Checklist - For Those With Emergency Supplies
It’s about time for me to go through my periodic check of supplies, so I thought I share with you what I’m going to do.
1. Food
We check food supplies about once a week, making sure we rotate stocks so that we can use anything that is approaching its expiration date, and replace it.
But a few times a year, every 3 to 4 months, I go over everything to make sure we haven’t missed anything in the weekly checks, and if there is anything else we need, but for some reason do not have. Every once in a while I have a ’slap the forehead’ moment and ask myself why I haven’t thought of that item before.
2. Water
Bottled water has a pretty long life. Expiration dates are often a couple of years from time of purchase, so I do not check weekly but do include it in my periodic check. We have several cases of 1.5 L bottles. Rotation isn’t a problem, because we’re always grabbing one to drink during the day.
We also have bottled water in 5-gallon containers delivered for use on in our everyday watercooler. We keep 8 to 10 on hand, so I really need check to make sure the oldest containers are not too old. Sometimes I use the oldest for something like watering plants. The plants like it, and I like keeping our stores of water fresh. It’s a bit of a waste, but the fact is, there is some waste that occurs in keeping stocks on hand. I just try to keep it at a minimum.
I keep 40-50 gallons in plastic containers with spigots, made to store water. I get that water from the tap, so I need to dump it and replenish it every two months, adding bleach to keep it from becoming contaminated during storage. You could find out how I do that in the Water section on this site.
3. First Aid Supplies
Most of these have a relatively long lifetime. But not infinite. I make a full check about once or twice a year. I make sure packages have not become compromised, and rotate those few things that need it, like antiseptics, Tylenol, rehydration packets, etc.
4. Flashlights and Batteries
Supposedly you should store flashlights without batteries in them. Not me. I keep probably a couple of dozen flashlights with their batteries in them, in different places throughout the house, garage, office and all vehicles. My thinking is, if I really need them, I need them immediately. I don’t want to have to fumble in the dark putting in batteries.
My solution to having my flashlights and batteries too, is to use Corrosion Block, a product that is a little hard to find, and sometimes out of stock. It’s sometimes available on the internet; you can find a link on this site in Power, Basics in the Batteries section of the page. If it is out of stock, you can go to your local hardware store or automotive store or marine store and try to find it. You could ask for a product that protects against corrosion on electric terminals, but I do not know what, nor how that would work.
I coat the battery terminals at both ends of the battery. I also coat the flashlight terminals. I use pretty thin coating of Corrosion Block.
So far, I have not had a single case of corrosion or damage to the flashlights. That doesn’t guarantee it will not happen, but it looks like that reduces the risk to very small. And I’m willing to trade of that small risk for having my flashlights turn on when I need them. Of course I have backups everywhere, so if there is a failure, I should be covered.
But I still check every flashlight every 6 months to a year, just to make sure the batteries have a full charge. I used to do it every 3 months, but with Corrosion Block that seems unnecessary.
I have a backup 12/120V power source that has a large battery in it, and I make sure that is fully charged every month. During my periodic check, I check terminals, etc. to make sure all is well.
5. Equipment
I go around and check out all the various emergency tools and equipment I have. I make sure the extra clothes we have in the vehicles are in place and sealed in their plastic bags, and that no one has used them (like after swimming or going to the gym and forgetting a change of clothes) and not replaced them.
6. The Plan
I review our emergency exit plan with everyone, and the meeting places we have established in case a disaster strikes while one of us is away from home. Occasionally we have a nighttime emergency drill. Emergencies always happen when you don’t expect them.
7. And Then
I sit down and think to see if there is anything I’ve forgotten, if there is anything else we need to do now, so that we will have it in place when an emergency begins.
Duct tape; yep, got plenty duck tape. Plastic sheeting. Yep. Tarps and ropes and tiedowns. Yep.
I’ll just sit here for a while longer and contemplate. You might want to do that along with me.
