Natural disasters affect each of us differently but their impacts can remain with us and our communities for a long time. I spent some time in 2021 traveling through Texas and Louisiana and had the privilege of speaking with the …
The Best Emergency Water Purifiers: Top 11 Options Reviewed
I spend a lot of time in nature, so a reliable water filter is a must when I’m exploring the great outdoors. Just recently, my hiking group and I went on an overnight backpacking trip and I thought it would …
Preppers Share Their Favorite Survival-Themed Gifts: 89+ Ideas for Every Budget
There are two types of people in the world, those who see the need to prepare for future emergencies, and those who don’t. If you’re part of the first category of people, I salute you! It’s great to be part …
Fuel Shortage? What to Do When Gas Stations are Depleted
The need for oil and petroleum products is deeply embedded in our world to the point that the grand majority of people would not be able to survive without them for too long. Even though there are massive improvements in …
Snow Chains vs Cables, Spider Spikes, and Tire Socks: What’s Right for You?
Traveling during the winter season can be treacherous, especially when the roads are covered in snow or black ice. When choosing the best snow traction device for your car tires, it’s important to know what options you have, as well …
Yes, the Government Can Shut Down Communication: Here’s Why
Our world revolves around communication- whether that’s by face-to-face conversations, phone calls, social media discussions, and the like. Communication is embedded in our beings. Our needs to stay connected go beyond staying in touch with our loved ones, but also …
How To Stay Warm This Winter (Without Breaking the Bank)
Nothing says ‘Happy New Year!’ like a high electricity bill. (Kidding! But seriously…) When the winter temps start going down, electric bills naturally start going up. Thanks to the advancement of green technology, we can now invest in LED lights …
How to Prepare Your Car for Winter
It’s that time of the year again- winter is here. At this moment, from the comfort of my office window, I’m watching my town get covered up in a blanket of snow. I can’t help but think about the beginning …
Wildfire FAQ’s – Your Most Concerning Questions Answered!
Wildfires are devastating disasters. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common fire-related questions. What causes a wildfire? According to the US National Park Service, about 85% of wildfires are started by humans, either because of …
Volcano FAQ’s – The Answers You’ve Been Searching For!
Volcanic eruptions are equally terrifying and fascinating. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common volcano-related questions.Where do volcanic eruptions occur?Volcanoes occur in several different places, specifically in the places where tectonic plates meet. The majority …
Tsunami FAQ’s- Common Questions Answered!
Tsunamis are fascinating to watch (from a distance) yet they are extremely dangerous. To help you mentally prepare for one, we’ve answered some of the most common tsunami-related questions.How is a tsunami caused?A tsunami occurs when there’s a significant disturbance …
Tornado FAQ’s – The Answers You’ve Been Searching For!
Tornadoes are terrifying disasters. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common tornado-related questions. When is tornado season?Tornadoes can occur any time of the year so there’s no classified tornado season. The majority of them, however, …
Thunderstorm and Lightning FAQ’s- The Top Questions Answered!
Severe storms are underrated yet hazardous. To help put your mind at ease, we’ve answered some of the most common thunderstorm and lightning-related questions.How dangerous is a thunderstorm?Thunderstorms can be very dangerous. Thunderstorms produce lightning, which can be devastating enough …
Power Outage FAQ’s – Your Questions Answered!
Power outages can be scary and dangerous. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common power outage-related questions. What are the effects of power outages? Many things will quit working during a blackout. These are some …
Landslide FAQ’s – All Your Questions Answered!
Landslides are frightening disasters. To help put your mind at ease, we’ve answered some of the most common landslide-related questions. What causes a landslide?Landslides can be caused by a combination of different factors, both manmade and geological. A landslide occurs …
Hurricane FAQ’s – The Answers You’ve Been Searching For!
Hurricanes are very powerful natural disasters. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common hurricane-related questions.Who monitors hurricanes? The National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/ National Weather Service …
Flood FAQ’s – The Top Questions Answered!
