How to Protect Your Home and Survive a SHTF Crisis

How to Protect Your Home and Survive a SHTF CrisisIn recent years we have seen an increase in the increased risk and possibility of SHTF crisis type situations actually happening. Most emergencyies are relatively small.  However, that is not always the case. To be honest, if you really want to keep your family safe, you definitely wouldn’t want to risk planning for anything other than the worst case scenario!

So let’s take a look at some of the main steps for how to protect your home and survive a SHTF crisis. You’ll probably find a calm and analytic approach may even save your life, if you do your planning well in advance.

1. Start by Assessing What You Need

If you haven’t made an inventory of what you might need in a crisis situation, it’s never too soon or too late to do so. Evaluate your needs, and see what you don’t have. Do you have enough batteries for radios and flashlights, got yourself a hand crank lantern? Do you have a portable generator in case the power goes out? Have you prepared a place to stock up on food rations and water?

All these considerations have to be kept in mind. Make a list of all the necessary survival tasks and supplies, and then do your best to check every item on that list as soon as possible.

2. Get Your Home Ready

Installing new strengthened windows, strong metal doors and a sturdy fence can be among the best means of keeping your home safe in a SHTF situation. Additionally, you will want to replace all outside locks with some heavy-duty deadbolts and prepare a few secret hiding places that friends or family members can use, if they find themselves outside at a bad time, possibly even having to run away from an angry mob.

3. Top Up on Supplies

When it comes to food, make sure you get supplies that will last for a long time. Cans of soup and meat are a great idea, and you should also get stocked up on cans of peas, beans, pickles and other vegetables. If possible, avoid buying large quantities of white bread and food that tends to go bad after a shorter period of time. Instead, consider getting your own flour and preparing survival bread by using one of the numerous recipes you can find online, although truth be told, if you cannot get by without bread when you have ample other foods stored, then you are going to struggle!

4. Instruct Your Friends and Family Members

Even if you don’t have all the supplies and weapons you need, you can gain a great deal of assurance simply by instructing family members and friends on what to do in an emergency.

Consider setting up a code for easy communication or a special knock to avoid opening the door to looters. Also, instruct your children to stay in areas you designate for their safety.  They should keep away from the windows.  Teach them to communicate immediately if they hear strange noises.

5. Keep Up with the News and Emergency Broadcasts

You’ll need to have a minimum amount of electricity allocated to radios and phones. It might be the case that your phones are not working and the likelihood of an internet connection will be slim at best.

However, an emergency radio can be great for keeping up with emergency broadcasts and getting the scoop on what’s going on outside, when you have to sit tight, and when it’s safe to go out.

Before a crisis happens, always check the most important local and nationwide news bulletins. You can even set up a Google alert on your phone.  That way you’ll be alerted if a SHTF situation is at hand.

21 Days to Basic Preparedness Book Review

21 Days to Basic Preparedness: Book Review

 

I decided to try my hand at DIY publishing on the kindle. This particular ebook has been around in various ways on my site for a few years.  I enhanced it and put it out on Kindle.

It takes a while (21 days its said) to make a habit. This book is about making the habit to be better prepared.

What I did was take all the academic training I have in Emergency Management, add in the experience I have earned working for a state emergency management agency as an operations officer and planner, and filter it through the viewpoint of a prepper to get something not commonly found in this niche. That is a scientific approach to prepping.

21 Days to Basic Preparedness is a basic guide, and its not got a lot of specifics on how to can food or put together a solar generator (you can find specifics all through this site). What it does is address things like how to plan or and how to test your plan.

I am offering this exclusively through Amazon.  Currently 21 Days to Basic Preparedness is only available as an eBook.  However, the plan is to create a paper copy also.

Because I want to offer great information that is useful to you, I have posted the Amazon preview to  21 Days to Basic Preparedness so that you know exactly what you are getting when you buy this ebook.

Survival Hax’s Tactical Pen Review

Tactical PenI just reviewed another cool product from Survival Hax.  This tactical pen is my favorite product so far (and my boy really liked the survival kit.

I was looking for a pen I could take to work, but this one just won’t make into the prison I work at.  It is easily considered a weapon.

Its sturdy construction, the titanium glass breaker tip, and the hidden fire starter all make this inappropriate for use in a controlled facility. – however, this hard core pen is very useful.

I keep it hanging on my rear view mirror.  If I get in a wreck it can help save my life by breaking the safety glass – and if I get attacked the solid construction and sharp tip can easily be used to protect my life – It gets additional points for being a simple pen.

This 4 in 1 tactical pen is a great product and I am glad survival hax gave me the opportunity to review it.

