by Micah Caldwell | Apr 9, 2025 | Preparation Call, Preparation Supplies
Are you prepared for the winter storm Season? Many forecasters are warning this could be a very harsh winter season that could create a significant strain on our power grid.
The winter weather forecast is expected to be colder and wetter than average. Accuweather has predicted a colder and more storm active winter due to the return of an El Niño weather pattern. The El Niño weather pattern will have a significant influence across the Country.
If you haven’t done so already, it is important that you get prepared for the potentially difficult weather ahead. With prolonged electricity outages expected, it is vital to have a plan in place to protect your family and pets from the bitter cold. Have emergency supplies ready and accessible.
Three Days Of Supplies
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says families should have a response plan and an emergency preparedness kit. The Red Cross says a kit should include enough supplies for each family member for three days and it should be checked every six months. Emergency preparedness kits should include water, food, first aid and medical supplies, clothing, blankets, tools, sanitation items and important documents.
Power outages are a real threat during severe storms, so backup power is also an important element of an emergency preparedness kit. Gas generators are a common choice, but they have some drawbacks. First, they need fuel, which can often be in short supply during emergency situations. They are also noisy and produce dangerous fumes, so they can’t be used indoors.
Backup Power Is Important for Preparedness
Another option for backup power without these drawbacks is a high-powered battery pack that can provide portable electricity in an emergency. These are available at major retailers and one popular brand is XPower by Xantrex. XPower offers products that range in power levels depending on your needs. XPower products can also jump-start vehicles, inflate tires and include flashlights or built-in radios. These products are clean, efficient, quiet and fumeless, so they are perfect for use inside the home, where generators are not safe.
Having power during an emergency enables people to contact emergency services, keep in touch with family, and stay informed through news and weather updates. Backup power can also provide light, heat or air-conditioning, keep food and medicine refrigerated, and can even power a sump pump to help keep the house dry.
With the high potential for power outages during ice and snow storms in the U.S. this year, it’s time to be prepared. Carefully check your food and water storage, blankets, and medical supplies. Get a plan ready for backup power – before it is too late. Remember, when power goes out everyone will rush to the store to get a generator. Get your plan in place early so you can avoid the difficulties.
Power outages are a real threat during severe storms, so backup power is an important element of an emergency preparedness kit.
by Micah Caldwell | Apr 9, 2025 | Preparation Call, Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
It sounds a bit far-fetched and fear-mongering to talk about storing water, but a few years ago who would have even considered that the whole world would shut down with our latest pandemic. It’s been crazy to say the least.
The worst part it, I don’t think our pandemic days are completely behind us either. Whether you believe in the pandemic or not, the reality is we are all going to be affected one-way-or another. Even if it is a giant hoax, the world is being shuffled around in ways that will likely impact every person. Are you prepared for the latest new scare that is being pushed? We now get to deal with the new monkey pox virus. With that, let’s at least talk about how to store water in the event of a pandemic.
If things go bad, you may lose the ability to have water in your home the way that you’ve always depended on it in the past. In a pandemic, a water supply can suddenly become unusable.
The water supply can become compromised at any time. This is why you often see those boil advisories on the news. You need to be prepared by stockpiling water as soon as possible.
The water must be stored away from any direct sunlight. Warm water is an invitation for bacteria to grow and has the potential to make you sick. So you’ll need to keep the water stored in a cool area.
After you get your supply in, you need to look over it often to make sure it remains viable. Water can be stored in plastic bottles or jugs. Wash the bottles, soda bottles or any clear jugs and then fill them with water from your home.
You can also buy water barrels. These are 55 gallon barrels that are great for holding a large supply of water and you can find them online. They’re specifically for long-term water storage.
But you would also need to keep these away from direct sunlight. You can create a cistern for catching rainwater. What you do is position a barrel beneath any runoff areas of your home.
For example, you can place the cistern directly beneath your gutter pipe. Instead of the water going into the ground and getting wasted, it can be used for drinking or other water needs.
In a pinch, when you need a water supply, you can get it from rivers, ponds or lakes – but the water must be treated first before it’s safe to use. When you use water that you get or collect yourself, you need a filtering system.
The filter can clear your water of bacteria and other pathogens that can make you ill if you ingest them. There are different kinds of systems you can get – ranging from the very elaborate to the very simple, such as filtering straws.
Boiling the water you need to use for eating or drinking kills pathogens as long as the temperature of the water hits about 215 degrees Fahrenheit. Chemical ways to purify water includes using iodine.
You can get these in tablets or crystals. But you need to be aware that iodine does not kill some organisms. So use these only in a case where you have nothing else to use.
Chlorine tablets are good to use to purify water and so is regular household bleach. If you use bleach, don’t use any brands that have additives. So don’t use scented bleach.
