Survival Gear

Prepare For The Next Disaster By Making Your Home Self-Sufficient

Natural disasters certainly seem to be getting stronger and arriving more frequently. From the tornadoes in the south, hurricanes and flooding in the east to the wild fires in the west it seems every change of season brings on new disaster storms or devastating wild fires. If that isn't bad enough there also are plenty of man-made disasters leaving death and destruction in their wake. We all felt sympathy for the victims of the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas and the train derailment and ensuing explosion and fire in the small Canadian town.

No one gets a "free pass" from the risk of disaster events. Just because it has not happened in your town or neighborhood does not mean it can't or it won't happen. The good news is that disaster preparedness can help tremendously to minimize the loss and human pain and suffering that is always present with such disasters. There are things you can do to prepare for times when you have to live "off grid" for an extended period of time without the comforts of home that you have so taken for granted.

First of all, decide what type of disaster is likely to hit where you live. No matter where you live, one inconvenience that could turn into a disaster if it persists for an extended period of time is if your water supply goes down. Learn how much water to store and have available in an emergency like this. Another seemingly small problem that can turn into a disaster is a power outage in extreme weather. Learn what backup power options you have. One possible backup system would provide power to your home so seamlessly that you would barely even notice an extended power outage that lasts for weeks when your neighbors are stumbling around in the dark in the extreme heat or cold.

Lastly, discover what provisions you should have stored in order to make your home self-sufficient during a disaster.