Has anybody ever informed you, “When catastrophe strikes, we’re coming to your home!” However when catastrophe strikes—be it a hurricane, earthquake, or financial collapse—and household, buddies, and even their buddies present up at your door, are you able to welcome them with open arms and preserve your own home working easily? It’s time to suppose this by way of and develop a plan to make sure you don’t must reside in chaos!
Right this moment, I’m sharing tips on how to set clear guidelines and limits to make sure everybody thrives, based mostly on Dr. Kyle Christensen’s “Who’s Coming to Dinner?” worksheet. You possibly can obtain a free copy that can assist you together with your planning.
Let’s dive in with optimism and sensible know-how! Watch these nice, thought-provoking video interviews with Dr. Christensen. There are 4 movies masking numerous topics on the worksheet.
The State of affairs: Your House Turns into a Refuge
Disaster hits and your own home is the secure haven for household, buddies, possibly their in-laws, and even some pets. Youngsters of all ages, aged kinfolk, and surprising friends arrive with little greater than the garments on their backs. It’s thrilling to assist, however with out a plan, your sanctuary may flip right into a stress zone. The excellent news? You possibly can create a harmonious, secure surroundings by setting guidelines and limits upfront. You’ll want to personalize this plan for your self, however listed below are some vital issues to think about.
Step 1: Know Who’s Coming and Plan Their House
First, make a listing: who’s positively coming (household, shut buddies), who would possibly present up, and who may tag alongside (in-laws’ buddies, anybody?). Don’t neglect pets—Fluffy the cat or Rover the canine would possibly be part of the social gathering! Estimate your “attainable” and “possible” headcount to plan sleeping preparations. Obtained beds, cots, or hammocks? Inventory further blankets, sleeping baggage, and clothes for many who arrive empty-handed. Create non-public areas with curtains or dividers—everybody wants somewhat nook to name their very own.
Boundary Tip: Set clear guidelines, like “No children leaping on our mattress!” to guard your area and preserve issues truthful.
An enormous thanks to Arlynn and her husband for offering this Emergency Home Visitor Briefing. It’s fantastic to see how others are planning to deal with this!
Step 2: Set up Management with Love
When your home fills up, somebody must steer the ship. As householders, you’re the pure leaders—consider your self as a “noble chief” with advisors out of your group, not a dictator! Keep away from chaos by skipping full consensus (everybody agreeing 100% not often works). As a substitute, maintain a household assembly to assign roles based mostly on expertise: a head cook dinner, safety officer, medic, or emotional counselor.
Boundary Tip: Create a brief, signed “Code of Conduct” for everybody, masking respect, no violence, and pitching in. For instance, “Everybody helps with chores, no exceptions.” This retains expectations clear and fosters teamwork.
Step 3: Meals and Sanitation—Non-Negotiables
Feeding a crowd is a giant activity, so plan for 2 meals a day to stretch provides. Stock your meals: how many individuals are you able to feed for a way lengthy? Guarantee it’s correctly saved and take into account water sources if plumbing fails. Assign a cook dinner and cleanup crew, and handle choosy eaters or allergy symptoms with kindness however firmness—snacks is perhaps restricted! Sanitation is life-or-death: arrange compost bogs (3–4 bins for 10–20 individuals, per Joe Jenkins’ Humanure Handbook), handwashing stations, and inventory cleaning soap, bleach, and sawdust.
Boundary Tip: Implement kitchen guidelines (e.g., “No free-range snacking”) and hygiene requirements (“Wash palms earlier than meals”) to stop waste and illness.
Step 4: Hold Everybody Secure and Sane
Safety and emotional well being are essential. Assign a safety officer to look at for inside or exterior threats, and set guidelines for weapons use to keep away from “unfastened cannons.” Hold everybody busy with chores, video games, or worship to spice up morale and forestall rigidity. Help various beliefs with inclusive conferences, and have a counselor prepared for PTSD or anxiousness.
Boundary Tip: Solely trusted members invite new friends, and infractions (like theft or disrespect) imply penalties—probably relocation. A signed settlement with a probation interval ensures everybody’s on the identical web page.
Step 5: Plan for the Lengthy Haul
What in case your friends keep longer than anticipated? Assess funds—can these with means contribute? Inventory further provides like gasoline, instruments, and winter clothes. Plan for particular circumstances: births, deaths, or celebrations.
Boundary Tip: Often evaluation your guidelines and regulate as wanted. If somebody’s not becoming in, have an exit technique (e.g., transferring them to a group shelter) to guard your tribe’s concord.
Your Motion Plan
You’ve bought this, preppers! Begin immediately:
- Obtain the Worksheet: Seize Dr. Christensen’s “Who’s Coming to Dinner?” on the prime of this put up to listing your tribe, provides, and roles.
- Set Guidelines Early: Draft a Code of Conduct with clear boundaries (e.g., “Respect non-public areas,” “Everybody works”).
- Put together Provides: Inventory bedding, meals, sanitation gadgets (like compost rest room bins), and medical provides.
- Talk: Maintain a household/tribe assembly to assign roles and talk about expectations earlier than the disaster hits.
Work on Your Disaster Inflow Plan Right this moment!
Disasters don’t must imply chaos. With clear guidelines and limits, your own home is usually a beacon of hope to your family members. Comply with The Provident Preppers for extra methods to construct a resilient, joyful tribe. Let’s put together collectively and preserve the religion—as a result of household is value it!
Thanks for being a part of the answer!
Jonathan and Kylene Jones
