You can't hide from mother nature. There is no place on earth where nature will not provide us with almost impossible challenges to overcome. In the United States we certainly have our fair share. From flash floods to earthquakes and hurricanes, the U.S. is home to most types of natural disasters. You need to have a plan, and your plan needs to include the dangers that are most likely based on where you live. Your first stop in making your emergency planning should be FEMAs website and also ready.gov. You will find these sites an invaluable source of tips and advice, as well as great checklists to help prepare you for whatever potential natural disaster to which your area is susceptible. Despite the different planning required for each type of disaster, there are still some common elements needed in all emergency plans.
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Have an emergency food supply. Emergency food packages designed for long term storage can last upwards of 25 years. Buy some individually packaged emergency food first. This way you can make sure you are okay with the taste before buying in bulk. Buy yourself about 3-4 months of emergency foods once you are satisfied with the taste of the products. One thing that people often forget is that after a natural event you may find yourself without power for weeks, or worst case, even months. The first casualty during extended blackouts is your food supply. Lack of food will soon become a major problem. Imagine a common scenario. A hurricane comes through town, causing a large amount of destruction. You came out pretty good compared to your neighbors, but your roof is badly damaged, and your home is flooded. Under these conditions, not only will you be without heat or air, the food in your refrigerator will quickly become inedible. Try to avoid this situation at all costs.
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You can sustain yourself for only a limited time without fresh water. Water is the single most important item once tending to your immediate injuries. Locate all your family members and tend to any injuries first, after that attempt to call for help. The next challenge will most likely be water. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, potable water was a important issue. Sadly, very few people have even more than a couple of days supply of water stored for emergencies. This is certainly not a great idea. You can buy water cheaply and it does not require refrigeration, and can be stored for a reasonable amount of time. You really don't have any excuse for not having an emergency store of water. The flimsy one gallon container are a poor choice. Get the thick 5 gallon bottles like you find in water coolers. They are fairly easy to store. The drawback here is that you need to replace them a couple of times a year. Another option is to find a survival store and buy water in packaging that meets the Coast Guard standard. These packages should last you about 5 years
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The final key element in your survival plan is a 72 hour emergency kit. These kits are life-savers. They come packed with all the goodies you will need to keep you for those crucial first 72 hours. Buying them prepackaged is almost always cheaper than buying all the components separately. It also keeps you from running all over town trying to find all the survival gear items. Building your own is still always an option. Several government websites have tips and checklists to help you build your survival kits. You can build a survival kit based on your specific situation and the natural hazards you are most likely to face. This is the advantage of building your own emergency kit.
Author Resource:
I love the outdoors, lately my biggest kick comes from trail running. My expertise in emergency preparedness comes from my military background. I have been on several humanitarian missions and fully grasp the importance of proper planning. I have a emergency bags for absolutely everyone in my family and swear by them. In the military we called them "bug-out" bags but the principle still works in civilian life.
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