Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (4 page)
Read Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual Online
Authors: Survival/Camping
Know What You’re Preparing For
Volcanic eruptions, superstorms, tsunamis, tornadoes—this is the world we live in, but different areas are prone to different risk factors. Look up your area’s flood history, seismological data, and other geological information, and prioritize the events and crises you most need to prepare for. It’s time to take stock of the threats to your area, and take action.
Understand the Crisis
Being prepared for disaster means knowing the possibilities. Sometimes, a full-blown state of emergency is just a more extreme version of the minor inconveniences you’ve faced once (or many times) before.
LEVEL 1
– Power outage
– Aftershocks
– Volcanic ash interferes with air travel
LEVEL 2
– Rolling brownouts
– Minor quakes
– Heat and ash cause health issues
LEVEL 3
– Weeklong blackout
– Major quakes
– Evacuations/local destruction of cities
LEVEL 4
– Grid failure
– The Big One
– Megavolcanic eruption
Get Familiar with the Scope
With all these potential disasters, you may be wondering where to start. Let’s look at the reach of each type of crisis.
MINOR, SMALL-SCOPE DISASTER
– Local area
– A few hours to a few days
– Limited services and utilities; available food and water; intact national infrastructure
MINOR, LARGE-SCOPE DISASTER
– Regional area
– 5–14 days
– Limited services and utilities; limited amounts of food, water, and fuel; intact national infrastructure
MAJOR DISASTER
– National area
– 15–60 days
– No services and utilities; no food, water, or fuel; some disruption of national infrastructure
GLOBAL DISASTER
– Worldwide
– More than 2 months
– No services and utilities; no food, water, or fuel; complete collapse of government and/or financial infrastructures
Learn Your Task
Preparation is a significant part of surviving unforeseen emergencies. You can’t predict the future, but you can feel confident in your ability to face it. Some preppers may indeed be readying themselves for the end of the world; most are simply taking steps to reduce their dependency on infrastructures that won’t last forever.
No matter where you live, you should know what you can do in emergency situations and how you can arm yourself—mentally and physically—for disaster. Survival and emergency-preparedness skills will assist in any situation from power failures and the breakdown of public services to devastating hurricanes and government collapse.
Create Your Family Emergency Plan
In the event of an emergency, a well-thought-out family emergency plan can eliminate stress, limit confusion, and save a great deal of wasted time. Instead of wondering what to do or when to do it, you can put your emergency plan to work right away, bringing sanity and safety to dangerous situations.
Your plan should include the following.
Maintaining up-to-date contact information cards or sheets for each family member
Communication strategies to keep in touch, with options in case the phones are out
Ways to assist or care for family who have mobility or medical issues, communication difficulties, or special needs
The maintenance, inspection, and rotation of emergency supplies, such as nonperishable food, water, first aid, lighting, and communication equipment
The maintenance of specialized supplies for any infants, young children, or elderly members of your family
A plan and supplies for the care of pets and livestock
The knowledge and tools to shut off your utilities
Self-sufficiency skills and supplies, should you have to shelter in place without utilities
Evacuation plans and routes, should you have to leave your home
Learning and practicing safety skills, such as first aid, CPR, and fire prevention
