Simple Disaster Prep for the Anxious and Easily Overwhelmed

OMG! An earthquake is coming! … Sometime in the next few hundred years! Don’t be caught with your snacks out.

As someone who lives in Portland, Oregon, I think about The Big One.

A lot.

I think about it when I go over bridges. I think about it when California or Alaska has an earthquake, or whenever I’m at the beach.

But when you read those articles about getting ready for an earthquake, it’s too long, and for a lot of people, therefore, didn’t read.

Too long. Too scary. Too overwhelming.

How about an ACTUAL REAL LIFE EASY place to start for your earthquake prep? Start here, and soon, you’ll have made real actual progress toward being more ready to face disaster head-on.

Aaaand you’ll have made progress toward having more snacks on hand. Always a good idea.

Note: I am absolutely not an expert. I’m just a reasonable person who reads about earthquakes a little too much.

Five steps to earthquake prep a dad would *almost* be proud of

Reach these towering heights of “fair” disaster preparedness in just five easy steps.

One: Make Some Space

This is the hardest part, but you can do it! HIGH FIVE! I’m psyched, are you?!?

Clean off half a closet shelf. You just need a little space for provisions. On the floor is great if you don’t have kids or dogs nosing around, because when something’s on the floor, it’s less likely to fly around and break during any major shaking.

Can you do this now? Just leave your phone open to this page. Come back when you’re ready. Don’t you dare pin this tab, pal. Just get a few feet of space empty while you’re thinking of it.

Advanced moves: We know the advanced part is getting any “donate” bags to transport themselves to the thrift store. Maybe schedule someone to pick them up for you?

Two: Grab Some Water, Put in the Space You Just Made

The next time you go to the store or order groceries, get a few gallons of water. Put it on that empty shelf.

There. You’re halfway prepared, really. That’s the most import part.

Get as much as you can fit, but if you can, get enough for you, your roommates, and your pets for three days or so.

Yes, your roommates. You’re not going to tell your them they can’t drink YOUR water in an emergency. Strength in community, people.

Advanced maneuver: Keep some extra water at the office if applicable. Put some smaller water bottles in the freezer.

Three: SNACKS

You can do snacks.*

Think of food you keep around that’s reasonably nutritious and keeps for several months at a time. Trail mix? Snack bars? Dried fruit? Jerky? Crackers?

What’s easy that you don’t need to cook?

Buy extra of that, and rotate your stock. That means putting the new box behind the old box.

That’s it.

There is no need to make this complicated. Keep extra food on hand. Most people can survive on trail mix, crackers, and water for three days.

Advanced measure: Get yourself some Earthquake Treats. Check your stock every so often. When the earthquake treats are close to the expiration date, you get to eat them and buy more treats!

*If you find it hard to find food that’s tasty, just buy whatever you can find that’s edible that will last the longest. MREs and those other prepper foods might work for you, and you don’t have to think about them for years.

Four: Light and First Aid

Things are going to get dark when the power goes out. Literally. Not figuratively, since you’ll be rocking your Oreo stash. Make sure you have a flashlight or lantern or two, plus extra batteries.

Buy a pre-made first aid kit and throw that in. Cheap is totally fine here. Think discount store.

Advanced: Keep a flashlight and sneakers near your bed. You can’t keep a flashlight and sneakers near you all the time, but you’re in bed like a third of your life, so you might as well work the numbers.

Five: Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

Holy crap! If you did that, you are WAY more prepared than you were before! You did it!

Now stash a few extra rolls of toilet paper in the back of your emergency shelf. Just to be safe.

Bonus Round

If you have special needs, like for medication or pet food, make a plan for that.

Other things it might be handy to have around? Ponchos, duct tape, emergency blankets, more snacks, paper maps, weather radios, matches, etc. etc.

Now that you’ve done the basics, you might feel better about reading one of those longer lists and ticking things off slowly over time.

Because you’re prepared like that.