BUCKHORN CLIFFS

Kits and planning · Tool

Walk-around preparedness audit

Walk the property, answer honestly, score each of 15 systems from 1 to 5. Scoring is free, and your scores are saved on this device.

What this does for you

Find the weak link before the emergency finds it

Most preparedness gaps trace back to the same few causes: unseen dependencies, single points of failure, and assumptions nobody has tested. This guide turns a plain checklist into a working inspection you carry out on your feet. A chain fails at its weakest link, and most households have never looked for theirs. This tool finds it and tells you what to fix first.

Start with system 01 See my action plan

About 45 minutes with a clipboard and a walk around the property. Ten minutes if you score from memory. Scores save on this device as you go.

  1. 1Walk and tickOpen a system, go look, and tick only what is true today. 200 checkpoints across 15 systems.
  2. 2Score it 1 to 5Your ticks suggest a score. You make the call. The scorecard fills in as you go.
  3. 3Get your action planYour lowest systems rise to the top with what is still unchecked and the quick fixes for each.
  4. 4Fix, then walk it againWork the list from the top. Repeat the audit twice a year and watch the scores climb.

The 1 to 5 Readiness Scale

Score what is true today, not what you plan to buy.

1Not addressedA clear single point of failure. If stress hit tonight, this fails.
2Aware, minimalSomething exists but it is thin, improvised, or mostly a plan in your head.
3Partial, untestedReasonable coverage on paper, but never run under real conditions.
4Solid, minor gapsWorks, with known small weaknesses you could close quickly.
5Redundant and testedA backup exists and you have proven the whole thing actually works.

The number that matters most is your lowest one

A chain fails at its weakest link. Fix your 1s and 2s before you polish your 4s.

Why score it

Your lowest score is where an emergency gets in

A household fails at its weakest system, not its average. Fifteen honest scores show you which one that is, so your next dollar and your next weekend go to the right place.

Start with system 01

  1. Open a system below and go look.One at a time. Walk to the furnace, the pantry, the well. Do not score from the couch.
  2. Tick only what is true today.Not what is on order, and not what you plan to do.
  3. Pick the score, 1 to 5.Your ticks suggest one. You make the call, and it lands on the scorecard below.
  4. Open your action plan.Lowest scores first, with what is still unchecked and the quick fixes for each.

Your scorecard

Action plan

Nothing scored yet. Each square is one of the 15 systems: tap one to open it. This scorecard follows you down the page.

The 15 systems

200 checkpoints in all. Two systems are open in full so you can see how it works. You can score all 15 either way.

01Household & PlanOpen sampleKnow who you are preparing for, and who does what0 of 12 checkedNot scored

Every other system exists to protect people. Count who depends on you, name their needs, and decide who does what, on paper the whole household can find.

Why it matters

Most households run on a plan that lives in one person's head. Put it on paper: the roster, each person's needs, who does what, and the meeting points, then walk everyone through it so it still works when the person who made it is unreachable.

Your household

Roles and responsibilities

The written plan

Red flags

  • The plan lives only in one person's head
  • No one has named who does what
  • A dependent's specific need is unplanned for
  • Kids don't know where to meet or how to call 911

Quick fixes

  • Write the plan, roster, and contacts down
  • Assign every critical role, with a backup
  • List each person's and pet's specific needs
  • Walk the whole household through it, then practice

Score Household & Plan

Tick what is true today, then pick the number that matches. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
02Heat & Temperature ControlHolding a safe temperature, through a hard freeze or a heat wave18 checkpointsNot scored

Ask yourself what happens tonight if grid power fails and stays down. In cold country, loss of heat is a faster threat than loss of food, and it hits the very young, the old, and your animals first.

Primary heat 4 checks

Secondary and backup heat 4 checks

Fuel 4 checks

Heat retention 3 checks

Outbuildings and animals 3 checks

5 red flags

6 quick fixes

18 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Heat & Temperature Control are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Heat & Temperature Control

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
03WaterOpen sampleYou last weeks without food, but only days without water0 of 13 checkedNot scored

Water planning fails most often because of unrealistic assumptions: a well that needs power, a stored supply that froze, or a treatment kit nobody has tested. Water is heavy, hard to move, and the first thing you miss when the tap goes dry.

