Getting Started

First of all, you need to decide what you are planning for.

In eastern Idaho, the 2 most likely emergencies the average person could face are:

1. Winter conditions and the power goes out.

2. Employment Interruption.

While generally all emergencies will have some similar steps, preparing for these two events will be VERY different than preparing for a hurricane, tornado, or a forced evacuation.

In both of those events, your house (hopefully) will remain intact and you will be staying home.

So you need to decide what you can do to generally prepare, as discussed in this article:

Self Reliance: How to Begin a 3-12 Month Food Supply

Then you also need to prepare for what events are most likely to happen in your situation and make a plan to be ready for those.

Consider:

• Evacuation plans (if necessary)
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Heat (seasonal)
• Communication between your various family members.
• How to gather as a family if an event occurs while everyone is split up (school, work, piano, ballet, sports, etc.)

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Then make a long term plan, if the employment interruption extends longer than originally thought, or electrical service is not available for weeks or longer.

Consider:

• Alternative heat
• Alternative Lighting/Electricity
• Long term savings
• Long term food storage:  See providentliving.org and food storage calculator listed in the right column of this page.
• etc.

Now, we are NOT commanded to run faster than we are able.  The link above gives information about a 3-12 month food supply.  The Prepared LDS Family link in the side bar has ideas of how to slowly build a year's supply of food without taxing your budget too badly.

Start slowly if you need to, but add something to your storage regularly.  You will be surprised how quickly it adds up.

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."