Welcome to the Austin Oak Hills Stake Emergency Preparedness and Provident Living Newsletter: Preparedness Pulse! In this edition, we will provide valuable hints and tips for beginners, intermediate, and expert preppers to enhance your preparedness skills. Whether you’re just starting your journey or looking to take it to the next level, we’ve got you covered.

For Beginners:

1. Start with the basics: Begin by creating an emergency kit with essential supplies like food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, medicines, and a portable radio. This kit will serve as the foundation for your preparedness efforts.
2. Develop a family emergency plan: Discuss and establish a communication plan with your family members, including a designated meeting point in case of emergencies. Ensure everyone knows basic safety procedures like evacuation routes and shelter locations.
3. Learn basic first aid: Get a first aid book as a quick reference. This will help you remember procedures in times of stress when your memory is overloaded. Enroll in a first aid and CPR course to gain essential skills that can save lives during emergencies. Acquiring knowledge in treating injuries and responding to medical emergencies is crucial.

For Intermediate Preppers:

1. Expand your food storage: Develop a plan to gradually build a stockpile. A convenient starting goal is to have a three-month supply of things you regularly use. Consider including items with a longer shelf life such as canned goods, dehydrated foods, and grains. Rotate and consume these supplies regularly to maintain freshness.
2. Enhance your water supply: Invest in water storage containers and purification methods like water filters or purification tablets. Aim for a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day, accounting for both drinking and sanitation needs. Your goal should be working up to a two-week supply for each person in your household.
3. Learn self-defense skills: Consider enrolling in self-defense classes to enhance your personal safety. Acquiring skills in self-defense techniques and basic security measures can provide you with added confidence and protection during uncertain situations.

For Expert Preppers:

1. Diversify your emergency plans: Create contingency plans for various scenarios, such as natural disasters, power outages, or civil unrest have tools to shut off water and gas. Know where your circuit breaker box is. Assess potential threats in your area and develop strategies to mitigate them effectively.
2. Expand your skill set: Learn how to build a fire and then learn advanced skills like wilderness survival, navigation, and off-grid living. Acquiring expertise in these areas will enable you to thrive in challenging environments and during extended emergencies.
3. Build a network: Establish connections with like-minded individuals in your neighborhood who share your interest in emergency preparedness. Collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and create a support system that can prove invaluable during times of crisis.

Small Space Storage Solutions:

Even if you live in an apartment or a small house, you can find creative ways to store your food storage and other emergency supplies.  I will post some information here to help you get started searching for ideas.

The Survival Mom  

Search her website for posts on this topic.  Also if you use Facebook go to her Facebook page called The Survival Mom and search for “small space storage solutions” in the upper left corner of the page. 

Food Storage Made Easy  

This link has lots of great ideas and you can also see comments from people who have tried these ideas or have even more ideas.  Remember the saying, “If there is a WILL…there is a WAY.” 

Product Highlight of the Month:  Victorio Grain Mill  (non-electric):

If you plan on storing any grains, YOU NEED TO HAVE one of these!  This is small, very affordable and will be much better than smashing your grains between some rocks to make flour so you can have bread and other baked goods in an emergency.  Remember that grains stored in their whole, unground form will keep a lot longer than those already ground.

This grain mill can be used for wheat, barley, spelt, popcorn (for making corn meal), and even for making rice flour from your stored rice.  It clamps to your counter top or a table and does not need any power.  This retails for around $80-100.  If you just want to “save it for an emergency” it stores in a small box.  If you have an expensive electric grain mill, I would still get one of these to have for situations where you may be without power for long periods of time.

Remember, preparedness is an ongoing journey, and it’s essential to regularly review and update your plans and supplies. By continuously honing your skills and knowledge, you become better equipped to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

Stay tuned for next month’s edition, where we’ll delve into advanced strategies for long-term survival and resilience.

Stay safe and prepared!

The Preparedness Pulse Newsletter Team