These questions are meant to get you thinking about possible scenarios, and you'll find that there are some missing. Feel free to email us with more questions we should add.

General
1. What events are you planning for?
2. How long of a period do you need/want to be self-sufficient?
3. What kind of food are you going to use in your storage (canned, dehydrated, freeze-dried, etc.)?
4. How many members in your family (including pets)?
5. Do you expect others (family, friends, etc) to show up at your door in times of need? How will you handle the situation when it occurs?
6. Will you be storing extra supplies for others?
7. Where and how will you store your equipment and supplies?

For the first part of these questions, assume that you have no utilities, but your home is still livable:

Kitchen
1. How will you prepare your food?
2. How will you cook?
3. How will you eat?
4. How will you keep food from spoiling?
5. How will you clean the pots, pans, dishes, plates, cups, and cutlery?
6. How will you open cans?
7. How will you dispose of garbage and trash if garbage services are disrupted?

Food & Water
1. How much food do you have in your home right now?
2. If you store basic foodstuffs now, do you know what types of meals you can make with it?
3. How much water do you have stored?
4. Do you have extra water to use for washing and cleaning?
5. How will you get more water to drink?
6. How will you make the water safe to drink?

Bathroom
1. How will you go to the bathroom?
2. How will you dispose of the waste?
3. How will you bathe, shower, wash your hair, or otherwise clean yourself?
4. How will you wash your hands?
5. How will you brush your teeth?
6. How will you handle feminine hygiene?
7. If you wear contacts, how will you clean them?

Bedroom
1. How will you stay warm when you sleep?
2. How will you provide security while you're sleeping?
3. How will you prevent conception?

Medical
1. Can you set a broken bone?
2. Do you know how to control bleeding?
3. Can you perform CPR?
4. Do you know how to establish an airway?
5. Can you help someone who's having a seizure?
6. Can you treat a snake bite?
7. Can you help deliver a baby?
8. Can you perform the Heimlich Maneuver?
9. Can you recognize the symptoms of a heart attack?
10. Can you cleanse and dress a wound?
11. Can you recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke?
12. Does anyone in your household require prescription medicine? What will you do if you cannot get any refills?
13. Do you know how to treat for shock?
14. Do you have an extensive first-aid or medical kit?

Energy
1. Do you have battery-powered items?
2. Do you know how long each item lasts on one set of batteries?
3. Do you have spare batteries?
4. Have you made a list of everything using batteries that you'll want to use in an emergency?
5. Do you know what size battery each item needs and how many?
6. Do you have rechargeable batteries?
7. Do you have an alternative method of recharging them?

Defense
1. How will you defend yourself against criminals and thugs?
2. Have you hardened your home to everyday crime?
3. Have you constructed a defense plan?
4. Does every responsible adult in your home know your defense plan?
5. Are you prepared to take another person's life in defense of your own or your family's?

If you own firearms
1. Does every responsible adult know how to safely and effectively handle firearms?
2. Does every responsible adult in your home know how to shoot?
3. Do you have enough ammunition to last for a protracted period of time?
4. Do you have cleaning supplies?
5. Do you have a sling or a holster for every firearm?
6. Do you spare parts for every firearm?

Miscellaneous
1. What will you use for a light source?
2. Do you have durable clothes, including cold weather clothes?
3. How will you wash your clothes?
4. Do you have comfortable walking shoes or boots?
5. How will you keep in touch with others?
6. How will you will heat your home, or otherwise stay warm?
7. How will you pay your bills if you're laid off, even temporarily?
8. How will you make repairs to your home or vehicle?
9. If you wear glasses, do you have an extra pair?
10. How many fire extinguishers do you have?
11. Do you have pets? What are their needs?
12. Do you have alternative plans or backup plans in case your primary preparations fail?

Now assume that your home is no longer safe to live in, and there is widespread disaster in your region. Ask yourself these additional questions:
1. Where will you go?
2. What will you use for shelter?
3. How will you keep yourself warm and dry?
4. What will you sleep on?
5. How will you carry your supplies?
6. How will you travel?
7. Do you have a map of the area around your home and the location where you want to relocate?
8. Do you have a compass?
9. How long will your water purification supplies last?

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