Stayin' Alive

By Mercy M'fon Shammah

One thing that I want most for our community is to be prepared. This year we have faced massive continent fires, 10 earthquakes in Puerto Rico in a handful of days, a volcano eruption followed by ash lightning, fifteen-foot snow drifts in Newfoundland, the coronavirus outbreak, a threat of WWIII… and the decade just started.

Ready for anything

As BIPOC, queer, and TGNC folks, we already feel like we are in survival mode. Our personal safety and well-being — particularly for systematically targeted Black, brown, and transgender bodies — isn’t assured. Existence is resilience.

Being so used to overcoming adversities, it might seem as though we're naturally equipped for any situation. It might also seem like “prepping” is just a wacky hobby for a privileged population of people with not much to prepare for in their actual day-to-day. But unexpected events happen all the time, and though we may not be able to plan for or predict them all, we can make sure we have the tools and resources available to further sustain ourselves when access to necessities are limited and support systems are just out of reach. Because we’ve seen too many times, whether in New Orleans; Flint, Michigan; or Puerto Rico, that in the event of a disaster, it is low-income, marginalized communities and communities of color who are overlooked and underserved. But I want to change that, and center ourselves in safety and survivalism.

It’s okay to start small

We should have what we need to best react to whatever mother — or human — nature throws our way. If you haven’t built an emergency preparedness kit yet, now is a great time to get started.

Your emergency preparedness kit (EPK) is a minimum amount of collected items that can support you in the event of catastrophic events. Your kit should have three days worth of supplies to support yourself (or your household or family) until services and supplies are available, or until you can arrive to safety.

Trying to put your EPK together all at once can be a little intimidating. Most of us can’t afford to splurge on a top-of-the-line, bring-on-the-apocalypse kit with all the bells and whistles. The good news is: we don’t have to! Accessibility being a pillar in Wild Diversity’s mission, I want to help our community consider ways to pool resources and build a budget-friendly pack so that we aren’t left unprotected in case of a disaster.

So instead of buying all of the items you may need at once, begin with just one or two that are either more affordable or easily accessible, and then add to your kit each month. When you select items to pack, start researching sales and browse online community exchange groups. Keep the items in the back of your mind at flea markets and thrift shops, markets, or co-ops. Canned lentils on sale? Maybe grab a couple extra to stock up your kit. Friend looking to get rid of their tampons now that they're using a menstrual cup? Take some for the kit! Building your EPK with family or community helps — not just for accountability, but for maximum trading and fun.

The Red Cross has a great list to use as a starting point for your EPK. Their must-have items for your kit are:

• Water – one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food – non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Flashlight 
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries 
• First aid kit (get the right size for your group)
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation, menstrual, and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers (the Red Cross store has crank combo chargers)
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

They also offer an extended list of items which can be just as important to add to your kit. Those items include rain gear, extra clothing, sleeping bag, and considerations if you have pets, babies, or people with medical needs.

Preparing while on the move

Our vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to emergency preparedness. With winter still in full swing, there can be real consequences to being stuck in bad weather away from home. The National Safety Council has a simple starter list to make sure you're ready, even on the road:

• Spare tire
• Items to increase your visibility if broken down, like reflective triangles or flares
• Water

Having those items in your car will help you in minor situations, or if you're stuck waiting for assistance to arrive. If you are traveling through a pass to get to where you are going, or if you are doing any winter travel, consider adding items to that list that will keep you warm and help move you out of harm's way. Having warm clothes, a blanket, and a shovel could be a lifesaver in winter weather.

Building a "bug out bag" (or an emergency preparedness kit to go) is essential for more serious emergencies. This is a grab-and-go bag in which you can have everything handy that you need to survive in the event of an evacuation. Mahma Oya Jaguar, our friend at Vida Jíbar, has great advice on putting together a bug out bag on a budget.

"Part of being poor is learning how to be resourceful and working with what you have and somehow surviving without."
—Mahma Oya Jaguar

Now that you have experimented with all your other New Year's resolutions, let this be the commitment to yourself that sticks. ;)  Connect with your family or housemates to work on this project together. Pull resources, know your community emergency resources, and come up with an emergency plan.

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Mercy M'fon Shammah is the Founder and Executive Director of Wild Diversity.