1 galPer person, per day, minimum: roughly half for drinking, half for sanitation
3 → 14Days to store: 3 to evacuate, two weeks to shelter in place
6 moRotate water you bottle yourself; sealed store-bought keeps for years if cool (taste dulls over time)

Why it matters

Count the accessible gallons you actually have, then multiply by the people and animals who depend on you. A well with no backup power and no hand pump is a single point of failure. A full water heater holds 40 to 80 gallons, and the toilet tank holds a few more, both clean reserves most people forget they own.

Make the stock first, then confirm the smell

Mix the stock solution first; never dose granules straight into drinking water. Add powder to water, never the reverse, and never mix it with acids or ammonia. After dosing, wait 30 minutes (60 if cloudy); a faint chlorine smell means it worked, and if there is none, add another tablespoon and wait 30 more. Use additive-free pool shock, and pre-filter cloudy water.

Two methods worth knowing cold

BoilingA rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 ft) makes water safe. Cool it and pour between containers to improve taste.
FilteringA gravity or pump filter removes protozoa and bacteria, but not viruses. Boil or add calcium hypochlorite for a questionable source.

Chemical disinfection · Calcium hypochlorite (pool shock)

Two-step methodWhat to doYou get
1. Make the stockStir 1½ tsp (about 5.7 to 6 g) of calcium hypochlorite into 1 gallon of waterA ~1,000 ppm stock, too strong to drink
2. Treat the waterAdd 1 tbsp of stock per gallon; use 2 tbsp if cloudy or suspectWater near 2 to 4 ppm, safe once it stands

Stored water

Water sources

Water treatment

Water movement

Red flags

  • Less than three days stored, or you honestly don’t know
  • Well or municipal supply with no power-free backup
  • One treatment method, or supplies past their date
  • No way to carry or access water in a hard freeze

Quick fixes

  • Store 1 gal per person per day, two weeks if you can
  • Keep two methods: a filter and calcium hypochlorite
  • Fill the tub at first warning; a liner keeps it clean
  • Stage hand-carry jugs and a manual transfer plan

Score Water

Tick what is true today, then pick the number that matches. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
04FoodA full pantry is only half the job14 checkpointsNot scored

Calories, preparation, and continuity are what actually matter. A freezer full of meat is a liability the moment the power fails, and a pantry you cannot cook is just heavy shelving.

Stored food 4 checks

Cold-storage dependency 3 checks

Cooking capability 4 checks

Food production 3 checks

4 red flags

5 quick fixes

14 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Food are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Food

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
05Power & EnergyKeep the few things that matter running13 checkpointsNot scored

Your goal is a short list of critical loads, refrigeration, medical devices, communication, lighting, kept running safely for as long as the outage lasts. Trying to power the whole house just drains your fuel and battery faster.

Immediate power loss 3 checks

Backup power 3 checks

Fuel and charging 3 checks

Critical loads 4 checks

5 red flags

5 quick fixes

13 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Power & Energy are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Power & Energy

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
06Medical & HygieneEmergencies rarely happen in clean conditions10 checkpointsNot scored

Two of the biggest threats after a disaster are untreated injury and lost sanitation. Both are predictable, and both are cheap to prepare for compared to what they cost when ignored.

First aid 4 checks

Medications 3 checks

Hygiene 3 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

10 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Medical & Hygiene are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Medical & Hygiene

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
07Security & AwarenessBuy yourself time and distance17 checkpointsNot scored

Good security comes from deterrence, early warning, and avoiding bad situations before they reach your door. You are buying time: time to observe, decide, and act deliberately. Force is the last layer you reach for.

Layered security mindset 4 checks

Physical security 5 checks

Perimeter awareness 4 checks

Lighting 4 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

17 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Security & Awareness are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Security & Awareness

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
08Firearms as a Defensive ToolA last resort that demands training35 checkpointsNot scored

Owning a firearm without training, planning, and context creates false confidence. This section is about responsibility: who is trained, how it is stored, whether the law is understood, and whether the household can avoid trouble in the first place.

Ownership reality check 4 checks

Firearm selection and readiness 4 checks

Ammunition and sustainment 4 checks

Safe handling and legal awareness 4 checks

Defensive planning inside the home 4 checks

Training and practice 4 checks

Avoidance and de-escalation 4 checks

Community and after-action 7 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

35 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Firearms as a Defensive Tool are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Firearms as a Defensive Tool

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
09CommunicationInformation loss increases panic and bad decisions9 checkpointsNot scored

When the cell network degrades, usually by the second day of a wide outage, the household that can still hear official alerts and reach each other makes calmer, better choices.

