Okay, so I don't usually make my own posts.
And I don't know that this will help anyone, but I made a list of things people in the U.S. might want to know. Now, credit for this goes to others, I only put it together and added some of the more... extreme precautions. I also wrote this specifically for my family and friends, but... Hell, everyone could use at least a part of it. I'm going to start with crediting the creator of the first list: https://bsky.app/profile/necrotelicom.bsky.social/post/3laby5fjugw2x
Secondly, I'm going to list this post as "commercial content," purely because I'm linking to suggested items. This list varies in severity from "everyone should do this" to "do this if you are in extreme fear for your life" or "you think you may one day need to flee somewhere." Not in any particular order. But without further delay, here we go...
General rules:
They're going to be looking at us in a spotlight regardless, don't give them a reason to look twice.
No joking threats, no serious threats, nothing they can throw a law at you for.
Be careful who you get your news from, try to stay to smaller sources if you can, they're less likely to be bought. Doesn't mean they can't be or aren't, so get multiple sources. Stay local if you can for immediate necessary information.
Keep your phone charged as much as possible.
Help those you can.
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First, take care of yourself. This info is ripped from a tumblr post, so if you recognize it, good.
U.S. Suicide Hotline: call or text 988 (available 24 hours)
U.S. Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860 (when you call, you’ll speak to a trans/nonbinary peer operator. full anonymity and confidentiality)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – provides 24/7 confidential support and referrals for individuals and families facing mental health and substance use disorders, including panic attacks and anxiety.
LGBT National Help Center: (888) 843-4564
Trevor Project: Call (866) 488-7386, text START to 678-678, or chat online.
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General steps to take, and these were credited above if you read that thread on bluesky:
Renew passport and ID, ASAP
Get a copy of birth certificate
Get your vaccine records
Get any and all vaccines possible, including Tdap, MMR if you haven't had an adult booster, shingles if you're older, pneumococcal if you have underlying conditions, and Hep A & B if you haven't had them yet.
Get vaccines for common things, like typhoid and cholera. This may not be covered by insurance.
www.passporthealthusa.com is a helpful site.
Save the yellow booklet with vaccination records near your birth cert and passport
If desired, get a anti-fertility process, hysterectomy, or vasectomy now, before they get banned.
Get cancer screenings if you have a family history. Dermatologist for documentation of abnormalities for skin cancer
If you have a family history of other screenable things, get them checked now
PREP FOR LOSS OF POWER, see below for "buy these" items. Especially in a blue state where relief will be held back this means food, drinkable water, medication. Do what you can.
Draw up an estate plan including a will, advance directive, and powers of attorney, ESPECIALLY if in a same-sex relationship. Do the paperwork so your partner is your legal proxy. If possible, get it done by a lawyer for more security. If you don't have a partner or family to do it, consider asking a friend you highly trust to be your proxy.
If you're married or want to be in a same-sex, expect a pre v Windsor and pre v Hodges era to return. They won't recognize it, you'll have to be in a complex legal structure to protect yourself as much as possible. Check with elder queer folks for advice and to see what used to be done to get around it. Look for in-community lawyers that specialize in it.
If you have money to spare, search for gofundmes for passports, birth certificates, vaccine costs, name changes, etc. that you can help. Find an org that does vital records assistance, usually they fight homelessness, and give to them. Same for voter assistance orgs.
If you have no money but do have time, volunteer for orgs that do those things above. Play to your strengths, doing work you're good at is better for your time than doing work you're middling at. If you can, find an org that you can help by using what you're best at.
Check: "https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fnchs%2Fw2w.htm" for vital records info. A good place to start, apparently.
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IF you have the funds to put towards your survival in a disaster: (Note, you don't have to get these exact ones, these are various options I personally think are helpful/necessary, but any brand would work, and cheaper is better than nothing. Some of these items overlap, as well.) The sooner you get them, the less likely they'll be hit by the tariffs the next president wants to put on everything. Hopefully these won't be necessary, use your discretion to decide if you do or not.
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If you need glasses, get another pair just in case. Not necessarily required right now, but still smart in general.
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Buy a backpack, two, three, over the shoulder bags as well. Anything you can carry that will hold food and tools. Put at least one together ahead of time for an emergency "get out now" situation. I recommend one of every survival tool you may have and a few days, or better yet, a week of food and water if you can. Get medkits, put two in each bag. Rubbing alcohol for sanitizing tools is smart too.
