HomeBlogPrepare FOUR the WorstPreparing FOUR the worst (An Introduction)

Preparing FOUR the worst (An Introduction)

by Mattie

Jul 24, 2018

Prepare FOUR the Worst

The purpose of this article is to share a small breakdown of the FOUR steps involved during the preparation phase of your planning:

F-ormulate Your Plan

Formulating a plan can be as simple as writing down your ideas, strategies and hacks you may have already thought about or used during a difficult time of need.

Remember…safety always comes first.

During the brainstorming process, think about the type of plan that best suits your needs.

Think about the type of disaster or crisis likely to happen within your area. If and when this were to happen, what is the best course of action to take that will keep you/your loved ones out of harms way. With that being said, think about what would be the safest thing to do? Where will you stay? Is it safer to stay at a relative’s or friend’s home? Can you set up a meet-up location in advance? Will you stay at a temporary shelter? If you have a pet, what will you do with your pet? What type of BOB (Bug Out Bag) is suitable enough? Will it sustain any type of climate/ condition)? If traveling, consider any unexpected outcomes. PACE your plan based on your family’s needs ((incl. pets, seniors, disabled

O-rganize Your Plan

When organizing a plan, organize your thoughts first. Consider the type of area you live in. Then, think about what is most important to you and your loved ones. This is the most vital part of your planning. It is the bloodline to your survival’s blueprint.

Once, you got this figured out, you can start brainstorming.

Once you’ve written down a few ideas and hacks. You may want to organize your plan. Keep in mind, however, your plan is “your” plan and it does not need to be compared with anyone else’s plan.

This isn’t a competition.

This is about taking care of the people you love. And, doing that, requires a lot of foresight and brainstorming. You have to think about what is most important to you and your family. A well thought out plan will be tailored to a family’s basic (but most important) needs.

For example, think about the area where you live (urban, suburban, rural) and the type of weather (hot, tropical, cold, dry/deserted or damp) that’s usually prone to certain natural disasters (droughts, sandstorms, tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, tropical storms, nor’easter, cyclones, blizzards, etc). Even the type of disaster that you might think is “not likely” to occur within your area, it will also need to be taken into consideration prior to organizing your plan. Before writing down your plan, make sure to think about how the following things might apply specifically to your type of situation or setting: Is someone in your family sick with a life threatening condition that requires constant medical attention or a condition will need to be taken care of using an electronic device? How will you handle this situation during a power outage? Do you have a pet? Are there any concerns with safety issues in the area you live in? And these are just a few hypothetical scenarios that should be thought out carefully before organizing an efficient plan.

A good way to start thinking about how to organize your plan is to incorporate the rules of 3’s (all 4 of them).

These rules should be considered and are important because humans cannot survive without:

3 Minutes of Oxygen
3 Hours of Shelter
3 Days of Water
3 Weeks of Food

These four rules are discussed in more detail in a separate post (Prepare Your FOUR 3’s).

U-tilize Your Plan

Utilizing your survival plan can be as simple as going outdoors and enjoying creation.

Appreciate all of the goodness it brings into and provides for our lives. Think about the different ways you can utilize all of its natural resources and DIY hacks. Practice using all items inside your BOB and try to use them according to any type of disaster that can happen within your area. If you’re planning for a meet up location or you’re camping outdoors, this is a good time to practice making a fire without matches. Utilize your preferred DIY hacks for making candles, a portable stove/charger, learn how to make a matchless fire.

SAFETY 1ST Practice, practice, practice over and over with whatever resources you have to stay warm, cool and well hydrated/fed/protected. Utilize your methods based on the acronym PACE (explained in more detail later) to be as ready as you possibly can. So, if and when the crisis happens, you will already know what is the best plan of execution in any type of scenario. For example, start practicing your back up plan for the back up plan of your back up plan.

MEET UP: Meet with your friends/family/neighbors at the actual a meet up location based on the PACE acronym. Memorize all of the traveling itineraries as you travel to and from the location and consider any or all possible discrepancies than can/will occur on that day. This is a great way to come up with more ideas on where you can meet up or do next?

RESOURCES: Utilize your plan of action with whatever resources offered or available to you that will allow everyone to have at least 3 hours of shelter at the camping site, meet up location or at hom

Below is a small synopsis of the above-aforementioned crucial 3’s with a little more details/examples on how this can be added to your survival plan.

1. OXYGEN: Practice breathing techniques (try holding your breath for up to 3minutes). You can practice this in increments of 30 seconds each day) until you are able to hold it for a full 3 mins. Be in shape. This will allow you to survive longer with less oxygen. Get out. Get active. Play basketball, run, dance. Do whatever makes you fit in a way that you enjoy the most.

