Do you have what you need to see yourselves, your families, your church, your community through a crisis?

East Tennessee and western North Carolina are finding out about prep in real time. They are also schooling the rest of our country in what it means for people to step up and take care of each other.

The government almost doesn’t care. They are unable to meet the overwhelming needs of such a widespread disaster anyway. The lessons here, even from FEMA, is that you can’t rely on government to step up in the timeframe needed by people.

Also noteworthy is the use of social media to facilitate the rapidity of organization and marshaling of resources to get to people help. Facebook and YouTube have been instrumental in articulating the needs people and communities have, and will continue to be.

Following a disaster like this people will get desperate within 24 hours. Many stranded with hunger and thirst beginning to set in, magnified by the stress of the situation. That’s what will happen in any disaster; that’s what happened in the aftermath of Helene.

My point is this: get ready. The day is coming soon when you will need to step up for the sake of your family, your church, and your community. Get a disaster preparedness plan in place. Get some resources together. You know what the spiritual priorities are. Prayer, bibles, tracts, ministry. Here are the practical priorities for the first few days of a crisis:

1. Water. You will need redundant sources. Store bottled water but that will soon run out. Have water filters and purification tablets for longer term needs.
2. Communications. Assume cell phones will go down. While a bit expensive, a few satphones are invaluable. Get some long range radios. T-Mobile has partnered with Starlink to provide basic texting capability over satellite from your cell phone. Get a Starlink system.
3. Shelter. Designate a central, large facility that can house people and get them out of the elements. Tents, cots, and blankets are better than nothing.
4. Warmth. Camping heaters and 20 or 30 pound propane tanks. Blankets, sleeping bags, cots to get people off the cold surface. Also propane leak detectors and CO alarms.
5. Sanitation. Assume normal sewage and access to flushable toilets is unavailable. Lots of solutions out there but this needs a plan and quick solutions to prevent disease and contamination. Organized sanitation is needed within probably 12 hours or less if possible.
6. Food. Dry, shelf stable food, energy bars, canned goods, comfort food such as candy and chips. The priority is calories first, nutrition second. At least 1500 calories per day per person. High activity will need a lot more so opt for high calorie high nutrition options. Beans and rice are a good place to start. Also compact quick options such as energy bars. Military MREs are a great option but they are expensive. Consider prepper freeze dried food. Don’t forget staples such as salt and sugar.
7. Power. I recommend standby generators for facilities that are planned for gathering people. It should be powered by a large permanent propane tank. Solar systems with lithium battery storage are also a good option for low power needs like lights and cold storage.
8. Transportation. High lift, 4 wheel drive trucks. For short runs, consider dirt bikes or quads. Of course you will need people who can ride and gas which may be rationed if available at all.
9. Medical. Basic first aid supplies. Consider herbal remedies for antibiotics and pain relief. There are some powerful solutions growing in your front yard. Sounds weird until you get someone trained. But the reality is normal pharmacy solutions may soon run out.

This is only meant to provide information and get you thinking about these things. Don’t be caught unprepared.

Study the East Tennessee, western North Carolina disaster. Learn from this. One day it was business as usual and the next, entire towns were erased from the map.

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

1 Thessalonians 5:3

I know this verse is in a different context, but in some ways it is applicable to disasters. Typically, people think disasters only happen to others. I’m sure the residents of these small towns were in that normalcy mindset.

While this is more focused on resources, don’t forget the lessons learned on working together for the good of all. Pulling together is having real impact in these communities right now. Please consider helping them in some way.