This is the first of a 5-part series on disaster preparedness and how to formulate your own plan.
Over the last decade, there has been a surge in the amount of people who are preparing for a major disaster, often called “preppers” among themselves and their communities. While the nature of the disaster varies depending on whom you talk to, one theme remains common: Be prepared to take care of yourself outside of your comfort zone for an indefinite amount of time, because it’s very likely no one will be coming to save you.
Some preppers begin their journey of disaster preparedness out of fear of political and civil unrest, while others prepare for natural disasters that have the potential to decimate cities and infrastructure.
In either of these scenarios, the possibility of being cut off from vital resources and emergency systems is very high. Should you find yourself in that situation, your survival will depend on your resourcefulness and ability to strategize on the go.
Why Disaster Preparedness Matters
You can’t just assume you will have access to medical facilities or care in the event of a large scale disaster, so understanding basic first aid procedures will be integral to your disaster preparedness. If you are injured or ill and have no idea how to help yourself, your chances of survival will be drastically reduced. In the event of a widespread disaster, you will not be the only one looking for help, and competition will likely be fierce.
There are two camps when it comes to disaster preparedness: those who “bug in” and those who “bug out.” We will explore these two in more detail in our next post, but when “bugging out,” the general rule of thumb is to pack three days’ worth of food and water at the minimum.
But what happens at the end of those three days? Will you be able to locate potable water? Can you forage for wild edibles without accidentally poisoning yourself? Diligent preparedness includes knowing how to nourish your body by only using available resources.
Should a disaster occur during a time of inclement weather (like the recent spate of heavy snowstorms across the US), shelter is going to be paramount. Exposure to the elements is a swift and stealthy killer of humans.
There are multiple factors to consider when not only constructing your shelter, but scouting an area to ensure it is safe from flooding, avalanche, or wild animal attacks — not to mention the possibility of roving bandits, empowered by the collapse of a law-abiding society in a disaster. Knowing how and where to build your shelter will significantly improve your chances of survival.
There are a great deal of reasons why you need a disaster preparedness plan, a few of which we’ve discussed here. We will cover types of prepping and how you can begin your plan throughout the week in our series on disaster preparedness.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next installment of the series! Until then, consider what we’ve covered here today and start thinking about what your disaster plan will be.
Featured Image from Chris Gallagher/Unsplash
