With so much economic, climate, political, and social uncertainty in the world, there is growing concern about how we would survive in the event of disasters. An economic disaster could destroy our way of life overnight, rendering our money worthless and preventing us from getting necessary supplies. Natural or man-made disasters could destroy our infrastructure and disrupt public services and utilities forcing us to rely solely on ourselves and our environment.
How would we live if we had no electricity, running water, gas, or – heaven forbid! – the Internet? We may not have gas to drive to the store, and in some cases, there may not be much in stores, if they are even open. Make sure you craft a disaster plan that will meet your family’s needs for the immediate future and for the long term.
Water and Sterilization
Water is critical to survival. In the event of a natural or manmade disaster, the municipal water supply might become contaminated for a few days or much longer. To make sure you have a clean, safe supply of water, it is a wise idea to stockpile some ahead of time. Save milk and soda bottles. Wash them out with soap and water, then disinfect them with a weak solution of 10 percent chlorine bleach to 90 percent water. Then, fill the jugs with clean tap water, cap them and store them. If the water supply continues to be a problem, you might need to collect and sanitize your own water.
Medical supplies
Put together a first aid kit and keep it in a safe place. Things you should have on hand include: band-aids, bandages, gauze, medical tape, several clean white sheets, scissors, hydrogen peroxide, Ace bandage, sports wrap, athletic tape, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, and popsicle sticks (for splinting injuries).
You should also keep a three- to six-month supply of basic over-the-counter medications, such as: aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pink bismuth liquid, anti-diarrheals, syrup of ipecac, antibiotics, calamine lotion, multi-vitamins, antacids, cough syrup, and any others you use regularly.
If you have family members with serious or life-threatening health conditions, make sure you know where their medications are and have a plan to get them to the nearest hospital in case of a disaster. While some medications can be stockpiled, many cannot. Be aware of your family’s special needs and circumstances.
Food
Freezing is good, but if you don’t have enough power, it is useless. Learn to can your own foods; canned goods can last up to a year and after your initial expenditure for equipment, canning is very cheap.
Commercially canned goods generally have a “best if used by” date stamped on them. It is wise to rotate your stock. However, there is a big difference between a best by date and a shelf life. Government and university studies on the actual shelf life of canned goods showed that they can be good up to 46 years!
Stockpile dry, nonperishable goods. Beans, rice, dried and dehydrated fruits and vegetables are all easy to store and can provide the basis for healthy meals. Dried herbs, seeds, nuts, salt, pepper, sugar, flour, and other shelf-stable cooking staples can make your meals much better.
Grow some of your own food. Raised beds are easy to build, plant, and maintain. Even if you don't have much land, you can grow varieties of most vegetables in containers on a porch, patio, or apartment balcony. Make sure you carefully dry and save seeds from the food you have grown to replant the following year.
Light, Power, and Heat
With no electricity, you will not be able to use your lights. While that would be an inconvenience, many other items that we rely on also require electricity. You won’t be able to run your washer, dryer, telephone, television, clock radio, etc., and will need to find alternate ways to perform these tasks.
Above all else, you will need light. Stockpile candles. Purchase them in all sizes: in jars, pillars, votives, tea lights, etc. Candles can be used for light, but also to heat beverages, and to safely keep a source of flame burning in case you need it for cooking or starting a fire. You might also want to purchase a hand-crank flashlight; these flashlights generally provide up to 30 minutes of light for every 1 to 5 minutes of cranking.
If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, that can become your heat source, providing warmth, light, and a means to cook. Make sure to always have a full year supply of firewood (or wood pellets) on hand. You should also invest in cast iron cookware, a set of bellows, and a sturdy set of fireplace tools.
Use the power sources already on hand. If you are lucky enough to have a generator or know someone that does, make sure that you have the manual and a good supply of fuel and spare parts on hand at all times. Also, as long as you have a running car and a supply of gasoline, a number of electronic items, such as cell phones and computers, can be charged using a car charger.
Transportation
Cars will only run as long as you have gas and the necessary parts, but bicycles will get you where you are going using only your own energy. Bikes could be useful for running errands, foraging at a distance, and meeting up with other survivors.
Books and Information
With no telephone, internet, or computers, printed books will become a vital source of information and instructions. Compile instructions on how to can foods, how to cook without electricity, how to farm and compost, and how to make necessary supplies. All of these things can become critical for survival, if the disaster is severe enough. Paper will also become necessary for communication. Make sure you always have a good supply of pencils and pens on hand.
A hand-crank radio would also be useful for keeping up with the news, provided that there is a radio station broadcasting within range.
Know Your Neighbors and Friends and Stay in Contact
Get to know your friends and neighbors. Learn about their families, their lives, and their skills. Make a list of who is skilled at what – car repair, woodworking, gardening, cooking, etc. – so that in an emergency you can trade work and exchange knowledge with each other.
Tool Kit
Put together a manual tool kit with hand tools. You will probably need a hammer, screwdrivers (regular and Phillips head), hand drill, various sizes of nails and screws, Swiss army knife, hand saw, measuring tape, whetting stone, pliers, wire cutters, heavy-duty exacto knife or box cutter, wire, razor blades, stapler and staples, shovel, hoe, rake, spade, garden fork, ax, sledgehammer, and maul. Add other items as you think of them.
Miscellaneous
Other miscellaneous items you may need include: a wind-up alarm clock and watch, tarps, several rolls of duct tape, large black contractor trash bags, clear plastic trash bags, plywood, blankets, rope, clothesline, clothespins, clean glass jars with lids, toilet paper, plastic ice cream buckets with lids, plywood, 2x4 inch boards, several large, medium and small buckets, trash cans, storage bins, a well-stocked sewing kit, and several pairs of scissors.
SOURCES:
Atkins, Robert Wayne. "How to Survive Hard Times." Accessed October 21, 2011
Coyne, Kelly and Eric Knutzen. The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City. (Process Media : Port Townsend, WA), 2010.
Madigan, Carleen. The Backyard Homestead. (Storey Publishing, LLC: North Adams, MA), 2009.
The Thrifty Skinflint Curmudgeon Goes Green. "Surviving in Emergency Disasters." Accessed October 21, 2011.
Beth Anderle - A retired US Army officer, Beth has been writing professionally and personally for many years but has only recently made the transition to ...
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