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Preparing for an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event requires more than just the standard survival supplies. In this guide, we’ll explore some items crucial for your EMP prepping efforts that don’t usually appear on traditional prepping lists for EMP events. If you’re an individual or family gearing up for potential EMP disasters, these often overlooked necessities that can significantly enhance your post-EMP living conditions.
Preparing for an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event requires a comprehensive approach beyond the typical survival supplies. Many guides focus on the basics and rightly so. Building a food storage pantry is critical. Shelter is important. Knowing the basics of storing water is crucial. So is having proper toileting and sanitation supplies. However, there are numerous other items often overlooked in traditional prepping lists. From addressing personal hygiene needs to ensuring ongoing health maintenance, these items play a vital role in enhancing resilience and adaptability in the aftermath of an EMP disaster.
Overlooked EMP Prepping Necessities
- Underwear and Bras: Stock up on various sizes to accommodate the whole family, including larger sizes for growing kids and teens.
- Reading Glasses: Ensure you have reading glasses of different strengths to meet vision needs in unpredictable situations.
- Feminine protection: I strongly recommend purchasing menstrual cups, like the Diva Cup is reviewed here. They can be used for months, if not years, and don’t produce anything that has to be laundered or disposed of. Additionally, consider fabric menstrual and incontinence pads for extended use.
- Yeast: You can gather wild yeast, but it’s time-consuming and not something you’ll want to focus on in the early weeks of survival. Prioritize convenience by stocking up on yeast for baking and fermentation needs.
- Hair and Beauty Products: No woman wants to look like a refugee from the Great Depression. Hair color, lipstick, scented lotion, and nail polish will help make the struggle for survival a little easier because you know you’re looking good. These products will prove valuable for barter. As one survivor of the Bosnian War told me, “Yeah, women still wanted to look good no matter what was going on!” Read this post for a survival-related supplies you could pick up at a Sally Beauty store.
- Insecticides, Mosquito Spray, Mousetraps: If you view the coming years as a descent into third world conditions, you’ll realize that diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas, rodents, and other creatures are going to become a major issue. Just be mindful of these products affecting bees and birds. Never spray them on areas where water has pooled.
- Condoms and Other Forms of Birth Control: It will be far easier to prevent a pregnancy than to give birth under extremely difficult circumstances. Women have been doing that for thousands of years, so it’s not impossible, but they’ve also been dying for thousands of years, too because it’s risky to both mother and baby when sanitation is poor, medical help unavailable, and prenatal care virtually non-existent.
- Pregnancy tests: It’s better to test and know than be surprised 2-3 months down the road.
- Razor blades: There’s nothing wrong with the Duck Dynasty or bearded hipster look, but you still might want to buy these, since they are very cheap but difficult to manufacture. Women might want to stock up just so they can avoid the never-attractive Sasquatch look, although our perspective on body hair is cultural, not right wrong.
- Ivermectin: Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication that may be available at feed stores. It’s effective against both internal and external parasites. Read more here about dealing with parasites.
- Protein Powder: Stock up in all flavors and brands. This may become the quickest way to increase your intake of protein if/when meat becomes scarce.
- Oscillating Fans: Babies, toddlers, the elderly and those in poor health cannot survive for long in unrelenting heat. You’ll need a small generator to operate these, though, unless you can find fans that require only batteries. Solar powered energy sources are worth researching.
- Personal Documents: Secure copies of passports, birth certificates, medical records, and insurance documents. Replacing these can be difficult or impossible after an EMP. Learn about creating a binder containing vital documents.
- Maps and Compasses: Knowing how to navigate without GPS is essential. Invest in high-quality paper maps and learn basic compass navigation.
Expert Tips for EMP Preparedness
Store electronic items in a Faraday cage, which is a container that blocks electromagnetic waves. By storing your electronics, inside a Faraday cage, you can significantly increase their chances of surviving an EMP event and remaining functional.
Consider learning basic survival skills. In the aftermath of an EMP, basic skills like growing your own food, providing medical care, and building fires become crucial for survival. Investing time in learning these skills now will empower you to adapt and thrive in a challenging environment.
Develop a communication plan with friends and family. An EMP event could disrupt traditional communication methods like phone and internet. Establish a communication plan with friends and family beforehand, including a designated meeting location and alternative communication methods like HAM radios or shortwave radios. This will ensure you can stay connected and support each other in the event of an EMP.
Prioritize Sustainability. Opt for reusable or long-lasting alternatives where possible, reducing dependency on finite resources and enhancing self-sufficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading glasses cater to vision needs, crucial for tasks ranging from reading maps to repairing equipment. Feminine protection, particularly menstrual cups and reusable pads, offer sustainable hygiene solutions, minimizing reliance on disposable products during extended survival periods.
Read this post for a comprehensive approach to prepping for an EMP.
Address as many of the enemies of food storage as you can to the best of your ability. For example, storing perishable items in airtight containers within cool, dark spaces can prolong their shelf life. Additionally, rotating supplies regularly ensures freshness and efficacy, optimizing their utility in crisis situations.
Related EMP Preparedness Content
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Final Thoughts
Adding these often overlooked items and following the pro tips outlined above will have you taking a significant step towards building a well-rounded EMP preparedness plan. From prioritizing personal hygiene to addressing health maintenance and everyday needs, these additions to your preparedness kit bolster resilience and adaptability. By taking a comprehensive approach to EMP prepping, you significantly enhance your family’s post-EMP living conditions.
