First we need to take into account the variables. Some we can control, and others we can not. Once we do that we need to figure out the risks associated with the variables and how to mitigate those risks. Then we look at how we can prepare, what kind of equipment and provisions we can stock back, and some items that are staples of what we need to have around, then we can look at the things we'd like to have.
-Weather
-Local hazards
-Area hazards
-Regional hazards
-Flora/Fauna
-Other Humans
-Accidents
-Your Home Itself
The weather is not something we can harness or change. It is up to you to do your due diligence and stay on top of weather forecasts. If you are looking for an area to live in, researching the climate is important so make sure you get on that. If you are buying local, research the climate's extremes that may have occurred long before you were a twinkle in your Daddy's eye so you know what can happen, and in the process you see what is likely to happen.
If your area is prone to flooding, you should have sandbags stored empty.
If your area is prone to excessive snowfall, snow shovels are essential kit.
If your area is in a hurricane zone, a few sheets of treated plywood, plastic sheeting, duct tape, sandbags, and fasteners to attach these to your house to seal it off when a tropical system makes landfall should be part of your home survival kit.
Granted, these items sound like no brainers but even in areas where this kind of weather is an anomaly, you still should consider having them handy.
What every home should have nearby for weather related emergencies:
-Water hoses
-Shovels, spade type
-Rakes, leaf and bow type
-Posthole diggers
-Pick mattock
-Axe, felling
-Chainsaw
-Pole saw, manual
-Claw hammer
-Assorted screwdrivers
-Handsaws, crosscut, rip, and bow
-Bit and Brace with assorted drill bits
-Wrenches
-Socket sets
-Pliers, wire cuters, slip joint pliers, channelocks, visegrips, etc.
-Pipe wrench
-Sledgehammer
-Crowbar
-Nails, 16d, 10d, roofing
-Wood screws, 1-1/2", 2", and 3"
-Assorted machine screws, nuts, washers, and bolts
-Solder and flux
-Propane or MAPP gas torch with spare fuel (Propane preferred as single fuel source with propane heaters or stoves)
-A few 2x4 boards
-A few 2x10 boards
-A few treated 4x4 posts
-A few sheets of treated plywood
-Shingles or tin for your roof
-Cinderblocks
-Pipe patches or sleeves
-Spare pipe fittings
-Sandbags
-Kerosene and/or propane heaters
-Some form of stove that doesn't need electricity
-At least one GoalZero or similar portable solar system
-Backup batteries
-A generator is a nice touch but by no means a necessity
-Blackout curtains (You don't want to be the only house the ruffians see the lights on at)
-Fire extinguishers
-Water storage and pumping equipment (In a pinch, fill your bathtub up with water... This is how I store water to flush the toilet with)
-High volume water filter
-Toilet paper and paper towels
-Baby wipes or similar
-Basic toiletries
-Illumination tools
-Weapons
-Observation tools
-Foodstuff
-Water
-Medical equipment, Snivel gear and Trauma items, any supplements or prescriptions one takes
Local hazards include things like where your home is located or hazards on or near your property like powerlines that may go down on or near your home, trees that may fall on your house, a creek or river in close enough proximity to constitute a flood hazard, pipelines or manufacturing plants close by dealing with hazardous materials, and similar circumstances. For me, a local hazard is within 1-1/2 miles.
An area hazard involves similar items discussed in local hazards though I would extend this range to a 3 mile radius
A regional hazard is similar within 5 miles. Do note that the bad neighborhoods of your area should be considered a hazard.
Flora and Fauna
What kind of dangerous plants or animals should you concern yourself with?
Around where we are we have pokeberries, all kinds of poison plants (poison oak and poison ivy in particular though we also have some poison sumac as well), trees can have limbs snap off and fall on things, coral snakes, three different kinds of rattlesnakes though I have only seen two types personally, copperheads, water mocassins, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, hawks, and a few wild hogs here and there. None of these plants or critters are anything you want to tangle with.
Other humans are an obvious problem.... This would be where you need to know where the crime ridden areas are, what the current crime trends are, how local gangs identify themselves, if you can find out which set is beefing with who then that is a huge bonus, you should learn where any vagrants or transients accumulate, and you should obviously harden your home. Motion sensing lights, good locks, and all of that play in during a weather occurrence as well. You should take a good hard look at what the sightlines of your property look like... How far can you see unobstructed, from where, and what angles. If you have a laser rangefinder, check ranges to landmarks from your various sightlines. This may sound extreme but think of it in a different context.... Assume for a minute you know that a tree limb fell at the top of the hill on the powerlines... When the linemen come out in bad weather they will need to ride around and find the breach. How awesome would it be to be able to step outside to the power company bucket truck and say "Hey bro, keep going this way 350 yards or so and it's right there." Plus if you need to repel boarders later.... range estimation is easier. Another Other Humans hazard is you.... If you put preps back, be careful what and to whom you disclose of them. The last thing you want is making yourself more at risk of home invasion in bad times.
Accidents cover things like fires, you breaking stuff, and stuff just plain falling apart.
Your Home Itself presents hazards in that it must be maintained and some issues if not fixed can cause you more trouble than most weather. A busted pipe will flood you out just like a river cresting it's banks. A piece of tin not nailed down or that has worked loose leaves a hole in your roof no different than if a tree limb busted a hole in it. Busted glass is busted glass no matter what it came from. Get the point?
