The following article has been contributed by Vic Rantala, owner of SafeCastle which provides survival gear. It has been published with permission of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of PreppingToSurvive.com.
The risks to our comfortable way of life today are obvious, significant, and numerous. So much so that crisis preparedness is now a booming market niche. If you are not yet in the growing mainstream demographic of those working to achieve some level of self-sufficiency and preparedness, then have a look at these realistic, baseline parameters that can help you get started with your logistical contingency planning:
- Consider a developing chance of the structure of your home itself becoming seriously at risk for damage or destruction. Earthquake, severe weather, flooding, wildfire are some of the likeliest threats. These forces can crop up with no warning. With or without warning, what would you do to protect yourself and your loved ones?
- Imagine a disaster where the normal food-supply chain infrastructure is broken. It doesn’t take more than one or two bad links to make the whole chain worthless. Is it possible? How about an economic collapse, widespread drought, a national truckers strike, a terror attack on the food supplies, an oil crisis that causes transportation industries to take a big hit, or a pandemic that wreaks havoc throughout society? The average grocery store has a two-day supply of food on its shelves–and that assessment does not account for panicking shoppers. Yes, the just-in-time supply chain is very vulnerable.
- A good water supply is critical to survival, yet we all tend to take it for granted. What if your water was suddenly to become undrinkable or your city water was to stop flowing? How long would you and your family be able to cope? Realistic? Ask anyone who was in Cleveland a few years ago when the big blackout throughout the region shut down the water-pumping stations there.
- Think of any kind of event where the power goes out on a wide scale, perhaps preventing the utilities from getting everybody back up in a reasonable time … some folks having to go without for an extended period. Can it happen today? Think major ice storm, serious flooding, catastrophic earthquake, or a big hurricane impact. Yes, it’s possible. What would that mean for your ability to keep and cook food, to provide for special health care needs, to heat or cool your home in times of temperature extremes? In fact, what would it mean to have to deal with the security implications in a long-term blackout with compromised communications and emergency response services?
Those are a few potential scenarios—none pleasant to contemplate. But if there is a silver lining, it is that for mitigation planning purposes, we can address most of your emergency requirements quite simply:
- Shelter
- Food
- Water
- Power
- Heating & Cooling
- Security
The first three in this list are primary needs for survival in most situations. So we’ll start there.
A Simple Plan
First, determine how long you want to be able to sustain your household in a worst-case scenario. Then approach each of these survive-and-thrive factors accordingly …
Water
Ensure you have the means to withstand a water supply crisis. The human body’s water dependence makes this the most critical need of all. If you have city water, but also have a well, you are in far better shape than most. But remember, unless you have a handpump, you’ll need to power your electric well pump somehow if the grid goes down.
Storing pure water is almost a necessity for everyone else. You need to have a bare minimum of two gallons per person per day set aside. More realistic in your planning would be to store 5 gallons or more to sustain each person per day to allow for drinking, washing, cleaning, and cooking. If you have four people in your household and you want to be able to ride out a period of one week, the prudent math says you should store 140 gallons of water … in containers that are designed specifically for water storage, in a dark, cool area to minimize the growth of bacteria over the time it is in storage.
Of course, storing water requires a lot of available storage space, and not all of us have that. But even if you do have storage space and even if you do have a well, ensuring there is a means to filter and/or purify water is also wise and is perhaps the ONE common necessity everyone should plan for. There are a multitude of excellent water filters and water purification tablet treatments out there on the market, such as Katadyn and Berkey brand filters, made specifically for crisis preparedness and the backpacking/camping crowd. But even just having some fresh household bleach on hand and providing for a means to boil water will potentially be a life saver.
Food
There’s a wide range of approaches to prudent food storage. If you choose to simply stockpile normal groceries to allow for your family’s ability to ride out a crisis, be sure to continuously rotate your food into a normal usage cycle as the nutritional shelf life of all store-bought groceries is surprisingly short.
