A few more low key ideas:

1. Buy a couple of extra cans of stew, veggies or fruit every week when you're at the grocery store. Get something that's on sale and that you know you and your family will eat.

2. Fill up all the water bottles in house. It's eaay to store them already full.

3. Put an extra set of clothes into a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase - 1 complete set for everyone in the house. Throw in a jacket and pair of shoe
too if you have extras on-hand.

4. If you have a freezer and there's room, make ice.

The first step I took was to think about "What if?" Recall what have you already experienced. Start small.

Think about the power going out and staying out for a while. What does no power mean for you at home, at work, on your commute? Consider the seasons, the buildings, the vehicles, who you are going to be with and what you are going to want to do.

Welcome to the new folks. I agree strongly with Read and Search. I spent at least six weeks before I even created a username taking the time to literally review every post. I reviewed them for the knowledge they contained and the tenor and tone of the conversations, which I was quite impressed with.

I was most impressed with the high degree of the presentation of facts and how many members minimize pure opinion. That was the key to what made me want to stick around.

There are some good posts in the history from members like Chris Kavanaugh and Old Bald Guy -- classics -- as are many others, before and since.

I learned so much just from those older posts, I don't even think I made anything other than a "Hello" post or two for another month, but I'm a pretty quiet type of guy. When I did make my first few posts, I received helpful, courteous feedback.

So, I would suggest settling in your most comfortable chair and start benefiting from the years of knowledge and equipment reviews available.

Again, Welcome to the forum,

buckeye

Water is another easy way to start -- Carrying a water bottle and storing some at your domicile...even just 2l in the fridge

2 lines of thought will also help greatly:

Safety first. Think ahead and try to avoid the bad stuff.

Get and stay healthy. Everything's harder when you're not healthy, especially the bad stuff.

Given the weather; a small radio and rain jacket...

Another place to start - EDC a multi-tool or add some stuff to your keychain
( " don't leave home without it.")

Beware the thousand pound beachball sized keychain though. It can be like wrestling an alligator! It seems like most of us started small, got huge and then shrunk up again (in terms of gear) as we figure out what works, what doesn't, what we need and what we don't. Even then, our daily carry and emergency supplies are ever-evolving.

Stock up on stuff that doesn't go bad.

Toilet paper and paper towels are two items. If you have TP and the other guy doesn't, trade item. What is TP worth to you?

Also, soap, candles, matches, peanut butter and honey. Just a place to start.

Then - learn basic skills. See if a local Community College has classes.

Good point - more than 3-4 items is enough -- after that, add another keychain. a good start