Maybe a stupid idea....

[Capa]

But for those of you who prepare for emergency with extended family in mind (in my case parents, siblings, and nieces - including the dreaded monster-in-law) how do you broach the subject? I have tried several times but none seem interested and put my preparedness down to paranoia and fantasy. I was wondering whether it'd be an idea just to give them a sealed letter to be opened only in real emergencies. I mean, if you assume TSHTF then I prefer to think that the phone lines will be busy or unusable and possibly power down so no email either. Obviously if comms stay open then great but if not.... They won't take me seriously if I talk to them now, but I'd like them to have all the details they'd need in an emergency.

I'm thinking that it wouldn't be an idea to include very much by way of location detail although none of them will know how to find our bug out location if I don't?

I'm thinking keep it small and to bullet points for example: bring food, warm clothes, blankets, hygiene items, meds, fuel, tools etc. etc.

I can't decide though whether this is a good idea, because talking to them in advance is largely not an option but in the event they ever feel they need it or the S does HTF I want them to have the info they need, I'd also like to let them know in what circumstances they're NOT welcome (for instance if it's along the lines of Pandemic - cos as much as I love my family, I don't want them infecting us or us infecting them) as horrible as that sounds.

So do I carry on occasionally dropping it into conversation being largely ridiculed and occasionally even causing offence and hope that if it's ever needed they're sensible, bring the useful things and themselves safely to us or do I write a letter only to be opened in real emergency situations and hope they don't lose it, or do I do both? Or am I completely insane for thinking about this at all? I'd have the capacity and the space to help them, and some of them have very useful skills in an emergency situation (such as carpentry, building, martial arts, weapon training, cooking, some bushcraft and foraging too) but they just won't plan for it because they don't believe it'll ever be needed and if it is they have this belief that it'll "all work itself out somehow".... Which to me seems an incredibly naive, head-in-the-sand way of thinking.

Has anyone else done this? Or is it a royally stupid idea altogether? How do I tackle it?

[TorNicho]

It is a difficult subject to broach.

I too get the odd looks from some family members, and even my GF whom I live with.

In the past I have considered putting together a bug-in kit for each family group/house, with details and information on what to do in certain scenarios, and leaving it at their house with instruction to open in an emergency.

These won't have to be comprehensive, just things like:-
a few Tins of food,
Map with waypoints and locations,
Torches,
Med Kit,
Radio,
means of starting a Fire,
Water Purification tablets,
maybe a WalkieTalkie

Most of this stuff is basic and they should have in the house anyway, but having additional, and in one container will make it easier for them to manage, and [maybe] accept.

[short circuit]

Humans are set in there ways anything not in there normal daily life is none important to them.Your day to day life you think about been ready for something that might happen and want a A to Z, a plan for everything... as time goes by you will settle into normal steady prepping and not bother if someone thinks its right or wrong what your doing as it is the right thing for your peace of mind...if there not onboard its there loss.

[unsure]

as much as you want it , you can`t make them understand your way of thinking .untill some thing gets them thinking about ``what if `` it could be a simple case of the power going out for a few hours on a night or the water off for the day .
i broached the subject with my parents a while back after the usual funny looks it seemed to dawn on them that most of their food was in the freezer , home grown veggies , and meat .
so now they have my spare genny , ok they`re getting older and i`d need to go start it for them but at least they`ve started to think .

i don`t think i`d leave any written details just incase they got into the wrong hands .

[12mp82]

Capa, a really good way to get people thinking is to invite them around for an evening meal, but have someone throw the power switch after they have arrived, then you go into action with your kit, show them how little a power cut slows you down, whip out the lanterns and candles, out with a gas stove and a few cartridges and get cooking on that, put the kettle on and make them a brew, simple things that show that having a few preps to hand can save the day.

[junmist]

This depends on how many people you want descending on you. You might think you are only inviting your family and inlaws but your siblings have partners and there partners have family the same with the inlaws. Telling 4 people could mean 20 showing up.
So I would ask them if they are ready for the power cuts (these have been on the news and in the papers) And then drop the subject. Snow just mention to them that you will not have to go out panc buying as you are prepared for it. Same for a tanker strike and shops not being restocked and so on.
As for telling them where you are bugging out too DON'T. Make plans that if there is a disaster ie: floods or a gas leak in a street family are welcome to make there way to your house, this puts it into there heads to head for you and you can then take them to your BOL.
Yes you may leave some behind but as much as you would like too you can not save every one

[24942895]

I don't have any family around and just a couple of close friends nearby, my preperations at home are done with either solo long-term or bringing then here and having it last not so long.
If leaving the area is necessary then my BOB is put together with some duplicate items (and includes some small books on wild food and survival skills incase they end up needing it without me) but I am thinking about putting together a couple of BOB's for them.

I'm in two minds about telling anyone what I'm doing to prepare, maybe my friends will prepare too, maybe word will make it into the community.

[24942895]

After this thread i decided I ought to speak to one of my friends about her medication as she'd be dead in a few weeks without it, she generally agreed it's a very good idea to have some in reserve and she's going to start getting her regular prescriptions a little earlier to build up a supply over time.

[Capa]

Thank you all, I've actually spoken to my mother since I posted this (she bought the subject up).... It was another face meet palm moment though as her big plan should the SHTF is to travel to the Highlands... We're in Buckinghamshire... I asked her how she planned to get to the Highlands if there's no fuel? And told her I suspect that 99% of people seem to think the same thing. I told her where we'd go if we had to BO and invited her to come here in an emergency... Her response was that it's more "practical" to get to the Highlands as there's water and hunting there. The fact she's never hunted anything in my living memory and has no way to do this, seemed to bypass her.

I've given up. I shall let my sister know we're here if she needs us. And maybe in the event of a major SHTF moment my Mum might remember what I've told her. My brother works in/for the military so I doubt even if I mentioned it to him, he'd agree. Apparently he's always got a better plan and we know nothing, even though he can't piss without permission and instructions.

So I shall continue to prep for "guests" or supplies to last us many more months than are probably needed if nobody turns up on our doorstep. And the rest can get on with it. I well and truly give up! LOL I have kids I need to take care of first and foremost. I can't be worrying overly about the others if they don't even want to think sensibly about it now.

[survival chic]

I am not going to bother discussing prepping with my family as there is no point at the moment, they just think i am mad. i am slowly and quietly prepping each week, gathering up things and placing around the house as my husband is not a fan of me prepping.

But if there is a emergency i will have prepped extra food and supplies for when mine and husband's family come knocking but only if they chip in with the work duties.