Some folks grow and can or dry their own food … and if done well, it’s an excellent way to provide for lean times. On a longer-term sustainability basis, it’s THE way to go.
Ultimately, food storage is a science unto itself, and if you want to seriously consider all the ins and outs of various approaches, plan to spend some time investigating your options. For those who have more money than the time and desire to take another food storage route, the best, quickest, and most popular low-maintenance way to go is to purchase bulk freeze-dried or other similar food-storage packages. Mountain House freeze dried food is the premier such food on the marketplace. In #10 cans, Mountain House food lasts 30 years on the shelf with little or no nutritional or taste loss.
There are many emergency food choices and price ranges out there, as well as taste and nutrition-quality factors to consider. Once the buying decision is made, you can rest assured that you have a food supply with an extended shelf life of anywhere from 5 to 30 years, a range that dwarfs the period of time your other approaches will provide you with. Word of warning—be sure you verify that your food packages are based on 2000 calories per day per person. Some unscrupulous sellers will misrepresent their offerings. If you validate that the calorie count equates to the time period claimed, figure out whether the price is similar to what you would expect to pay for your groceries over that time period. A big discrepancy would tell you something is not right.
Shelter and Security
Are you comfortable with your present storm-shelter arrangements? If you have a full basement, you’re probably in good shape for most kinds of severe weather risks in most of the country.
In parts of the U.S., flooding or earthquakes are of bigger concern than windstorms, so those regions are more focused on structural integrity and perhaps the structure’s foundation elevation and methodology. Of course, in some cases when warnings are given, the prudent thing to do is to evacuate to a safe area, as in the event of a coming major hurricane, flood, or wildfire. The obvious need here is to have a well-defined evacuation plan with a destination and readily transportable supplies that allow you to sustain your family for the anticipated period of time.
Another consideration in the shelter category arises out of the concern for relative security in a world gone mad with crime, terrorism, and the historically proven risk of acts of war. We might even toss in another possibility to account for: industrial and transportation accidents that can severely test your ability to survive in the event of toxic chemicals or a release of radioactivity upwind from your location.
There are many ways to address each of these shelter-related risks (and many more), but the place to start is in a careful assessment of your own unique situation–to include your geological and meteorological risks given your location, your position in relation to prevailing wind patterns and major industrialization and transportation patterns, as well as your local crime trends. You will also want to determine where your comfort zone is in terms of viewing the geopolitical and economic scene going forward.
For many, not all of these factors register, and that is fine. Fifty percent of the benefit of preparedness is the peace of mind it brings. So as long as you are comfortable in your own planning, you are halfway to your goal.
Again, there are a myriad of ways to build security into your home … everything from bolstering your door frames with kick-proof plates to being armed and trained to use a firearm, to installing a well-engineered shelter or saferoom.
Increasingly, determined do-it-yourselfers are taking on the task of building a saferoom or storm or fallout shelter into their home. Even more often today, busy people are purchasing such shelters or saferooms from qualified builders and having them professionally installed. Either way, when done well, it is the ultimate step you can take to provide for your household’s safety and for your peace of mind.
Power and Heating & Cooling
Blackouts are not uncommon. Sometimes, those blackouts can extend over a period of many days, depending on their cause. Back-up generators and alternative power sources such as solar, wind, or hydro power are all very attainable options for those seriously looking to get squared away. So much of our modern home-life today is dependent on natural gas and electrical power (not to mention gas and diesel-powered transportation). For some, reliable power actually sustains life due to a medical condition and specialized treatment equipment. Either way, the household with back-up power is light years ahead of the neighbor without power. Power can actually enable or enhance all your other essential capabilities above, so it is a worthwhile expenditure for those seeking to mitigate worst-case scenarios.
As for heating and cooling—either in times of extreme hot or cold weather—power generation capacities can determine comfort and/or survivability, especially with the elderly or health-compromised. For anyone in northern climes, a woodstove and a supply of dry, split firewood are an excellent backup plan for a midwinter power outage.
