Catastrophic events unexpectedly devastate human life, the environment, and infrastructure.
If they take you unawares, surviving them will be difficult. Your physical health, mental health, finances, and even relationships can be affected.
There may be disruptions in business, the water cycle, the electricity supply, and the natural processes of the environment.
Some disasters even lead to high unemployment rates, food shortages, poor cash flow, and increased crime rates.
That is why preparing for unexpected events and ensuring survival is important.
We’ll cover ten tools you need to survive chaotic events so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.
AN EMERGENCY KIT
Natural disasters, civil unrest, inflation, political instability, and pandemics can all devastate your life.
There may be food shortages, power cuts, disruptions in the water cycle, job losses, and poor cash flow. This is why you have to plan to survive any disaster. You must ensure you have access to all resources to sustain life, such as food, clean water, important medication, cash, and other necessities.
So, build an emergency kit to make sure you are ready for any disaster that comes your way.
Your emergency kit will help you face difficult times, stay healthy, avoid anxiety or stress, ensure continued access to the essentials, and survive.
So, stock up on non-perishable food, ensure a first-aid kit at home, create an emergency storage water supply, and have alternative power sources.
Start a Prep Pantry and know the right kind of foods to store. For example, store familiar food that everyone around the house enjoys and high-nutritional-value foods. Focus on long shelf-life items, and constantly monitor your pantry to replace expired products with new ones.
Think about emergencies that are more likely to occur in your region, and let that guide you in building your emergency kit, including your prepper pantry.
Ensure you have a medical kit with all the important supplies to save a life and avoid worsening injuries.
Your kit should contain enough supplies to treat injuries, cure certain illnesses, clean wounds, and ensure survival in a crisis.
Some of the basic supplies you need to include are personal medication, elastic wrap bandages, super glue, nonstick sterile bandages, eye pad, cotton balls, lubricants, laxatives, safety pins, hand sanitizer, eyewash solution, medicine cup, a thermometer, antacids, a disinfectant, cold medications, pain relievers, and a first-aid manual.
Other important supplies to have in your emergency kit are important documents, a whistle to signal for help, a wrench, a can opener, dust masks, sunscreen, a waterproof flashlight, a blanket, insect repellents, waterproof matches, a hand-cranked radio or a battery-operated radio, extra batteries, local maps, a compass, a mobile phone, a charger, an additional phone battery, and emergency phone numbers.
Talk to your family about disasters and have a family emergency plan so everyone knows how to respond.
EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY
Create an emergency water storage supply to survive disasters.
You don’t know what effects certain events will have on the environment, including the water supply system.
Most disasters can cause water shortages or pollution, leaving you with contaminated water that can’t be used or needs purification. So, you can rely on an emergency water storage supply when an emergency comes.
Store at least a gallon of water per person per day. The goal is to ensure everyone at home has enough for at least 14 days.
Store commercially bottled water or use clean containers to collect water and build your storage. Check the expiry date when buying your water bottles.
If you decide to store tap water, replace it every 6 months or treat it often.
The best water purification methods are boiling, chlorination, filtration, disinfection, reverse osmosis, and distillation.
The best containers for your storage needs are ones that do not transfer toxic substances into the water, such as FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers.
Avoid containers that were previously used to hold toxic chemicals like bleach.
Make sure you sanitize and clean your containers before using them.
Label your containers to ensure everyone understands where to get water for certain requirements. For example, label one container as “drinking water” and the other as “water for cooking.”
Build your storage in a place that has a cool temperature, and avoid storing in direct sunlight or near toxic substances.
Always keep the top closed tightly to prevent contamination.
If you must leave your home due to certain chaotic events, ensure access to clean drinking water.
Buy portable water filters for outdoor survival. They will help you purify your water, have clean water to drink, and prevent waterborne diseases.
FOOD SUPPLIES
Natural disasters often cause power outages. Stock nonperishable food that doesn’t require refrigeration or special preparation. This will help ensure you and your loved ones remain nourished.
Stock foods that have a long shelf life so they can last longer.
