Good question there will be as many opinions as there are people but I will give you a couple of the things I do.
I keep a kit in both my vehicles. (Water, food, sleeping bag, wool blanket, etc) I am also lucky enough to live with in walking distance of were we go on a daily basis. I also can choose several methods of transportation depending on need. Big truck with 4x4 can go when most are snowed in etc. Dual Sport Motorcycle can go many places as well as blast through traffic jams and other things that will stop or slow down a car or truck.
Contact points should be local as well as out of state. We use cell phones, local pay phone (close to house) and a dead drop. Your other contact should be several out of state relatives or friends that are not likely to be affected by the same thing that slammed you. My email I can pick up from any online access making it easy to keep in touch with people no matter were you are at. The radio has proved most useful to me during bad times and I have short wave as well as AM and FM. Battery power and or wind up powered sets are a must.
Most of my “stuff” is at my house stored in various convenient places that are handy. I also have a shed 8 hours away at a relative’s house but it is not utilized to its fullest extent. I also keep some “stuff” for a buddy of mine since I have room for it and he is headed here if TSHTF. Having a second country boy around should prove to be handy!
I keep a pretty decent 1st aid kit at the house and both my wife and I have some knowledge in its use. We also keep many useful tools and items I have found useful in the past.
I have 3 ways (not counting electric) to heat my house and several ways to light it. I cook with gas, which is more dependable than electric, but I also have that backed up should it go out. Empty areas of my chest freezer are filled with water bottles to keep it cold longer should I lose power. I can also add that water to my drinking supplies should I need to. We also know how to cook and bake so we don’t have to live out of a can or frozen dinner. Also if we can’t get to the bread store we can make it right here.
I have the capacity to store about 150 gallons of diesel as well as about 50 gallons of gasoline. I filled up before the big price increase last fall but have used up most of my stock now. I can carry enough fuel with me to get me to any place I need to be with out buying more fuel.
Some who read this will probably think I am crazy but after going trough several hurricanes, having tornadoes banging around, having to run from flooding and surviving several blizzards I am comfortable with were I am at.
All this seems to work pretty well we had a family emergency a couple of weeks before Christmas that hit our budget a good knock but were able to go for about two months with out buying food (besides a little milk) or fuel. Our life style did not suffer and what could of left us with big credit bills we were able to pay off while we lived off of our supplies.
This did not happen over night I add another layer every year. Start with the basics and build from there. Double-check everything during the fall or before storm season in your area.
Being able to take care of yourself and your family is very comforting. I don’t have to worry about bad things happening to me they already have several times. I survived and got smarter and better prepared.
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When the wolf attacks he will find that some who run with the flock are not sheep!