Survival gear and supplies can take many different forms. A positive frame of mind is beneficial. Anything that will help sustain you and your family through a difficult time is worth having on hand. Once you prepare and are aware, you are ahead of the curve.
Vic Rantala is the owner of SafeCastle, a leader in the survival industry. SafeCastle provides a viety of survival gear including food storage and shelters.
PreppingToSurvive.com 
January 20, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally
recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be
benefited from this website.
April 18, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to
see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a
youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views.
I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
April 18, 2013 at 8:48 pm
These are in fact great ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some pleasant factors here. Any way keep up wrinting.
April 20, 2013 at 8:20 am
If you want to obtain a great deal from this post then you have to apply these
techniques to your won webpage.
April 20, 2013 at 8:29 am
I read this post fully on the topic of the comparison of latest and preceding
technologies, it’s remarkable article.
April 20, 2013 at 8:34 am
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this
topic to be really something which I think I
would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
April 20, 2013 at 8:39 am
Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand
out. Please let me know where you got your design.
Thanks a lot
April 20, 2013 at 8:42 am
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing
this article and the rest of the website is really good.
April 20, 2013 at 8:55 am
Hi, i believe that i saw you visited my website thus
i got here to go back the favor?.I am trying to find
things to improve my website!I assume its ok to use some
of your concepts!!
April 20, 2013 at 8:56 am
Hello, just wanted to mention, I loved this blog post. It was helpful.
Keep on posting!
April 20, 2013 at 9:25 am
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a
amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
By the way, how could we communicate?
April 20, 2013 at 9:27 am
I need to to thank you for this very good read!
! I certainly loved every bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to look at new things you post…
April 20, 2013 at 10:47 am
Greetings, I do think your web site might be having internet browser compatibility issues.
Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks
fine however when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Besides that, fantastic blog!
April 21, 2013 at 10:27 am
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i’m satisfied to express that I have
an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly
what I needed. I most no doubt will make
sure to do not put out of your mind this website and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
April 23, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Hello, the whole thing is going perfectly here and ofcourse every one is sharing information, that’s in fact excellent, keep up writing.
April 23, 2013 at 4:44 pm
This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am actually happy to read all at alone
place.
April 23, 2013 at 8:41 pm
My relatives every time say that I am wasting my time here at
net, however I know I am getting familiarity daily by reading thes good articles or
reviews.
April 27, 2013 at 2:25 am
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your blog. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
A handful of my blog readers have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.
Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
May 25, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Thank you to tell me. I really love this website it’s really nice.
May 29, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Yes it’s essential to have some way to survive, by the way here is my website about health , not survive but good health. Thank you in advance.
December 19, 2013 at 6:46 am
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice even as you amend your site, how can
i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered brilliant clear concept
March 26, 2014 at 6:40 pm
Overall, if your company offers a wiki as a collaboration tool, there are sound benefits to be
realized from your participation. If you have not played this
then I urge you to try it, you will not be disappointed.
Gout is a disease more frequent in males (95% of cases) usually manifests between 30 and 50 years.
March 30, 2014 at 5:55 am
Every weekend i used to go to see this website, for the reason that i want enjoyment, as this this site conations
really good funny data too.
March 30, 2014 at 7:33 am
Greetings, I believe your site could possibly be having browser compatibility problems.
When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine
but when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other
than that, fantastic site!
March 31, 2014 at 8:31 am
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful
information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.
March 31, 2014 at 8:58 am
Wonderful, what a web site it is! This website givss useful
information to us, keep it up.
April 3, 2014 at 12:50 am
Pretty! This was an extremely wonderful post.
Thanks for supplying thiis information.
April 13, 2014 at 2:24 am
Simply wish too say your article iis as surprising.
The clearness in your post is just ice and
i can assume you are aan expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to
grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming
post. Thanks a million and plese continue the enjoyable work.