To make water safe to drink, put ¼ of a teaspoon into every gallon of water you want to purify. So if you had a five gallon container of water you wanted to make safe for use, you would add a teaspoon of household bleach.
by Micah Caldwell | Mar 28, 2025 | Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
It seems that everywhere you go now there is a lot of discussion taking place about Preparation or the need to prepare. Years ago, you hardly heard anything about preparing, but now it is a common them on discussion boards, talk radio, and even in the government. People all over the planet are convinced that something of great magnitude is about to happen that will likely change life as we currently know it.
The simple reality is, regardless of the scale of change that may be coming – it is prudent that we get prepared. Depending on who you speak with or what site you visit, preparation takes on varying degrees of significance. Obviously, no-one really knows what (or when) changes will take place, but there is certainly a good argument that something is about to take place on a major scale. The economy is in shambles, the dollar is on the verge of collapse, wars and rumors of more war is all over the news, and our food supply is in peril. Basically, we seem to have a soup brewing of some pretty difficult ingredients.
Every day, more-and-more people begin the journey toward preparation. Like anything else, when a person first begins a journey there is a certain level of anxiety of the unknown. This “unknown” is pretty significant, so the stress level is definitely raised. After all, this isn’t just taking a walk along a new hiking trail. This is ultimate survival – and acquiring the skills and knowledge to keep your family safe.
With that, we have created this blog to help in your journey. We will start by offering some general information and tips for the newcomers who are embarking on the preparation journey. There are plenty of resources out there for further research, and we will recommend some places to gather more knowledge. This entry post is to introduce you and offer a starting guide for Newcomers to the Preparation Journey.
So, whether you are dwelling in an apartment in downtown New York or are living in a yurt in the desert of Utah, there will likely be some things we offer that you’ll want to acquire. Be sure to bookmark our site and stay with us on this journey. Welcome to the Preparation Call.
Without further delay, let’s get started.
Preparing the Family
The first discussion you will need to have, will likely be with your family. They need to join-in and help with this journey, otherwise it could become exponentially more difficult. I know my family thought I had lost my sanity when I first started talking about Preparation, but today they are well-aware of the needs – and are grateful for the new skills they have acquired.
Small Actions is far better than no action
Right now, it is impossible to really know what exactly we are preparing for. It could be economic collapse, drought, food shortages, earthquakes, terror attacks, or any number of other major disruptions. In fact, it could be a combination of events that completely alter our lives forever.
So, since we really do not have complete clarity on exactly what we may be preparing for, I contend that it is important to just begin. Begin with small action steps, and build your preparation muscle. Each day on the journey will teach you new things, and will likely impact your family’s lifestyle. I believe it will become a very rewarding experience for you, especially as you begin fully realizing the things that are really important in your life.
A few easy things you can begin with will be acquiring items that you can easily store. Rather than go out and spend a bundle of money right out of the gate, you may want to simply set a goal of picking-up a new item for your preparation each week when you do your grocery shopping. It will likely make it easier for you and your family, and will be taking small action steps that will give you a sense of confidence as you move forward.
Here are a few items that you likely will want to consider as part of your preparation strategy. Most of these can be easily acquired and stored. Some of these may seem too obvious, but remember, many new preppers are used to having things at their finger-tips – so they may not even consider what might happen with a potential disruption.
Water
Everyone needs water to survive, so you will need to have fresh water on hand. We just don’t know what might happen to our water supply, so it’s good to be prepared. As you get more advanced, you will want to consider other water acquisition and/or purification systems.
Whole Grains, Rice, Canned Goods, Dried Beans, Pasta
Stocking-up on whole grains, oats, rice, beans, etc., is important and obviously can sustain your family a long time during a disruption of food supplies. Many food items can be easily stored for long periods of time but they must be kept in a cool, dry place. Purchasing products in bulk for storage is a great solution, and gives you a price-break on larger quantities.
Another factor that is important would be to rotate your storage. In other words, once you get a good inventory of supplies – you may want to consume items from your storage and replace with fresh. That way, you have a good storage of fresh supply.
It is also vital that you store grains in in areas free of bugs and other pests. Finding good-quality storage containers is a vital part of the storage process, so be sure to consider that. Above all, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on food storage – only to find that it is ruined by varmints or weather. Not good.
The other important factor is the nutritional value of the food. You don’t want to just consume potatoes and rice because they are easy to store. Obviously, you can’t get all the nutrients you need from potatoes, so you’ll want to consider dried vegetables and fruits as a solution. Don’t assume that vitamin supplement will provide sufficient nutritional value.
Toilet Paper
Have you ever run out of toilet paper? Enough said.