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Flashlights, handcrank chargers. Some have solar panels too. Some are also weather radios. Choose as you think you might need. Also look into emergency radios for further ideas. Get some regular flashlights and a bunch of batteries. The below are multi-purpose and look pretty good for their jobs.
https://www.amazon.com/FosPower-Emergency-Portable-Household-Flashlight/dp/B07FKYHTWP $~30
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-45800mAh-Charging-Flashlights-Carabiner/dp/B0BGX8Y62Y $~40
https://www.amazon.com/Eton-ARCCR100R_SNG-Crank-Powered-Clip-Flashlight/dp/B003BYROUQ $~10
https://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Radio%EF%BC%8C4000mAh-Solar-Portable-Flashlight-Lamp%EF%BC%8CCell/dp/B083TLZN7G $~30
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Version-RunningSnail-Emergency-Flashlight/dp/B01MFCFKG5 $~16
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Phone charging cords, backup cords for anything, wall outlet adapters, etc. are a good idea to have hanging around. Rechargeable flashlights and rechargeable batteries are both good ideas as well. Waterproof if possible. You never know when you'll need a knife, but a multitool is helpful too. Lighters and/or matches, especially those that are waterproof, are a good idea. Get a knife with a glass-breaker if you can. Don't get a knife with the thought of using it on someone, these are for survival, nothing else. Emergency noise makers, like whistles, are a wise idea too. If you have to get really out of town, get some rope if you can. Can never have too much rope, as long as it's tied properly for carrying. The last two tools in the list here are good mixes of things. Pepper-spray is a good idea to have as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Stormproof-Waterproof-Weatherproof-Submersible-Watertight/dp/B08XJZ9LRN $~10
https://www.amazon.com/UCO-Stormproof-Waterproof-Matches-Strikers/dp/B004P5XOTA $~8
https://www.amazon.com/95-Serrated-Blade-Pocket-Knife/dp/B0B5H6XXNH $~10
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Classic-Pocket-Knife/dp/B00004YVB2 $~25
https://www.amazon.com/Multitool-Multitools-Professional-Multi-tool-PERWIN/dp/B09YLPWXTX $~25
https://www.amazon.com/Multitool-Portable-Locking-Spring-Action-Survival/dp/B07Z1T3S8B $~14
https://www.amazon.com/WORKPRO-Stainless-Multitool-Multipurpose-Activities/dp/B0C88XTTC1 $~25
https://www.amazon.com/Multitool%EF%BC%8CProfessional-%EF%BC%8CMultitool-Screwdriver-Replaceable-Multitools/dp/B0C5CNKR3K $~10
https://www.amazon.com/DPNAO-Multitool-Screwdriver-Multifunctional-Adjustable/dp/B07KTVG5PS $~30
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LIGHTERS, if you need a fire outside or in your own home, assuming you have no power. Like I said at the top, these are rather extreme ideas, but hopefully you won't need these.
https://www.amazon.com/Laffizz-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Flashlight-Activities/dp/B0CGLTTFML $~15
https://www.amazon.com/HUMWE-Waterproof-Lighters-Survival-Multipurpose/dp/B0C2ZRFQ76 Just a cover for reglars, $~9
https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Lighter%EF%BC%8CUSB-Charge%EF%BC%8CRechargeable%EF%BC%8CArc%EF%BC%8CPlasma-Candles%EF%BC%8CFireworks%EF%BC%8CGrill%EF%BC%8CCook-Obsidian/dp/B08GLRLH25 $~8
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Camping gear, just in case:
https://www.amazon.com/Odoland-Cookware-Carabiner-Stainless-Backpacking/dp/B01MS07XPL $~35
https://www.amazon.com/Orienteering-Compass-Backpacking-Navigation-Professional/dp/B07CK8B3R3 $~10
https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-LHKNL-Ultra-Light-Rechargeable-Waterproof/dp/B08D66HCXW $~20
https://www.amazon.com/12PCS-Aluminum-Carabiner-Clip-Multipurpose/dp/B08T6LC7SK $~8
https://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-8408-Backpackers-Trowel/dp/B000BS05Z6 $~4
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Power-Charger-Flashlight-Splashproof/dp/B07FDXDB3W $~27
https://www.amazon.com/ReferenceReady-WildCards-Outdoor-Knots-Carabiner/dp/B07VVT97RB $~8
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Adventure-Camp-Stainless-Steel/dp/B005188T90 $~25
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Water safety straws are wise even if you stay home, given RFK's idiocy. Water filtration and purification are gonna be important in a serious emergency like a hurricane or tornado.
https://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-Personal-Camping-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B006QF3TW4 $~18
https://www.amazon.com/Waterdrop-Portable-Filtration-Emergency-Backpacking/dp/B086QNLBB4 $~40
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Final Thoughts:
We can't fix everything, but we can fight like hell to keep them from killing us as easily as they'd like. Do what you can, as you can. Help those you can afford to, and don't beat yourself too hard if you can't help as much as you want. Burdens shared are burdens cut into fractions, and every little bit helps.
Stay safe.
