I live in Minneapolis. On Saturday, the city released community safety recommendations during the unrest we're currently experiencing. These guidelines included some important steps, like packing a bag and having an evacuation plan if your home feels unsafe. Here's what they suggested:
Does any of this sound familiar? It should. But here's the problem: in Minneapolis, many of our local stores, including pharmacies, have already been damaged or looted. Restocking supplies or grabbing food and water for a shelter-in-place isn't possible anymore. Sure, you could drive to the suburbs for help, but the Department of Transportation has been closing highways without warning. And if you don’t own a car, getting anything at all—food, medicine, or even a way out—is nearly impossible. Our public transit system has also shut down, and there’s no guarantee it will be back up soon. The city is now telling us to prepare go-bags, but at the same time, they’re making it harder for us to get supplies or leave the area. Mail delivery has stopped in my neighborhood, and shipping services are slow due to the pandemic. So, we can’t rely on that either. Many of us in Minneapolis are wondering how we’re supposed to put together a go-bag when everything is already compromised. More importantly, where are we even supposed to go with it? For me, right now, it’s too late. But other city dwellers don’t have to be caught unprepared. At *The Prepared*, we’ve spent a lot of time putting together guides to essential supplies. Most of them are already designed, prioritized, and ready for real-world situations. That means you won’t have to do much tweaking. If someone had told me four weeks ago that I should get a ham radio or protective gear, I would’ve laughed. But the truth is: if you think you're being overcautious, you're actually on time. By the time it becomes obvious that you should’ve done something, it’ll be too late. As one person said on Twitter: "You have to be early. You have to do it before it's obvious that you should do it. Early is on time, and on time is too late." Right now, I wish I had a bag ready for both evacuation and daily use. There have been nights this week when I seriously considered leaving. But I haven’t yet because I still feel safest at home. No homes have been broken into so far, and I feel most comfortable where I am. But things could change quickly. When I can get supplies delivered, I’ll start ordering. I’ll use The Kit Builder to organize by priority. Right now, I’m focusing less on water purification or camping gear and more on essentials like a ham radio, multi-tool, battery pack, and respirator. These tools would be useful even if I never left the city. I have asthma, and I'm worried about breathing in tear gas or smoke from burning buildings. A ham radio would let me stay informed if cell towers go down. (Note: You need a license to transmit, but anyone can listen. If you're in an emergency, worrying about an FCC fine is the least of your problems.) The good news is, The Kit Builder lets you customize based on your needs and budget. I might add goggles for tear gas or Clorox wipes for protection against COVID-19. Start building your kit now—even if you can’t buy everything at once. According to our Sane Prepper Mantra, it's better to invest in quality items and stay within your budget. Make a list, prioritize, and save accordingly. I also wish I had a real first-aid kit, not just a “boo-boo†kit. My current one has band-aids and Neosporin, which is great for minor injuries—but not for serious trauma. Now that emergency responders aren’t reliably coming to my neighborhood, I want trauma scissors, irrigation systems, and more. I also wish I had extra supplies to share with friends or community centers. If you're outside of Minneapolis, you might feel crazy buying these items now—but trust me, you're right on time. This experience has taught me that it’s impossible to be prepared for everything. But I wish I’d started one month ago. If you're in a city where unrest is just beginning, take this as a lesson. You might feel odd buying supplies now, but you won’t regret it later.Pack a bag and have a plan to leave if you feel your residence has become unsafe:
- Identify a safe place you can go and stay. This could be a friend or family member’s house.
- Identify how you can communicate with your loved ones. Include a meeting spot in case cell service is down.
- Pack essential items you'll need while away. Don’t forget medications.
- Plan several routes to your safe place and avoid large crowds. Write them down — GPS may not work.
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