30 Days of Prepping - 2026

[EBuff75]

Day 9 - Spread the word!

I've already talked about the power outages that we had here and how my neighbors are now considering getting power stations of their own after borrowing mine.  Today, that spread to my workplace.

I'd taken some time off around the holiday weekend and today was my first day working again since then.  I was amused to find that I'd come up in the team chat during the storms, from people saying that they need to have a talk with me to get some recommendations on power stations!  It turned out that numerous members of the team had lost power and that most of them weren't ready to deal with that.  For example, one of them has a generator, but it isn't running and they don't know what's wrong with it.  Because of that, they just had to toss a bunch of food that was ruined.  They know about me and my power stations, and several of them were asking for some recommendations (which I provided).

Then, one of my coworkers started messaging me, telling me how she and her husband have been trying to get more prepared.  We talked a bit about power stations, but that shifted into a general preparedness discussion.  She told me that she and her husband have been trying to do more of this and that they're building up a food / water backup and that storing water is hard, which I agreed with.  I then sent her examples of a variety of different water purification options, everything from a Life Straw up through a Big Berkey.  She was going to take a look at those as a way to continue to purify water if they run out of what they have stored.  We're all in the Detroit metro area, so almost everyone is on public infrastructure for water/sewer.  If that goes down, you're out of luck unless you've prepared for it!

So the storms have had a good result in this manner, that they're prompting people to look at how they can improve their preparedness.  I don't know if everyone will follow-through, but any little bit counts and I'm happy to continue to answer their questions and discuss the topics with them! (I joked that maybe I ought to offer a basic preparedness course for my team!)  

We had our CERT meeting tonight and during it we discussed the recent storms too.  One of the couples there have recently put in a large Jackery system (one with the expansion batteries) and while she'd been a bit skeptical at first, it won her over when the power went out and she didn't have to go out into the rain to get the generator going!  

Outreach and talking with others is an important aspect of Preparedness Month, so I'll take this one as today's task!

[majorhavoc]

And I think what you're describing is a great example of the difference between being "fit" and the idea of "farmer strong."  Heavy, hard labor may not end up with a flashy physique, but damn if it doesn't make people who can get a lot of stuff done!  My dad grew up on a farm and even at 80 and having lived in suburbia ever since his mid-20s, he can still lift and do things that are well beyond what most people his age can manage. 

Now you just need to do that same sort of thing every week for a couple of years and imagine how great your conditioning would be if you ever really needed it! 

That's a really good comparison and precisely point I was trying to make! A lot of us harbor fantasies of living off the land in primitive, wilderness conditons, or traversing 20 miles a day with a full load of survival gear on the way to some distant bug out location.  Reality can hit hard when you attempt anything approaching that as a dry run/training experiment.  

I suspect that I and most preppers have a bit more in the tank should a desperate need ever arise and the adrenaline really gets pumping. But it's instructive to put yourself out there, guage what you're really capable of and maybe adjust your expectations.  Or at least revisit and reassess your plans every few years. Because none of us are getting any younger and what might have been possible 10 years ago isn't necessarily realistic today.  And finally, it's sober motivation to get in better shape. 

[EBuff75]

Day 10 - Recharge USB power banks

Got a bit behind on updating here.  On Thursday I went through and recharged all (I think) of my USB power banks.  These are the small ones, like you'd use for a phone.  This is where I really started my current obsession with power stations more than 10 years ago, and I've got a ton of these, as they used to be my primary source of power during an outage.  I've posted previously about all the USB lights that I have (primarily the Onite USB lights) and this is how I powered them.  At one point I had a digital outlet timer connected to some USB plugs with ALL of these power banks plugged in so that they'd all get 1hr of charging each week to keep them topped off.  In recent years, with my shift to power stations, I've discontinued this, so it's been a while since they were all charged.  They're all still working just fine though, they just needed topping off. 

[EBuff75]

Day 11 - Review first aid kit from my Suburban

This is long overdue.  Almost ten years ago I bought one of those large, pre-packed first aid kits (really a base-level EMT kit) for my Suburban.  It's a large bag, but not a very good one, nor were the contents all that great.  I added quite a bit of additional stuff to it, but the bag never worked well and after a few years, some of the seams started to come apart.

