Ten Area Preparedness (TAP) Quiz Copyright 2014 by Paul V. Black.

This quiz is designed to assess your preparedness in ten different areas. In each area, there are
six possible Point scores: Zero, One, Three, Five, Seven, and Ten. In general, a score of Zero
Points indicates extreme vulnerability in that area. A score of One Point indicates minimal
preparedness. A score of Three Points indicates a basic level of preparedness, and perhaps the
foundation for the greater level of preparedness at Five Points. Nearly all individuals can obtain
Three Point preparation. With persistence and focus, most individuals can obtain Five Point
preparation. Seven Points indicates a considerable commitment to preparedness, and is
difficult to obtain. Many people will not want to or be able to attain Seven Point preparation.
Ten Points indicates an extreme, level of preparedness that very few individuals can (or really
want) to achieve. The goals of this quiz are simple: To help you identify areas of low
preparedness, and help you set goals on how to obtain the level of preparedness in each area
that is best-suited for your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

HEALTH & FITNESS:
Zero: I am in poor physical condition and/or require medications to function daily. Absent the
help of others or medication, I would not last long at all. This is the level of Very Vulnerable
Vern (or Vera).
One: I am able to function at a basic level but cannot exert myself physically. I would really
struggle in any period of three or more days in which my accustomed conveniences
disappeared. This is a Minimal Mike (or Mandy) level.
Three: I am in average physical condition but would likely break down or function poorly under
continued exertion of a week or more. This is an Average Joe (or Jane) level.
Five: I am in good shape and participate regularly in rigorous exercise. I take little or no
medication, and could do without it if I had to. I could weather sustained physical exertion of
ten plus days fairly well with proper self-care. This is an Above Average Andy (or Anna) level.
Seven: I am in exceptional physical condition, participate near daily in rigorous exercise,
require no medication to function well, and could weather sustained exertion even in
emergency circumstances of a month or more. This is the Strong Soldier level.
Ten: I am in exceptional physical condition and routinely operate in environments that deprive
me of sleep or nourishment and that test the limits of my ability to perform, such as a special
forces rescue operation. This is a Special Forces or Extreme Survivalist level. Very, very
few of us need, want, or can even attain this level.

FINANCIAL HEALTH:
Zero: I have no savings in place. I require government help to sustain myself and/or my family.
One: I have minimal or no savings in place, and live paycheck to paycheck.
Three: I have a one-month Emergency Savings Account in place.
Five: I have at least three months worth of emergency savings that I can access (perhaps in a
brokerage account), and I have a retirement savings plan in place. Financial stability is a
constant goal for me.
Seven: I have paid down any and all non-mortgage debt that I have. I have a well-funded
financial safety net with diversified assets (stocks, bonds, retirement accounts, home
ownership). I could retire a few years early, or am on my way to doing so.
Ten: I was born into a very wealthy family or have built multi-million dollar wealth. I and my
family are committed to using our wealth sensibly and sustainably, and must invest
considerable time and money into doing so. Those who know me say I am one of the lucky
few, and I cant disagree.

INSURANCE PLANNING:
Zero: I have no health, life, or disability insurance in place. If anything bad happens in my life, I
am in deep trouble.
One: I have basic health insurance (perhaps through federal and state government), but little
or no choice of providers. I have no life or disability insurance in place.
Three: I have good health insurance for myself and family that offers me a choice of providers.
I have a basic/minimal life insurance policy that I can afford. If I have disability insurance, it is
short-term in nature.
Five: I have a great health insurance plan that I can afford and that offers good choices of
providers. I have ample life insurance and long-term disability insurance policies, all of which
are within my budget.
Seven: I have ample insurance against nearly every type of risk imaginable. This means I have
great health insurance, considerable life insurance, generous and flexible disability insurance, a
personal umbrella policy, and ample liability insurance for any automobiles I own.
Ten: Same as seven, and I also own/run a business with extensive insurance needs, all of which
are well-met. At this point, insurance planning is a constant process, and an often expensive
need to which I must constantly attend.

ESTATE & INCAPACITY PLANNING:
Zero: I have no legal or incapacity planning docs (Will, Healthcare Directive, Financial Power of
Attorney) in place and have never discussed any of my wishes with my loved ones.
One: Same as Zero, but I have discussed my wishes with my loved ones.
Three: I have a Financial Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive in place, and my loved
ones know where to locate it.
Five: I have a comprehensive estate and incapacity plan in place, such that I have trusted
individuals ready to make decisions for me and manage my affairs if I become incapacitated, or
to manage my estate and carry out other relevant wishes (such as guardianship over minor
children) when I die.
Seven: Same as Five, and I routinely update my plan with trusted legal and financial advisors.
Ten: Same as Seven, and I have a very deep network of professional advisors who help me
update and maintain a very detailed estate & incapacity plan that may be necessary to maintain
family wealth, ensure proper succession planning for my successful business, etc. At this level,
estate & incapacity planning has become a constant (sometimes exhausting) detail to which I
must constantly attend.



