Two-week long power outage in Gary, Ind., Aug. 24, 2026.
Unity is turning into a demand.
Sister Alva Muhammad has spent more than 20 years studying disaster preparedness, guided by the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and His National Representative, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
This guidance includes, in part, storing food, learning preservation methods, securing the home, having necessities ready before an emergency arrives. That preparation helped her family withstand 14 days without electricity. But she said the derecho taught her something more humbling.
“I think this storm taught us that none of us is as prepared as we think we are,” she said.
“What if this happened in winter?” she asked, a question that turns the community’s improvised, ad hoc response into something residents are trying to formalize before they need it again.
Her answer keeps returning to a directive she describes as familiar to students of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: make our communities a decent and safe place to live. “Part of that starts with making our homes a decent and safe place to live.”
. In Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad's seminal book “The Fall of America,” he details how Allah will use the weather to bring America to its knees. Mr. Muhammad taught that Black people must be prepared for these weather-related disasters. Nation of Islam pioneer Abdul Rahman Muhammad told The Final Call Mr. Muhammad introduced a specific survival list in preparation for natural disasters with an emphasis on sheltering place.
Additional guidance on survival Mr. Muhammad recommended included having a one year supply of food, getting out of debt, paying cash, planting a garden and fruit trees, keeping an amount of wood on hand, getting a wood burning stove, storing plenty of water in glass bottles and learning food storage techniques.
First goal: 3 days of food and water.
Second goal: 2 weeks of food and water.
Third goal: 30 days of supplies.
Long-term goal: 60–90 days, based on household resources and storage space.
Things to Keep in a ‘Go-Bag’
● Bottled water
● Non-perishable food (make it water-resistant)
● Flashlight
● Battery-operated or hand crank radio
● Batteries
● Whistle
● Dust masks
● Pocket knife
● Emergency cash in small bills
● Quarters for phone calls
● Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes
● A warm hat
● A blanket or large trash bags
● Diapers
● A map
● List of emergency contacts, family photo, and pre-stamped postcards in a ziplock-type bag
●Medical information
● Old prescription glasses
● Toilet paper and plastic bags
● Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant
● Feminine hygiene products
● Prescription medications and fi rst aid supplies
● Copies of insurance information
● A Holy Qur’an, Bible or other scripture
First goal: 3 days of food and water.
Second goal: 2 weeks of food and water.
Third goal: 30 days of supplies.
Long-term goal: 60–90 days, based on household resources and storage space.
| Per Person # | Food Item | 2 Months (60 Days) | 3 Months (90 Days) | Benefits |
|Navy beans (dry)** | 8 lbs | 12 lbs | Protein, fiber, iron, and minerals |
Brown rice** | 12 lbs | 18 lbs | Long-lasting energy; easy to combine with other foods |
Cream of Wheat (dry)** | 4 lbs | 6 lbs | Quick breakfast; fortified varieties provide iron |
Whole wheat flour** | 5 lbs | 7.5 lbs | Useful for bread and other baked foods |
Honey** | 2 lbs | 3 lbs | Sweetener and source of energy |
Canned vegetables** | 30 cans | 45 cans | Vitamins, minerals, and fiber |
Canned fruit** | 20 cans | 30 cans | Variety, fiber, and vitamins |
Canned fish or chicken** | 20 cans | 30 cans | Ready-to-eat protein |
Canned soups and stews** | 20 cans | 30 cans | Convenient meals when cooking is limited |
|Cooking oil** | 1 liter | 1.5 liters | Concentrated energy and essential fats |
Shelf-stable milk or fortified plant milk** | 8 quarts | 12 quarts | Protein and calcium, depending on product |
Teas /coffee/ herbs