Currently, I've got the contents spread all over my living room as I evaluate it all.  I've started going through and making a list of what's in it that I'd like to keep or replace and new things to add.  The bag itself has to go and I'm reviewing different ones online as replacements.  The irritating part is that I can't find one that is really what I have in mind, but I'm sure that I'll figure something out.  

Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of expired items in it which need to be replaced and I've started a list.  Because I've been planning this for a while, I'd already purchased a few of them.  Until I get a replacement bag, I'm using the current one simply as storage as I check things off the list.  Organization will come later!

I'll continue working on this until I've got it assembled.  Hopefully I'll get the new bag and many of the contents at least ordered this weekend and get some shopping done for the items which are easily acquired from CVS or Walmart.  

[eugenenine]

I have a reminder in my calendar at the start of each month to check/charge gear

    1. Phone battery bank
    2. GPS battery charge (eTrex)
    3. Both headlamps
    4. small AAA light
    5. MAG XL50 in Camelbak, charge both battery sets
    6. Garmin InReach mini 2
    7. GoPro
    8. Scanner
    9. UV-5r
    10. Bike Lights
    11. Bike Pump
    12. Garmin Striker Cast
    13. Garmin data export
    14. Nextcloud server data backup

[EBuff75]

Days 12-13 - First aid bag, investments, hydroponics, and lessons learned videos

The last few days have sort of been a blend of things, so I'm just going to list them all here. 

I've continued to work on the version 2.0 of my truck first aid kit and have ordered a new bag and some contents. Hopefully, I'll have the bag mostly updated this week.

I also reviewed my retirement accounts and did a slight rebalancing, something I hadn't done in a few years.  Financial preparedness is an important aspect that isn't always considered, but given the inability to avoid both death and taxes, doing our best to prepare for the financials involved in both of those is a good idea!

I've posted previously about my iDoo tabletop hydroponics setup. I'd finished off the last harvest a while back, but the whole system needed to be cleaned out before I could plant new items.  I scrubbed everything off today and started a new batch of seeds. Hopefully in about 6wks I'll have some fresh greens to eat.

Finally, I stumbled across a video done by someone who went through Hurricane Helene, describing things that worked and some that didn't.  It's quite well done and although it might seem to be fairly basic information for most of us, I think it's worth a watch (linked below). It lead me to watch some other videos on the same topic, but I think this was the best of the ones I watched.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQx-vEIvOk

[EBuff75]

If you're curious, here are some of the other videos about Hurricane Helene that I watched:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8WSJ-VCNw8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx9z2PivCnY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTCcZB6BiYY

[eugenenine]

There are a couple good blogs out there from people who went through hurricane katrina too.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Back on the old ZS boards, we had a massive thread on experiences from Hurricane Katrina. Shame all that info is now lost to the void.

My only experience with a hurricane and the aftermath was Hurricane Rita and my experience was rather tame compared to others in my AO at the time. I managed to avoid serious damage to the house I was living in at the time and only dealt with power outages for maybe a week.

Biggest issue I dealt with was losing two fridges full of meat and other perishables (we'd just gone to the grocery store and stocked up maybe a week before we had to evacuate from SE Texas).

[Skidjit]

We picked up a Ecoflow DELTA 3 Classic 1024Wh /w 160W solar panel bundle from QVC. Just arrived today, I'm going to start charging it tomorrow after I get home from work. Want to get it charged and ready to before I head out on my next road trip later this week.

[EBuff75]

Back on the old ZS boards, we had a massive thread on experiences from Hurricane Katrina. Shame all that info is now lost to the void.

Actually, the Katrina thread was archived and is right here:  https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=785.0

And here's the archive.org link for the original thread

[EBuff75]

Day 14 - Continue work on first aid bag

Ordered some more stuff online tonight.  The bag should arrive tomorrow, which will let me start to organize the items that I have and figure out how much space there will be.  The bag is roughly the same size as my old one, but it has more pockets and storage built-in.  It's another no-name company, which means that the first thing I'll do is evaluate whether it's worth keeping, or if I'll have to return it and find something else.  On paper it looks pretty good, but there are mixed reviews as to the quality of the zippers in particular.  

