6-Month Preparedness Supplies Rotation Checklist

Prepping supplies don’t last forever. Food can go bad, tools can rust, items can be taken from the stock and not replaced, or needs can change.

It can be hard to keep up with all the inventory; food expiration dates, water rotation times, medication usage. In our household, each month we have one area that we check on.

It usually takes less than an hour to check through the stock and add the needed items to our next shopping list. One hour a month keeps our supplies fresh.

I will share today our 6-month rotation plan. I mark my google calendar with an event and on the first of the month I get a reminder of which category to check for the month.

Why 6-month plan?

• Home canned goods last for about a year, commercially canned foods can last longer but not all food items have yearlong expiration dates.
• We live in a small apartment, some items make more sense to stock a smaller amount of and restock more often as we don’t have too much space. (For example, a year’s supply of toilet paper would be hard to find space for but 6-months’ worth we can handle.)
• A 6-month supply is cheaper than a 1-year supply. For those on a tight budget, finding extra cash for prepping can be hard. If you come to your band-aides for example and find you didn't need any in the last 6-months, you can buy your normal 6-month supply again. Now you have doubled your supply, without stressing your bank account too much. It makes a nice incrementally way to stock up.

January and July – Car Supplies

We spend a lot of time in our cars, and I am almost always with my car. I drive to work, drive home, drive to friends, drive to the store, you get the point. I see it as a priority to ensure my car is in the best functioning condition and fully stocked with what is supposed to be in there.

We start the checklist in January, as for colder climates the weather is starting to get pretty snowy so it's a good time to check up on winter gear. For July, it's the turn of the seasons, and prepping for summer fun.

Twice a year, check your car for summer or winter gear:

1. Check fluids (quart of oil, windshield wiper fluid, coolant, brake, funnels)
2. Check for spare clothes, blankets, gloves etc
3. Check for a knife (I love this one), hand warmers, shovel, snow brush, sunscreen, trash bags and other random survival items
4. Jumper cables, spare tire, jack, crow bar, air pump
5. Check for hammock or tent or sleeping bags or blankets

Car Questions to Ask Yourself

Am I prepared for any roadside emergencies I could expect in my area? Is there a safe way to carry water? Check out ----- 35 Items You Need To Put in Your Car Right Now---- for a complete list of what I store in my car.

February and August – 72hr Bag + Information

The 72-hr bag is a backpack with everything you need for 3 days. It could be grabbed on the way out the door during evacuations or it could be kept in your car for when you can't make it back home.

Information is the important details of your life that would be hard to do business without: SSN, medical insurance, car insurance, etc.

72-hr bag

1. Restock missing items
2. Pare down to the essentials you NEED to survive for 72-hours
3. Replace expired items (MRE's, protein bars, etc)

Information

1. Copies of important information on hand (USB drive + paper)
   • Insurance numbers (car, medical, home, etc)
   • Credit card information
   • SSN, Passport #, birth certifcate
   • Driver license #
   • Primary Care Physician's name/phone
   • Emergency contacts (family, friends, etc)
   • Medications and allergy information
   • Pet vaccination report, identification, pictures
2. Cash on hand ($100 at least in small bills)

Questions for 72hr bag and Information:

How can I keep my 72-hr bag light but complete? Check out ----- 4 Steps to Building a Better 72-Hr Bag ---- to see what I keep in mine. How much cash should I have on hand? What information is critical to know that would be difficult to find if I wasn't at home? See: 21 Important Pieces of Information to Gather for Your Family's Reference

March and September – Water Supply + Cleaning

We are know you need water to live. Cleaning supplies are handy when water is scarce. Stocking both allow you to save your water for drinking cooking and your life from a dirty mess.

Water Supply

1. Store at least 1 gal per person per day for 3 days (6 gallons at least for 2 people)
2. Store your favorite Gatorade mix, instant coffee, tea, other water flavorings if you usually drink them
3. Consider Water purification tablets + filters (I recommend the Lifestraw or the Family LifeStraw)

Cleaning and Sanitation

1. Bleach
2. White Vinegar
3. Trash bags
4. Gloves

Questions about Water and Sanitation

How much water do I have space to store? Do we have enough supplies to handle a sanitation crisis? Can I handle no running toilet water? I talk about both here:

1.  Water Storage for Today, This Month and This Year
2. 7 Steps for Maintaining Proper Sanitation during Power Outage
3. 5 Steps to Evaluating Water Security during a Power Outage