Staying alive. It’s not just the title of a BeeGee’s hit, it is a real consideration in today’s turbulent world. And staying alive requires preparation and being part Prepper, part Survivalist, and totally aware.
The terms survival and prepping have become synonymous with each other, but they are two parts of a whole. Survival in any situation requires one to be aware and to be prepared. First awareness.
If any of you have taken a self-defense or gun-carry permit class, one of the first things you learn to be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of the world around you, the people around you, and the climatic conditions around you. Know where you are going when you are driving. Be aware of the people and conditions around you when you are walking, jogging, or in a new environment. And be aware of weather conditions, especially those like tropical storms that can develop into hurricanes, or hot, dry conditions that can lead to wildfires. If you are aware, then you can be prepared to deal with unforeseen circumstances.
Prepping means being prepared for situations where your natural or normal circumstances and services are no longer available. Power outages, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other dramatic weather conditions can boil-up in a hurry, but most of the time – with today’s meteorological services – you should have plenty of time to prepare for disasters. Prepping means getting ready for these natural or even man-made disasters.
Basic prepping includes having enough bottled water and non-perishable foods stored in a safe location, so you can eat and drink and stay healthy for several days without power or services. Basic prepping also includes first aid and basic medical supplies, flashlights or lanterns, batteries, manual can openers, knives, eating utensils and plates and bowls, and sanitary supplies. This includes a chemical toilet, wet wipes and towels, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide would also be useful to have on hand.
More advanced prepping requires water and food for 30 to 180 days, a safe place to shelter, and additional supplies to make life bearable while you wait out a disaster, a power outage, or a man-made disaster or situation.
Survival comes in several stages. The first stage goes back to being aware. Aware of aware of your surroundings and the activities that will affect your home or your life. Prepare your home and family for the possible effects of wind, storms, fire, hurricanes, and other disasters. But being aware and preparing your house to survive disasters isn’t enough. You must be prepared.
You have to be prepared physically and mentally. You must be in good enough shape to take care of yourself. To get to safety. In your home if you have a location that will protect you against the elements. Or to be able to drive, run, or walk to a shelter before the disaster strikes. If you are not in good enough shape to walk or run to a shelter, then you are in trouble.
And what about your family? If you are the primary provider, could you take care of your children? Your spouse? Your aunts, uncles, grandparents? And what about your pets? Who will take care of your family? Who will help them get to a safe shelter? You need to be physically strong enough to get yourself to safety, and, if necessary, to be able to get your family to safety. If you don’t think you can do this, begin today with an exercise program to strengthen yourself so you can provide for yourself and your family.
Mental preparedness is another story. How in the world can anyone prepare for fire, flood, hurricane, or other disasters that take us out of our comfort zones? In some ways you can’t prepare for these unforeseen occurrences, but getting into a survival mode will help you be aware of the mental state to survive.
To help become mentally prepared, you must think about the disasters that could affect your life, then prepare for them. That is part of prepping. Think about what you would need to survive a disaster – food, water, shelter, medical supplies, etc. – then create a plan. The plan should include the supplies you need, a primary place to shelter, a secondary place to shelter, an evacuation plan, and the roles that each of your family or group needs to follow to ensure everyone’s safety and survival.
Having a plan requires thought and planning, and this will help you prepare for the unforeseen. Then take one more step: Review your plan on a regular basis and practice your plan. Reviewing your plan will keep your supplies up to date and will keep each member of your team aware of the problems that can arise in a disaster. Practicing your plan will give your group the skills and ‘muscle memory’ needed to execute the plan with a minimum of anxiety and ‘freaking out’ or panicking when disaster strikes.
Your goal – when disaster strikes – is to survive. To stay alive and healthy and not lose any of your family. Your home and possessions can be replaced – your family cannot. Prepping and having a survival plan is the best way to make sure that you and your family, group, or team, are staying alive during and after a disaster.