One thing I decided was to standardize anything battery-related on AAA for the bag, which will let me put lithium batteries into things like headlamp, flashlight, pupil light, etc., plus have some spares as well.  Previously, those sort of items all just had whatever they came with - coin cells, AA, AAA, rechargeable, etc.

I may squeeze in a few other things this week, but the bag is my main focus at the moment.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Back on the old ZS boards, we had a massive thread on experiences from Hurricane Katrina. Shame all that info is now lost to the void.

Actually, the Katrina thread was archived and is right here:  https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=785.0

And here's the archive.org link for the original thread

That is great to hear. I was afraid all that info would be lost when the old boards went down.

[EBuff75]

Day 15 - Start to fill the new first aid bag, wireless mic for radio

The new bag arrived and I'm mostly happy with it.  I would've liked it more if the main compartment was a bit bigger, but it'll do.  The zippers work well and the bag is much sturdier than the old one.  Bottom is rubberized and even has two full-width plastic skids on it to protect it when you put it down.  I'll be receiving my online orders with stuff to go into the bag for the next few days and I still need to make a shopping run as well.  Hopefully I'll have it ready by this weekend, because...

Our CERT is working at Oktoberfest this coming weekend. This consists of security (keeping people from leaving the area with their beer), helping to get the hay wagon in/out of the event space (have to move barricades at the entry/exit), and first aid.  Because of the drinking, this is the only event we work each year where we consistently have to provide first aid beyond band-aids to kids.  This is primarily due to people falling over and hurting themselves (it's in a paved parking lot). Last year we had someone fall and break a wrist, right at closing on the last day.  Fortunately, our ER nurse was working that night.  She bandaged the woman up enough for the other people in her group to take her to the hospital. We have our own first aid supplies for CERT, but it doesn't hurt to have mine too (last year I provided a cold pack for the broken wrist).

It's also supposed to rain all day Saturday.  Rather than dealing with the cord for a shoulder mic underneath my rain gear, I ordered a water-resistant wireless mic for my GMRS radio. That's supposed to be here Thursday and should be much easier to deal with.  We have canopies that we set up next to the two entrances to sit/stand under, but we'll still have to wander around some.  Unfortunately, Saturday is kids day, including a bunch of bounce houses which will likely be shut down.  And they'll probably cancel the hayrides that day too.  Not sure how they're going to deal with the bands, as the stage isn't under the big beer tent (unless they do a different setup this year).

[EBuff75]

Day 16 - Organize battery drawer & continue working on first aid bag

I've got a cheap, old dresser in my workshop that I use for storage.  I use one of the drawers in it for batteries and it's so full of them that sometimes the drawer gets hung up just trying to open it!  Tonight I emptied it out and reorganized it.  Apparently, I've got a battery problem...  Two 48 packs of alkaline AA batteries, plus a few assorted others from other packages that I've already opened.  Two 24 packs of lithium AA batteries!  An opened package of alkaline AAA batteries, plus a ton more of mismatched ones that came with various electronics over the years.  A 12-pack of lithium AAA batteries. Lots of assorted button cell batteries, plus a few oddball sizes for things like garage door openers.  About a dozen lithium CR123a batteries.  Two partial packages of D-cell batteries.  Finally, two 12-packs of C-cell batteries, plus an open package of them!

Not sure what I'm going to do with the C-cell batteries.  The only things I own which use them are the two old flashlights from my vehicles.  Maybe, if I put those flashlights here in my house somewhere that I'd actually use them (next to the kitchen door?) I might actually use up a few of those batteries.  Realistically, they'll probably go bad long before they end up getting used.

The D-cells I can find a use for.  I've got a couple of flashlights, plus my exercise bike control panel that use those.  I didn't realize that I had so many AA and AAA batteries, but I'm set for years!

