Top Ten Items to Stockpile for Natural or Political Disasters

Top Ten Items to Stockpile for Emergencies

By John Hicks of The Health Kicks Show on UK Health Radio

Even if you are not a UK prepper, common sense dictates that every one of us should have basic essentials in reserve for local or national emergencies. Anything from a deluge of snow through to flooding - maybe even a disaster or strike at a local power station, oil refinery or chemical factory in your area - which might disrupt supplies to your local shops or limit fuel supplies which then restrict your ability to get out and about.

 

Here are my top ten sets of items that I recommend you stockpile:

1. Water and Non-Perishable Food. I recommend at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum period of two weeks. In addition, you should have one of the charcoal water filter flasks. This way you can filter drinking water every day, in case the public water supply is contaminated or fails. Canned goods can be eaten without cooking. Also have dry goods in case cooking is not a problem — consume these first, and save the canned goods. I check my product expiry dates regularly and use up (and replace) canned goods which are starting to run out of date – I still keep water which has run out of date as that will be okay for personal hygiene use.

2. Flashlights and Batteries. Give priority to flashlights that use common batteries, like AA, instead of the exotic batteries that may be hard to find. Batteries have a long shelf life, so stock up plenty of them. Keep a torch by your bed anyway in case power fails in the night.

3. Candles, Matches, and Lighters. A single flame will light up an entire room enough to keep you out of the dark, and large ones will provide a couple of hours of light for weeks. Keep your matches in a waterproof container. Use lighters as a backup.

4. Clothes and Blankets. Keep a complete set of clothes stored in a case or one of the compressible plastic cases where you suck out the air to reduce space and keep the clothes dust and damp free. Give priority to wool — it will keep you warm even in damp conditions. I have a wool hat, woollen thermal socks, wool sweater, a pair of trousers, a scarf, a set of thermal underwear, gloves, and a waterproof, breathable nylon jacket with a hood.

5. Portable Stove or Camp Stove. Propane stoves or liquid-fuel stoves can be used indoors if the room is properly ventilated. Kelly Kettles will burn any available wood or charcoal, and are good if you can cook on a patio or balcony. Give yourself options. I have a set of camping Gaz burners and bottles stored in a box in an outside store.

6. Alternate Heat. You need a backup in case your primary heat source goes out. A fireplace, wood stove, SuperSer or propane space heater will knock the chill out of at least one room. I bought some secondhand gas bottles from e-Bay very cheaply.

7. Alcohol, Coffee, and Cigarettes. Even if you don’t drink or smoke, these make excellent barter items. Also, alcohol can be used as a disinfectant. Buy the cheapest stuff you can find, and give priority to plastic bottles, which are resistant to breaking. Vodka and brandy are good choices. Keep coffee and cigarettes in waterproof containers.

8. Weapons for capturing small animals and as a deterrent for intruders. A crossbow, a powerful air rifle or maybe even a shotgun are good choices. Be sure you have plenty of ammo. Ensure they are all securely stored, away from children’s’ reach.

9. Medical Kit. Your medical kit should include first aid basics, plus an additional supply of whatever regular medications you and your family members take. I have, over a period time by ordering my repeat prescriptions a week early every two months, have now built up two months’ reserves of my medication.

10. Tools. Just the basics here: hammer, screwdrivers, a knife, multitool, tape and glue, rope and twine, and a crowbar. Be sure you keep this kit untouched until the emergency. That way you know it will always be there.

 

 

Join John Hicks every week on UK Health Radio, your local radio station, iTunes or Podbean for The Health Kicks Show www.health-kicks.co.uk

 

Interested in prepping in the UK? Follow Prepping UK on Twitter: @preppingUK

 

A simple definition of prepping in the UK

By John Hicks of the UK Health Radio's weekly talk radio health and wellness 'Health Kicks Show'

So what is 'prepping' and who are 'preppers'.

Here in the UK, there are a growing number of people to devote some of their time and resources to learning about and preparing for  a major disaster in their locality which restricts the about of government resources to be able to support them in the immediate future.

Our newspapers, radio news and television news broadcasts are increasingly bringing us information about catastrophic events such as violent tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters which are are on the increase.

The world economy is still faltering and many are facing an uncertain financial future. Some people believe that the world will end because of an economic disaster; while others believe that there may be an EMP from a solar eclipse or the polar shift scientists have discovered will devastate the world we live in. All believe that in their lifetime that there will be a tipping point that will create social unrest and chaos.

In times of instability more people are looking for ways to not only provide for their families but to protect them. They want to make sure that in the event of a financial meltdown, catastrophic weather event, EMP, social unrest, or terrorist activity such as an attack on a nuclear power station, that they can provide their loved ones with the basic necessities required to survive.

We all watched in horror at the TV images of looting in riots here in the UK. And we stand by helpless when striking lorry drivers at petrol refineries threatened to starve fuel stations of the petrol and diesel supermarket delivery drivers needed to re-stock the shop shelves.

Those people who have decided to rely on themselves rather than waiting for the government to come in and rescue them from a crisis are called Preppers.

I am not an extreme prepper. I am ensuring that I have enough food, water, medicines and basic essentials for at least four weeks. But I am also looking at how I could take care of, and protect, my family over an extended period.

Welcome to Prepping UK from UK Health Radio

By health and wellness radio talk show, John Hicks, of The Health Kicks Show on UK Health Radio - which is syndicated to radio stations worldwide and available on demand on iTunes and Podbean


This is just a brief note to welcome you to my new blog on prepping in the UK.

It is intended as a gentle introduction for people new to prepping as well as an opportunity for established preppers to share their expertise and passion with a whole new audience.

My name is John Hicks and I present a health and wellness radio show on UK Health Radio. My interest in prepping, however, started some years ago when the UK government circulated a newsletter warning every household that we should have enough supplies to last at least two weeks in the event of a national or regional emergency.

So, I began to stock up and build up reserves, including equipment such as gas heaters and a small generator. In the severe winter of 2010, these became very useful when heavy snowfall drew transport to a complete standstill for a week or more so that shop shelves became depleted and it was too cold for petrol station pumps to operate.

Then when we founded UK Health Radio, we had the opportunity to air The UK Prepper Radio Show with Tom Linden. His interesting insights into practical prepping caused me to become even more interested and to share ideas in The Health Kicks Show.

I am now looking particularly how traditional herbal remedies and natural medicines could, in the absence of medications on pharmacy shelves, could treat everyday ailments and common conditions the natural way of our forefathers!

I hope you find my blog interesting. If you have expertise and a passion for this subject, do please share your blogs with me by writing to john@ukhealthradio.com - and join me on Twitter @preppingUK








Keywords: survival techniques, prepping, UK preppers, bushcraft, being prepared, survivalists, survival kits, SHTF, disaster preparedness, emergency planning, practical prepping, natural medicines, herbal healing