers when the power goes out. I would also recommend stocking lanterns, solar chargers, and a camping stove in case of a power outage.

Evaluate your skills. Yes, stocking up on food and supplies is important, but when disaster strikes you’ll also need skills to stay alive. Here are a few we recommend:
• Make bread from scratch
• Brew coffee sans electricity
• Basic gardening skills (perhaps on a balcony)
• Make yogurt

Make learning fun by trying one of the above activities with the whole family.

Evaluate your use of space. Having an organized storage space is just as important as what you’re storing. Is everything sealed in an appropriate container that prevents dampness, damage, and contamination? Are you using your space efficiently? Check your storage area thoroughly for pests and rodents. If you live in a less-than-safe area, make sure doors and windows are secure. Consider a home security system if you don’t already have one.

Although the above list is far from complete, it should be more than enough to get you started on evaluating your current supplies and making a plan for the following year. And don’t worry if you haven’t met your prepping goals for 2015, you’re still better off than nearly 70% of the population!

Happy New Year from Survival Update!