Discussing topics related to emergency preparedness, survival, homesteading, and everything in between!
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 …
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, such as in the places where tectonic plates …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The number of cases of Coronavirus patients has multiplied exponentially over the last three months. What started out as four known cases near the end of December 2019 has become 118,381 cases (and counting) by the second week of March …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you may have heard about the series of heat waves that have been occurring in many places throughout the world. In preparation for the heat wave that the United States was …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 rods and magnesium blocks are two popular fire-starting tools. They should not be confused with each other. They perform similar tasks but are not the same thing. To decide which tool would be better, I went into the woods …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, I’m sure you have heard about 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 …
We’re just past the start of the fall season. It’s beautiful to watch the leaves as they turn all sorts of vivid colors and the morning air getting significantly cooler. I believe some places have already received their first snow …
An emergency fund is a certain amount of money that an individual saves or sets aside in a private account for any financial emergencies. Oftentimes we can’t anticipate what life may throw our way but we should be ready for …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
No crops are off limits when growing a survival garden, but some are better than others in terms of: The following fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs are highly nutritious. They contain properties that will boost your overall health, especially during …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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? Stockpiling food when there is no current or forecasted emergency is not …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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, …
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. …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
