7 Steps to build a strong “Family Preparedness Hub”

 

1.    1. JUST START WHERE YOU ARE!

Start a conversation about preparedness at your next family gathering.  Find out what “preparedness” means to individual family members.  You may find that many of their answers reflect how optimistic or empowered they feel about the future.

 

Your young family members will feel greater optimism and composure in an uncertain world when they see Mom, Dad, or other heads of household having pro-active conversations about financial, strategic, and spiritual preparedness. Communicate openly and honestly about state of the world we live in, yet re-assure them of your faith and the value of self-preparedness.  Include young family members in your safety preparedness planning activities. Visit FEMA.gov for youth resources.

 

2.    2. ACCOUNTABILITYIn the recent COVID-19 global health crises, there has been a lot of blaming going on. Ultimately, everyone must become accountable for family and community preparedness going forward. Make preparedness a part of your family by-laws.  Encourage one another, immediate family and extended family, to live prepared by having sufficient cash, water & food reserves, power & communications backup devices. We live in a time where viral outbreaks, weather disasters, and cyberattacks on our digital infrastructure and power grid are more and more prevalent. Be prepared to be “on your own”, until help arrives, for 7-21 days! Include preparations for your pets! They are family members too!

 

3.    3BUDGETNG & CASH STASH.  Encourage family members to make a pledge to budget and develop a preparedness cash stash.  You may meet resistance on this. Many people don’t want to talk about the status of their finances. Don’t get discouraged. Set the example. The decision to budget is one of the best decisions you will ever make.  If you are living financially unprepared, you are at-risk! Preparedness pays!

 

What’s the minimum cash stash you should have? We recommend $1600. Why?

At some point in life, most of us are faced with having to pay on-the-spot for some type of unexpected expense:

$500 for spending emergencies, for instance, if ATMs don’t work and you need cash!

$500 Car liability deductible, car breakdown, car repair

$600+  Health, Dental, or Vision Insurance Deductible, which often has to be paid before your insurance company’s coverage will pay!

$1600 = Total Minimum Preparedness Cash Stash!

 

When you maintain this minimum amount, you’ll experience less stress, less reactionary decisions, and less additional debt. If you already have this on hand, yahoo! If not, just start where you are and set aside 10% of your net income and you’ll get there.

 

 

4.    4. COMMUNICATIONS. Use your family preparedness meeting to establish a communications protocol in the event of an at-risk situation that occurs locally, regionally, or nationally. Most of us have family all over the United States! The most distressing and hopeless feeling that one can experience is not to be able to reach or relay a message to loved ones near and far. Be prepared in advance as to how you will all communicate.

 

·         Download this guide to get the conversation started…

Be Smart, Take Part. Create Your Family Emergency Communication Plan

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1440449346150-1ff18127345615d8b7e1effb4752b668/Family_Comm_Plan_508_20150820.pdf

 

      Family Emergency Communications Plan Fillable Form (PDF)

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1501681925535-41606db2566a70a863290fafd475a2a2/Family_Communication_Plan_Fillable_Card_508.pdf

 

·         Next, fortify your phone for safety and emergency communications with these apps…            

 

  

FEMA.gov App

 https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app

Available on Google Play and iTunes. Sign up for instant alerts to your phone.

 

 

             Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

https://www.ncdps.gov/Emergency-Management/Emergency-Communications/Emergency-Alerts-EAS-WEA

           A Wireless Emergency Alert give people a free and fast way to get key details. It        gives you text-like alert messages to your mobile device during an emergency.

 

Alerts to your phone  from your local government

https://www.ncdps.gov/Emergency-Management/EM-   Community/Directories/Counties

American Red Cross Apps

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html

Available on Google Play and iTunes. When Internet is not available this app provides a great resource to share emergency medical information

 

 

  The Beaconeer™ for Android   https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_pamslisttv.Beaconeer7&hl=en_US

Available on Google Play. $2.99. No ads. All of your phone’s communications tools are conveniently together in 1 app. Send safety and alert text messages and GPS location to Android and iPhones.

 

 

Twitter. Yes! Twitter is a great tool for family safety & emergency communications. Having a Twitter account enables you broadcast privatized messages to other family members, when they opt-in to your Twitter notifications! Learn how to do this in a “Preparedness Pop-Up™” at Perennial of NC.

 

5.    5. LEARN. Join a preparedness organization, such as Perennial of North Carolina, in order to learn as many preparedness skills as possible, such as solar cooking, HAM radio, off-grid power generation, and more! You’ll discover you’ve got a preparedness skill or two that can bless others. Share your skill in a “Preparedness Pop-Up”. These are short conversations/activities/and PDF downloads available online to assist others in their preparedness journey towards greater well-being, peace of mind, and resilience.

 

6.    6RELATIONSHIP WEALTH. Build upon the relationship wealth that is already in your family! Do some family preparedness projects, such as canning, solar cooking, learning to generate AC power with a bike, or attending CPR and other American Red Cross classes. together.  These activities bring family members closer together in a common cause.

 

Encourage family members to volunteer. Our connectedness to people who are not related to us is essential to preserving our sense of common humanity, empathy and compassion. It’s easy to be kind to those you know, but in order to please and serve God, we must be willing to minister to those we don’t know who are in need.

Prepare to have games and recreation for youth & family enjoyment. In event of power outages or limited access to electricity, set a family usage limit of all electronic devices and internet access. Engage in these oldie, but goodie games, that keep the mind challenged or burn calories indoors.

Jacks  – Yes! You can still order these at Amazon. Supervise around young kids. Swallow hazard!

            Puzzles – So many! So much fun! Supervise around young kids, swallow hazard

            Table Tennis – If you have a table and a little side space, that’s all you need.

Board Games   Everyone has their favorites

7.    Finally, put your trust in God into practice! Live preparedness strong, as described in Ephesians 6:12-13.

 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 

 

Invest in your financial and strategic preparedness. Live by faith, today. Plan and prepare, by faith, for tomorrow!

 

 

©Copyright 2020 Perennial Preparedness of North Carolina www.PerennialNC.com

 

 

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