Being Prepared Without Being a Prepper

[Hopbuilt]

After Hurricane Helene came through our small town in East Georgia, I helped with relief efforts at my church. During that time, I had several conversations with some of our older members about their experiences during the storm. Many of them were completely unprepared—they didn’t even have a working flashlight in their homes.

That got me thinking. Unlike many of us here who enjoy this kind of thing, a lot of people don’t have the knowledge, interest, or budget to invest in high-end survival gear. And to be honest, when you try to talk to some folks about preparedness, they tune out—especially if the conversation leans toward only buying top-tier equipment. I get it. "One is none, two is one." But for many, especially seniors on fixed incomes, expensive gear isn’t practical.

I want to put together a class at my church to help our elderly members be better prepared—without feeling like they have to be hardcore preppers. I know there’s a ton of knowledge on the ODT for this, but I want to keep it very simple and cost-effective.

I’m looking for low-cost, easy-to-use supplies that would be useful for seniors, such as:

A plastic storage bin with a secure lid for emergency supplies
Rechargeable Duracell flashlights/lanterns from Costco
A basic first aid kit and a way to store medications safely
Affordable food and water storage options
A simple, inexpensive knife
Does anyone have suggestions for other practical, budget-friendly items I should include?

 

[Wile E. Coyote 5.0]

Batteries. Rechargeable items will be useless if they can't be recharged in an emergency.
Water, cases and gallons of water and food that only requires water to be eaten
Canned food with hand opener
Sterno
Lighters and matches
Zip lock bags

 

[Gixxer]

Already great stuff mentioned. The list can get too long very quickly but I would certainly recommend a power brick that is kept charged at all times.

Being able to keep your cell phone on during a prolonged power outage can be invaluable.

 

[Gixxer]

I will also add, and you may cover this during the potential lecture you'll give on the subject:

Being prepared is not entirely about the stuff you have on hand, but your mindset in general.

Keeping up with current events, knowing when and where to go certain places. Knowing about severe weather before the day of. Keeping more than a quarter of a tank of gas in your vehicles at all times. Things like that will get you through significant events successfully more often than a locked and loaded AR or satellite radio will.

 

[NewLeaf]

I imagine there’ll be a lot of Folks dumping out of date stuff soon , if not needs to? That’s the gamble.

 

[NewLeaf]

I will also add, and you may cover this during the potential lecture you'll give on the subject:

Being prepared is not entirely about the stuff you have on hand, but your mindset in general.

Keeping up with current events, knowing when and where to go certain places. Knowing about severe weather before the day of. Keeping more than a quarter of a tank of gas in your vehicles at all times. Things like that will get you through significant events successfully more often than a locked and loaded AR or satellite radio will.

Nope , locked & loaded. Every room.

 

[wolfmanrogers]

If they're dependent on prescription medication nothing else matters.

Exercise and be healthy. Go to the dentist and get checkups. Eat well and take care of yourself. That's what matters most for all of us, especially seniors.

 

[NewLeaf]

If they're dependent on prescription medication nothing else matters.

Yep, been thinking about that. Almost there.

 

[tdi_g]

My advice...talk to and get to know some Mormons. Emergency prep runs deep in our roots. Here's a good source to start with links to other resources as well: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/life/tips-for-making-an-emergency-plan?lang=eng

 

[Huey Deer Processing]

I’d say you have your bases covered pretty well OP.
I will just say this on food, a lot of people over think it and spend too much money on “emergency bundles”.
If you have the money more power to you but I say every time you go grocery shopping just buy a couple extra cans of stuff you like that last for awhile.
Before you know it you’ll have an ample supply and when they get close to going out of date you take them to a can food drive as opposed to the emergency bundles which you’ll be pretty much stuck with.