Phase 2 - Safety Precautions ⚠️

Some Safety Tips:

Interior:
- Full Sweep of Costco for any hostiles.
- Ensure status of building is not un-liveable
- While performing sweeps, take mental notes of what resources are available, what might be missing if it’s been looted, what you have a surplus of.
- Check for animals or bug infestations, or any chemical spills, again take note, do not stop clearing the building.

After clearing the building and regrouping, it’s time for part 2.

———

Part 2 - Protection

Personally, after ensuring safety of the Costco I would cover and block all entrances and exits except 3.

One as your usual exit/entrance if you are scavenging etc.

One as a backup that is across from the open one, in case of an emergency.
(Fortify this one, to ensure its not broken into)

Lastly, the roof access as both a emergency exit and an area to have as a recon nest above.

Every other door and window should be covered to ensure privacy, and protection, and to avoid hostile interference early on.

Realistic Long-Term Outlook 🌱

First Phase (0–6 months)

Mostly:

consuming stored supplies
organizing systems
stabilizing shelter

⸻

Second Phase (6–24 months)

Transition toward:

farming
repair systems
renewable energy
water recycling

⸻

Third Phase (2–10 years)

Survival depends less on stored goods and more on:

agriculture
maintenance
engineering
sanitation

Part 3 - General Rule

Mapping the Building 🗺️ (unless theres one already)

Create a basic building map.

Mark:

exits
water supplies
medical areas
power systems
roof access
storage zones
emergency routes
Food supplies
Expensive supplies

Large buildings become confusing quickly during:

darkness
smoke
panic
power outages

Exterior Stabilization 🚧

The goal is:

weather protection
accident prevention
visibility management
reducing environmental risks

NOT combat fortification.

⸻

Window Protection

Warehouses contain huge glass surfaces vulnerable to:

storms
temperature loss
debris

Use:

plywood
insulation foam
shelving barriers
thermal curtains

Benefits:

insulation
privacy
temperature control
reduced UV exposure

⸻

Door Management 🚪

Instead of sealing everything:
maintain:

primary entrance
emergency exits
evacuation routes

Important:
never trap yourselves inside.

⸻

Exterior / Interior Lighting ⚡

If power exists:
install low-power lighting around:

entrances
loading areas
Pathways

Interior lighting should be kept at a minimum during nights to not attract people.

Move In 🏠

After all of this, if it’s suitable, it’s move in time.

You need to divide your group into sections with specific parts.

Interior can be 1 person, but anything external or dangerous should be groups of 2 to mitigate risks.

The first few days you should be mapping and coordinating all of your supplies. Rotating shelf life to ensure food and goods are used in expiry date first.
Noting down all medicines, all supplies for electrical or plumbing, and even things to use as traps.

After that, set your designated roles for who is focusing on what area of rebuild.

Operations / Coordination Lead —
1 Person 📋

Responsible for:

Taking supply notes, details!
schedules for rotation
inventory records
task coordination
conflict resolution
planning maintenance cycles

Should also:

maintain maps
track supplies
document problems

Water & Sanitation Team —
1-2 People 💧

Most critical long-term role.

Responsible for:

water purification
storage monitoring
cleaning routines
hygiene systems
waste handling
checking plumbing

Daily tasks:

refill purified water
inspect containers
sanitize common areas
monitor mold/humidity

Should mark:

clean water zones
dirty water zones
sanitation areas

This prevents contamination.

Food & Agriculture Team —
1-2 People 🌱

Responsible for:

rationing
cooking
inventory rotation
food preservation
indoor farming systems

Tasks:

monitor calories
rotate stock
maintain grow systems
inspect spoilage

Should mark:

food storage aisles
farming zones
cooking areas
emergency food reserves

If you have low amounts of people, then 1-2 people should maintain both food and water.

Power & Maintenance Team —
1-2 People ⚡🔧

Responsible for:

batteries
solar systems
lighting
repairs
ventilation
structural inspections

Daily checks:

wiring safety
leaks
roof condition
tool inventory

Should mark:

electrical hazard areas
battery charging stations
repair zones
maintenance pathways

Medical & Wellness Team — 1–2 People 🩺

Responsible for:

first aid
health monitoring
medicine inventory
exercise schedules
mental wellness

Tasks:

monitor illness/injuries
track medications
maintain hygiene standards
organize physical activity

Should mark:

medical areas
quarantine area
clean treatment spaces

Communications & Observation — 1 Person 📡

Responsible for:

radios
weather updates
external observation
maintaining logs
monitoring rooftop systems

Tasks:

track weather
monitor radios
update maps
inspect rooftop systems

Should mark:

communications equipment
antenna zones
observation points

If need be, move this into the electrical duties until you get someone trained in Radios.

Cross Train Everyone! If someone passes away, and they knew everything about the one area, and no one else does, then you’re stupid for not thinking. Nothing more.
Don’t be stupid, ensure everyone knows how to work each system to ensure redundancy.


Now that we’ve covered the roles and who does what, and maintains that source

Let’s dive into what each
group needs to do.

Operations / Coordination Team 📋

Recommended Size: 1 Person

This person becomes the organizational backbone of the shelter.

⸻

Main Responsibilities

Inventory Control

Tracks:

food
water
medicine
batteries
tools
spare parts

Without tracking:
resources disappear far faster than expected.

⸻

Scheduling

Organizes:

cleaning rotations
repair shifts
farming cycles
sleep schedules
observation duties

Routine reduces:

stress
conflict
exhaustion

⸻

Documentation

Keeps:

logs
maps
repair notes
weather records
supply reports

Knowledge becomes extremely valuable long-term.
This role should also help support other roles. Don’t be lazy.

When Supplies Run Low

The coordinator transitions the shelter toward:

rationing
power conservation
system simplification
salvage operations
recycling systems

⸻

Example Decisions

Reduce Power Usage

Move into smaller insulated living areas.

⸻

Reduce Water Consumption

Limit washing frequency.

⸻

Shift Diet

Transition from stored foods toward crops and preserved staples.

⸻

Biggest Long-Term Threats

disorganization
poor planning
morale collapse

Water & Sanitation Team 💧

Recommended Size: 2 People

Most critical long-term role.

Almost every historical survival failure eventually involves:

contaminated water
poor hygiene
disease spread

⸻

Main Responsibilities

Water Purification

Methods:

boiling
filtration
chemical treatment
UV purification

⸻

Water Storage

Maintain:

sealed containers
contamination control
rotation systems

⸻

Hygiene Systems

Prevent:

mold
bacteria
pests
illness outbreaks

⸻

Waste Management

Critical long-term issue.

Must separate:

greywater
waste
clean water

When Stored Water Runs Out

The team must establish renewable collection systems.

⸻

Long-Term Water Sources

Rain Collection

Best rooftop option.

⸻

Snow/Ice Melt

Seasonal.

⸻

Condensation Collection

Low yield but possible.

⸻

Long-Term Upgrades

Eventually build:

gravity-fed systems
large storage tanks
filtration stations
simple plumbing networks

⸻

Major Risks

contamination
stagnant water
plumbing failures
disease outbreaks

One sanitation failure can collapse the entire shelter.