Engage in your favorite sport or hobby (i.e. play basketball, soft ball, tennis, run, go dancing with some friends, speed walk, etc). The options for cardiovascular activity in a way that makes you feel good or you enjoy are limitless. Be creative

Organize your home in such a way that each person can practice the escape plan . Keep all oxygen masks readily and easily accessible. Place each mask’s operating instructions within close proximity so that a new user knows exactly what to do. Keep small portable respirators (i.e. dust masks that you can carry in your every day carry bag, or bug out bag.

Utilizing your escape plan, practice fire drills with friends, family or local neighbors. Get to know your building by feel, count the doorways to exits, etc. Practice so often . so you are able to escape with your eyes closed, because in a real fire, you probably won’t be able to see anything. Assure that everyone can run drills without even looking, and assemble and disassemble their BOB, emergency kits/masks blindfolded.
For example, when you check in to a hotel, as soon as you get to your room, before you even take off your coat, go back out into the hallway, and count the number of doors to the nearest exit. This way you will be able to find the exit by feel if you have to. Take the emergency stairs all the way down to the street, and make sure that the exterior door actually opens, so you can escape if you have to. These exercises can be done with other types of traveling accommodations (resorts, amusement parks, concert/theatres and other social venues).

2. WATER: Study water purification techniques. Stock up on water. Use the Sawyer Mini filter (insert a video demonstration). Have a metal container so you can boil water if you have to. There are many other methods. Stock up on both, recycled and newly purchased water bottles. However, these need to be rotated. This can be as simple as storing some tap water inside the bottles you are currently recycling or throwing away.

Organize your home to accommodate enough room for water storage that will last for (at least) 2-3 weeks. Start making room in small areas inside each closet, inside a spare kitchen cabinet (under the sink is probably best) or create an official DP area in a designation garage space. Try to stack up the bottles-as many as you can fit using a permanent marker to write down the storage date on to each bottle. These can be used for bathing, cooking, toilet flushing or cleaning.

3. SHELTER: Train outdoors in all kinds of weather, hot weather, cold weather, windy or rainy weather…so you get used to surviving in any type of climate.

NOW you can put one of your plans to the test. Incorporate the acronym PACE (explained in more detail later) into each drill/exercise.

–Use a snow/hot day for a planned fun day outdoors with family/friends/neighbors to practice walking (rather than using mass transit) with your BOB to meet up at a specified location or a camping site.

— Use a snow/hot day to stay indoors and pretend there is no electricity. These are good opportunities to practice making a fire without matches (in cold weather), find ways to cool your home (in hot weather). Utilize your preferred DIY hacks/survival skills for making candles, a portable stove/charger, and utilize some (if not all) of your BOB items. Train outdoors in all kinds of weather, hot weather, cold weather, windy or rainy weather…so you get used to surviving in any type of climate.

4. FOOD: Fasting is a great way to train for survival. Purchase MRE’s (Meals Ready To Eat) that can last for up to 25 years. Stock up. Buy a year worth of canned good, rice, bagged raw beans and shelf stable milk (such as, Parliament).

Formulate a food planFood is vital. Fire is the energy source used to cook our foods. Set a weekly meal plan that will incorporate some kind of intermittent fasting with periods varying from 12-36 hours). Adding protein shakes, smoothies and light salads into your fasting regimen are great ways to train for survival. When planning out your monthly budget, a lot some money that will allow you to purchase small batches of MRE’s (Meals Ready To Eat) per month/week. MRE’s can last for up to 25 years. I recommend Efoodsdirect.com to start with. They offer some good first time purchase deals. Stock up. Go to your local supermarkets and buy a year worth of canned good, rice, bagged raw beans and shelf stable milk ( Parliament).

Utilize your food plan by researching You Tube videos that demonstrates how to DIY meal replacement bars.

An informative beginners guide Vegetable Garden for All to start your own gardening.

Finally, a list of “Foods That Will Last You Forever.” Take a snapshot of the chart (next slide)or print it out to keep it handy by posting it on to your computer or fridge. Purchae a food dehydrator. There is a way you can make powdered eggs.

-Repeat Your Plan

Practicing your Shelter, Water, Food, and Oxygen plan (w/ discretion) is one of the most important aspect of your disaster preparedness phase. With discretion, revisit, adjust and modify your plans and make sure you share them with friends/family. Ask questions. Learn different ways to stay warm/cool/well hydrated/fed/protected contingent upon the crisis severity or location

Stay tuned for a more detailed post that goes into more depth describing the importance of each rule.