Disaster Preparedness Skills

Hi all, with all the talk about disaster preparedness, I wanted to start another related thread. In addition to using permaculture design to make our landscapes more resilient, and having a store of supplies, food, water, etc., my question is, what do you think are the most important skills to build in advance of a disaster? For example, I’ve decided that I would like to take a wilderness first aid course, as I feel that having a well stocked first aid kit will do minimal good if I don’t actually know how to use it safely and effectively. I live in central Virginia, USA, and one of the major risks we face is damage from fallen trees. I think it would be useful to up my chainsaw skills. I (39F) have used a chainsaw, but am not comfortable handling it. My husband can use a chainsaw very handily, but we own two saws, and could potentially both work on clearing trees off our roads, etc., if I were a little more skilled. I’d love to hear your thoughts on valuable disaster coping skills!

Having a good first aid kit is important, to me having grab and go stuff is the most important and practicing grab and go procedures.

I have always had a well stock pantry though if we had to evacuate quickly that well stocked pantry is going to be a long ways off.

What we did was to pack a weeks worth of grab and go meals.  Things that can be cooked anywhere, especially over a campfire or even eaten out of the can.

A pot to cook what is in the grab and go, some sort of bowl or plate and silverware.  Most important is a can opener.

Beans are good for a protein source though canned beans are a better choice than beans that have to be soaked and cooked all day, especially if folks are on the run or being evacuated.

A change of clothes, cash money, and medications are good for grab and go.

Lots of water.  Water to drink and water to cook with.

Soap and towels for bathing and washing pots to cook in.

What can folks not live without on a daily basis?

First aid courses are a solid investment in your own skills, especially if they do simulated drills.

I was a volunteer emergency medicine tech and I took a wilderness rescue class that was phenomenal at a local community college. Knowing how to make splints as well as bleeding control techniques are invaluable for my own mental library.

One of the best decisions that required a little bit of time dedication was joining a local volunteer fire department. The training is free, you become acquainted with your neighbors, and you really learn a variety of emergency related knowledge. One of my fond memories was the relief on folks faces as I showed up with a trash pump to get the water out of basements that flooded. I learned a lot about two stroke motors and generators from my time in the fire service that I still use today.