Internal communication 3 checks

External communication 3 checks

Information intake 3 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

9 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Communication are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Communication

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
10Transportation and MobilityGetting out, and getting around9 checkpointsNot scored

Mobility cuts both ways. You may need to get out fast, or you may need to move water, fuel, and supplies around your own property for weeks. Plan for both, and never let the fuel gauge decide for you.

Vehicle readiness 4 checks

Access routes 3 checks

On foot 2 checks

5 red flags

5 quick fixes

9 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Transportation and Mobility are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Transportation and Mobility

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
11Evacuation & Go-BagShelter in place until something forces you out11 checkpointsNot scored

Sheltering in a prepared home is usually safer than fleeing; movement itself introduces risk, as roads funnel people and destinations are rarely empty. So stay put by default, and leave decisively only when a physical threat forces the choice.

Know your triggers 3 checks

Go-bags 4 checks

Family communication plan 4 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

11 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Evacuation & Go-Bag are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Evacuation & Go-Bag

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
12Tools and RepairThe ability to fix problems prevents escalation9 checkpointsNot scored

A small leak, a dead breaker, or a downed fence becomes a real emergency only when nobody can fix it. Being able to fix things yourself keeps a small problem from turning into a cascade.

Basic repairs 4 checks

Manual capability 2 checks

Land maintenance 3 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

9 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Tools and Repair are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Tools and Repair

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
13Animals and LandIf you have animals, they multiply responsibility10 checkpointsNot scored

Livestock and pets do not pause during an emergency. Their feed, water, and shelter become your logistics problem, and the land itself carries risks that are cheaper to manage than to repair.

Feed 2 checks

Water 2 checks

Shelter 2 checks

Land risks 4 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

10 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Animals and Land are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Animals and Land

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
14Skills and KnowledgeSkills weigh nothing and cannot be taken from you10 checkpointsNot scored

Your gear can fail, get lost, or run out, and when it does, the skills to improvise are what carry you. The most common gap here is a supply you own but have never actually used.

Practical skills 5 checks

Documentation 3 checks

Training gaps 2 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

10 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Skills and Knowledge are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Skills and Knowledge

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
15Documents & CashWhen systems fail, paper and cash still work10 checkpointsNot scored

Recovery is won or lost on records. Claims, prescriptions, and proving who you are all depend on documents that are hard to replace. Cash matters too: ATMs and card readers fail with the grid.

Critical documents 4 checks

Cash and finance 3 checks

Home inventory 3 checks

4 red flags

4 quick fixes

10 checkpoints, the target numbers, red flags, and quick fixes for Documents & Cash are in the full audit. You can still score it from what you know. See the options

Score Documents & Cash

Pick the number that matches what you know. 1 is exposed, 5 is covered with backups.

Your score
See my action plan

Your action plan

Built from your scores. Lowest first, because that is the order to fix them in.

Score at least one system and your plan appears here: what to fix first, what is still unchecked, and the quick fixes for each weak system.

All 15 scores at a glance

Members get every checkpoint, the quick fixes in this plan for all 15 systems, scores saved to the account, and a printable plan to file with their own manual.

Two ways to get the full guide

Use the audit in full

Best value

Membership

$49.95per year

  • This guide as a PDF, plus the other 5: 206 pages in all
  • Every recipe and resource from the Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide
  • The interactive tools in full: every audit checkpoint, saved scores, the whole logbook
  • My Manual: your own printed binder, and a clean PDF of any page
  • No ads
Join for $49.95 per year

Just this guide

$10one time

  • The 33-page PDF, yours to keep and print
  • Instant download from the shop
  • No other guides, no member pages, no saved tools
Buy the PDF for $10

Six guides bought one at a time cost $60. Membership is $49.95 and includes all six.

Also in the full audit

Emergency actionsShutoffs, shelter in place, home fire escape, and what to do for each hazard.
Recognize the emergencyThe warning signs that mean act now, not later.
Baseline supply checklistThe minimum to have on the shelf, group by group.
Maintenance scheduleWhat to test monthly, quarterly, twice a year, and yearly.
The four rules for ranking fixesHow to decide what to fix first when the list is long.
Saved on every deviceChecks and scores follow your account, and the scorecard prints clean.