Floods are one of the deadliest types of natural disasters. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common flood-related questions.What are the causes of floods?Floods can be caused by both natural and manmade events. Such events …
Heat Wave FAQ’s – Your Most Concerning Questions Answered!
Heat waves are very dangerous yet its effects are preventable. Unfortunately, extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards, according to ready.gov. To help put your mind at ease, we’ve answered some of …
Extreme Cold and Winter FAQ’s – The Top Questions Answered!
Winter temperatures can disrupt our routines and, if we’re not prepared, they have the potential to become dangerous. To help you mentally prepare, we’ve answered some of the most common extreme cold and blizzard-related questions.What temperature is considered extreme cold?Temperatures …
Earthquake FAQ’s – Here Are The Answers You’ve Been Searching For
Earthquakes are unpredictable and nerve-racking. To put your mind at ease, we’ve answered some of the most-asked earthquake questions.Are there warning signs before an earthquake?There have been many claims that people observed a strange behavior in animals prior to a …
The Ultimate Family First Aid Kit + Printable Checklist
First aid kits are a critical piece of equipment to have in the home, the car, at school, and in the workplace. These kits are important because they contain the necessary items to help treat minor ailments and reduce the …
40+ Highly Nutritious Foods to Keep in Your Bug Out Bag
Food is fuel to the body. During an emergency situation you may be faced with the difficult decision to bug out or evacuate your home at a moment’s notice. Having a hearty 72-hour food supply in your bug out kit …
The 23 Best Alternatives to Toilet Paper
There may come a time when toilet paper becomes a luxury item. For those of us living in the Western part of the world, a shortage of TP probably sounds like a disaster. But have no fear! Many people have …
55+ Indispensable Items to Barter When SHTF
The term barter is defined by Merriam-Webster as the exchange of goods, services, or commodities. Bartering dates back thousands of years and was the primary form of trade until currency was implemented. When we think of it, it sounds like …
22 Useful Skills to Learn if You’re Quarantined
This is a very sensitive time for the world— from the news of the pandemic to the shutting down of most public buildings and businesses, people are panicked, out of work (or working from home), and learning to cope with …
Traveling during the Coronavirus? Here’s how to protect yourself!
The number of cases of Coronavirus patients has multiplied exponentially over the past year. What started out as four known cases near the end of December 2019 has grown to millions. As we know, no one is immune from Covid-19, …
Coronavirus Causes Spike in Demand For Emergency Supplies
Due to the emerging health threat of the Novel Coronavirus, we are seeing an unprecedented increase in demand for long-lasting emergency food and other survival supplies. The news regarding the Coronavirus have been plaguing the media lately causing widespread concern, preparedness …
Coronavirus: What You Must Know and How to Stay Safe
I’m sure that in the last week your phone, social media, and news feed has been bombarded with stories of the recent craze: the coronavirus. There is so much concern over this developing pandemic that people are becoming fearful of …
How to Motivate Younger Generations to Become Prepared
Being a female emergency preparedness enthusiast in my late twenties definitely sets me apart from many of the people in my age group. I was born in a volatile country where your financial savings and assets were never safe in …
A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Senior Citizens
It seems that every day, somewhere in the world, a natural disaster (or man-made disaster) has occurred. Events such as storms, floods, earthquakes, mass shootings, blackouts and much more seem to fill our newscasts daily. Being prepared is an important …
Can You Sharpen a Knife With Another Knife?
Knives are extremely useful tools especially in the wilderness and other survival scenarios. A dull knife, however, is practically useless. For this reason, you should hone your skills by practicing the proper way to sharpen knives.So, can you sharpen a …
Can You Pump Gas in a Thunderstorm?