FOOD & WATER:
Zero Points: I have almost no food and water currently stored for myself and my household.
One Point: I have sufficient food and water for my household for three to seven days.
Three: I have a seven to ten day supply of food and water for myself and my household.
Five: I have three days of food and water in my vehicle, and a one month-supply at home.
Seven: I have a weeks worth of F&W in my vehicle, and have 3+ months of F&W at home.
Ten: I live permanently on a self-sustaining farm with livestock, draft animals, and fellow
farmers. We dont get out much, because maintaining all of this requires constant labor.

FIRST AID:
Zero: I have little or no first aid supplies, knowledge, or medicines on hand.
One: I have basic first aid supplies on hand, but little knowledge.
Three: I have first aid supplies and medicine on hand, and basic knowledge of how to use them.
Five: I have training in first aid and trauma response, and a well-organized supply of first aid
materials and medicines on hand.
Seven: I have extensive medical training, and ample first aid supplies and medicines on hand.
Ten: I am a trained trauma nurse or surgeon who routinely operates in rough or disaster
environments, and I have such supplies ready to deploy on short notice.

AUTOMOBILE READINESS (where applicable):
Zero: My/our automobile is in poor repair and has no readiness supplies on hand.
One: My/our auto is in decent repair and has little or no readiness supplies on hand.
Three: My/our auto is in good repair and has Basic Auto Readiness Tools (BARTs) that I know
how to use. I always keep my gas tank at least half-full.
Five: Same as Three, and I have a Go Bag with food, water, & supplies on hand.
Seven: Same as Five, and I could live with the supplies from my vehicle for a week if I had to do
so.
Ten: My/our vehicle is dedicated to disaster readiness, and contains nearly all of the
capabilities and supplies you could imagine. You may have seen it on Extreme Preppers.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS:
Zero: I have no battery-powered AM/FM/SW/weather radio options.
One: I have a single battery powered AM/FM receiver.
Three: I have at least one hand-crank AM/FM/SW radio, but no ham or FRS or GMRS radios
Five: I have at least one hand-crank AM/FM/SW radio and FRS or GMRS radios.
Seven: Same as five, and I am a licensed ham radio operator with basic equipment.
Ten: I am a seasoned ham radio operator with multiple radios that can be powered off the grid.
In an extended disaster, I would serve a vital communications role as part of a larger network.


SELF-DEFENSE & HOME SECURITY:
Zero: I would be completely physically unable to defend myself or take quick evasive action if
faced with the threat of violence or in event of civil unrest. Further, my home is very vulnerable
to theft, fire, flood, or other diasters.
One: I would be able to offer a minimal level of defense and could take slow evasive action if
faced with violence or civil unrest. My home offers minimal protection and security.
Three: If faced with violence or civil unrest, I could take quick evasive action and could respond
with appropriate force (lethal or non-lethal) if necessary. I own and can use at least one
firearm proficiently. My home is relatively secure, and I live within a few minutes response
time of local law enforcement and fire stations. I have at least one fire extinguisher in good
working order, and I know how to use it. My home is not vulnerable to flooding.
Five: Same as Three, but I own and can proficiently use multiple firearms, and have a good
working knowledge of the relevant laws in my jurisdiction. My home has a good alarm system.
Seven: Same as Five, and I have extensive self-defense AND firearms training, perhaps as a
military or law enforcement officer. My home has a great alarm system that does not depend
on electrical power or a land-line phone.
Ten: Same as Seven, and I am part of an organized group that is in a constant state of high
readiness (think: survivalists on a compound). This likely means that much of my life is devoted
to this group to the detriment of interaction with society at large.

DISASTER RESPONSE PLANNING:
Zero: My family/household, friends, and network have never formulated a basic Disaster
Response Plan (DRP) on where to meet, how to respond to different types of events, etc.
One: My household has a very basic DRP in place that we have discussed and all understand.
Three: My household has a detailed DRP in place that we regularly practice and update.
Five: Same as Three, and we are part of a larger network of prepared individuals.
Seven: Same as Five, and we can readily communicate with our network and family members if
phone-based communications fail.
Ten: Same as Seven, and we never leave our fortified compound. (But seriously, who wants to
live this way?)