See the two ways to get it

Membership

Save to My Manual is a member tool

Members build their own manual from the pages that fit their household, then print it or keep it as a PDF.

Why it matters

When the grid goes down, this site goes with it. Paper does not. Membership is how you get the whole manual off the screen and onto the shelf: every page in full, every field guide, and a binder built for your own household.

The field guide library

All six field guides. 206 pages. Included.

The complete Buckhorn Cliffs PDF set, yours to download, print, and keep from the day you join.

$60if bought one at a time

  • Cover of Stockpile Essentials Field GuideStockpile Essentials39 pagesEverything to keep on hand, category by category, plus the 20 multi-use items.
  • Cover of Survival Foods Field GuideSurvival Foods35 pagesStoring, extending, and using the food supply. Real shelf life by the numbers.
  • Cover of Chemical Compounds Field GuideChemical Compounds29 pagesThe 33 compounds: storage, top uses, hazards, and the never-mix chart.
  • Cover of Spare Parts and Repair Stock Field GuideSpare Parts and Repair Stock40 pagesWhat to keep on hand to fix the home and land when the supply chain breaks.
  • Cover of Walk-Around Preparedness AuditWalk-Around Preparedness Audit33 pagesFifteen systems scored 1 to 5, with the printable scorecard.
  • Cover of The Preparedness LogbookPreparedness Logbook30 pagesThe household information that needs to be on paper.

My Manual · included

Build your own field manual

The most useful thing a membership gives you. No book fits your household exactly. My Manual does. Save any page on this site, recipes, charts, and whole field guides included, put them in your order, and print one manual with your name on the cover. It holds only what is relevant to you, and nothing you would skip.

Why it matters

  • It works when this site does notNo power and no signal means no website. A printed manual and an offline PDF still open, which is the whole point of writing any of this down.
  • Only your pagesThis site covers every household. Yours needs a fraction of it. Your manual holds the pages that match your water source, your climate, and your gear, so nobody digs through the rest under stress.
  • Anyone in the house can use itThe person who reads this site may not be the one home when it counts. A binder on the shelf, in your order, with a contents page, is something a spouse or a teenager can follow.
  • One current copy, not a pile of printoutsEvery page prints in the same field guide layout with a cover, a contents page, and the print date. Change a page, print again, and the old copy is easy to spot.

What to build with it

  • The house binderYour water source, your climate, your gear. Only the pages you would reach for.
  • A copy for the bug-out bag or truckA short version that travels: water, first aid, comms, and the recipes you rely on.
  • A copy for familyHand a parent or a grown kid a manual built for their house and their supplies.
  • The shop and the barnParts lists, repair skills, and the never-mix chart, kept where the work happens.
  • A recipe book of your ownThe cleaners, fuels, and remedies you make, with exact amounts, in one place.
  • An offline PDFSaved to a phone, a tablet, or a drive in the Faraday bag. It opens with no signal.

How it works

  1. 1Save what fitsPress "Save to My Manual" on any page: a recipe, a chart, a guide, a parts list, or a whole field guide.
  2. 2Put it in your orderOn My Account, drag the pages into the order you want. Name the manual and add your household name.
  3. 3Print it or save a PDFOpen the preview, then print it or save a PDF. It is sized for 8.5 x 11 inch paper, with a cover and a contents page. Field guides go in exactly as the PDFs are laid out. No ads, no photos.
  4. 4Keep it currentAdd a page, pull one out, print again. The cover carries the date, so you always know which copy is the latest.

Also included

  • The entire site, unlockedAll 158 member pages open in full: exact amounts, every step, every warning, every parts list. Nothing held back.
  • Every recipe and resource in the bookAll 138 recipes and 33 compounds from Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, with exact amounts, every step, every warning, and the reference charts.
  • A clean PDF of any entryOne press turns any page into a field guide sheet for the binder, the truck, or the shop wall.
  • Checklists and audit scores that follow youSaved to the account, so the phone, the laptop, and the shop computer always match.
  • No adsMembers read the whole site without a single ad.
$49.95per year. About 14 cents a day. Cancel any time and keep the year you paid for.
Join now

Source: Walk-Around Preparedness Audit field guide. About the guide