Something else I would like to point to before anything else. PRINT your how-to's. PRINT your recipes. PRINT every single thing you would slap yourself in the forehead for not doing if the power goes out. If you have a backup power source for a small computer, tablet or something else, copy EVERYTHING to a USP drive. My hubby is a computer nerd so he can help me out with this.

There have been many rumors recently of the internet being taken down. All that wonderful info out there and on this forum will be lost forever if you don't print it out. Get yourself a 3" 3-ringed binder. Yup that is thick but if your survival depends on what is in that binder, it will and should be thick. Actually, you will need more than that if you are copying everything you need.

Now, get yourself some clear report protectors, pocket type that you can slip two pages in, to protect them. You will want to do this for those pages that are recipes or other things you will be using a lot. Many people do it for everything, if you do, just know you will add more bulk. Make copies of your important documents, driver's license, birth certificate, social security number, mortgage paper work and anything else you need. Laminate it. Put it in your binder. Put your binder in a plastic bag, seal with tape and then put in another bag and tape. You want this to STAY dry even if you go swimming through a river or are drenched in non-stop rain. The binder(s) should be in your BOB.

If you are making USP drives, make two and give the extra set to another responsible person. Seal them in a baggie and then put in another baggie for extra protection. I am not sure if an EMP can harm the USB drives, but to be safe, take a small Mylar pouch, slip your USP drive inside a sock or small cloth and wrap a few times, then put inside the pouch - you don't want the USB to touch the Mylar, fold the edge down twice and seal with tape so you can update often or add more if needed. Water proof and EMP proof.

Once you have your item inside, you need to seal the seam. The best thing I have found to seal Mylar is a hair straightening iron. Just slide it over the edge and make sure you get wrinkles out. I usually went over it twice just to make sure.