The severity of thunderstorms can be unpredictable, especially since they’re typically accompanied by a combination of wind, rain, hail, and/or tornadoes. If you’re running errands or traveling in the midst of a thunderstorm, it’s best to take the necessary precautions …
Can an Unlicensed Driver Drive in an Emergency?
This is a very controversial and tricky subject. Every country has its own laws and ways of dealing with unlicensed drivers. Driving in the United States is considered a privilege rather than a human right. If driving without a license …
Why the Government isn’t to Blame for our Lack of Preparedness
Just like it’s your responsibility to schedule and accomplish your daily duties, it’s equally your responsibility to protect your family. The government is there to aid us, but there’s no guarantee that they can provide us full protection…in fact, it’s …
Homesteading in Pennsylvania: Here’s What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania is a state rich in history- most importantly it’s the state where the United States was declared a nation. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776. From that moment up until 1800, Pennsylvania held the seat …
How to Repel Bugs in the Wild, in Your Home, and Beyond
Nature is truly remarkable. I believe we were brought into this world with all the tools and natural sources we need to survive. The real challenge is learning how. The key to repelling bugs in any environment is understanding what …
How to Overcome Grief After a Natural Disaster
Natural disasters are often times unpredictable. Some people will only experience them briefly over the television in the form of news. Other people, will have to fight a much harder battle as a single natural or man-made disaster can disrupt …
How to Evacuate Without a Vehicle: Alternatives and Resources
Home evacuation plans are usually set to include the members of your family, your pets, all your basic needs, some special memorabilia, and of course, your car. Unfortunately, this is not the case for a large percentage of the population …
What to Do if You Lose Your Wallet
I called a friend at 6 am last week because I needed him to rescue me from the mini personal crisis I was in the midst of. My friend rushed out of his house within five minutes and grabbed only …
Active Shooter! Tips on How to Respond and Get to Safety
This week has been emotional for the many people who witnessed and experienced the loss of a loved one at the Gilroy shooting in California. Just two months ago, a shooting took place in Virginia Beach leaving 12 dead and …
Homesteading in Tennessee: Everything You Need to Know
Tennessee is popularly known as The Volunteer State. While the nickname was earned during the War of 1812, Tennesseans maintain the title for being some of the friendliest and most welcoming people around. This state is a great place to …
49 Tips to Beat the Summer Heat
Heat waves are known for being dangerously deadly! How is it possible to stay cool? High heat and humidity may be tolerable for a moment but do you know the dangers that prolonged heat exposure pose? In 2003, approximately 15,000 …
What To Do During a Hurricane to Stay Safe
Although it seems early to be talking about this, we’ve already entered into hurricane season. It’s vital that we begin to gear up for the next few months since there’s really no accurate way to predict what the future has …
10 Effective Ways to Mouse-Proof Your Food Storage
It’s such a relief to have a storage of food supplies that are guaranteed to last you the next 20 plus years. It takes away so much pressure knowing that if a major disaster were to disrupt the delivery of …
Homesteading in Idaho: Here’s What You Need to Know
Are you considering to start a homestead in Idaho? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Idaho is one of my favorite states because of its beautiful landscapes, its rich farmland, and the laid back style of life. It’s …
Baking in a Post-Crisis Scenario + FREE Printable Recipe!
Last weekend I visited a nearby apple orchard and couldn’t leave without first trying a slice of their bakery’s pie. I ended up buying a mini pie because it was Sunday, my cheat day… and with the help of my …
A Vegan Prepper’s Guide to Food Storage
The vegan diet is becoming very popular these days. Veganism includes only plant-based ingredients and no animal products nor by-products. If you pay close attention to product labels, you have probably noticed that most of the ingredients in long-term food …
Ferro Rod vs. Magnesium: The Pros, the Cons & our Top Pick!
