How to get your man
interested in emergency prep: It all comes down to the zombies
Article from KSL.com
SALT LAKE CITY -- Do you have a
husband who claims to understand the importance of food storage but is less
than enthusiastic when it comes to No. 10 cans? Does your son groan when asked
to move your canning jars from the attic to your kitchen? I, too, pondered how
to get the men in my family more excited about emergency preparation.
And then I noticed something.
It began with Will Smith’s "I Am Legend."
Then came the video games, the TV series "The Walking Dead," finally
solidifying with James Dashner’s
"The Maze Runner."
Suddenly my husband and son couldn’t talk enough about how to prepare for a
zombie attack. Discussion groups were popping up in my son’s Sunday School
class, and I was even invited to join a Facebook page dedicated to preparing
for Zombies.
So if your spouse just can’t seem to get
excited about water barrels or freeze-dried zucchini, here is a list of top 10
prep questions designed to ignite more enthusiasm.
In case of a Zombie attack:
1) Do
we have an adequate water supply?
The rule of thumb is one gallon of water per
person per day. Along with 55-gallon
water barrels you can use soda
bottles to store water, but avoid milk jugs since they deteriorate too quickly.
Eight drops of bleach per gallon will kill microorganisms (16 drops for cloudy
water).
Note: If a zombie falls into your water supply, avoid trying to
sterilize the water with bleach. Zombies are considered MACRO organisms and won’t be affected by
common household bleach. Throw the water out with the zombie.
2) Do
we have enough food if we couldn’t go to the market for several months?
Start with a 72-hour
kit, get a three-month food supply and then build up to a year’s supply. Many
sites provide free storage
trackers or calculators to determine what you need for your
family as well as serving as an inventory.
Note: A 72-hour kit is a must if you are forced to leave your
home quickly due to a zombie infestation in your community. Depending on the
species, most zombies are relatively slow and stupid but they don’t get
fatigued, so time is of the essence when you need to get out of Dodge while you
can.
3) Do
we have emergency fuel?
The type of fuel needed for heating, lighting
and cooking will vary depending on your location, living arrangements and space
constraints. Emergency Essentials has a great article about the pros and cons of various
types of fuels. Keep on hand a good supply of candles and matches. Whatever
fuel you choose to store must be done with caution and common sense.
Note: Never let a zombie play with matches as they are often
very combustible. Your dwelling could go up in flames along with all of your
emergency prep (and possibly you with it.)
4) Do
we have comfort foods on hand?
Fighting off the walking dead can be
stressful, even in the best of times. Our family likes homemade popcorn,
chocolate, jam and granola bars, and we keep a fair amount stocked in our food
storage. Your list might include macaroni and cheese, cookie ingredients or
pudding. Sit down now with your spouse and make a list while the yard is quiet.
Note: It’s harder to think of these things when you’ve got the
distraction of fingernails scratching on your doors and windowpanes.
5) What
about non-food items?
Think about your personal hygiene. While your
significant other may claim your breath could kill a zombie,
in reality this often is not a very successful form of self-protection. Store
such items as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and soap. Make a list of
paper products, pet needs and first aid items. (Click here for a
suggested list.)
Note: While it’s best to avoid a zombie scratch as it may lead
to infection and a new personality, having adhesive bandages and antibiotic
ointment on hand will help with those nasty scratches and scrapes you may incur
while scrambling away from an impromptu zombie visit.
6) When
the power goes out.
Although zombies are generally clumsy when it
comes to dexterity and can’t physically cut your electrical lines, for some
reason power outages are common during zombie attacks. Keep flashlights close
by and stocked with fresh batteries. Food in a refrigerator can be kept cold
for four hours if the door is kept shut. A full freezer will hold the
temperature for 48 hours and a half-full freezer for 24 hours if the lid is
kept closed. Keep on hand a food supply that will last for several days and
that does not need to be heated or refrigerated.
7) What
about a garden?
Raised garden beds are great for small yards.
(Click here for a kit that takes less than five
minutes to put together or here for
directions on making your own.) Fill the bed with the best soil possible. It’s
better to put a ten-cent plant in a five-dollar hole than the other way around.
Keep a year supply of seeds on hand.
Note: Zombies are not usually attracted to gardens like other
common rodents. They are meat eaters and avoid fruits and vegetables at all
costs.
8) Keep
your car fueled and your cellphone charged.
Although zombies like chasing cars, they
aren’t very fast, and you can use your vehicle to level several at once that
may be blocking the roads. Keeping a battery-operated AM/FM radio close by will
keep you up to date on community emergency information and plans.
Hint: When driving, aim at zombies at a right angle as hitting
them straight on may cause “shrapnel” to fly through your windshield, resulting
in costly damage and possible loss of life — yours. (Because — of course — they
are already mostly dead.)
9) What
about loved ones outside of the affected region?
News of a localized zombie attack will spread
quickly across the United States. This will
undoubtedly cause panic to those who may wonder if you have been a victim of a
zombie Thanksgiving feast or managed to make it safely to a shelter. The Red
Cross has developed the Safe and Well website where outside friends can know of your
well-being. You will be able to post messages on the website indicating your
status, current whereabouts and that you will contact loved ones as soon as
possible. During large-scale zombie attacks, you can use the toll-free Contact Loved Ones (CLO)
voice messaging service at 1-866-78-CONTACT. CLO lets you leave and pick up
messages.
10) What
is our family plan?
FEMA’s ready.gov website has a great Family Emergency Plan template in PDF form. Each family keeps a card
with emergency contact information and where to meet in case of disasters. Pick
a family gathering site in case a disaster happens when family members are
separated due to work or school.
Note: Avoid meeting places like cemeteries and morgues, as they
are often a hotbed of zombie activity.
These are just jumping-off points to help out
in frank discussions with the male members of your family. Remember, no one
expects a zombie attack, but being prepared for one will bring peace of mind to
even the most skeptical.
Ramona Siddoway is a freelance writer who has published articles in Belgium,
Angola and the United States. She lives with her
husband in Houston. You can read more at
ramonasiddoway.com
Article from KSL.com
