FIVE LEVELS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
The following are five levels of family preparation for an emergency or disaster. Despite your desired level of preparation, all planning begins at Level 1. Once completing this level, consider continuing to Level 2. This is the minimum level of preparation recommended.
There are no precise boundaries between levels. Descriptions and suggestions are inexact, and you may wish to consider merging characteristics with more than one Level. No doubt, you will think of other useful items for your situation. If so, blog me your suggestions. Most importantly, I encourage you to begin the process! You can do it! Being prepared will be good for body, soul, and spirit, and can unite your household in a unique way. Hopefully, you will sleep better at night!
Level 1
Level 1: Emergency Planning (3 days)
A standard 72-hour kit should be stored in a location known by all family members and easily accessible. The basic ‘Grab and Go’ kit should include:
- Water (2 liters / person / day)
- Food (canned / dried)
- Can opener/dishes/utensils
- Flashlight(s)
- Portable radio
- First Aid kit
- Personal Medications
- Blankets / Sleeping bags
- Cellphone
- Cash
Level 2: Emergency Plan (10 days)
Level 2 preparedness goes beyond Level 1. This level expands the Level 1 Plan to address more the specific situation that exists within the household, and for a longer timeframe. This could include elderly, animals, home business, etc. Level 2 assumes that family members are busy and go in different directions, and might not be together at the time of the disaster. This level of planning includes developing and testing out a communications plan and a transport plan. Level 2 also includes family discussions of other less-frequent disasters that might occur, and the actions that should be taken. Level 2 includes preparedness kit supplies for up to 10 days. It also includes consideration of more than one kit – one for house, one for car, etc. Level 2 also addresses an ability to recharge batteries.
In addition to Level 1, the following are some, but not all, considerations for a Level 2 expanded Preparedness Kit:
- Enhanced First Aid kit, including select trauma supplies (i.e. burns, broken bones)
- Tools (hammer, screwdriver, pry bar, multi-tool knife, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies (garbage bags, plastic bucket(s), soap)
Extra clothing / extra pair of durable shoes - Extra sheets / blankets
- Miscellaneous supplies (i.e. duct tape, disposable dust masks)
- ABC Fire extinguisher
- Local maps
- Copies/originals of essential documents
- Dyno/battery powered AM/FM/Weather radio
- Dyno/battery powered flashlight(s)
- Extra batteries for all electronics
- Solar battery charger
- Pets: food and supplies
- Children: Games / books / playing cards / comfort toys
Level 3: Emergency Plan (30 days)
Level 3 preparedness builds upon Level 2, and includes meeting household needs for up to one month. Depending upon the disaster, it is likely that a household might require self-reliance for up to a month before local, regional, or federal systems are in place, and that the situation returns to a semblance of ‘normalcy’. This level of preparedness also details different types of disasters that might occur, and the specific needs for each. It also considers needs depending upon the seasons of the year.
“Shelter in Place” Disasters
Some disasters require a family to shelter in place. An example of this is a Pandemic Flu. The fear of exposure to, for example, a deadly strain of H1N1 (i.e. Spanish Flu) would cause general commerce to stop. People would be afraid to leave their homes, even to shop for food. Food stocks would only be one need. Because utility personnel would very likely refuse to report to work for fear of exposure, electricity and water would soon stop. Preparation for and alternatives for these two essentials is critical. As well, an alternative heat source should be considered.
“Uninhabitable Residence” Disasters
Other disasters require the household to evacuate, due to the residence being uninhabitable. An example of this is a severe earthquake or major flooding. Level 3 requires preparation for alternative lodging. This might include travelling to a location outside the disaster area (i.e. relatives, friends) or remaining in the area, at a shelter, hotel, etc. Either way, major household disruption has occurred. This evacuation would occur rapidly, using the ‘Grab-and-Go’ bag(s), and reliable transportation. Preplanning an alternative and suitable arrangement for an extended Level 3 evacuation is preferable to a shelter or hotel (even if available). This is especially important if your household has special needs – small children, elderly, pets. Regardless, the vacating of one’s residence and property requires security and liability planning.
The following are some, but not all, considerations for Level 3 Preparedness Kit. The kit primarily addresses a ‘Shelter in Place’ scenario. It assumes that a water source will be available but requires purification. Level 3 also assumes need for a consistent light, heating, and cooking source for several weeks. A disaster which requires extensive lodging in a shelter or hotel should, but may not, have these long-term provisions for water, heat, light, and food. This author believes that, for safety and quality-of-life considerations, every household should make autonomous Level 3 preparations, and not rely on assistance from the government or an agency.