Ferro rods and magnesium blocks are two popular tools to light fires. They should not be confused with each other. They perform similar tasks but are not the same thing. To decide which tool would be the best option, I …
15 Hearty Meals You Can Prepare During a Power Outage
When we say preparedness, many people think of the end of the world and how they might have to survive with little to no supplies. In reality though, preparing is more likely to be for a temporary disaster. A small-scale …
13 Ways You Can Prepare Today for the Next Government Shutdown
I was in a state of shock last month as I watched the news of the government shutdown that felt like it would never end. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one! Indeed it was the longest shutdown in American …
Choosing the Best Smoke Detector for Your Home: A Quick Guide
The purpose of a smoke detector isn’t to prevent a fire (although it helps) but rather to alert the people so they can evacuate before the smoke or toxicity in the air overwhelms the building, especially if the individuals are …
18 DIY Fire Starters for Under a Dollar
Staying warm during winter months is vital to your survival, whether you’re indoors or out in the wild. Hypothermia can be deadly yet preventable. A fire isn’t only important for keeping warm but is also used for signaling for help. …
25 Preparedness Goals to Add to Your New Year’s Resolutions
With the new year comes the expectation that changes will take place for the better. Many people reflect on the past year and choose new goals to be accomplished during the following one. It’s a great time to determine what …
Protect These Important Documents Before a Disaster Hits
Do you remember the Camp Fire in Northern California? Fires are not at all uncommon in California (and many other parts of the world) but the intensity of this fire was very unique. During this horrific event, the residents of …
21 Easy Ways to Start an Emergency Fund Even if You’re Broke
As adults (and even young adults), it’s our responsibility to prepare ourselves and our families for the future. We cannot control the circumstances that occur around us which should be a good enough reason to store emergency supplies, including money. …
The Complete List of Long-Lasting Survival Foods + FREE Printable
In a prosperous country like the United States, it’s difficult to imagine what “lack” looks like. Walk into any Costco, Walmart or local store and you’ll notice the shelves are practically overflowing with stuff…all kinds of stuff! Oftentimes multiple brands …
Does a Buried Shipping Container Make a Good Bunker?
Not all bunkers are built for the same purpose. Some people take their survival bunkers to an extreme level, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing (to each his own, right?) I don’t think a successful bunker has to …
How to Communicate Without a Phone or Internet in a Disaster
Have you ever been unable to get a hold of someone and started worrying needlessly for hours just to find out they were safe all along? Let’s imagine an emergency situation when thousands of people are trying to contact their …
How to Keep Fruits & Veggies Fresh Without Refrigeration
I foresee a moment in the future when there will be a major power outage, leaving us in the dark for hours or even days at a time. Everyone is susceptible to long-term outages even if a solar panel is …
53 Must-Have Car Winter Essentials
Winter can be a scary season for drivers. For me, winter means becoming more of a hermit. I live in a mountain town and I avoid driving when the roads are slick. I have been in several accidents due to …
The Top 12 U.S. States for Homesteading
Homesteading is defined by a lifestyle of self sufficiency. In an age where technology does most of our thinking, many people are considering changing their ways and living off the land as many of our ancestors did years ago. Off-grid …
49 Simple Ways You Can Conserve Water
It’s ironic that the West Coast has been hit with prolonged drought versus the East Coast which is trying to mitigate the floods as a result of Hurricane Florence. Water is our most vital resource in life. The earth is …
41 Ways to Secure Your Home Before an Evacuation
It’s scary to think that the place we call home can at some point become threatened by a natural disaster. One of the most important parts of emergency preparedness is learning to protect our living spaces and possessions that we …
50 Essential Crops to Grow in Your Survival Garden
No crops are off limits when growing a survival garden, but some are better than others in terms of: how easy they are to grow (in different climates) how quickly they produce a harvest how nutritious and calorie dense they …
25+ Things You Shouldn’t Eat or Drink When You’re Dehydrated
Dehydration is when your body loses more water than is being ingested. Dehydration can become serious problem because it prevents our bodies from working optimally. In our day to day lives, we can often replenish our thirst. In an emergency …
The Best (and Worst) Places to Be During an Earthquake
Earthquake preparedness is vital because earthquakes happen without warning. Sure, there is technology in place to warn us about seismic activity but there is no true predictor of a significant upcoming earthquake. It’s not only impossible to detect exactly when …
50 Brilliant Uses for Baking Soda in an Emergency
Baking soda is one of the most versatile households items. While we most commonly use it in baking breads and other recipes, there are countless uses for this kitchen staple. In an emergency situation, baking soda will become very handy, …
Does the Plumbing System Work When the Power Goes Out?