Storage or Grain Buckets (Food Grade!) Various Sizes
Today, you may have the instant ability to purchase bulk food items (like rice, oats, popcorn, etc) at a great price. Obviously, as previously pointed out, you will need to carefully store those bulk items. If you aren’t careful, you can lose your supply. By storing grains in a mylar bag inside of a 5 or 6 gallon food-grade grain bucket, your supply can store well for years. Keep in mind, if a food crisis hits – prices for bulk foods (if you can even get them) will likely soar beyond what you are able to afford. Purchasing now, is a major investment – and may insure your survival. You want to make sure you protect your investment with a high-quality food-grade storage bucket.
It is important to note… many people try to save some money by purchasing a non food-grade container. That’s a bad idea. Sure, you can get a cheap construction bucket at Home Depot – but, those buckets are built for construction hauling and storage, and often have dangerous chemicals that can harm your health. Do you really want your family to eat food that has been stored (long-term) in a toxic bucket?
Lastly, having these buckets also provides other uses. After the food inside has been consumed, you can either reuse with food storage, or the buckets will provide a great solution for carrying or storing water, using for garden seedlings or protecting plants from cold, or hauling other food items like berries, fresh harvested vegetables, or fish.
Other items to consider (we will expound on later)…
- Pet Foods
- Batteries, Radios, and LED Flashlights
- Sun Oven
- Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers
- Guns and Ammunition
- Watch Dog
- Fishing and Hunting Supplies
- Fire Starters
- Cast-Iron Skillets
- Life Saving Reference Guides
- Board Games
- Wood for burning
by Micah Caldwell | Mar 28, 2025 | Preparation Call, Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
PREPARE Magazine
Prepare Magazine aims to help people all over the world to learn how to be prepared for the challenging times that may be ahead. It may seem impossible to some, but with the right resources, training and lots of encouragement, it is attainable. You can learn more about preparedness by visiting www.preparemag.com/subscribe and you will get a free 0ne-year digital subscription.
Prepare magazine offers training in survival skills, self-sufficient living and preparedness for what lies ahead in the future. In our journey through life, fear engulfs the hearts of many and often results to poor decisions. Through the help of Prepare Magazine, you will be taught how to live more frugally, how to be self-sufficient, how to save money, how to forage for food and water, survival skills and everything in between that will help you prepare for the difficult times.
At www.preparemag.com/subscribe, like-minded people are encouraged to share their tips, ideas, suggestions and skills for the benefit of the community. Prepare magazine is not just any ordinary magazine – It is about life, its challenges and how to survive them. In this time of chaos and disarray, staying calm and focused is essential. With the help of experts, proper resources and tools from Prepare Magazine, you are well-prepared for life.
by Micah Caldwell | Mar 28, 2025 | Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies, Preparedness
Water is among the standard demands of guys and among the most important aspects of life. It is crucial for numerous reasons. It is required for hydration in order to endure. Individuals have to consume water frequently in order to renew the loss of fluid in the body and to quench the thirst.
Water is vital to a body. Pure water is required for optimum health. It is likewise utilized for other vital tasks of men such as bathing, cleaning and food preparation.
Water can come from rain, stream or with other sources. Water is brought in houses with plumbing from regional water stations. Residences can save water using a water tank. Some designs of water storage tank can be used to gather rain water.
A clean, decontaminated bottle can be used for water storage. Containers made from thermoplastic have been designed for water storage. Since ancient times, individuals have actually invented containers from different products for the function for storing water.
Water storage containers are essential for survival in a wilderness adventure. A water storage container is among the few essential things that can be brought by survivalist campers. A bottle is maybe the most popular mobile type of water storage. It can be of different designs, materials and shapes. The Sigg bottle, a Swiss-made water storage container made from true aluminum is among the popular bottles for outdoor activities. It has been thought about by Backpacker Magazine as one of the most difficult water bottles in the world.
The company that produces Sigg bottle was established in Biel, Switzerland by Ferdinand Sigg in 1908. It used to make kitchenware and electrical devices made from aluminum. However, in 1998, it focused on producing aluminum bottles. The Sigg Bottle is among the most identifiable brand names of aluminum bottles in Europe.
Though made from aluminum, Sigg bottles can be available in numerous designs. Different online shops have actually offered Sigg bottles on their product. You can discover this product together with other outdoor devices products. Nalgene bottles and bottles of different brand names can also be found in the market.
An oasis is water storage in the desert. A well is a popular type of water storage where people can acquire water at no expense. Water tank is utilized to collect water in homes and in plants. Keeping water can be essential in times of dry spell and deficiency of water supply. Water is needed for survival. Although the earth is fulled of water, just a particular percentage is suitable for consuming.
by Micah Caldwell | Mar 28, 2025 | Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies, Preparedness
Today, many families are preparing for what they fear is a pending doomsday scenario. It seems that everywhere you turn, there is a new warning about a cataclysmic event that will thrust us back into a primitive society and change our lives forever. News media and conspiracy mongers are churning-up their fear stories, and record numbers of people are tuning-in to hear the latest discouraging report.
