Unfortunately, there is not one ‘master’ kit that one can assemble, instead, kits will vary greatly depending on what you are looking to do and what type of area you plan on doing it.  A civilian back packer’s “kit” will look a little different from a Long Range Special Reconnaissance Soldier’s “kit;” however some items will be the same.

Priorities will dictate what you are going to need.  Some things you need to be thinking of are water, fire, food, and shelter, but not necessarily in that order.

We will use what I think is a logical listing of what I might want if I were stranded in the wilderness or the city during a natural disaster. This is not an all inclusive list and recommendations are welcomed.  We will consider each item suggested and if we agree with your suggestion we will post the suggestion.

1.      Water

1.1.   Containers

1.1.1.      Canteen – one or two quart. One needs to be hard sided so you can fill it from shallow streams.  The military has a 1 and 2 qt canteen, so they should be available at surplus stores.  I used these for years and they are really rugged.  The nylon canteen pouches have a nifty pouch for water purification tablets.

1.1.2.      Hydration bladder – There are many to choose from. Look for the two or three quart size. They are difficult to fill in streams though that’s why we suggest a hard sided canteen or at least cup.

1.2.   Purification

1.2.1.      Iodine/Halazone tablets – these are tablets you add to water to chemically purify the water to stop you from getting sick.  The US military issues Iodine tablets that come 50 to a bottle.  They are easy to use, add two tablets to clear water and four tablets to muddy water in a one quart canteen, and then let it sit for  ten minutes and let some water run on the threads of the canteen to clean them, and let it sit for twenty more minutes before drinking.

1.2.2.       Iodine tincture – drops you add to water to chemically purify the water to stop you from getting sick. It is used similarly to the tablets, and can also be used on wounds to help prevent infection. Versatile and should be included in the survival/medical kit.  Make sure to get the 2% iodine.  To use, add five drops to a canteen of clear water and ten drops to a canteen of cloudy water. Follow the same wait times and splash procedures as the tablets.

1.2.3.      Chlorine bleach – Yes, the stuff that comes in the gallon size bottle, but not the scented type just the plain old bleach.  It is easily acquired and relatively inexpensive. Most people already have it in their home. The ratio and procedures are similar to the tablets:

1.2.3.1.            Use two to three drops of bleach per each quart of clear water, four to six for cloudy water.

1.2.3.2.            Use eight to ten drops of bleach for a gallon of clear water and 16 to 20 for cloudy water.

1.2.3.3.            The bleach can also be used to sanitize the containers and eating utensils.  One tablespoon of bleach added to a gallon of water.  Clean your containers and utensils first then soak them in the sanitizer for at least two minutes and then let them air dry.

2. Fire – Don’t limit yourself to carrying just one of these types of starters.  If you have room, carry several.

2.1.   Matches – come in books of 20. These are fairly cheap and light they are easy to store as long as you keep them dry. There is also stick matches, hurricane matches, strike anywhere matches.

2.2.   Lighter – Bic or Zippo (www.zippo.com) you can use up a Bic-style lighters and they are done; A Zippo can be refilled with various fuels from kerosene to gas to alcohol I have even used jet fuel.  Be sure to buy spare flints, the red-coated ones last the longest and can be stored under the cotton fuel canister.

2.3.   Magnesium fire starter – these are nifty devices, you shave off fine pieces of magnesium then use the sparkler to ignite it.  Works well but dulls the devil out of your knife.

2.4.   Candle – these are great to use, you can light the candle with your match or lighter then use it to spread the flame.

2.5.   Fine steel wool and battery – this is a nifty trick. Using fine steel wool and a 3 volt battery or larger, you can make fire.

2.6.   Magnifying glass – this works by focusing the sun’s rays to a fine point to create heat.  Obviously it doesn’t work at night or overcast days.

2.7.   Flint & Steel – this goes back to the pioneer days and way before.  I find the method difficult to use, however I don’t practice it often.

3.      Food

3.1.   Procurement

3.1.1.      Fishing Kit – This is an assortment of hooks, bobbers, weights, fly’s, and sometimes a collapsible pole. It needn’t be too large or elaborate, just what you will need.

3.1.2.      Trapping kit – This kit is an assortment of snares or wire to make snares.  You need to have permits to practice this art for real so make sure you obtain one before trying any of these skills.

