FEMA is one of those government organizations that suffers from being both simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming. We complain at the lack of response from FEMA following a serious regional disaster, but we also complain about their massive power, FEMA camps, and so on.
The truth is, thanks to Executive Orders and the COVID era Title 32 Change, FEMA truly is capable of existing in both realms. They can show up in tornado alley and appear pretty ineffective but also wield the power to lockdown citizens and use a limitless national guard. This article: FEMA Is Here: The Only Rights You Still Have explains how this works in detail. Even so, there are some good things that come from it. We will focus on a specific part of their documentation: their recommended stockpiling list.
So, What Does FEMA Recommend you Stockpile?
FEMA recommends that you have a bare minimum of 3 days (72 hours) worth of emergency items that make up the average emergency kit.
A basic emergency supplies kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Non-sparking wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
The reason FEMA recommends the stockpiling of these items is an old prepper truth that you must understand. You are going to be on your own in a disaster. If you understand nothing else about preparing for a disaster, please understand this.
Another reason that FEMA might recommend stockpiling certain items is because they do hold the power to take the things they need in an emergency. Many people think this is crazy and that it would never happen.
I would just say that if it wasn’t a concern or a motivation then our government would not have created three separate Executive Orders specifically designed to confiscate various private resources to aid in recovery.
What Stockpiled Items FEMA can Take from YOU!
As you build your stockpile and you surpass that 72-hour recommendation, be wary. FEMA has been granted massive powers of confiscation through executive order. While there are many conspiracies about government organizations out there, this is not one of them.
Just do some research on what EO 10998,97,95 grant FEMA power to do in an emergency. You don’t have to take my word for it. Though I can sum it all up pretty succinctly for you.
EO 10995 FEMA can take all Comms and Media.
EO 10997 FEMA can take fuel and power of all kinds.
EO 10998 is a monster that gives tremendous power to FEMA in terms of confiscation. Some of the things they can take under this executive order are:
- Food Resources
- Farm Equipment
- Fertilizer
- Food Resource Facilities
These are not limited to businesses. These resources and equipment can be confiscated from whoever has them. If FEMA declares an emergency and deems your equipment or food necessary for recovery, then get ready to hand them over!
This is one of the reasons things like covert stockpiling, OPSEC, and caching survival items are so important. What FEMA doesn’t know about cannot be demanded of you!
Now, emergencies and disasters are terrifying situations. That said, I am more scared of FEMA taking over farming and food production! Seems like a recipe for nationwide famine if you ask me.
The Problem with FEMAs Recommendations
The problem is that their recommendations are very vague and do not address anything that lasts more than 72 hours. I think this is because FEMA must manage people freaking out. If they recommended we all have 1 month of supplies, people might get upset, even though it’s definitely the right thing to do.
FEMA also exists under the umbrella of the government, so it operates under the fantasy that civilians are protected by law enforcement at all times. There is no mention of self-defense in anything that is written or recommended.
If you prepare by FEMA standards, then you will have no means of protecting yourself and your family from local looters or terrorists. Any kind of survival or preparedness setup is going to involve some kind of self-defense tools and training with those tools.
This is why we so often recommend the Navy SEAL’s Bug-In Guide by Joel Lambert. It teaches you how to become self-sufficient but also shares very important information on how to defend yourself in your own home when SHTF. You will even learn about SEAL-Tested Survival Skills for the Next Crisis, including:
- 10 things that will become extremely valuable after an EMP
- Why you should bury a trashcan in your backyard
- Preserving food without a fridge
- The four knots you need for survival
- Things you throw away that you should add to your stockpile instead
- Bug-in mistakes you’re probably making right now
- And much more
If you do not have this guide, get it now! Ask A Prepper readers can get it for just $37 at this link!
Another big hole in FEMAs game is the ability to cook, heat and cool. There is virtually no mention of fuel for cooking or heating on the supplies list. You need to have an answer for how you will cook food in a disaster and how you will generate heat for your family.
I think the FEMA checklist is a great resource. If you are starting from scratch these items are going to really make a difference in most common disasters. However, use this as a launch pad into deeper preparedness.
Final Thoughts
More important than anything that FEMA will or will not do in a disaster is where you are with your preps right now. When you look over the recommended list of stockpiled items do you see a list of things you already have on hand, or do you see a list of stuff that you need to buy?
FEMAs recommendations are basics and 72 hours is truly a minimum that every person should have. What you need is more like 2 weeks’ worth of food, water and supplies to assure you aren’t scrambling one week into disaster recovery.
Most preppers keep much more than 2 weeks’ worth of supplies on hand. That is your choice. However, understand that FEMA is severely limited in the amount of resources it is going to bring to a major disaster that spans multiple locations in the nation.
You will be on your own.
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