Military Brethren: Stand To for 14 July, 2014

Veterans Push Back with Prayer

0700 at BJ’s Restaurant

Hamilton, Montana

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Breakfast is served

3. Morning Psalm: 37

4. Breakfast Reading: Luke 12:35-40

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:

          News around the valley

          Wildfire Season is upon us

          52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington

                   Week 26 of 52: Emergency Sanitation Preparedness (List 2)

6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

Upcoming Events:

          21 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          28 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          11 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          18 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          25 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          1 Sep 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          8 Sep 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          15 Sep 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          22 Sep 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Apr 2015 – 0645 – March for Jesus Christ

Tasks:

          Prayer to do God’s will

         

 Fellowship of Military Brethren:

          Our 3Circles:

                    1) Outside (Feeder) Circle: Churches & Church Organizations, Veterans Organizations, Special Events, and Word of Mouth

                    2) Middle (Push Back with Prayer Groups) Circle: Prayer Breakfast every Monday at 7am, Prayer Lunch (still needed), Intercessory Prayer every day, and Daily Communion

                    3) Inside (Give Back with Care) Circle: Fellowship of Military Brethren

On the Web: http://pushbackwithprayer.blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @Walk_April_4_15

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.bitterroot

Week 26 of 52: Emergency Sanitation Preparedness (List 2)

In 2010, after a devastating earthquake leveled Haiti, people all over the world wanted to help. Despite all of the aid pouring in, the reconstruction process was put on hold in order to deal with a cholera outbreak, an illness spread from the contamination of food and water. This epidemic was caused by open-defecation and could have been avoided if individuals knew where and how to properly expel waste.
Ready for the shocker? It is a documented fact that more people die after a disaster due to poor sanitation than from the disaster itself. You can do everything right regarding emergency sanitation measures, but that will in no way protect you from all those around you who did not. During times of extended disasters, those that live in close proximity to one another will be at the greatest risk for contracting illnesses from unsanitary conditions. Teaming up with those around you to create a community led sanitation system can assist in avoiding epidemics caused from unsanitary conditions. In this case, the group as a whole takes full responsibility for its success and will see fewer instances of illness.
Quite simply, wherever humans gather, their waste also accumulates. This creates a perfect storm for E. coli and bacteria to invade most of everything that you touch. Not to mention carrying the risk of infectious disease, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the very young, the elderly and people suffering from diseases that lower their resistance. Fly infestations can also pose a problem for sanitation, and if waste is left out in the open, then it will lead to the possibility of epidemics. The following are a few examples of structures that can be built to maintain sanitation during a longer-term disaster:

• Simple pit latrines are the easiest and cheapest way to dispose of waste.
• Ventilated latrine and an odorless earth closet that prevents fly infestations, are also good choices. Learn more by clicking here.
• Decomposing toilets are above ground latrines that are another option and once the waste is decomposed, it can be used in the garden. Click here for more information.

Ever hear of humanure? Solid and liquid waste can be decomposed and composted to be used in the garden. For more information on using liquid waste in the garden, click here.
Toilet paper is always a concern for emergency preparations, however, there are alternatives and in a long-term scenario you will need to begin thinking outside the box. Some off-gridders use rags and thoroughly wash the soiled cloth for other uses. However, if you are opposed to this, other alternatives are available and can be viewed here. And for the lovers of disposable toilet paper, you can purchase larger quantities online at Amazon or at online janitorial supply stores. According to Wikipedia, one American person uses an average of 23.6 rolls of toilet paper per year. In a long term disaster, toilet paper will be a hard to find luxury item and could be a great bartering item. I would like to add however, that stocking up on thousands of rolls of toilet paper will take up a lot of space. So having some on hand for extended emergencies is a good idea, however, for longer term scenarios, you may need to get creative.
Because we are getting into more longer term preparedness items, you want to find prep items that are are multi-functional in order be as efficient as possible. Soap nuts are a great multipurpose prep item. They are cheap, have many uses, and can be composted after use. Soap, both antibacterial and regular, can also be purchased in bulk from your local dollar store.