I have took a few pictures of some of my home preparedness kit to help get the discussion started... Please note this is not all of my home preparedness items and I will not now or ever disclose the full contents of that list... This is just to throw a few ideas out there.
Obviously canned goods are a staple here. Ramen noodles require more water than the oatmeal but you can get a boatload of them for a just a couple dollars. And we see my coffee bags in there.... While coffee might be a luxury, it does prove handy to make you feel warm in cold weather and can of course keep you awake if needed. I'm partial to the boil in bag rice for simplicity. Excess boiled water for it has had a plastic bag in it so I wouldn't drink it but I could pour it into wherever I'm storing my sanitation water and flush the commode with it.
Trash bags are your friend. Besides containing trash, you can cover windows with them or make ponchos if you need to step outside in foul weather. The bottled water serves an obvious purpose. On similar shelving in another room I store all my dog's food, and in the bathroom cabinet the cat's fodder is kept where she can't get into it. Beside that trash can is my fire extinguisher.... And Oh, look... More coffee.
The big green pouch in my trauma kit. Only for serious bleeding.
The MS2000 strobe is very obviously a signalling tool.
The pen flare unit can be used for signalling and as an escalation of force tool. Say for example, you see people trying to steal stuff off your property, let's say they are trying to steal the pump off your well... Put a flare up in the air and odds are they'll scatter. If the phone lines are down, maybe you get lucky and local law enforcement comes to the area because they saw the flare.
The butane lighter starts fires and is hot enough it makes a good surrogate small torch for small jobs.
I like the small chemlights because a pack of ten doesn't cost much and I can store quite a few of them.
The little blue deal with the white dome is a Nebo Lumo. This small little area light runs on 3 LR44 button cells and I have no idea how long the battery lasts. Additional photos below.
Sturdy, handheld flashlights are a thing you can never have too many of. That black aluminum one lives in my truck, runs on 6 AA batteries, hits 700 Lumens according to the box (Coleman light I got at WalMart), is focusable from spot to flood, has a high, adjustable low, and strobe setting on it, and I think I gave around $60 for it. It has bounced all over the place as I carry it as a duty light when I work the floor bouncing and it has fell out of the pouch (I used an old multitool pouch that I slit the bottom of to use for this and seems to work fine so long as I don't mess with the velcro flap then sit down.
Binoculars are always good... Identification of all things from incoming vehicles to people to identifying hazards at a distance.
The Midland GTX1050 radios are two way radios that are obviously useful ("It's me at the door... don't shoot me") and they have a weather radio on them as well which is always a plus.
The Stanley spotlight hits 2000 lumens (the new ones I saw at Walmart where I got this one advertise 2200 lumens) and has very good throw (it IS a spotlight). This one has a high and low setting. Photos to follow.
A super bright light is good for a lot of things like illumination of things at range, providing a large amount of light for specific tasks such as repairing a roof or cutting a limb, signalling, and as an escalation of force tool... Use the example above... Those guys trying to steal the pump off your well saw your flare... You holler at your spouse to call the sheriff... HIt them with the spotlight... Number one, I have had a white light ND with that light into a rear view mirror and caught a reflection of it in the eyes... It ain't fun. Number two, very few criminals will stick around after a flare has went up in the air and those that do won't like getting lit up with a bright light... They will either run off or you now have a fight on your hands... Either way, all you've done is shine a light on them. If you need to further escalate before things get serious, a second pen flare in the air (try to get it directly above them.... not as in right over their heads but so it's trajectory line goes above their position) or better yet an illuminating flare as used on ocean going ships (either white illumination or red distress would work, and I keep a couple of both around) going up... Small signal flare, spotlight, big flare... Point should be taken by then. Not saying that would justify you opening fire but I am saying if all that doesn't run them off you should probably be ready for a fight.
On that note, There is a light made by FourSevens, I'm wanting to say, that is super expensive but hits like 15000 lumens I'm wanting to say which is ridiculously bright yet I see it being PERFECT as an escalation of force tool.
If your house is the only one with the lights on, it's a target. Count on that.
Of course, when preparing you need to take into account how much food and water you need and make sure you have adequate cold or hot weather gear for all parties present. I like to keep wool blankets around the house because even if you are soaking wet, when you wrap up in wool you get warm quick. They don't take up much space and it only takes one or two to keep you warm even in crazy cold weather.
I am big into hiking so I have a Primus backpacking stove that if the power goes out makes cooking small dishes a snap. If I need more power than that can provide we heat the shop with kerosene heaters so drag one of those inside and it pulls double duty to heat the space and cook off of.
Keeping candles, chemlights, flashlights, batteries, oil lamps/lanterns, fuel, heaters, and all of that should be like keeping ammo, clothes, blankets, food, water, and sanitary items around.... They just need to be there, as should fire extinguishers, repair items, and of course tools.
So I hope this gets y'all to thinking about your weather preparedness.
if you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.
Until next time,
Stay Safe
Stay Frosty
and
STAY IN THE FIGHT!
-Kenny Smith
CEO, Total Force Holdings