When we think of a power outage we think of lighting candles and relaxing for a moment while we are unplugged from our TV’s and WiFi. An interruption to our plumbing systems is usually not something we even think to …
Is it Illegal to Keep Large Amounts of Cash at Home?
It is legal for you to store large amounts of cash at home so long that the source of the money has been declared on your tax returns. There is no limit to the amount of cash, silver and gold …
Can You Heat a Room With a Candle?
There are one too many videos and articles on the internet discussing the idea of an upside-down flowerpot space heater. Sounds like magic, right!? And if it worked as well as many companies advertise it, I’m sure more people would …
Is Stockpiling Food Illegal in the United States?
Emergency preparedness emphasizes the need to store food, water, and other vital items that may not be readily accessible during a disaster. But does the law allow this?Is stockpiling food illegal?Stockpiling food when there is no current or forecasted emergency …
Is it Okay to Use Non-Potable Water?
The issue of non potable water is rather complex. Water can be contaminated due to a wide range of circumstances. While there are many sources of water, not all the sources are reliable, that is why precautions must be taken …
Can You Drink Cactus Water for Survival?
You don’t really know a survival situation until you’re faced with one. There have been far too many cases of people getting injured or lost on a day hike in the desert, and within hours becoming depleted of their water …
Does Canned Food Go Bad in the Heat?
Yes, heat is the enemy of all canned goods. Food stored in cans will spoil quickly if exposed to high temperatures, especially over 95 degrees F. It’s best to store all your food in a temperature controlled environment that is …
The Best Foods To Store in Your Car for Emergencies
There’s a high probability of facing an emergency or becoming stranded while driving because so much of our time is spent in our cars. Preparedness efforts shouldn’t be limited to the preparedness of our homes. Instead, we should be prepared …
The Best Ways to Store Water in Your Car
The wonderful thing about having a car is that you don’t have to worry about the issue of weight, so you should always be able to carry a few extra water bottles. A few adjustments to your vehicle’s emergency kit …
Is Rain Water Safe to Drink?
At some point in time, our world was blessed with 100% clean natural resources that could be freely used without the worry of contaminants. Water was one of these resources. Unfortunately, due to an increase in development, pollution and industrialization, …
Do Emergency Blankets Work?
Space blankets, also known as emergency blankets, have become a very popular item to put in emergency preparedness or outdoor survival kits. They are not only lightweight and easy to store, but are also extremely cheap if bought in bulk. …
The Simplest Guide to Building a DIY Bug Out Bag
“Bug Out Bags are a waste of time and money!” I heard this said a few times and I see where people are coming from. Many companies out there try to sell an “end of the world” theory but their …
How to Choose the Best Long-Term Emergency Food for Your Family
Have you noticed how we are constantly offered several hundred variations of the same product? What makes it extra difficult for indecisive people like myself is figuring out how to get the best bang for my buck while buying a …
Tips for Good Campsite Hygiene When Living Off the Grid
Personal hygiene is a broad topic which I discussed in great detail in this post. Living spaces must be clean as well, to maintain overall health and environmental safety. Let’s discuss some tips on how to keep your campsite clean …
Tips for Good Personal Hygiene in the Wilderness
The ability to take care of our body is something we often take for granted. Most of us are used to daily showers, shaving, and preparing food in a clean environment. If you’re in the woods, you may face challenges …