Other disasters, such as inflation, can lead to disruptions in the supply chain and food shortages. To lessen the impact, build an emergency food supply.
When stocking your pantry, consider foods that your family loves, maintaining a balanced diet, and special dietary needs. For example, is there anyone in the family with special dietary requirements? What kinds of foods must you avoid or buy more of?
Ensure you stock food items that your family will eat and foods with high nutritional value.
Examples of pantry supplies to buy are canned meats, dry cereal, canned juices, high-energy foods, canned or dried vegetables, fruit bars, dried fruits, nonperishable pasteurized milk., beans, legumes, rice, canned soups, sugar, powdered milk, nuts, grains, flour, pasta, and potato flakes.
Learn and use the best food preservation techniques to reduce waste, extend shelf life, and ensure the availability of seasonal foods all year round.
The best food preservation methods are dehydration, curing, canning, fermentation, salting, and pasteurization.
ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES
Most chaotic events, including civil war, can lead to power outages. That is why alternative power sources are needed to ensure continual access to electricity.
Planning before the event is important because you don’t know how far-reaching the effects will be or how long you’ll be out of power.
If you are prepared, you can easily carry out all the necessary activities, such as cooking, heating, lighting, working, and, in some cases, refrigeration.
Identify and invest in renewable energy systems needed for your home. Focus on those that will make it easy to provide for all your needs.
Consider your needs, cost, and electricity capacity when buying energy sources. Focus on the maximum output of electricity that your generator or any chosen power source produces, and make sure you choose one that provides all the needed energy.
Generators, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy are examples of alternative energy sources you can investigate.
These will be most helpful in carrying out different tasks around the home. So, determine the best energy source for your home and invest in it.
If certain events force you to leave your home, ensure you have access to power wherever you go. For example, if you move to a bug-out location or stay in the wilderness for a while, you will need access to power.
The best portable power options for emergencies and outdoor survival are:
• Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator,
• Duracell Power Source Electric Generator, Solar Capable, Gasless, Quiet, 1440W Output Power Inverter, High CapacityPower Bank
• Solar Generator Portable Power Station Portable Battery Generator with Solar Generator (Solar Panel Included) 8000mAh Battery 2 LED Bulbs Fm Radio for Outdoors Camping Travel Emergency
• ECO-WORTHY 84Wh Portable Power Station, Solar Generator with 18W Solar Panel, Flashlights, Camp Lamps with Battery, USB DC Outlets for Outdoor Camping, Home Emergency Power Supply
Choose from any of the above.
They are all available on Amazon.
If you want to opt for cheaper options or start saving to purchase your preferred energy source, don’t wait until you’ve raised an adequate amount. You don’t know when an emergency will occur, so add other important supplies to your emergency kit that will provide for your lighting needs.
Ensure you have a flashlight, extra batteries, waterproof matches, headlamps, and candles.
HAND TOOLS
Earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters can lead to damaged infrastructure.
So, assemble essential hand tools to use in emergencies.
Essential tools to have are a shovel, a rope, an axe, and a hand-tool kit.
A shovel can help you carry out tasks during and after an emergency. For example, you can use it to dig through the rubble, limit fire spread, dig a dirt trench, and remove dirt.
A rope can pull tree limbs off the road, rescue trapped individuals or pets, and set up a temporary shelter.
When disaster strikes, use an axe to clear debris, chop firewood for emergency cooking or lighting, and search for trapped individuals.
Make sure you have a hand-tool kit that contains all the important tools, such as an adjustable wrench, a small handsaw, a staple gun, chisels, a flashlight, a screwdriver set, a utility knife, pliers, duct tape, a tape measure, scissors, a claw hammer, a drill, and a toolbox.
These tools make it easy for you to carry out household tasks during and after emergencies, such as assembling and disassembling fittings and making minor repairs.
GARDENING EQUIPMENT
Start a survival garden to ensure you and your loved ones are well cared for.
Gardening can relieve stress, lower blood pressure, reduce costs, and help you through tough times.
