The past week of water contamination emergencies and burst pipes in my area due to winter storms has inspired a weird idea.
How about . . .
A Prep-Along!
Not that this is anyone’s view of a good time, but it’s something we should all do, at least on a basic level. So, for this first Prep-Along, we’re going to follow the FEMA requirements found at www.ready.gov. Exciting right? Let’s follow a government program together….YAY!
Hmmm….
Well, it’s a way to take something boring and try to make it fun anyway, right?
Here’s the set up:
- If you want to join in, declare your intentions in the comments section of this post.
- Then, every week I’ll post a new prep-along “assignment” for us to complete over the course of that week.
- As we prepare together, report on your progress, either in the comments section or, if you have a blog, you can link in comments to a post where you discuss any issues.
- In 8 weeks, we’ll all show off our progress.
To spice things up, not that we’ll need it with all the exciting government pdf’s to read, we’ll have a couple of giveaways along the way. I think an emergency preparedness book would be lovely, and, if we get really fancy, some hand-crank flashlights. WOW!
Are you up to the challenge?
This is a great idea. Two years ago, I got a bug up my butt & put together an emergency kit for my household (hubby & I, no kids or pets). Reading through all of the material & trying to figure out what we needed was a big pain but one that I’m glad I did. It would have been so much easier doing it along with a blog or another type of support system! It took me awhile (about a month in my free time) to read through everything & get it all together on my own. Also, the Red Cross website has quick sheets (1-2 pages) on emergency preparedness for different types of emergencies (tornado, hurricane, winter storm, etc.) so you can use these to concentrate on what pertains to your particular area.
And on an ironic note, as I was updating out kit this past weekend (tossing out expired items) our area got a tornado warning! Oh the irony…
Yes! Count me in!
I am up for the challenge. I do already have some items already prepped for a disaster. We never know when something can happen that we can’t use our water, have no electricity or whatever. We have several cases of bottled water. We also need to remember to rotate! OK, so I need to remember this.
Because we are on well water and our power goes out regularly, I have a dozen gallon bottles of water stashed, both non-drinkable water and drinking water. But that certainly wouldn’t be enough for even the five days the folks in WV have had to endure. But I don’t want to buy a lot of water and then not use it. Any ideas?
Also, how do you know when and how often to rotate the water?
Great idea– I’m in!
I’ve always wanted to do this….I’m in!
So you’re giving permission for me to buy a generator right!? This has been on my want list but some other bill always takes precedence. Anyway I can’t see any down side to being more prepared so count me in!
I’m in… We do some things but it is pretty piece meal… I do like the idea of having permission to buy a generator though !
When we buy drinking water, it has a date stamped on the bottle, but I’m guessing that you are bottling your own. To avoid waste, we just use up ours right before the expiration date & buy new.
I’m in!
Count me in. We live in one of the counties in KY still being plagued by line breaks and along the path of the WV spill as it travels down the Ohio river after leaving the Elk and Kanawha rivers. We already do a lot of preparedness stuff since we are homesteading of sorts. We had plenty of water stored already and were fine through this but many in the area were caught very much off guard. It will be great to do this along with others though and in a very organized plan.
Count me in! 😎
Okey dokey – count me in!
Count me in!!!!
I’m in!
Since my family in WV is still waiting to get the all-clear to flush their water lines – yes! Count me in!
We are ready for the Zombie Apocalypse !! Count us in!!!
We’re up for it down in MS.
count me in, i mean my garage is full of camping gear and the pantry full of can goods etc, and we have some hand crank flash lights, but i would love something to help me get organized and tell me to just do it!
oh and yes, hubby would say, to prepare for zombie attack
There must be something in the water (ha!), because my homeschool group was just talking about this last week. We, too, are downstream from the WV spill.
I’m in. This should be fun.
I’m in.
Great idea and a wonderful way to help others. Please count me in and thanks!
I’m reluctant to start, but I had just yesterday made an entry in my long range list of things to do: “emergency plan and kit with supplies”. Looks like the universe is giving me a nudge(!), so I’m in. (I usually regret it if I ignore a nudge.)
Watching the whole water problem back east has made me worried! I don’t really have anything done prep-wise, even though I read about it a lot! I just never got started. 🙂 and I have a feeling where I’m at, we’re going to have our own water problems in a few months – high heat and no rain. I’m in!
I think this is a great idea. I have wanted to get started doing this but like some others have said there is so much information out there it gets confusing. I think working with a group would be a good way to start. Thanks.
I’m in too.
Great idea. I have a little stocked up….but need all the help I can get. Count me in!
In Washinton State the powers that be used to say if water was commercially bottled it was good till the expiration date, if it was tap water then it was good for six months. Then around June 2013 they now say as long as the commercially bottled water is kept in a dark dry area it is good indefinitely.
