Have you wondered what you would do if you were faced with a massive disaster such as a terrorist attack, natural disaster, widespread blackout, or other situation?
If the thought of surviving such an event is frightening and overwhelming, you’re not alone. Obviously, it’s impossible to predict the future to know exactly what type of situation may arise. However, there are a number of steps you can take to help you survive against the odds.
1 – Water
Water is absolutely necessary for survival. In case of a disaster, the water from your tap may no longer be safe to drink. In your home, you should store large drums of water and have several bottles of water you can easily grab should you need to evacuate. A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person per day.
Three days’ worth of water is usually recommended, but if you truly want to be prepared for a catastrophe, you’ll want a whole lot more.
In addition to storing plenty of water, identify water sources that can serve as a long-term water supply. Purchase a high-quality water filter and/or some iodine drops so that you can purify any water that you find.
This long-term water supply is your only chance of survival if the damage from the catastrophe lasts several weeks, months, or years.
2 – Food
Although you can survive for a while without food, you’ll need food on hand to keep your energy up when faced with a disaster. In an emergency situation, you may not have access to a grocery store or convenience store – or the shelves may have already been emptied of food.
Keep a supply of filling, shelf-stable foods on hand. Freeze-dried foods are an excellent option.
When you head to the grocery store each week, purchase a little extra of the foods you already eat such as spaghetti, pasta sauce, coffee, and canned tuna and soups. This habit will build up your food supply so you won’t have to be one of the desperate masses flocking to the grocery store to buy whatever is left on the shelves.
3 – Self-Defense
In a true disaster, you’ll need some form of self-defense to keep you and your family safe. The ability to defend your loved ones and your property will be essential.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Dehydrated, hungry and injured people may do anything to get the supplies they need—and you need to be prepared.
Create a home defense plan, which should include a firearm and ammunition.
4 – Survival Kit
Put together a bag of supplies that you can have on hand—or that you can quickly grab and take with you in case you need to evacuate. At minimum, this bag should include flashlights, a quality first aid kit, fire starting tools, a survival knife and an emergency blanket. Don’t forget to include packable food and bottled water in your kit.
