1. Prayer.

Because that is about all you will have if there is an emergency or disaster. Especially pray that your neighbors are uncommonly kind and will share their two to three meals worth of food, since that’s probably all they have on hand. And give you one of the cans of warm soda in their non-functioning refrigerator, which is likely to be about all the water there is.

2. Um… there isn’t a number two.

That says it all for anyone who is not prepared for when… not if… normal life goes south for a while.

Maybe it will be a minor emergency, like someone in your family… or you… needing quick medical help. Even if 911 is up and functioning, there are situations where immediate aid can be life saving. If you do not have the training and materials to meet that need, the regret that follows could be immense.

Or perhaps there will be a regional disaster… a hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake… you name it. There is not a piece of earth in the United States that is not subject to some sort of natural event that will at some time or another disrupt the flow of food and water, and create a sudden need for people trained in first aid.

As I’ve mentioned before, we have used our emergency supplies numerous times during the three-plus years that we’ve been stocked and ready. It has come in handy for relatively small’ things. And on one occasion, it very possibly saved a life. All the time and money spent has already paid off. And there has not yet been a major event yet in our area. We’ve come close a couple of times (nearby hurricanes), but nothing approaching what you would call a disaster.

Even a little preparation can pay you high dividends. A case of bottled water, stored in the closet. An emergency pack of food for a few days for everyone in your group. A real first aid kit with truly useful things in it. A jar of honey. You can find pages on each of these in this site, if you think it worth spending the time to look.

A word to the wise is sufficient. A thousand words to an ‘it can’t happen here’ person is not enough.