The Zombie Apocalypse [aka Emergency Preparedness Tips]

September is Emergency Preparedness month so I felt the need to blog about this important subject. While current events might be inspiring my upcoming dystopian novel, I think it’s necessary to plan and discuss the possibilities in a realistic way. If we’ve learned nothing else since 2020, it is the importance of having extra toilet paper stored.

I’ve started approaching this much like I do vacation – expect the best but prepare for the worst. If you’ve read any of the Rahki Travel Tips then you might know I have embassy locations and contact info as well as various copies of identification info with me when I travel abroad. I hope to never need that knowledge, but I don’t want to have to scramble for it in an emergency situation either.

That’s my first tip and the purpose of this post – get the info ready now for easy reference in case of an emergency.

What information do you need to get ready?
–Red Cross Emergency Services contact information [phone, e-mail, location]
–Borrowing from my travel prep, have copies of your ID, credit cards, insurance, etc. You’ll also want those phone numbers/ websites to cancel/ freeze cards and to get help from your insurance company.
–Employer assistance information may be an option so check to see what your employer has available and jump through any necessary hoops now.

How should you store your document(s)?
–Put a copy wherever you keep supplies protected from water and with your first aid kits.
–Have a pdf saved with a contact and e-mail it so you can access through any mobile device [e-mail, Google contacts, etc].
–Give it your family [if they live elsewhere, a call to them alone may give you the information again].

When should you update?
That’s what September is for – it is Emergency Preparedness Month! Just like replacing smoke alarm batteries, use September to replace your emergency kits and information. If you post on FB or save a picture, it should come up in your memories. You can also simply save a calendar appointment too! I use vacations to remind me to update my personal information and to prepare accordingly. This is just one more way to get a handle on those pesky adulting requirements!

Again, a lot of this works well with my travel preparedness so let’s take it a step further!

Do you have the small FDA approved bag for liquids? Do you have a bag designated for travel with an extra phone charger, over-the-counter meds, and first aid supplies? I do and that will work well if I need to leave my home quickly. I already have some of the basics packed and ready. I replenish my supplies after I clean the bags following each trip.

Now, obviously, you may not have to leave quickly but instead hunker down and survive a few days or even weeks with limited outside contact. Supplies are necessary too so here are those lists now.

FEMA emergency kit PDF checklist
Ready.gov 12 ways to prepare
Red Cross Emergency Preparedness

Bonus: Zombie Preparedness for Educators: Emergency Kits 101 | CDC Zombies are cool so why not make the preparation work educational and fun??! I think this is a particularly good way to reach younger members of your family.

Additionally, yes, you can buy emergency kits online – absolutely! However, it is again my vacation planning that colors my plan here. My plan is to review what I need/ use on a daily basis and have enough to last at least a week. Food and water? Obviously! First aid supplies? Oh my yes! I also have cat food, meds, and additional water as that’s part of my day. Contact solution and extra glasses? Check! Books? Definitely! What you and your family need will differ so edit the emergency kit to suit your needs.

As you may need to travel from your home during an emergency, it’s also a good idea to have your vehicle prepared. The US government has a separate prep kit list for your vehicles – Car Safety | Ready.gov

If it’s unclear, I live in the US and my resources are US based. You will need to check with your local, regional, and national governments for more specifics. However, I think part of preparedness is awareness. Hopefully, this post will inspire a bit of that to get you started.
**Bonus tip: download the apps needed to track your local weather situation and be aware of what’s going on in your city/ town.**

I would like to bring up another point – safety includes more than just physical elements. Your right to protect yourself includes your mental and emotional well-being as well. I’ve blogged about this previously too, but I think it’s important to mention again here. If you are forced to abandon your home or forced into lockdown there, there will be stress, anxiety, fear, and so much more. If we are aware of this beforehand and keep it in mind when preparing our plans, I think we’ll have a better chance of handling it.

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**Additionally, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month.** We all need to talk – we all need help sometimes. Please reach out for help if you need it. Taking that action is a strength, not a weakness.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline1-800-273-8255
Chat online · Get help · En Español

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Back to Emergency Preparedness, I read a book to prepare to run a marathon and to paraphrase it, ‘expect pain and welcome it.’ This approach has been surprisingly helpful to me in a myriad of ways. Expect stress and welcome it. Expect disappointment and welcome it. Now, this isn’t a Debbie Downer type of advice. When my knees started hurting when I was running, I didn’t freak out or stop. I expected it and kept going. I think that’s the point and the useful part to take with you.

Being prepared can help lower the stress and increase the fun! Not being prepared, on the other hand, does nothing to improve the situation nor will it stop it from happening.

So, be aware and be prepared! Even small steps forward may end up helping in big ways. You don’t have to do it all right now, but consider doing something to be better prepared. Buy a first aid kit – post on social media – talk to your friends/ family – check out one website link above. If you are interested in more, classes are available and there’s a lot of information out there.

Be aware and be prepared!

Now, I know this is a stressful subject and can be overwhelming, so let’s end with a little fun. In my Rahki Chronicles, how a Tribe approaches training and handling difficult situations can reveal their animal spirit guide. Here’s a quiz which some (hopefully) fun and useful questions to help you further along your path. What type of Rahki Warrior are you?

As always, I love to chat so don’t be shy! You can comment here or contact me via my website – I’m open to guest blogs if you have a lot you want to chat about, my friends!

Until next time, be safe and take care of yourself! Be aware and be prepared!

-RSJ