In addition to Level 2, the following are some further considerations for Level 3 expanded Preparedness:
- Water source (i.e. filter, purifier); containers
- Heat source(s) (i.e. kerosene, propane, wood)
- Light sources (i.e. kerosene, propane, wood)
- Cooking source (kerosene, wood, or propane cooker)
- Heating / Cooking utensils
- Replacement fuel in containers (i.e. kerosene, wood, propane)
- Sanitation means (i.e. camper potty and bags)
- Hot water means (i.e. plastic camp showers; solar camp shower)
Level 4
Level 4: Emergency Plan (90 days)
Level 4 Emergency Preparedness builds upon Level 3, and assumes that a major disaster has occurred, for which responders and outside resources will be delayed as long as three months. This level of preparedness includes consideration of providing self-reliant and sustainable needs for the “shelter-in-place” household. This preparation level becomes a conscious lifestyle choice of partial self-reliance. Some measures are similar to the livelihood of our ancestors, before electricity or communications “grids”. This might include a wood burning stove, for both heat and cooking in an emergency. This Level might include a backyard garden or small livestock, which provides both food security availability and access. This might include an energy source, such as a small generator, or solar panels for essential appliances. This might include further preparation for specific disasters, such as an “Electro-magnetic Pulse”, which requires grounding of all electronics, such as computers or today’s computer-chipped motor vehicles.
Level 4 preparation may include either supplying a rural cottage or cabin, or consideration of a recreational or camping vehicle, specially kitted out for several weeks in response to a major emergency – but also useful as the family RV for holidays. Specific destinations and transport routes outside the disaster area, both planned and tested, would be included at this level of preparation.
The following are some further considerations for Level 4 Preparedness:
Evacuation
- Fully resourced “off-the-grid” Recreational Vehicle
- Fully resourced “off-the-grid” retreat location (i.e. cottage) outside disaster zone
Shelter in Place
- Electric Generator/fuel
- Wood burning stove
- Garden seeds / tools
- Small husbandry (i.e. chickens, rabbits)
- Hunting / fishing equipment
- Outhouse or other sanitation method
- Gravity-flow heated shower (i.e. solar)
Level 5: Doomsday Emergency Plan
Doomsdayers are those who are prepared for the end of civilization as we know it. This has become popular due to the reality show, Doomsday Preppers, which is viewed on the National Geographic channel. This level of preparedness assumes that a family or group of families will prepare and pre-position virtually everything required for survival after every major catastrophe or total collapse of society – economic, social, and governmental. The level of preparedness usually includes a family “bug out kit”, which is at the ready at the first sign of the collapse, and a “bug out plan” which has been carefully rehearsed and routes the family (often on backroads) to their survival location, usually in a rural location. Doomsday Preppers will have a reliable vehicle, often an old truck (without electronic ignition and perhaps already kitted out) with which to bug out. At their survival location, the family has copious food and water stockpiles, but also sustainable sources of water (i.e. hand pumps, filtration systems) and additional food (shotguns, rifles, traps, garden seeds, etc.) Preppers also have stockpiled light, heat, and energy sources (ie fuel generator(s), solar, wind, kerosene, wood, etc.). Doomsdayers often assume that the economic system will collapse, and therefore may have considerable physical cash, gold coins, and silver reserves. One consistent concern of Doomsday Preppers is that the multitude of those who have not prepared will invade their location, as the population becomes more desperate. Preppers make plans to defend the turf which they have established. This might include high tech security equipment (i.e. cameras, alarms, trip wiring) or low tech (barbed wire, traps), as well as defensive measures (i.e. lookout posts, rifles).
Although this author appreciates the intent and concerns of Doomsday Preppers, especially in today’s fragile and unpredictable world, this level of preparation is beyond the scope of this website. The author personally believes that an event which warrants this level of preparedness will probably result in an unlivable environment for humankind (i.e. nuclear war, chemical / biological contamination). At the very least, all Doomsday survivors of this level of disaster will be consumed with self-care (i.e. medical needs) and defending their ‘fortress’. There is a strong probability that non-Preppers will also survive the given calamity. These desperate people will quickly discover the location of Doomsdayers (i.e. smoke, noise, light), and the Preppers will be overwhelmed with defending their bug-out location from those who will use any means to enter.
Numerous websites address the preparedness level of Doomsday Preppers, including a few listed below.
www.americanpreppersnetwork.com
www.canadianpreppersnetwork.com
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