Survival Hax EDC Keychain Review

 

This is a pretty cool little EDC Keychain from Survival Hax.  I have reviewed some of there stuff before, and it is perfect for the budget prepper.

The keychain is a simple paracord weave that you can unravel to get a lenght of cord, it has a whistle and an easy to use carabiner to attach it to your gear (my plan is to clip it to the rifle sling of my M6 Scout Survival Rifle.

I really like the contents of the survival kit – the knife is pretty cool and its always nice to have a means to start a fire.

The kit has:

  • Fishing line
  • Hooks
  • Weights
  • Floaters
  • Sinkers
  • Swivels
  • Eye knife
  • Cotton tinder
  • Fire starter rod
  • Safety pins
  • Wire saw

With this kit and a nice rifle I could make myself comfortable for an extended stay in the woods.  It is a pretty decent set up that is light and small enough to go on all of your outdoor adventures and at under $15.00 its a steal.

I have to say while I did get this keychain for free in order to do a review, I am planning on buying another to go on my the sling of my son’s cricket rifle.  (not that he will be outdoors alone, but so he and Daddy can match.

Preparing Your Home for an Earthquake

Preparing Your Home for an Earthquake
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Compared to other natural disasters like hurricanes and fires, earthquakes strike without warning anywhere in the world.

There’s no telling when they’ll happen and most of the time, they bring extensive damage.

During an earthquake, your own home itself can become a danger to you and your family. How can you prepare your own home for an earthquake?

Preventing Structural Damage

The first step in quake-proofing your home is to prevent the damage where it is most likely to occur. Providing structural support to areas that are weak such as the front porch, glass doors, wooden decks, and the garage. Consulting a professional engineer is the best option in order to evaluate the structure of your home and make the necessary improvements in order to strengthen these areas. Making use of the best materials is essential in protecting your home as well. Concrete dries fast and is one of the sturdiest materials that are earthquake-resistant.

Securing Furniture

It’s common for furniture to get thrown around when a quake starts, especially if it’s a strong one. The danger of cabinets, light fixtures, and other furniture to fall down and injure you or your family is high when these things are unsecured. What you need to do here is bolting or fastening them safely in place. This ensures that they won’t fall down easily and pose any danger for people inside your home during an earthquake. Use the best available framing hammer to fasten nails on the feet of cabinets and fasten dressers to the walls to prevent them from toppling over and hurting anyone.

Placing Objects Safely

Head injury is quite an expected injury during earthquakes. This is because of heavy objects falling on people’s heads during all the shaking and this can even be serious at times. If you don’t want this to happen, be smart in storing objects in your home. To make sure safety is a priority, pack heavier things such as tin cans, bottles, and glass on the lower cabinets and cupboards as they won’t be falling from a great height. Store the lighter objects on the upper bins to prevent potential hazards. In addition, always lock your cupboards since they may jar open during a quake.

Check Your Electronics

Power outlets can also be damaged during an earthquake. Knowing how to apply and repair switch wiring can help prevent electrical hazards at home. Due to the intensity of the shaking, some wires and panels can be dislodged or worse, completely broken and exposed. This would then lead to electrical hazard or even a potential for fire, so securing your homes electronics is a priority for earthquake preparedness. Consult an electrician to secure the electrical wires in and around your house, making sure there are no live or exposed wires before a quake. Repositioning outlets that are near potential hazards like the sink or the gas would also make it a lot safer.

Having a Safe Roof

A roof made from strong materials can easily survive an earthquake. If a roof does get damaged, not only does it make repairs hard, it also poses a danger of taking the whole house with it. Using lighter materials such as aluminum or metal is a great way to reduce weight on the roof and prevent extensive damage. Applying asphalt shingles is also a good alternative because they’re lighter and more flexible than other roofing materials. If you’ve bought an already-built house, asking a contractor to replace the roof with lightweight materials can be done beforehand.

Water Heater and Gas Appliances

Getting clean water after an earthquake can be difficult if some services end up unavailable. Your water heater can easily be damaged during an earthquake if it’s not secured properly. Faster the water heater against the wall, making sure that it stands upright. Replacing the metal pipes with more a flexible material will also prevent damage during the quake. Gas-powered appliances also benefit with more elastic connections and prevent possible gas leaks.

Additional Earthquake Proofing

Taking the pre-emptive measures for earthquake-proofing your home is important. A house can become a dangerous place during a quake and ensuring the safety of your family is a must. Securing doors and packing up supplies beforehand will also help save you time when disaster does strike. Knowing what materials to use for your home will decide whether your house can survive or not.

Conclusion

We can’t really predict when and where an earthquake might hit.  If you know the right things to do, then setting your home right, you can save a lot of money and time in repairs