Be Prepared...

Greetings fellow cyber travelers,

Zombies! 

When the time comes to protect yourself from an impending zombie attack, will you be ready? Are you prepared? In addition to preparing a complete defense plan, it is essential to have a decent plan in place in the event of a zombie invasion or in case of any disaster. Now is a good a time as any to make an emergency kit- if you haven’t already. And if you have one, it might be a good time to give it a solid once over. Swapping out spare batteries, checking for any leaky bottles and making sure all medication or food products are still well within the expiration date could save you time and energy during an emergency.

So, for those of you who have not created an emergency kit, it should be relatively easy to get started and you could pick up things along the way to add to it. First off, let’s start by reasoning why one might need such a thing. Well for starters, the Zombie Apocalypse- of course. 

When the Zombies are shuffling about the streets you are not going to want go out there! Or… if there were to be a black out in your area, or an unexpected natural disaster, an emergency kit might come in really handy.

Ready.gov recommends that you create a kit that includes three days’ worth of water, food and medication. Below is a list of items you could include in your kit.

A basic emergency kit could contain the following recommendations:

• Water: one gallon of water per person/per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. Store in a cool, shaded place- you wouldn’t want your water to evaporate.
• Food: at minimum a three-day stock of non-perishable food for each person.
• Don’t forget your pets: be sure to stock away enough food & water for your precious pooches or fearless felines for three days.
• Radio: battery-powered with extra batteries or even better- a hand crank radio. (if you have one)
• Flashlight and extra batteries: a few candles and waterproof matches or matches stored in a waterproof container might come in handy as well- just remember to use caution and never leave a room with an open flame. 
• First aid kit: Bandages, peroxide, alcohol, (rubbing alcohol- not drinking- or on second thought, why not? Go ahead, toss a little scotch in there) medical tape, Neosporin, scissors, tweezers, gloves- the usual stuff. Don’t forget to include a backup supply of any current medication that a family member or pet may need.
• Whistle: to signal for help. Just in case you are stuck somewhere, a whistle is much less taxing on you than  yelling and often times far louder.
• Dust mask: for each member of your family to help filter contaminated air. Even dust and debris filled air can be dangerous to breathe for extended times. While it may not feel the most      comfortable or glamorous, it could keep you (and your lungs) in the clear- so to say. 
• Duct Tape and Plastic sheeting: to shelter-in-place. If the air outside is somehow compromised, you could use this to seal off all openings- cracks under doors, air vents, fireplaces, etc.
• One more time: Duct Tape- you can use it for much more than you may expect, and store it for quite some time, so be sure that you store a roll or a few rolls or a whole case of it.
• Personal Sanitation: moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties. Enough said on this one.
• Tools: wrench, pliers, Philips & flathead screwdrivers to turn off utilities or handle any little things that may come up.
• Can Opener: for food, manual of course. If the power goes out, that plug in electric one isn’t going to be the easiest to use.
• Cell phone: with chargers, inverter or solar charger. It’s also not a bad idea to have one of those outlets that plug into your power outlet (formerly known as the cigarette lighter) in your car. If the zombies are attacking, we owe it to the rest of the world to upload the footage to You Tube.
• Local maps: Yes, the paper ones, just in case (deep breath!) our cell phones aren’t working.

Remember you could start out by gathering a few extra bandages and supplies from your medicine cabinet and supply closet- then add to it from there. For a more comprehensive list of supplies for your emergency kit and keeping it up to date click here.

In the event of an emergency or stumbling Zombies surrounding your home, you’ll be glad you have it. Jeannie Rae out.

---