Start here · Step-by-step plan
Day 4 to day 7
Goal: a routine you can sustain. Here it stops being an "adrenaline emergency" and endurance begins.
- Fixed household schedule: wake up, 7:00 a.m. bulletin, water and food, chores, 1:00 p.m. bulletin, rest during the hottest hours, 7:00 p.m. bulletin, short meeting, night shifts.
- Make water safe in batches if you use water from the water heater, the toilet tank (not the bowl), or another doubtful source: filter, then bleach or boil (chapter 3). Label the containers: "treated / untreated."
- Strict sanitation: emergency toilet bags sealed and kept separate from the regular trash; mandatory handwashing (chapter 21).
- Security: doors locked, minimal light visible from outside at night, don't post on social media how much you have or that the home is left empty (chapter 25).
- Resupply: if the radio announces water or food distribution points, a pair of adults goes with FRS radios and a return time.
- Pets: short walks for dogs during the cooler hours, check paws (glass, hot asphalt), water always available.
| What to use | What it's for in this phase |
|---|---|
| Water filter and bleach | Turn doubtful water into safe water in batches. |
| FRS/GMRS radios | Coordinate whoever goes out to resupply; liaison with neighbors. |
| Solar panel | Recharge the station during sunlight hours. |
| Camp stove (outdoors only) | Boil water and cook away from doors and windows. |
| Daily log | See trends: if the water drops faster than expected, you adjust in time. |
Consumption rule: water, the same figure (1 gal per person per day, plus your pets'), adjusted for heat; power, what the panel replenishes during the day is what you spend at night; food, pantry with one hot meal a day if possible; communications, 3 bulletins a day.
