The world is increasingly uncertain and disasters in many different forms can hit you at any moment. Being prepared for these potential disasters can be the best way to increase your survival chances. While disasters can hit in many forms, both man made and natural, this article will focus on preparing for all types. 

Natural disasters, in and of themselves, can come in many forms. Floods, earthquakes, plagues – all sorts of natural disasters can be potentially troublesome and lead to mass evacuations, shortages of food and other essentials, and challenging conditions for survival. Survival of natural disasters start by being prepared.  Man made disasters can include everything from fires to nuclear war. 

Of course you can never truly be prepared for the unknown. You can, however, calculate probabilities and start this process by understanding the chances that each natural disaster will hit your life in comparison to other natural disasters. If you are living near a river or coast, the risk of flooding and hurricanes is very real, but many not be a concern in other areas. Earthquakes are a particular risk if you are living on the perimeter of the ring of fire, but not so much in other spots. Make a list of the natural disasters that can impact you and priories them by the highest probability that each will impact you, before focusing on the others. Man made disaster probability can be calculated in the same way. Consider both the location of your home, work, and where you travel when considering your danger levels. People living in an urban area will have a much different survival plan than those who live rurally on large acreage. Furthermore, ones proximity to nuclear power plans, nuclear targets, and major metropolitan centers will also play a large factor. 

Depending on your location and surroundings you basically have two options; stay put or bug out. It’s always best to stay in your current home as long as possible unless a situation arises that forces you to move. If you do make a decision to leave your current location or “bug out” it’s best to have a location in mind. The last place you want to be is a refugee on the road with no supplies and nowhere to go. Having a large network of friends, especially “country cousins” that live rurally would be ideal. State land can also offer a good rural staging area while you asses the situation. Whatever your options may be, it’s important that you plan ahead of time. Now that we have set the framework, lets talk about the specific items you would need.

1.Water 

The most important and essential items you must have is  food, water, and shelter. It is important to understand which of these is the greatest concern for you. Generally, shelter or water is the highest priority, depending on your environment and food is food is a secondary concern. People can survive without food if otherwise healthy for a period of up to two weeks though you cannot live without water for much longer than a day. It is a good idea to have some bottles of water saved and set aside which can keep you going in a disaster. However, any supply of bottled water will run out eventually so you will have to be able to create potable water. One option that may make sense is a Life Straw. Life Straws come in different forms but will filter out the bacteria and other microorganisms in water and make it potable and safe to drink. The base model of a Life Straw is basically a straw that you can insert into a puddle and safely drink the water without fear of contamination. More advanced models allow you to store a significant amount of water in a container. Other methods of purifying water are also helpful such a tabs that you can insert into water to kill bacteria and other forms of water filtration.

2. Shelter

If you plan to shelter in place then your shelter is obviously your house, apartment, or dwelling of some sort. Shelter becomes a big challenge if you suddenly find yourself having to leave your home due to a natural disaster. The quickest and easiest form of shelter is a tent that you can quickly and easily fold up. In cold weather conditions this may not be sufficient so having sleeping bags and other forms of protection can be essential parts of keeping yourself sheltered from the elements. While not directly related, you should have the ability to generate heat in one form or another. A small generator and fuel source can be kept in your home and can provide you with electricity and heat for your home. If you are mobile, it is essential to have the ability to create f through the use of a lighter waterproof matches, or other flints or striking agents.

3. Food

Food is also a concern and it makes sense to be prepared for an emergency by having a certain amount of food set aside that can be used in an emergency. Many people will put together supply of dehydrated food which can be eaten with the simple addition of water. This can create a large an useful supply of food that is easy to store, can be used in any emergency, and is relatively light to pack into a car if you need to suddenly be mobile. The major disadvantage of dehydrated food is the significant amount of water that you need to eat it. As such, it is important to keep several other forms of perishable food as a backup. Simple items like granola bars, peanut butter, and other light and mobile food supplies that can be quickly accessed are essential.

4. Protection

Natural disasters have the potential to bring out the worst in people so being prepared for on will also involve you having to be protected from the other people who will be al roaming around and may not have thought ahead to prepare themselves for a disaster. Be sure to have tools available to protect yourself such as firearm or knives. Knives a useful for so many different disaster related challenges and a small and sturdy survival knife or multi-tool can go a long way towards protecting you in a disaster and providing you with the ability to gain from its use. If you live in a gun friendly area of the United States than having a concealed weapon permit is ideal. In an emergency situation your going to want to conceal your firearms as to not raise suspicion with law enforcement. This will allow you to travel and move freely without drawing undo attention to yourself. If a firearm is not an option then consider bear spray, pepper spray, or a stun gun. 

5. Friends

This is often overlooked by preppers and survival enthusiasts. Too often people have a “go it alone” attitude about survival and think they can do everything on their own. Your biggest asset to survive a natural disaster is the network of people you know and trust. Sure, items 1 through 4 are important, but your network is everything in times of chaos. If your looking to become more self-sufficient you need to think just beyond gear and training. Having a team of people who also have gear, training, and a mutual protection pact is your best chance to make it out alive.