It sure seems like we can’t get enough of the news of pending disasters. You would think we were passing a car-wreck on the highway and frantically turning our heads to see what we might view in the carnage. Are we so fixated on disaster and chaos that we get drawn-in by the very possibility that we just might be involved in some tragedy of massive proportions?
When you really think about it, our culture has been well-conditioned to expect and react to fear and tragedy. In fact, our society feeds on disaster and pays handsomely to be entertained with gore, horror, and violence. Hollywood knows our nature, and continues to crank-out disturbing films because they profit from our appetite for being frightened and disgusted with images of pain and suffering.
I certainly don’t believe that everyone has a desire to dwell on the sufferings of others, but we can’t ignore that marketing research shows that tragedy increases viewership. With that being the case, it certainly stands to reason that media outlets have a major opportunity to ramp-up the fear tones and cash-in on the gloom reports and conspiracies.
A while back I wrote an article called “Doomsday Survival, or Preparation Call”. The gist of that article is generally about the reaction (and over-reaction) of fear that has driven the preparedness movement. I know I get on a soapbox, but I just get so disappointed in seeing and hearing about so many families rushing-about preparing for the pending doomsday scenario. People are hoarding food and supplies, booby-trapping their land, buying every weapon they can find, and even purchasing underground bunkers to survive-in when this cataclysmic disaster occurs.
Now, certainly I believe we need to be in preparation. I don’t need to watch the news to know that there are difficulties ahead that we need to prepare for. I can’t even get a weather forecast that is accurate, why should I expect for a minute that CNN will give me any reasonable information to help me prepare my family?
The concern I have is, there are a lot of people yelling “fire” in a crowded area. People are being trampled and hurt because some over-dramatic people are screaming fear and pain. It’s fueling the panic, and people are being hurt.
I’ve been preaching the need for preparedness for a long time. In fact, I felt a “call” to prepare over 25 years ago. The preparedness call I felt, was not about fear and suffering. It was not about huddling in my lookout tower and waiting with my gun to shoot my neighbor who was coming to me for help. The preparation call I received was about getting my family ready, so we would not be in panic when things get a bit difficult – and will be able to help others. My preparation call was about getting ready, spiritually, emotionally, financially, and physically. Getting prepared was never a reaction to fear, but being ready so we could react with calm.
Here is the thing for me… a few years back we stored a lot of supplies and thought we were ready for the big catastrophic doomsday show. I mean, I thought… bring it on, because we have extra pop-tarts if the grid goes down. How naive, and silly to assume we were “prepared” for disaster because we had a few hundred pounds of dry goods. Granted we were better prepared than most, but emotionally… I imagine if the power was off for two days there would have been intense wailing and gnashing of teeth!
The fact is, many people today are storing some food and water, and have candles at-the-ready. They assume they are well-prepared because they have a month’s supply of food in the basement.
Even the most avid “prepper” assumes they are ready. They may have six-months of supplies, and can shoot a deer at 150 yards, but… I really wonder if they are truly prepared. Are they ready to really endure the disruption of life as we know it?
I’ve thought often about this and wonder how we might all react to overwhelming tragedy. Will we bond together and help each other overcome the difficulty, or will we do like many preppers are planning – hide in the hills and expect to shoot the first person who crosses our aim.
How will our families survive, if a spouse is overwhelmed with the intense shock of the situation and just can not cope with the situation? Are we so tough that we assume our family will all just hold hands and laugh while eating our ready meals? A lot of the families I know can’t even sit together for thirty minutes, so I doubt they will be ready to huddle around a candle and tell stories.
So, are we preparing for the emotional shock that might come from a massive catastrophe? Are we preparing to turn family and friends away because we don’t have enough food for our long-term survival, if we feed them?
If my heart becomes so hardened during perilous times that I am capable of turning-away families who need food or help, then I really don’t want to prepare. What kind of life is left for us, if we ignore the hurting people inside our community simply because they were too naive or lazy to get ready?
I realize many will disagree, and that’s fine. I certainly do not have a moral badge that gives me any authority to pass judgement. The point I’m trying to make is… today (before a tragedy hits) I can not see me turning away someone who comes to me for help.
So, unfortunately, I think we have a long way to go before we are truly prepared. In my humble view, there is far too much emphasis on loading guns and stashing grub. For s0me, that’s their ultimate strategy – survival at all cost. That’s fine, and certainly important. But… if we lose our moral values and conscience in being open to helping our neighbors – what will our society look like post-doomsday?
Bottom line in my rant ….
Get Prepared – but do not prepare because you are afraid. Prepare emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Prepare now to answer the question… what will I do when my neighbor comes to me for help?
Seek God, and His peace. One of my favorite passages of Scripture says:
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