Preps To Buy:

• 2 weeks or longer toilet paper
• Cat litter
• Bleach
• 5 gallon bucket
• Clothespins
• Laundry plunger (optional)
• Wash boards (optional)
• 2 large storage bins to do laundry
• Women’s sanitary needs
• Soap or a multipurpose alternative (in bulk)
• Hand sanitizer (in bulk)
• Mesh screening to use for long term latrine
• Space bags to store toilet paper

Action Items:

1.     Ensure that you have sanitary items for all members of the family, including women, children and elderly.

2.     If you have not done so, create a sanitation kit for the home.

3.     Print this Hesperian health guide on sanitation and add it to your emergency manual.

Military Brethren: Stand To for 7 July, 2014

Veterans Push Back with Prayer

0700 at BJ’s Restaurant

Hamilton, Montana

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Breakfast is served

3. Morning Psalm: 24

4. Breakfast Reading: Matthew 10:1-10

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:

          News around the valley

          Dealing with Hardship

          52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington

                   Week 25 of 52: Dental Preparedness (List 2)

6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

Upcoming Events:

          14 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          21 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          28 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          11 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          18 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          25 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Apr 2015 – 0645 – March for Jesus Christ

Tasks:

          Prayer to do God’s will

         

 Fellowship of Military Brethren:

          Our 3Circles:

                    1) Outside (Feeder) Circle: Churches & Church Organizations, Veterans Organizations, Special Events, and Word of Mouth

                    2) Middle (Push Back with Prayer Groups) Circle: Prayer Breakfast every Monday at 7am, Prayer Lunch (still needed), Intercessory Prayer every day, and Daily Communion

                    3) Inside (Give Back with Care) Circle: Fellowship of Military Brethren

On the Web: http://pushbackwithprayer.blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @Walk_April_4_15

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.bitterroot

Week 25 of 52: Dental Preparedness (List 2)

In week 10, dental preparedness was introduced and preventative dental health was stressed. This week we are taking our dental issues to another level… a longer-term level. It is important to remember that your teeth and gums are living body parts that respond to vitamins, minerals and fatty acids just as your skin, hair, muscles and organs do. And we must do all that we can do to keep them healthy. When teeth do not get the proper amounts of vitamins and nutrition, their overall health diminishes. Did you know there are foods that are both nutritious as well as good for the teeth and gums? Having access to some of these foods during a short or long-term emergency can be beneficial to your health as well as to your teeth.
As previously discussed in week 10, preventative dental health is the best type of oral care you can give your teeth and gums. Schedule regular check ups with your dentist to keep your oral health up to par. After all, we don’t want to be dealing with any existing dental problems during a long-term emergency. Having supplies and knowledge on natural alternatives to turn to during longer term emergencies will help keep you thriving.
When we think about being in a long-term emergency, the thought of having dental issues on top of everything else is a nightmare in itself. Since our goal is to create an all-encompassing preparedness supply, knowing what the most likely scenarios are and planning for them is better than going into a situation blindly. In the case of dental emergencies, the most common types of dental emergencies to prepare for are:

• Toothache
• Swollen jaw
• Dental injuries
• Prolonged bleeding after an extraction
• Painful jaw
• Painful erupting tooth
• Cold Sores, Canker Sores, Fever Blisters

Most of these issues can be eradicated through preventative maintenance, so I’ll stress again: Keep your teeth healthy. When there is an emergency, however, dentist appointments are hard to come by. So, we will learn some alternative approaches to keep our teeth and gums in top shape. When the toothpaste and toothbrushes run out of your disaster supplies, look for these dental alternatives in your emergency supplies:

• Salt
• Baking soda
• Essential oils
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Water

These items are multi-purpose, inexpensive and can keep your teeth and gums very healthy during a long-term disaster. For more detailed information including recipes for dental pastes and rinses, click here. Also, if you plan to have any elderly family members staying with you during a short or long-term disaster, do not forget to anticipate their dental needs.
Having some dental supplies to rely on during short-or long-term emergencies would be opportunistic to say the least. Your emergency dental supplies should be all encompassing with regards to multiple dental emergency resources, first aid supplies, vitamins, pain relief, anti-inflammatory needs and antibiotics.

Preps To Buy:

• Salt (in quantity)
• Baking Soda (in quantity)
• Essential oils (in quantity) such as clove oil, cinnamon oil, or 4 thieves oil
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Toothpaste (in quantity)
• Soft bristled toothbrush (in quantity)
• Dental floss (in quantity)
• Toothpicks (the rounded end type)
• Fluoride rinse (optional, but could come in handy)
• Tweezers
• Instant hot and cold packs (in quantity)
• Dental wax (to place over sensitive areas)
• Dentemp
• Cotton balls (in quantity)
• Gauze pads (in quantity)
• Black teabags (tannic acid in tea is a natural blood clotting agent)
• Activated charcoal
• Suture kit
• Vitamins
• Additional dental resources
• Dental tool assortment
• Monofilament or suture “thread”
• Suture needles
• Celox or quikclot
• Antibiotics
• Ibuprofen or pain reliever
• Rubbing alcohol to sterilize dental tools

