12 Months of Prepping,

One Month at a Time

​

MONTH 1

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Water-3 gallons per person and per pet

• Hand-operated can opener and bottle opener

• Canned meat, stew, or pasta meals – 5 per person

• 2 flashlights with batteries

TASKS:

• Inventory the disaster supplies you already have on hand, including your camping gear

• If you fill your own water containers, mark them with the date they were filled

• Date cans of food and food containers if you have not already done so

MONTH 2

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Canned vegetables – 4 per person

• Toilet paper – 3 rolls per person

• Sanitary napkins – 2 months’ supply

• Instant drinks (coffee, tea, powdered soft drinks)

• Family sized first aid kit

TASKS:

• Change the batteries  and test your smoke detectors.  Purchase and install smoke detectors if you don’t have them

• Make an inventory of home contents for insurance purposes. Take photographs (digital are easiest) of your house and contents. Store a copy away from your home.

MONTH 3

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Canned fruits – 3 cans per person

• Any foods for special dietary needs (enough for 3 days)

• A large plastic tub or bin for storage of food and other emergency supplies.

TASKS:

• Conduct a home fire drill

• Locate the gas meter and water shutoff points and attach/store a wrench or shutoff tool near them.  Also store special shutoff instruction, if any.

• Establish and out-of-state contact to call in case of an emergency

• Identify a location for your storage of plastic bin or tub.

MONTH 4

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Extra baby bottles, formula and diapers if needed

• Extra pet supplies; food, collar, leash, etc.

• A stash of at least $100 in small bills – more if  you can afford it

• Begin to stockpile extra supplies of critical prescription medications. Talk to your pharmacist for help in making this happen.

TASKS:

• Place a supply of prescription medicine(s) in a storage container and date the medicine(s) if not already indicated on its label

• Start putting supplies in storage container(s) and include blankets or sleeping bags for each family member

MONTH 5

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Canned, ready-to-eat soup – 4 per person

• Liquid dish soap

• Plain liquid bleach

• Portable am/FM radio with batteries

• Liquid hand soap and hand sanitizer

• Disposable hand wipes

• Disposable latex or nutile gloves

TASKS:

• Make two photocopies of important papers and put one in the storage container, and one away from your home.

• Talk with neighbors about organizing a neighborhood preparedness group.

MONTH 6

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Box of granola or power bars – 1 per person

• 6 rolls of paper towels

• Box of N-95 or N-100 face masks – 1 per person.

TASKS:

• Check to see if stored water has expired and needs to be replaced

• Put an extra pair of eyeglasses in the supply container

• Find out about your workplace disaster plans and the disaster plans at your children’s schools

MONTH 7

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• NOAA Alert Weather Radio

• ABC fire extinguisher

• Jug of juice – 1 per person

• Adult and children’s vitamins

• A pair of pliers and/or vise grip

• 100 feet of rope or paracord

TASKS:

• Take a first aid/CPR class

• Show family members where and how to shut off utilities

MONTH 8

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Box of crackers or graham crackers – 1 per person

• Dry cereal or instant oatmeal – 1 weeks’ worth per person

• 1 box of large, heavy-duty garbage bags

TASKS:

• Make a small preparedness kit for your car. Include food, water, blanket, small first aid kit, a list of important phone numbers

• Secure water heaters to wall studs (if not already done)

MONTH 9

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Extra batteries for flashlights, radio and hearing aids (if needed)

• Duct tape

• Add an additional 3 days of water to your supply per person and per pet

TASKS:

• Follow up on efforts to organize your neighborhood

• Conduct an earthquake drill at home: stop, drop and hold, then go outside. (Remember, and earthquake can happen anywhere as recent events have demonstrated.)

• Replace prescription medicines as required by expiration dates

MONTH 10

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Take the month off from purchases. Yay!

TASKS:

• Secure shelves, cabinets and drawers to prevent them from falling and/or opening during earthquakes

• Imagine your house with no electricity. What more do you need?

MONTH 11

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Package of paper plates

• Package of napkins

• Package of eating utensils

• Package of paper cups

TASKS:

• Exchange work, home and emergency contact phone numbers with neighbors for use during an emergency

MONTH 12

SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Heavy work gloves

• Begin to try to expand your food supply to twice of what you have on hand right now. Continue with this effort into coming 12 months.

TASKS:

• Check to see if your stored food and water needs to be replaced.

• ​