I’m in!
Count on me too!
count us in
Count me in
LOVE this idea! After being so unprepared for last year’s winner I have been trying little by little to get a kit together. Thanks for suggesting we tackle this as a group!
Count me in too! We have water barrels and a water BOB we got off amazon. We have started to prep some dry food goods and would like to get a generator like the others, maybe this year…. This is such a good concept..
Let’s get started!
Sounds cool!
I’m in!
Awesome! I’ve been wanting to do that, thanks for the group nudge.
Count me in!
Sounds very interesting
Group activities are the best! I’m in too.
I’m in. I think this is very important stuff!
I am in.
I would love to join.
It never hurts to be prepared. Count me in.
I would like to participate, as I have a very unorganized emergency kit!
I have just begun to start some emergency preparedness for our family. I am so in!!!
Since I just had to send water to my Grandmother in WV, I am definitely interested!
I am in central WV and have been making preps for some time now; after Sandy left me without for 14 days and always power loss of up to one week in the winter; my preps are water and solar and wind power; still trying to get the well so I can plug it into the solar gen. for short periods of time.
Do count me in!
Great idea! Let’s do it.
Count me in! We do this in my ninth grade class during tornado awareness week on Ohio. I’m always looking for new suggestions!
I’m in!
Have been doing a little of this for awhile, but without real direction. Thanks for starting this blog. I will find it interesting and helpful.
oooh, count me in.
Generator give-away please!!!
LOL
I would like to participate.
sounds great
I’m in! We live far out in the country, so being prepared is important.
Count me in!
I’m in
I’m in.
Sounds good. I’ll participate.
I’m joining all of you. ;- )
Okay, I’ll do it!
Great idea!
i’ll give it a shot. no extra funds available but I already have hand crank flashlights.
Count me in!
Yes, please, it’s seldom too late to start.
Awesome idea…I’m always joking about how unprepared I am, but it’s just a front since I would like to be prepared, but just don’t know how to start!
We live in Coastal Virginia, so we have to prepare to flee (hurricanes), in addition to preparing to stay put. We have done a few things, we have a generator, and water purifier and a few things like that. But haven’t done much with food storage. Looking forward to it.
I’ll participate. I live in So Cal so freezing’s not an issue but I’ll definitely follow along.
I’m in!
Great idea. Will keep me on focus with a goal.
I’m on board!
I would love to follow along. Our philosophy with prepping is to try and keep it as simple and sustainable as possible.
I’m in.
Sounds good.
Ready to give it a shot!!!
I need some motivation! Looking forward to this.
I’m in.
I’m in!
I’m in
Yes, please!
Yes to preparing.
Count me in.
I would love to join in the prep-along!
Count me in
I’m in! I have home canned goods, a generator and a woodstove, what’s next?
Not a bad idea!
I’m gonna give it a try!
I’m in. Got a wood stove after power was off for a few days a couple of years ago. We love it!
Love this always looking to be prepared. Now if I can just get my Labor and delivery bag ready!
I’m in.
Great, sounds like apretty neat plan! I’m with you all.
I’m in!
ok I’m in.
I’m in! I live in earthquake country & must get prepared better. Thanks for your help!
Oh, boy! I’m in!
I have been working on this but rather haphazardly. It can be kind of overwhelming to think about. But I would like to get organized!
Im in…Ive been putting off doing this and have been thinking about it a lot lately.
I need to do this!
Sounds great, thanks! I’d love to join you.
Aloha,
I live in Hawaii and every summer is hurricane season. Not that we have very many of them.
Keeping a fully stocked emergency kit is a regular occurrence. I actually spend more time rotating the older items out and replacing them with new for the upcoming season.
I’d love to be a part of your “prep along” program.
STEVE
wellll – I do think I need to jine-up, too!
I’ve been at it a long time but always interested.
This is probably something I should do.
I’m in!! I have been dragging my feet about doing this for a long time. Thanks for the kick in the pants. I’ll post progress on my blog at http://www.makingshift.com (and in the comments section here).
Been slacking on preps for a while. I’m in.
Interesting.
Sounds like something we talked about, over Christmas Break, that we needed to start doing.
YES!
I’m in! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. What a good way to get motivated.
Good idea! And, just as when you’re cleaning your house, I suspect it will be more fun with company.
I’m game. Even preparedness gals need to brush up on the basics!
I’m going to try to follow along also. I really need to get reorganized and prepared.
The “Big One” is always around the corner for us So Cal folks. I’m in!
De and Da, love, love, love this site!!!
Very much like to join
I’m in.
