Shruti Shah
Five Practical Methods To Be Ready For Anything
Being prepared for anything does not mean being prepared for everything – no one can be prepared for everything. There could be a natural disaster like an earthquake this afternoon at your office; tomorrow morning you could wake up to news of a nuclear attack; next week your house could flood in a major storm. If you lived life constantly worrying about all the possibilities of what could go wrong, you would be in a constant state of anxiety, and that’s no way to live. The average person is not going to be prepared for everything, but it is always good try to be prepared for the basics and know the critical skills you need to survive. Instead, we have put together a list of five practical (stress-free) methods to ensure you and your family are ready for anything:
5 Steps To Be Ready For Anything
- Discuss Emergency Plans. Talk to your loved ones about your emergency plans. Teach children about the importance of prepping, so that emergency preparedness is something they will always consider as they grow up. Ensure your plans include as wide a range of disasters as possible. Designate meeting places and communication strategies in case cell and internet service are interrupted. Practice things like fire drills to ensure everyone is prepared and confident in their ability to carry out the plan if necessary. Start making preparations for storing food and drinking water. Practice until it becomes common sense!
- Shop for Supplies. Think about what you and your family would need in the event of an emergency - medical supplies and a first aid kit, food, pet food, tools, water purification tablets, bottled water, toilet paper, flashlights, fire starters, blankets... This step is ideal for including family members and children. You can ask them to help to brainstorm what other supplies you would need in your emergency kit if stuck in the house for days and include (in addition to all the essential items) fun things like board games or junk food. Having survival food supplies like dehydrated foods and canned food stored can be beneficial because it will have a longer shelf life in food storage compared to produce or fresh meats. It is also good to always have a "bug out bag" filled with basic supplies.
- Start Saving. If SHTF, it can be vitally helpful to have a couple hundred dollars in cash stored at home. Save money, hide it well, and keep it only for dire emergency scenarios when you need it to buy a last little bit of food/water or gas.
- Back Up Documents. Every family has birth certificates, passports, health insurance information, and bank records. These should be stored in a waterproof and fireproof safe. But, it is just as important that you should have copies of these documents – either as hard copies stored in a secondary location, such as in a safe deposit box or with relatives, or in a secure electronic form. Back up important documents on an external hard drive every time you use the computer, so that they are not lost if the computer is damaged.
- Maintain a Preparedness Mindset. No two disasters exactly the same. The only way to be prepared for the unexpected is to develop a mindset that will allow for you to adapt to changing circumstances, while remaining calm. Consider the kind of self defense knowledge you may need or have information or emergency services easily accessible. How you react to unanticipated challenges is the essence of preparing for anything. Your survival situation could last for long periods of time, so keep your head!
Although every disaster and crisis is different, there are shortcuts you can take to increase your chances of successful survival in any situation. Many emergencies, from a natural disasters to smaller survival scenarios, result in the same major effects – loss of power, loss of communication, separation from reliable emergency food and water sources, injuries, and damage to your home. Preparing plans to combat these effects enables you and your entire family to stay calm and comfortable in the panic that follows any emergency. Having good survival skills and prepping skills can be life saving and keep you from making the same mistakes you may have made in a past emergency situation. This information is a great start, but it is always good to do your own research.
What preparedness strategies have helped you the most in a post-disaster situation? Share your experience and advice with other BattlBoxers on the Facebook Members Only Page.
On a more laid-back note, if you're interested in exploring some other articles perhaps check out our Ultimate Camping Checklist.
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