Let’s revisit a crucial topic: Emergency/Disaster Preparedness. Question: Do you have a 3-day bug-out bag readily available? If not, what’s preventing you from preparing one? If you do, consider taking your preparedness to the next level: do you have a 6-week stockpile of essentials like water, non-perishable food, medications, and other vital items stored in an easily accessible location?
Although it’s impossible to anticipate every potential emergency, we can take proactive steps to prepare for survivable situations that may require sheltering in place or rapid evacuation. Having essential items, including vital records, readily packed and easily accessible is paramount. A well-stocked bug-out bag can drastically enhance our resilience during the critical initial days following evacuation. By assembling key supplies now, we can better equip ourselves to face unexpected challenges.
Disasters can strike unexpectedly, anywhere, and at any time, leaving destruction and chaos in their wake. From fires and other natural disasters like storms, floods, and earthquakes, to chemical leaks, extended power outages, and riots/civil unrest, the potential impacts are vast and devastating.
Imagine waking up to the ear-piercing sound of your smoke detector, as your eyes begin to focus, you find your home engulfed in flames. With mere seconds to spare, you must act swiftly. Ok, so now, in real life, take a moment to think critically about your emergency plan. You have 60 seconds — NOW! Think fast, what essential items would you grab as you rush to escape? What vital possessions would you prioritize to ensure your family’s safety?
Now that you’ve had a moment to reflect on your emergency preparedness, it’s time to turn intention into action. Here’s where to start:
Take these critical next steps to safeguard your family’s well-being and ensure you’re ready for the unexpected:
Regardless of whether you already have plans or not, evaluate them against this list:
If you’re wondering what to pack in your bug-out bag, here are some conventional and unconventional items to consider, and of course, tailor them to your specific needs. Check out the video below, starting at the 36:40 mark, and read through the live comments for additional ideas to include in your emergency kit.
Emergency Food Storage Essentials
By now, everyone should have at least one or two large bags of beans and rice stored away. Why? Because these two food staples can provide you with vital nutrients needed to get through hard times. Don’t forget to store salt and other seasonings to make your meals more palatable. Here are some considerations for Emergency Food Storage:
- Beans & Rice store well, but require cooking time, cooking equipment (heat source and pots), and of course additional water.
- Canned soup, ramen noodles, and water are affordable, easy-to-store alternatives.
- Meal replacement/nutrition shakes (like Huel or Ka’Chava) offer a “healthy”, easy to carry & store option, but they also require additional water of course.
- Pack & store things that you like to eat in addition to your healthy/nutritious food items; some unhealthy but good-tasting “comfort foods” can go a long way to help raise morale in times of despair.
These simple, non-perishable options can help you and your family navigate a couple of weeks of dire circumstances. For more information, please refer to the attached resources.
Another thing, if you hear city officials make warnings to evacuate due to disaster: don’t wait—evacuate! Grab your bug-out bags and get yourself to safety, while you pray.
Despite the repeated warnings to ‘Prepare! Prepare!’, many still haven’t taken any action. When asked, friends and family often respond with a promise to prepare… ‘someday soon’. Don’t fall into this trap! Procrastination can have devastating consequences when disaster strikes. Failing to prepare for survivable catastrophes drastically reduces your chances of survival. Don’t wait – the time to prepare is now. Remember, delay can be deadly. Take proactive control of your emergency preparedness today and significantly improve your odds of survival.
Shifting gears:
Ultimately, our top priority should always be to live in a way that honors The Most High, so that when we meet our King, we are found righteous and prepared to stand before Him.
“So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God/YAH] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (Yahoshua Mashiach) is revealed.”
1 Peter 1:13 AMP
Pray before, during, and after disasters. Pray for wisdom & discernment. Pray for protection & shalom. Pray to YAH, asking Him to protect & guide you and your families — no matter the calamity — just as He did for our Israelite ancestors both in Goshen, Egypt as well as throughout the wilderness journey.
The Bible records how YAH made a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians during the plagues in Egypt, and how He protected them from calamity. Below are key passages highlighting this:
1. Distinction Made Between Israel and Egypt
• Exodus 8:22-23 (Plague of Flies):
“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, YAH, am in the midst of the land. I will make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.”
• Exodus 9:4 (Plague on Livestock):
“But YAH will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelites will die.”
• Exodus 9:26 (Plague of Hail):
“The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.”
• Exodus 10:23 (Plague of Darkness):
“No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.”
2. Protection of Israel
• Exodus 12:23 (Passover and Death of the Firstborn):
“For YAH will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, YAH will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.”
• Exodus 15:13 (YAH’s Deliverance):
“In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength, You will guide them to Your holy dwelling.”
These passages highlight YAH’s faithfulness to His covenant people, protecting them when they obey His instructions, while He demonstrated His power and authority over Egypt and all calamities.
… And we also do well to prepare for the challenging times ahead, not just for ourselves, but also for our loved ones. Let’s draw inspiration from Joseph’s remarkable story (Genesis 41). With unwavering trust in The Most High YAH, Joseph was guided to take proactive steps during the seven years of abundance, preparing for the disastrous years that would follow. His faith and foresight ultimately saved not only himself, Egypt, and his family, but also other nations that sought his help. So family, let us make the most of our time today! Every small step we take to prepare now can make a significant difference tomorrow. Let us all prepare ourselves and encourage others, even if it’s just a little prep. And of course, let us pray & trust that our efforts will be blessed by our Father in Heaven.
Until next time, shalom ✌🏾
~Yahrahn
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Also,
For more in-depth preparation strategies and considerations, watch this video below. This same video is also linked at the end of the blog post mentioned above. I recently rewatched it myself as a helpful refresher, and it holds up.
And for additional info:
Good thing to remember if your phone battery is about to die and you can’t reach anyone:
https://share.newsbreak.com/86h0bwr0
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