Week 1: Containers!

Week 1: Disaster kit containers: you can either use a separate container for each member of the family or a number of larger containers to use for the family as a whole such as a plastic bucket, suitcase, box, wheeled garbage container etc. Be sure that you can transport them easily one a wagon, luggage rack etc. If you use a separate container for each member of your family. Designate one container as the "main" container as some weeks you will be adding items only to one container. Find an accessible location for the containers to be stored, close to an exit, and known to all family members.


That, ladies and gentleman, is taken word for word from the gospel of preparedness and I will begin each week by quoting it verbatim, spelling and grammatical errors included.

It's probably the longest entry in this entire project and really it only says one thing. Get a container and put it somewhere.

I thought about putting together multiple containers to simulate a family of four but it seems like one container on it's own is going to cost me a fair bit as it is and I'm not rich. Instead, I'll just multiply the costs and the weight by four to get an approximate amount.

Here is the container I bought:

Ain't she a beaut? I went name brand because I want something durable that I can rely on in tough times. If an earthquake topples my building I want this baby to hold up when the ceiling falls on it. If there is a flood I want to be able to sail it to dry land. If the sun supernovas I want... okay in that event it would melt, but you get the idea. It's 24in x 16in x 16.5in, so it should be able to hold everything I will need for my kit.

I do have a question though. The text mentions transporting the kit... where would I transport it? Isn't the point of the kit to have supplies if I am stuck and can't access the outside world? If the shit hits the fan am I supposed to take my kit out to the parking lot and cook some baked beans while I wait for the national guard to come rescue me? I hope this gets clear later on.

I also took a picture of the receipt so that I can track the total cost of the project.

So far: $8.93 including taxes. Assuming a family of four the total would be $35.72.

I'm starting to get excited now. My first step toward being prepared for an emergency, hooray! It's not much yet, but at least it gives me somewhere to hide from the terrorists.

Disasters Can Strike At Any Time!

Introduction

What would you do if tomorrow morning, in your home town, a volcano erupted or a massive earthquake shook   or the terrorists struck, aliens invaded and zombies rose from the grave (the trifecta!)?

I know what I would do. I'd live comfortably on the contents of my Emergency Preparedness Kit. Well, not yet. You see, it wasn't until a few days ago that I realized I had a need for such a kit. I was skipping along, living in complete and joyful ignorance. Not of the threats, no, we all hear the threats every day. My ignorance was of the solution!

If there is no solution to your problems then they really aren't problems, are they? It's just life. It's only when there is a solution, and it's not in your hands, that you have a problem. And what does that lead to? Fear. Fear that when the terrorists strike you will not have enough canned soup nearby or that when a tsunami wipes out your home and all your possessions you will no longer be able to play checkers or shave your armpits.

Thankfully, my employers have seen fit to furnish me with the plans to develop an Emergency Preparedness Kit. It will take a mere 52 weeks to complete but when it is finished I will be ready for any contingency. I pass along this guide so that you too may benefit.

When our kits are complete, and the murderous race of cow-creatures has burned our buildings to the ground, we few, the prepared, can hold our heads high and proudly proclaim: I AM NOT A CANNIBAL!

Preparedness is Everyone's Responsibility!