Action Items:

1. If you haven’t done so, get a check up with your dentist.
2. Begin stocking up on vitamins that can help dental health.
3. Click here to download a PDF version of “When There Is No Dentist” by Murray Dickson. Then begin studying this resource to familiarize yourself with how to provide care.
4. Start changing some bad eating habits (i.e., eliminating sugars, sodas, honey and molasses and junk food from the diet). If you do eat or drink any sugary items, make a habit of brushing your teeth within 30 minutes to remove any sugars left on your teeth. This can significantly reduce cavities.
5. Get in the habit of flossing.

Military Brethren: Stand To for 30 Jun, 2014

Veterans Push Back with Prayer

0700 at BJ’s Restaurant

Hamilton, Montana

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Breakfast is served

3. Morning Psalm: 4

4. Breakfast Reading: Colossians 1:9-23

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:

          Observations of the community, state and nation

          Show and Tell

          52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington

                   Week 24 of 52: Water Preparedness (List 2)

6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

Upcoming Events:

          7 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          14 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          21 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          28 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          11 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          18 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          25 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Apr 2015 – 0645 – March for Jesus Christ

Tasks:

          Prayer to do God’s will

         

 Fellowship of Military Brethren:

          Our 3Circles:

                    1) Outside (Feeder) Circle: Churches & Church Organizations, Veterans Organizations, Special Events, and Word of Mouth

                    2) Middle (Push Back with Prayer Groups) Circle: Prayer Breakfast every Monday at 7am, Prayer Lunch (still needed), Intercessory Prayer every day, and Daily Communion

                    3) Inside (Give Back with Care) Circle: Fellowship of Military Brethren

On the Web: http://pushbackwithprayer.blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @Walk_April_4_15

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.bitterroot

Week 24 of 52: Water Preparedness (List 2)

Never can enough be said about water purification and quality water sources during an emergency. One of the reasons I am placing so much emphasis on potable water is because improper drinking water is one of the leading causes of death in third-world countries. It is also one of the four most likely ways to die in a SHTF scenario. That being said, we must take steps to have water on hand for cooking, cleaning ourselves and ensuring that our households are properly sanitized. Learn more about how to properly disperse of waste and how to create a sanitation kit.
When water is unavailable, we must trust in the skills and knowledge we have amassed. One essential skill is knowing how to properly treat water. Here are two videos you can watch to create a Homemade Water Distiller and a Solar Powered Water Distiller.
Those of you who do not have access to natural water sources will need to be more clever at finding water in an emergency situation. Knowing the hidden water sources in your home can help you find immediate water (for short time use) when you need it the most. Many preppers use some of the following methods of having additional water on hand during emergencies:

• Freeze ice cubes and place them into zip-loc bags to melt when the electricity goes off.
• Use plastic soda cans filled with the treated water.
• Use emergency bath tub water storage containers to fill with water.
• Collecting rain water in plastic containers or water barrels.

Further, those that have wells on their property with electric pumps may want to consider an alternative hand or solar pump to have on hand during disasters where the electricity is out. Hand pumps such as Flojak pumps are very popular amongst preppers and would be a solid investment for those of you needing a non-electric pump for your well.
Having multiple ways to treat water will ensure that you are able to drink clean water during times that the water supply may be contaminated or turned off. Further, having potable water will ensure that your family has what they need to survive and thrive.

Preps To Buy:

• Collapsible 2-gallon water containers (as many as you think your family needs)
• 1-2 Bath tub storage – This is a large food grade plastic container that holds up to 65 gallons of water and fits convenienctly into your tub.
• Water filtration system – Big Berkey Water Filtration Sytems are, by far a great investment for your preparedness foundation. As for pocket water filters nothing comes close to the Katadyn Pocket Microfilter. It has a 20-year warranty and can filter up to 13,000 gallons of water. All in a compact size for your bug out bags. Also, the life straw also has some great reviews and would be in your best interest to check it out. It removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% waterborne protozoan parasites, and will filter approximately 264 gallons of water.
• Purchase extra filters for any water filtration systems
• Water purification tablets – my family has stocked up on micropur tablets, but there are a host of other purification tablets out there. These tablets are great to carry in your bug out bags, evacuation vehicles and even to use on camping trips.

Action Items:

1.     Have at least 7 days of water stored up. Remember: 1 gallon of water per person/per day.

2.     Ensure that you have water purification systems for the home and bug out bag. This gives you a back up for your back up.