April 14, 2014 at 12:20 pm
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a ssea shell
and gave it to myy 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and
screamed. Thede was a hermit cab inside and itt pinched
her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this iss completely off topic but I
hhad tto tell someone!
April 16, 2014 at 10:29 am
Go through the situation: Cover wonderful attention to this occasion, 12 months, the time scale, and just to duration
may well using them.
by:http://www.ferragamo-sale.org
May 7, 2014 at 5:43 am
you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The web site loading velocity is
incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing
any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece.
you have performed a wonderful task on this matter!
May 7, 2014 at 1:44 pm
This article provides clear idea for the new people of blogging, that genuinely
how to do running a blog.
June 17, 2014 at 6:05 am
This is the perfect blog for anybody who wants to understand this topic.
You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic that’s been written about
for ages. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
June 21, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Decorate the border of the body with glitters and colors and write a
cute birthday card message inside. However, the Loss of life card has many meanings, some of
them good. Quit complaining — you picked the number 1, not
me!
June 29, 2014 at 5:32 am
It’s great that you are getting ideas from this paragraph as well as from
our dialogue made at this place.
July 7, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Dunlop 449P.88 Abs Maximum-Traction Standard Picks twelve-Pack
12 Pack Optimum Grip Standard Selections -.88mm
guitar pick maker
Here is a pack of selections that meet any enjoying strength!
Most recommendations are a few type of triangle.
We never looked at enjoyable that was that.Have!
But sadly!
I sometimes uncover my subsequent hand possessing the pick
too: is the fact that undesirable? Somewhat choices that are fatter create more
quantity but don’t contract up to I like. Lol, it’s not possible to speedpick with a decide that is dense.
What direction if the pick reach the strings?
Apply the surface of the choose having a good-quality sandpaper to make a tough surface.
diy guitar pick punch
Our perspective is somewhat off from a completely cleanse experience of the line, and that’s
what I’ve witnessed having most wonderful gamers — but when you may
make a means to get a less than flush tingle contact to seem good-and your hands is transferring
easily, there must be no explanation to improve
your choose grip. Merely another post fished to market you a website merchandise
July 12, 2014 at 12:04 am
After I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a
comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Perhaps there is an easy method you can remove me from that service?
Cheers!
July 27, 2014 at 12:29 am
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website provided us with useful info to work on. You’ve performed an impressive process and
our entire group will probably be grateful to you.
August 3, 2014 at 10:34 am
Hey I am so delighted I found your blog, I really found you by
mistake, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Anyways
I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a remarkable
post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have
bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do
keep up the great job.
August 11, 2014 at 10:14 pm
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any feed-back would bee greatly appreciated.
August 14, 2014 at 5:53 pm
This web site really has all the info I wanted about this subject
and didn’t know who to ask.
August 15, 2014 at 8:09 am
I think everything published was actually very reasonable.
But, what about this? suppose you typed a catchier title?
I am not suggesting your information is not solid, however
what if you added something that makes people want more?
I mean Top Emergency Essentials Needed for Survival
| PreppingToSurvive.com is kinda plain. You
ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they create news
headlines to grab people to open the links. You might
try adding a video or a picture or two to grab people interested about everything’ve got to say.
In my opinion, it would make your posts a little livelier.
August 23, 2014 at 12:08 am
Unquestionably imagine that that you said.
Your favorite justification appeared to be at the web the simplest factor to take into account of.
I say to you, I certainly get annooyed while other folks think about concerns that they just do not recognise about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out
the whole thing with no need side effect ,
folks could take a signal. Will likely be
back tto get more. Thank you
September 23, 2014 at 12:18 am
What’s up, I desire to subscribe for this websjte tto get newest updates, therefore where can i do it please assist.
September 24, 2014 at 8:24 am
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here.
I did however expertise a few technical points using this site, since
I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it
to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading
instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google
and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content.
Ensure that you update this again very soon.
October 4, 2014 at 9:25 pm
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed
to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100% positive.
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate
it