You also should set up worst-case, "gotta-go-now" emergency bags, appropriate to the size of your family.  

• These are called "72-hour kits," and you can buy them from many sources...or assemble yourself for a lot less money.
• Guidelines for 72-hour kit contents are available from numerous websites, including that of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), so we won't repeat them here. 
• You MUST tailor your 72-hour kit for your particular locale, climate and situation.
• Don't forget emergency medicines (especially prescriptions), extra water for dry climates, warm clothing for cooler climates, etc.
• You can do an all-eBay search for 72-hour kits at the the following link:

Click here to do an eBay Search for 72-hour kits

Once you have your  basic three month food supply and 72-hour kits, start focusing on water storage.  Again, think and plan ahead so you waste neither time nor money...keeping in mind the storage space you have to work with.

• Start by buying a few water canteens (probably as part of your 72-hour kits), and store water in them.
• Then, add several 5 or 7-Gallon Water Storage Containers (or similar items available from numerous manufacturers (just do a search on eBay... or check out our eBay Store!)
• The number will depend on your situation, family size, and long-term water storage plans...but as an example, our three-person family stores six 5-gallon containers.
• Make sure they have a sturdy handle for moving them around, cleaning/filling, and transport in an emergency. 
• Make sure they are easy to pour from (e.g., have a spigot) and are food-grade approved.
• Then, you're ready to add larger water storage.
• Again, look for food-grade approved water storage barrels.  These come in various sizes (15, 20, 30, 50 or 55 gallon) and can be obtained from several manufacturers or through eBay.
• Think about where to place them...once filled, they'll be very heavy.  Probably best on sturdy concrete floors in the basement or garage.
• You'll also need to get the water out the barrels when needed...something like siphon pump.  Check our  page at Rocky Mountain Home Solutions Water Storage Solutions for a picture of one such siphon pump.
• THIS NEXT STEP IS ULTRA-IMPORTANT:  Once your water storage is established, you'll need to rotate and purify this water.  If you fail to rotate your water, it won't be any good when you need it most!
• Visit our RMHS Water Storage Solutions for general water storage advice and solutions, or look at FEMA's website for approved purification methods.
• TIPS & TRICKS:  Use your home computer calendar program to set reminders for rotating water and/or food items! 

One more thought...some folks simply don't have the room to store a lot of water--maybe you're in a row/town house, apartment or condo, and you simply don't have the storage space.  Plus, there is always the possibility that you'll have to "grab-and-go" without much warning.

• Maybe the next Hurricane Katrina is heading your way...or a major earthquake has just made your home uninhabitable...
• Or the Fire Department simply shows up at your door and says "You have fifteen minutes to evacuate your home," due to an advancing forest fire, or maybe the house next door is on fire! 

To address this need, you should (over time) build a multi-tiered water storage/purification solution.

• You can check the details at our RMHS Water Storage Solutions store page, but in sum, what you want is a combination of:
• Bulk Water Storage (e.g., 55-gallon if feasible);
• Transportable Water Storage (canteens and 5-gallon containers);
• Transportable Water Purification devices (e.g., a Katadyn Pocket Microfilter); and
• Ultra-transportable Water Purification methods (e.g., water purification tablets).
• Each of these water storage/purification methods has various pros and cons, but together prove multi-layered approach offering maximum assurance of having the pure water you need, at the time you need it most!
• In a worst case, you could grab some canteens, your water purification device and purification tablets--AND GO!
  

Okay, you've got basic food and water storage inventories established to carry you through immediate emergencies, disasters or financial difficulties (e.g., unemployment)...and you've set up a rotation schedule for both water and food.  Now what?  The answer is MONEY!

First, maximize your family's financial stability. 

• Pay off debts, delay buying that new car until absolutely necessary, build your credit score, minimize the use of credit cards, and do smart comparison shopping (eBay is always a great place to do this!), and avoid new debt like the plague! 
• You can/should pursue this in parallel with the first two goals of food and water storage.
• If you're already in good shape financially...stay there.  If your credit and finances aren't so hot...don't give up!
• We've seen both ends of this spectrum...and promise that you can make the journey from poor credit ratings and poor financial status to something much, much better.
• But, it won't happen overnight, and you'll need to exercise financial discipline and restrain your spending for years and possibly decades.
• If you don't already do so, you will probably benefit greatly by using a software-based financial management program such as Quick or Microsoft Money. 
• Commit the necessary time to do it right, and you'll find such programs invaluable in improving your financial plan.
• Stick with it...because it will be very much worth your while:
• You'll get better terms on loans of all types, and soon turn into an investor of your money, instead of just a spender.
• Plus, you'll reduce most money-related tensions with your spouse and just plain sleep better at night!

Second, build up a financial emergency fund in a savings account or (better yet) a money market mutual fund. 

• This also can be done in parallel with the first two goals...
• Allow your family needs and income to dictate how much you keep in such accounts.
• Most professional financial advisors recommend something like six month's living expenses in a very liquid form, such as a savings account or money market mutual fund...just make sure these accounts are FDIC-insured!
• Write down the amount you need to achieve...then work steadily until you've achieved it.
• Make sure this money is not committed to other purposes...keep it liquid and safe, not in risky investments!

Third, we advise keeping a modest CASH STASH on your premises, VERY well-hidden but readily accessible, for temporary use in extreme emergencies, when banks might be closed temporarily.

• You might consider something like $300.00 kept in a home safe or a hidden storage location.  
• Keep at least part of your cash staff in small bills and/or coins.  And, DON'T advertise the location (or even the existence!) of your cash stash to friends or neighbors...this is one of those good family secrets.
• For more detailed advice and recommendations on your cash stash, see our RMHS Securing Sensitive Items eBay Store Page.
  

