Appendix
Prioritized Checklist for the End Times
The following “prioritized checklist”—featuring military and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster preparation guidelines—is a prepper’s guide to help you get ready for the last days.
PRE-DISASTER/PRE-TRIBULATION
- FEMA recommends having access to one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum period of three days. That is three gallons of water per person.
- We recommend more than FEMA because you do not know how long it will be until you can get fresh water. Go with a minimum two gallons of water per day for five days, or ten gallons of water for each person.
- Purchase a quantity of commercial bottled water and drink by its use date. Keep rotating.
- High-grade rainwater barrels from a trusted filtrated source can be very handy in an emergency. Do your homework here; some have been known to leak.
- For longer periods, you will need the blue emergency, BPA-free, food-grade barrels in sizes from 15 gallons to as large as 320 gallons. The size needed would depend on the number of people and the length of time projected.
- For those who can afford it and have the outdoor space, there are also underground water cisterns that are quite large and can store water for long periods of time.
- There are many personal water filtration systems out there for a very reasonable price. These filters can purify 99.9 percent of all contaminants so you can safely drink water from puddles, ponds, lakes and almost all outdoor water sources.
- Home filtration systems. The best systems for the home are multi-stage reverse osmosis drinking water filter systems. If you still have running water at home and it has been contaminated, this system is a lifesaver. If you install one in your home, you will use it all year long and it will save you money on purchases of bottled water.
- Water purification tablets. You will have to wait for the tablet to work, anywhere from thirty minutes to four hours or more. There are tablets on the market that do not leave a foul taste. There are three main types of tablets: iodine (tetraglycine hydroperiodide), chlorine (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) and chlorine dioxide. Again, do your research online for the best and most effective tablets.
- Sources (Will Need Filtration)
- Groundwater (will need digging equipment).
- Rainwater.
- Canals.
- Wells.
- Puddles.
- Creeks.
- Streams.
- Ponds.
- Lakes.
- Seawater (personal desalting process).
- You will need a three- to five-day supply of food for emergency situations and then think about more long-term plans for an end-times scenario.
- Off the grocery shelf (rotate with good dates).
- Canned goods, including beans, chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, soups and vegetables.
- Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.
- Jerky.
- Peanut butter, nuts and seeds.
- Protein and/or energy bars.
- Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) can be obtained online or at most outdoor sports stores. You will need to rotate MREs with the best dates.
- Backpacking freeze-dried foods. These can be obtained online or at most outdoor sports stores.
- Homegrown gardens/fruit trees. A great place for vegetables, spices and fruits.
- Hunting. This is a bit trickier and more technical. It presupposes that you have access to hunting/trapping equipment and an area in which to hunt. Small game such as squirrel, birds, raccoon, possum and turkey can be trapped or hunted. Bigger game such as deer, elk and moose normally take a more experienced hunter.
- Fishing. If you have access to an uncontaminated pond, creek, pond, stream or lake, you can take advantage of fishing for your food.
- Certain items are required in an emergency. FEMA recommends the following:
- A Bible.
- Prescription medications, at least a week’s worth.
- Don’t forget non-prescription medications.
- Cash in case ATMs are unavailable or credit/debit card systems are down.
- Important documents. Keep copies of any documents you cannot lose, along with your family emergency plan.
- Kitchen items.
- Manual can opener.
- Utensils, cups, Tupperware, napkins, plastic ties, garbage bags and disinfectant wipes.
- Personal hygiene items such as moist towelettes and hand sanitizer. Also, don’t forget toothbrushes and toothpaste.
- Blanket and clothes. Keep a spare set of clothes and blankets to keep warm and dry.
- A battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio, for when there are no more batteries.
- Flashlights and extra batteries.
- Light sticks (glow sticks).
- First-aid kit and dust masks for any medical needs and to help filter contaminated air.
- Whistle and local map. You can use the whistle to signal for help and evacuate without GPS if needed.
- Cell phone and charger. Include a solar charger and/or fully charged power banks (will need to be recharged).
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to help shelter in place, if needed.
- Consider a nylon rope.
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
- A multipurpose, multifunctional tool.
- Hand-warmers.
- Waterproof matches.
- Gloves.
- Pocket knife.
- Fire extinguisher.
- In addition to the above, here are some things we recommend you have or at least think about.
- Non-digital or Lensatic compass when there is no GPS available.
- Firearms (depending on where you live) for self-protection and hunting. The best firearm for emergencies is what we call a takedown .22 caliber rifle, designed to be taken apart, which fits into your backpack. Having a shotgun and/or handgun is ideal as well. Plenty of ammo in each caliber you are using.
- Bow/arrows. Compound or recurve.
- Solar-powered generator. When there is no fuel available, this gem will come in handy.
- Self-powered or hand-cranked flashlights for when there are no more batteries.
- Parachute cord (550). This comes in different lengths. We recommend as much as possible, four hundred yards or more.
- Survival knife.
- Cold weather boots, pants and jackets.
- Cold weather tent, sleeping bags and tarps.
- Multi-tool shovel.
- Fishing equipment and bait and hooks.
- Saw.
- Bolt cutter.
- It does no good to have the equipment listed above if you are not prepared and trained to use it. Get smart, especially with firearm safety, about all things listed.
- Get trained or take courses in emergency preparedness. Many unexpected things can and do happen, so be prepared for those eventualities.
- Train with other professionals and/or believers. We survive better in groups when others have expertise in areas we do not.