You won’t worry too much if there are food shortages because you can access nutrient-rich foods.
Essential garden tools every home should have are pruning shears, a garden fork, gloves, a spade, loopers, a hand trowel, a hoe, a rake, a hosepipe, a watering can, a watering wand, and a wheelbarrow.
Buy gloves that are your size or ones that fit you right to prevent blisters and injuries while working. Choose a water-resistant and breathable fabric to protect your hands and remain comfortable.
Buy a short-handled square shovel for digging plant holes, moving dirt, edging, and lifting sod. Purchase one with short handles for planting trees, digging holes, digging compost, and creating space for new plants.
Growing and tending a garden can be difficult if you are only starting. That’s why it’s important to focus on easy-to-grow veggies as a beginner. You can add more crops once you are comfortable with the entire process.
Some of the best veggies are carrots, peas, lettuce, potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, radishes, kale, spinach, Swiss Chard, garlic, beetroot, and spring onions.
HOME DEFENSE TOOLS
Most chaotic events, including civil unrest, can lead to home invasions. That is why you must identify and invest in home defense tools.
Defend your home from outsiders and ensure safety.
Understand home invasion strategies used by intruders to keep them away.
Most intruders will ring the doorbell or use deception without breaking in. So, during civil unrest and any other chaotic event, be careful who you let inside your house.
Don’t open the door to strangers. Talk through your window to keep perpetrators out of your home.
Intruders often pretend to be delivery men, injured people, or utility workers. So, pay attention to how someone approaches you so you can respond appropriately.
Identify and invest in home security systems for protection.
Examples include SimpliSafe Home Security System, Vivint Smart Home, Ring Alarm Pro, and Wyze Home Monitoring.
A home security system protects your valuables, notifies you of fire or gas problems, detects unauthorized access, deters crime, and helps you keep track of the kids. It protects your loved ones and gives you peace of mind even during uncertain times. So, determine which security system is best for you and install it.
If you don’t want a self-installed system, work with a security company and have them handle the whole process for you.
Remember that you may have to pay a monthly fee for monthly monitoring services. However, it’s worth it.
Charges vary depending on the company you choose and the services you require.
SELF-DEFENSE TOOLS
Self-defense is important, especially during times of uncertainty.
When you leave your home and survive in the wild, you may have to protect yourself from humans or predators. So, ensure you have self-defense tools in your home, including your bug-out bag or emergency supplies kit.
Defending yourself improves your self-esteem, builds confidence, and helps you stay safe despite emergencies.
You can defend yourself from attackers and keep your home, bug-out location, or camp area safe.
A stun gun, pepper spray, biker whip, tasers, tactical pen, tactical whips, emergency whistles, tactical flashlights, and steel batons are the must-have self-defense tools to have around the house and add to your bug-out bag.
Make sure you have two or three of these weapons and know how to use them so you can respond appropriately to attacks.
A SAFE BUG-OUT LOCATION
One of the main things to consider when planning for chaotic events or emergencies and their effects is shelter.
This is because you may have to leave your home sometimes, especially during severe natural disasters, like floods or earthquakes, and prolonged civil unrest.
Know where your family will escape to and ensure safety.
Choose a bug-out location miles away from the violence or affected area and one you can survive in.
If you plan to go to the wilderness or forest, for example, pick a location that’s free from predators and one that allows you to access water.
Remember that you need water to survive. So, in addition to your survival water bottles in your bug-out bag, have portable water filters.
They will ensure access to safe and clean drinking water when you run out.
PORTABLE WATER FILTERS
Buy portable water filters for indoor and outdoor survival.
If there are water supply disruptions and you lose access to water or get contaminated, you can filter it and provide for your needs.
The best thing about portable water filters is that you can use them around the house or outdoors.
So, determine the type of filter you need and buy it online or at your local store.
The best examples of portable survival water filters are:
• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness
• Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System
• Katadyn BeFree 3.0L Water Filter
• SteriPen ULT-MP-EF SterPen Ultra UV Water Purifier
• Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System
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