Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (53 page)

Cut a few long, thin strips off the sides of the blanket and twist or braid them into pieces of cordage. You can also fashion longer ropes by cutting a spiral pattern from round or oval blanket sections.

Blackouts are caused by all sorts of mundane factors, from overuse of the electrical grid to natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes knocking out power lines and flooding substations. These blackouts can take anywhere from a few hours (due to minor storms or technical failures) to several weeks (in the case of a major event like Hurricane Katrina) to remedy. However, there are a few even worse scenarios that could potentially send our tech-dependent world back to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Are these situations likely? No, but they’re possible.

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE
Non-weaponized EMPs can be caused by lightning, power surges, malfunctioning circuits or electric motors, and other nondrastic events caused by man or nature. However, a “massive EMP” generally refers to the effects of a nuclear bomb or other weapon. For more info, see item 252.

SOLAR FLARES
These instances of rough “space weather” can be predicted (to some degree), though the effects are uncertain. Solar flares have knocked out regional power grids in recent years, and a big one in 1859 disrupted the fledgling telegraph system across the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Solar eruptions of varying sizes can have a negative impact on the Earth, especially the fragile new technologies of the planet’s dominant species. Let’s take a look at our usually friendly sun’s adversarial side with the three classes of solar eruptions.

CLASS C
These flares are the weakest and really don’t do anything. They happen all the time and are little more than a hiccup from the sun.

CLASS M
These flares, which are moderate, give us more radiation and more particles than a C. They are responsible for the northern lights traveling outside their normal territories. Class Ms are still not a doomsday scenario.

CLASS X
But then there are Class X flares, which are strong enough to cause disruptions in satellites, communication systems, and electrical grids. What happens to our very information-dependent way of life if our communications get knocked out? How would you make sure your friends and loved ones are OK? You should plan a place and time to meet your friends and family if communications go out, and you should have a backup time and secondary site, as well as a place to leave notes for each other. Solar flares (and other types of disasters) require communication plans with realistic backups in place at all times.

If an EMP-producing weapon was ever employed against a modern high-tech society, there’s no question that serious devastation would occur. However, it’s all too likely that people’s reactions would cause more harm than the actual weapon strike itself. After all, much lesser emergencies often lead to rioting, looting, and even murder. Imagine what would happen if all of a nation’s electronics and power grid were permanently destroyed. “Civilization-ending” would probably be a fair description. So what could you do about it? You can keep a level head and try to prevent those around you from sinking into chaos. Self-sufficiency and the adaptability to revert to a low-tech lifestyle are your only other defenses. That, and praying that this scenario stays relegated to the realm of science fiction.

Want to be ready for an electricity-free world? Unless you require electrically operated equipment to stay alive (pacemakers, dialysis machines, etc.), electricity is a luxury. The majority of humans who have ever lived did so without electricity. You can, too, if you follow these steps.

STEP 1
Don’t store so much food in your fridge and freezer. If the power goes, one can only eat so much ice cream in a sitting. Instead, stock up on canned goods and shelf-stable foods.

STEP 2
Have several different ways to cook your food and provide light in your home. These should work safely throughout all seasons. Flashlights are a safe and practical option—just make sure the rechargeable ones are charged in case of an EMP. Candles and light sticks will work no matter what.

STEP 3
In an event with power outage but no damage to electronics, have a way to charge your cell phone (see item 254). Solar chargers are nice, and AA-battery chargers are cheaper and more available. Also consider keeping some two-way radios for closer communication.

STEP 4
Model yourself after low-tech cultures. The beauty and simplicity of less technologically dependent cultures will be very evident in a grid-down situation.

No electricity to operate your fancy electric can opener? Good, shame on you for owning one. Stick to manually operated devices that work in all conditions. Check out camping and specialty catalogs—there are a surprising number of choices out there.