Levels

Preparing for an emergency can be overwhelming and expensive. These Preparation Levels keep you focused on getting the job done with the resources you have. One step at a time works if you have a plan. This is the plan.

Seek to fulfill all your family's needs in Level One before you start Level Two, especially in categories that you find more interesting or fun.

Level 0: This is planning. What will your family really need? Worksheets will are available to help you think of these things. The good news is that you probably already have a bunch of these things and skills.

Level 1: You and your family are fully prepared for up to a 7 day emergency in your home, or if need be, you are prepared to evacuate to a safer location. This includes being prepared to take your emergency provisions with you. This Level is the most important preparedness accomplishment of all. You will learn what you need to be thinking about and what you can do to take care of your people.

Level 2: Is like Level 1, but you are now prepared for a crisis of up to 2 weeks long. Don't even think about this Level till you have completed Level 1 in every category. At this Level you build atop everything accomplished at Level 1.

If you skip around on the Levels when you are getting your stuff, you will run out of resources (money or time or energy or commitment or etc) before you accomplish the basics. Then your family is in danger. Stick to your plan.

Level 3: Like level 2, but for a 30 day long crisis. Transporting your provisions adds another dimension to your planning. You may need a small trailer.

Level 4: Upgraded to 60 days provisions and evacuation. Things become more complicated by the sheer volume of provisions (in all categories). A trailer is needed. Time to consider prepositioning (more on this later) some provisions and gear.

Level 5: Ninety days of provisions. Prepositioning is now necessary.

Level 6: Six months of provisions. Prepositioning needs to be expanded.

Level 7: A full year of provisions. Prepositioning needs to be expanded again. You should be seriously looking for land.

Level 8: Your own land off the beaten path, far from a large population base, with water, fertile soil, southern exposure, etc. Treat this as a vacation property while preparing to live there, possibly permanently. Everything about this place will be low key, out of sight, quiet, and defensible. Provisions for up to 4 years. Whatever is needed to grow food and raise appropriate farm animals (crop seeds, gear, buildings, equipment).