With the updated first aid bag, I had decided to standardize on AAA batteries for everything, so I opened up that package of lithium AAA batteries and filled the flashlight, headlamp, pupil light, and pulse-ox meter with those.  I'd poked through the drawer earlier this week, but it was such a mess that I missed the AAA lithiums in it, so I have another box of them coming.  That's fine.  I have an 6-space AAA Storacell battery storage container to go in the FAK as well that I'll fill from the new batteries when they arrive.

Some more of the stuff I'd ordered arrived today and I also made a trip to CVS and then to a Family Dollar for a few more items.  Both of those were rather underwhelming in their selection, so I'll have to go elsewhere (maybe Target) to fill in the remaining items.

Edited:  Forgot to mention that there are little lettuce sprouts showing up in my hydroponics already!  

[EBuff75]

Day 17 - More first aid kit work

I was trying to get the kit in functional shape prior to working at our local Oktoberfest event this weekend, so that was the focus on the 17th.  I've still got some items that I need to buy, particularly to refresh the eye care, burn care, and dental care modules in the kit.  Some of those may be easiest to buy online and then add items to them as needed.

[EBuff75]

Day 18 - Ordered water bladder for tub, plus a professional review of my first aid bag

I'd already had the water bladder in my wishlist, so today I just pulled the trigger on it.  It's a nice, easy one for today, given that I was busy for much of the day working at our local Oktoberfest event.  I've got multiple ways to filter and purify water, but having the ability to store 60+ gallons of potable water on-demand is another redundancy for any significant events.

This week I've been focusing on the big first aid bag that I keep in my Suburban.  During a slow period working at Oktoberfest this evening, I pulled my bag out and walked through it with one of our CERT members, who happens to be a career ER nurse.  I showed her the bag itself, the contents, what needs to be replaced, and a few more things that I'm planning to add.  Her opinion:  It's extremely well set up and in many ways exceeds hers!  That was a big relief to find out that I hadn't missed anything significant and that the layout made sense as well.

I'll do a full run-down of the bag once I've got it wrapped up and I may cover my other first aid bags as well (smaller one for my car and a trauma bag).  Not sure when I'll get to those, but I will post some pics and a content list sometime.

[EBuff75]

Day 19 - Not much

I was working at our local Oktoberfest for most of the day, so other than talking with a few people about CERT, I didn't do much.  I did show my updated first aid bag to a few other CERT members as well, so that they could get some ideas for themselves.  We have a few who are members of the Civil Air Patrol and they said that they can't officially have anything that isn't Air Force approved in the planes. However, they did note that they carry more items in their cars, just in case. 

[EBuff75]

Day 20 - Order more items for first aid bag

I ordered eye injury, dental care, and burn kits online for my first aid bag, along with supplements for all of them.  These were a few of my remaining areas that needed to be filled out in the bag.  I also packaged up some plain band-aids to include.  I'd already put some of the Curad Iron Man band-aids in it, but these are the normal ones from Band-Aid too.  

This week I'll probably be wrapping up most of the work on the first aid bag and moving onto some other items, but this was a big step forward for medical preparedness. I am planning to fill out some household items as well, but those aren't as critical, given that I have a very complete kit in the truck that I can always retrieve if needed.

[EBuff75]

Day 21 - Put things away from CERT event, work on medical bag, renew insurance

Another day of just odds and ends.  After working at our local Oktoberfest this past weekend, I needed to put everything away.  It rained a bunch yesterday, which is why I hadn't done it previously.  Most everything is put away and is recharged or recharging.  Actually putting things back after using them is sometimes a failure and I wanted to make sure that it's all back where it's supposed to be.

I had a few more items to put into the medical bag today, so I brought that inside while I was unpacking and put those in.  There is quite a bit of stuff arriving later this week, but I'm getting close to having it wrapped up.

And it's time for my mid-year renewal on my car insurance.  It's renewed for another 6 months and the new cards are printed out to go in both vehicles.  I've got the app on my phone, but I like having printed copies in case I need them and happen to be somewhere without cell service.