Three months of food storage is good...but if you're really serious about EP/FS, you should expand your stored food items to include with now looking for foods with longer shelf lives, lower costs, and very high nutritional values.

• Think hard about how and where you're going to store all of this stuff...it will be worth your while to do so.
• You'll want to start storing wheat, peas, beans, etc.  Soy milk or other substitutes also should be considered (we recommend and use "Moo Milk" ourselves, but do not sell it; we have purchased it for years from Blue Chip Group, easily found through an internet search, and found them to be a fair, reliable supplier).
• An essential but often overlooked item in food storage is spices and herbs!!
• These are invaluable in adding enhanced flavors, intensity and variety to whatever foods you store.
• Plus, in a true, long-term EP/Disaster situation, they would be hard to replace and thus become fairly valuable as a barter commodity. 

You may also want to include a reasonable selection of various freeze-dried or dehydrated foods, or perhaps the military's Meal-Ready to Eat (MRE) foods, which are widely available through eBay.

• These have long shelf-lives and are priced reasonably when purchased in bulk quantities. 
• However, buy and test-eat small amounts of freeze-dried products and MREs before you start buying large amounts; some folks just don't like the taste of freeze-dried foods and/or MREs.  
• However, we don't recommend large-scale use of freeze-dried or dehydrated products...
• We live in an arid climate and these foods require LOTS of water to prepare them for use--we'd rather take advantage of the fluids contained in most canned goods.
• Plus, in our personal practical experience, MREs & freeze-dried meals generally don't get rotated as often as they should.  We've known several families that have purchased an entire year's supply of freeze-dried food or dehydrated food, but didn't use/rotate it (in fact, never opened them), and the shelf lives eventually expired.  That can get expensive!  
• Far better, we believe, to store a variety of canned goods (both dry and wet) that you regularly eat and can rotate simply and cheaply.
• Still, they do solve many storage space and weight challenges, so for some situations they represent excellent utility.   
• We do keep a supply of MREs and freeze-dried foods in our "grab-and-go" 72 hour kits/supplies. 
• You can do the same, or perhaps establish a 10-, 20- or 30-day supply of freeze-dried foods, dehydrated items or MREs.  It really comes down to what best suits your family needs,  personal situation and planned response to emergency/disaster situations.

At this stage of your EP/FS preparations, you'll need to start considering a wide range of items above and beyond simply food and related items.  We include a more complete list of such items in a future Guide or special report!    Still, here are a few examples of things you really ought to include in your EP/FS stashes:

• Think through the prescription and non-prescription medicines you/your family will need in an emergency situation..or even something as simple as a short transportation strike that delays deliveries of your needed medications.  You must address these needs before a crisis strikes!
• It's easy to obtain non-prescription, over-the-counter, uncontrolled drugs...such as naproxen, ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin, or similar.  You can buy these in reasonably bulk quantities at various discount stores and, especially, discount warehouse clubs such as Sam's Club and Costco's.
• It will be more difficult to obtain prescription medications for emergency/storage purposes.  Simply put, the entire medical and insurance systems in most Western countries (and especially the U.S.) are designed to give you the absolute minimum amount of medication to treat your condition.
• You're probably not going to get a prescription, say, for antibiotics without a current illness...your doctor simply won't prescribe it, your health insurance just isn't going to pay for it, and federal laws may well prohibit it!!
• Some folks might suggest how to "game the medical system" to obtain prescription drugs.  These might include using like-minded or extremely cooperative doctors.  You could likely find such information, somewhat fuzzed up to avoid prosecution, elsewhere on the internet.  However, NEVER PURSUE SCHEMES THAT INVOLVE BREAKING LAWS OR VIOLATING ETHICAL CODES.  It just isn't worth it, and your EP/FS assets won't do you much good while in jail.
• And getting "extra" prescriptions for serious pain medications, including the narcotics class, for EP/FS purposes is nigh impossible, at least in our judgment.
• But just because you can't get obtain some of these more exotic or prescription drugs doesn't mean you should not store what you can. 
• So, go with the basics, talk to your doctor if you have any special needs and/or live in isolated areas, and do the best you can.  
• You'll need basic sleeping and shelter needs...sleeping bags, tents, backpacks (both large and small) and other camping gear.  Consider your local climate as you choose your gear (and you'll probably benefit from reading our Choosing Common-Sense Outdoors Gear store page...where you'll find an amusing tale of our personal experiences in choosing outdoors gear.   We think you'll enjoy it, and it relates some good advice.)
• THE NEED FOR FIRE:  You should take it as a given that your natural gas, electric or propane appliances won't always be available...so you'll need alternative ways of providing heat and starting fires.  That means matches (both regular and waterproof), candles, fire-starters for campfires, perhaps Flint and steel for fire-starting, etc.  Talk a look at this eBay Guide for Cheap & Easy RMHS Fire Starters!!
• First aid items (we carry a few of these for your consideration at our RMHS store page for First Aid items).
• Extra clothing, especially in cooler climates
• Lots of spare batteries!!!  Of all different sizes!!!  Rechargeable if possible, and don't forget to include at least TWO battery rechargers (you'll want a spare).
• Heat sources, especially if you live in cold climates; cooking devices; light sources; and fuel for all of them!

Everyone has a budget to live within...don't go overboard building up your EP/FS program too far, too fast.

• Analyze your long-term needs...then set up a long-term acquisition plan...not just for food items and water, but also other emergency supplies.
• Slow and Steady will win the race, remember?  Stay within your budget, but don't give up...you'll get there!!
• On the other hand...if the blizzard of the century is bearing down on you...it might be time to go ahead and buy that emergency heating unit.
• Apply some common-sense and balance in your EP/FS effort, as in all other parts of your life.