3.     Start practicing water conversation in your home.

4.     Learn some alternative ways to collecting water.

Military Brethren: Stand To for 9 Jun, 2014

Veterans Push Back with Prayer

0700 at BJ’s Restaurant

Hamilton, Montana

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Breakfast is served

3. Morning Psalm: 150

4. Breakfast Reading: John 5:19-47

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:

          52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington

                   Week 23 of 52: External Security Preparedness

          Veterans’ Affairs

          Prisoner Exchange

          Emergency Communications and Preparation

6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

Upcoming Events:

          16 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          23 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          30 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          7 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          14 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          21 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          28 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Apr 2015 – 0645 – March for Jesus Christ

Tasks:

          Prayer to do God’s will

         

 Fellowship of Military Brethren:

          Our 3Circles:

                    1) Outside (Feeder) Circle: Churches & Church Organizations, Veterans Organizations, Special Events, and Word of Mouth

                    2) Middle (Push Back with Prayer Groups) Circle: Prayer Breakfast every Monday at 7am, Prayer Lunch (still needed), Intercessory Prayer every day, and Daily Communion

                    3) Inside (Give Back with Care) Circle: Fellowship of Military Brethren

On the Web: http://pushbackwithprayer.blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @Walk_April_4_15

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.bitterroot

Week 23 of 52: External Security Preparedness

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck the Louisiana coast, reports out of New Orleans on September 1st stated that victims of the disaster were being raped and beaten and that fights and fires were out of control, leaving corpses laying in the open as the city descended into anarchy. Emergency responders in the New Orleans area were overwhelmed, and as a result their response time was lapsed.
A “bug in” scenario may be our only choice after a disaster strikes and we must prepare not only for our basic needs, but also for our safety. Since the grid may go down during a disaster, each household should prepare for crime. Looting and home invasions will more than likely be at the forefront of these crime waves and a defensible home will help your family stay safe.
Many of us easily relate to the idea that our home security needs to be beefed up. In fact, some of the homes we live in are defensive nightmares given the location, structural design, neighborhood or city we may live in. Because the home will be more vulnerable when the grid goes down (due to electrical alarm systems not working, lapsed emergency response time, etc), consider having some alternative security features for inside the home. A barking dog would be a great detection system for anyone trying to break in. And, if the pet is trained properly, could assist in protecting the family.
In an emergency where civil unrest can be a problematic issue, criminals look for accessible targets. They will concentrate on vulnerable “easy-pickings” and bypass the more secured areas. This was seen during the Rodney King Trial Verdict riots in Los Angeles and it’s suburbs, the only structures that were spared from active looting by large gangs were some stores owned by armed Korean Americans.
Security is an important preparedness measure to keep in mind when investing in your emergency supplies. Bulking up your home security features for the outside can be your first line of defense in preventing any criminals from trying to enter your home.
Given that our financial situations are each unique, I am not suggesting that you go out and purchase every item on this list. However, if you are able to invest in some security items for the home, I suggest you invest in as much as you can.

Preps To Buy:

• Reinforced doors and locks. (There is only 1 ” of wood protecting you in normal door locks.)
• Barred windows or European-style security/storm shutters.
• Place thorny bushes or plants around windows or near vulnerable areas of the home.
• If possible, create a barrier from approaching vehicles.
• Put a peep hole in the door.
• Add a bolt and chain to the door.
• Infrared (IR) floodlights to illuminate the property (These can be motion-sensor activated).
• Solar garden lighting can also be an inexpensive way to illuminate areas outside the home.
• Fence the entire property, if it is not done so already.
• A gate at the front of the driveway that has spikes at the top to prevent someone from jumping over the fence.
• Cameras placed strategically around the home and near the entry points of the home can also deflect an intruder.
• Create a safe room or vault to where a family can go to evade their attackers.
• Buy a gun and know how to use it.

Action Items:

1.     Walk around the perimeter of your home and see where the vulnerable areas are.

2.     Make necessary changes to the outside of the home by bulking up on security layers.

3.     Contact a security expert or friend in the police department and see if they can provide you with additional advice.

4.     If it is a good fit with your family, look into purchasing a firearm or going to a concealed handgun course.

5.     Create a neighborhood watch program.

Military Brethren: Stand To for 2 Jun, 2014

Veterans Push Back with Prayer

0700 at BJ’s Restaurant

Hamilton, Montana

1. Opening - Round the Table Individual Prayers

2. Breakfast is served

3. Morning Psalm: 107

4. Breakfast Reading: Acts 3:1-10

5. Breakfast Discussion Topics:

          52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington

                   Week 22 of 52: Hardware Tools (List 2)

          Talk about change and why people fear it.