I think I am going to give this a try with you. I am new to this but definitely see the need. We live in a tornado area and I am from the East Coast. That being said, I think everyone needs to be prepared. Pray for the best, prepare for the worst. Thank you for helping us with this.
also http://www.uglyudderfarm.com
I am so ready to do this! what a fantastic idea. I too had 14 days without power during the ice storm, and with farm animals I found myself going to my pond, axe in hand, to get water for my horses and goats and chickens twice/day! was a hard couple of weeks, but also seemed to pull the community together!
Yes!
I do believe this is needed.
Count me in too 🙂
I started prepping over a year ago. This will keep me motivated!!!
I’m in. Sounds fun.
Sounds like fun, sign me up!
Me, too! please!
I’m ready to freshen up my supplies.
Sounds good to me!! I’m in!
How long has it been now that just about ever day the news talks about some horrible calamity ? Everyone needs to have some basic preparedness. Longest we have been without- about four months- husband out of work. Everyone should have some food some water- our pipe busted and we had none for like three weeks- some people never experience trials- but I’m not independently wealthy- so I need to prepare myself.
Joining!!
I’m with you!! Got the house on the market, but it never hurts to prep!
Sounds like a great idea….let’s do it together.
People would never go without homeowner’s insurance but buy feeling relatively confident and hopeful that they will never use it so why not have the insurance of a little things put aside to keep your family alive. I have known some folks that used their extra food, etc. when they were short on money or needed to use the money for other things.
Yes, please sign me up.
Joining in!
I’d like to join in. I already do some prepping but would like to get more organized.
I will give this a go…I am a very busy grandma but think this is important for me and my family..one learns many benefit!!
I’d like to join in. I’m sure we could use some organization help in this area.
Blessings,
Michelle
I’m in!
Can’t hurt!
Sounds good….thanks
Sounds like a really good idea! I’m in.
We’ve been working on self sufficiency for some time, but can always learn more. I’m in!
Sounds like a good idea for everyone. I’m looking forward to it.
Didn’t read this the first time around, very busy at work! Thanks for the link back… it got me to read it and it’s a great idea. Here in New Zealand we are at risk for earthquakes, and every time we have one I think I should get onto preparing a survival kit, but NEVER DO!
Sounds like a great idea!
Thanks for this opportunity!
🙂
Sounds interesting
Being prepared came in handy when we were without power and water (on a well and you need electric for the pump) for nine days after an ice storm. Can always learn more. I’m in.
Look forward to learning lots of neat things.
I’m in!
Count me in…..
Totally ready! This is something I’ve talked about and even started collecting forms for, but let sit on the side. I’m excited to get this project started with the help of your blog and motivation.
Me too!
Definitely something we need to do.
Just what I needed to get me back on the preparedness bandwagon. I’m in.
I’m a little late but need to get my butt in gear and do this. Count me in!
Sounds beneficial. Thanks
Sounds like something I need to do, so sign me up.
Let’s do this…
Needed…Thanks…
Much needed and appreciated, I’m in. Looking forward to it already!
We have been without electricity for 5 days during hurricane season several times. We used our camping stove to cook, but the hardest thing to deal with in Florida in the summer is the heat. Looking forward to following along.
This sounds like something I would enjoy doing.
We were without power during ice storm ’94. All of my guys are scouts so we managed well but it was still cold. My favorite food on a camp out is bread toasted with butter on a pan over a campfire with breakfast. My favorite treat on a camp out of course is toasted marshmellows (golden).
So far it looks like about 8 natural disasters are a possibility in my region!
Sounds intriguing. Let’s try it! 5 days without power one year did’t get us to prepare. Maybe this will do it? 😉
Count me in! I have been needing to do this for some time now!!
OK!
I look forward to reading everyone’s comments. Already the weatherman is predicting that January will go down as the first rain free January in over 150 years here in the desert Southwest followed by a hot dry El Nino summer. I need to prep for higher food prices and water rationing.
I’m in. We used to live in an area that would lose power when the wind blew, sometimes for a few days at a time. Now, I would like to teach my kids (12, 13, 15, 18, 19, & 26) how to be prepared.
Count me in!
Yes I would like to join. Last spring we bought a Pro Pur One water filter from Info Wars. Big Berkey also has a great one. This takes everything except the minerals out of the water — all the chemicals, all the parasites. So if water suddenly goes bad we have that option. I use it for cooking and drinking even now although we have good water. But that can change in a heartbeat. I am putting together an emergency kit for my jeep in case we ever got stuck in the snow (western Colorado, in the Rockies). I have a pretty extensive list but I have only been able to buy a few things at a time.
Sounds like you are getting ready . I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast so we have to be prepared at all times during Hurricane season.
BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, HAVE TO BE READY FOR ANYTHING.
I’m in – sounds like it will be interesting. 🙂
So glad I seen this. I’m ready!
I would like to join!
Love this idea!
Sounds good.