          Emergency Communications and Preparation

6. Closing - Round the Table Individual Prayers

Upcoming Events:

          9 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          16 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          23 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          30 Jun 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          7 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          14 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          21 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          28 Jul 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Aug 2014 – 0700 – Push Back with Prayer Breakfast

          4 Apr 2015 – 0645 – March for Jesus Christ

Tasks:

          Prayer to do God’s will

         

 Fellowship of Military Brethren:

          Our 3Circles:

                    1) Outside (Feeder) Circle: Churches & Church Organizations, Veterans Organizations, Special Events, and Word of Mouth

                    2) Middle (Push Back with Prayer Groups) Circle: Prayer Breakfast every Monday at 7am, Prayer Lunch (still needed), Intercessory Prayer every day, and Daily Communion

                    3) Inside (Give Back with Care) Circle: Fellowship of Military Brethren

On the Web: http://pushbackwithprayer.blogspot.com/

On Twitter: @Walk_April_4_15

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/military.bitterroot

Week 22 of 52: Hardware Tools (List 2)
Keeping essential tools in your preparedness supplies will help you operate in a non-technological environment. As we are moving into preparing for longer-term disasters, we have to think about what our life will be like during an extended disaster. Generally speaking, those that go through disasters typically are without power for a given amount of time. So the cooking, laundry, sanitation and a host of other daily activities will have to be done without the convenience of electricity. We will also need tools to build, repair and maintain our homes and gardens in the face of damage or breakdown. Keeping traditional tools on hand can help in this department.
Tools would make great bartering items and are one of the top ten items needed to create a survival homestead. During times of grid-down disasters, tools can be used to help chop firewood, build a shelter and provide a host of other important duties. The tools you invest in should be of the “traditional sense”, and of good quality. A word of advice is that if you buy cheap tools, you will get what you paid for. In the end, you will end up paying more for another tool because the cheap tool was not well constructed. If you have a good eye for quality tools, look at yard sales in your area, or you can find good tools at your hardware stores or local home and garden centers. Some preppers who are looking for Amish crafted tools can look at websites such as Lehman’s, or Cottage Craftworks to find what they need.
There are a lot of tools that will be needed for a survival retreat and we will continue to add to our existing tool supply. Right now, we are focusing on starting simple and building our skills, and confidence. Click here to view the basic tool kit one would need for their retreat. Many of you will already have some of these tools in your tool kit, so take this time to purchase some extra blades or parts for your tool set. Keep the prepper’s rule of multiples in mind when making these tool investments: “Two is one, and one is none.” Instead of purchasing two tools, consider investing in spare parts for the tools such as extra blades, sharpening tools and lubricants such as WD-40 or Vaseline to keep these solid investment items up to par.
We will all have to make certain sacrifices during a grid-down scenario. The best way to understand what those sacrifices will be is to give them up periodically. Take a weekend or even one day and practice a grid-down situation to experience what your life would be like during those times. This exercise will help you understand how dependent you may be to certain conveniences and being without them can help you find ways around them. Further, get acquainted with your tool investment and practice using, cleaning and sharpening these tools.
The following tools can add convenience to your life, but are not the only tools you should have on hand. In the coming weeks, we will revisit this topic and add to our already existing tool supplies. Click here to learn more about the basic retreat tool set.

Preps To Buy:

• Work gloves for all members of the family
• Protective eye wear for all members of the family
• Paracord Rope
• Hammers (a claw hammer for hitting nails, and a ball peen hammer used for striking metal)
• Saws (Hand saws and hack saws with extra blades)
• Screwdrivers (4-in-1 screwdrivers, Phillips, Robertsen)
• Wrench sets (Allen wrenches, pipe wrenches, combination wrenches)
• Adjustable wrench set
• Ax with a sharpening device
• Wedge to help in cutting firewood
• Pliers (an assortment of sizes)
• Socket set
• Vise grips
• Squares (roofing squares and framing squares)
• Levels (short square and a 4-foot level)
• Bit and brace
• Measuring tape

Action Items:

1. If you are not handy with tools, purchase a how-to guide and begin practicing this essential skill. Remember, you only have to be 10% smarter than the tool to get it to work.
2. Simulate a grid-down scenario in your home and practice what life will be like without the modern conveniences we are dependent on today.