3.1.3.      Hunting supplies – Rifle, shotgun, bow, or muzzle loading rifle, whatever you are comfortable with using.    There are licensing issues involved so make sure you abide by all laws.

3.2.   Food supplies – You should have a small, emergency stash of food in your kit. However, we will be detailing that in a later post.

4.      Shelter

4.1.   Personal tent/bivvy bag – There is a long list of bivvy bags and individual tents that are small and light weight. Check to make sure that any tent you buy can hold the correct number of people (and pets) that you will need to shelter. Be aware that a 4-man sleeping tent sleeps four men right next to each other with no room for anything else. Buy larger if feasible.

4.2.   Poncho – A military issued poncho goes a long way, especially if you attach bungee cords to the sides to form a lean-to shelter.

4.3.   Tarp – used similarly as a poncho, usually larger in size and made of durable plastics with generally grommets along the edges. It can be used much like the poncho.

4.4.   Space Blanket – These are nifty items…they are light weight and warm, sometimes too warm.   They are used to control shock when treating wounded soldiers.  You can sometimes find them prepackaged in first aid kits.

5. Navigation Assistance

5.1.   Compass – This is an important piece of equipment unless you like walking in circles. The military lensatic is a good rugged hardwearing piece of equipment and has the advantage of tritium (it glows in the dark) to enable you to use it at night. Suunto (www.suunto.com) and Silva (www.silvacompass.com) makes a wide selection of compasses to suit any need above and below the water. Like I said, unless you want to stay disorientated, get a decent compass and learn how to use it.  Maybe you don’t want the most expensive, but this isn’t the place to go excessively cheap either.

5.2.   Watch – You should always have one anyway, but these days you can have a watch, compass, calculator and a whole bunch of other things all in one on your wrist.  Remember that extra features can sometimes increase the risk of failure, so don’t skimp here either. Bring extra batteries if your watch uses them.

5.3.   Global Positioning System (GPS) – Garmin (www.garmin.com) makes a number, so does Magellan (www.magellangps.com), of these devices that use satellites to triangulate your location on the earth. They store waypoints and have a track log enabling you to follow your steps back.  You may be able to use a MOB (man over board) to navigate to a point to get help or your way home. These are not extremely expensive anymore, but they do use batteries. And they go through them. One way to extend the batteries is to not use the backlight, and turn it off when you do not need it.

5.4.   Map – Which maps you pack in your kit will depend on where you are going and how you plan to get there.

5.4.1.      Road – these are your normal maps you get at the convenience store.  They are good for following roads but show little contour interval.  You can get them so they cover the entire state or books that cover entire sections of the country.

5.4.2.      Topographical – these show contour interval really well but show a smaller area.  They can be purchased at most outdoors stores.

5.4.3.      Strip – basically this is something you draw to suit your needs.  You do this when you give a friend direction to your house for the party.  They usually show enough detail to get you from here to there.

5.4.4.      Nautical Charts – these are maps of the terrain you can’t see under the water.  A must when you are traveling by boat, so you don’t run into something that will sink your vessel.

5.4.5.      Star – this is using the stars to help you find north or south depending what hemisphere you are in.  I don’t find this technique easy, so it takes practice.

6.      Clothing

6.1.   Change of clothing – Depending on your climate (Washington state vs. Texas), season (spring vs. winter) and the environment you expect to be travelling in (city vs. mountains), you will need to pack different types of clothing.  Have enough for three days if you can fit them in your bag. Always add extra socks.

6.2.   Hat/Gloves – It generally gets colder at night, so it is a good plan to have a cap or hat and gloves in your pack as well.  Leather ‘work’ gloves are also a good idea if you want on any travel over rough or forested terrain.

6.3.   Sewing Kit – you will always need to be prepared to repair your clothes.  Basic sewing kits are easily found in grocery and super stores as well as specialty sewing stores. Learn the skills that go along with it.

7. First Aid – Premade kits abound in the stores.  You need to be prepared to take care of minor injuries.  My training is more than a lay person usually gets so I know I am prepared to help a loved one.  Taking at least a first aid and CPR class will help you in the long run. You need to be prepared to treat minor cuts, abrasions, and minor burns. Anything above minor injuries requires an EMT/ Paramedic.  DO NOT treat any condition above your level of training.  If you take prescription medication or over the counter medications, have some in reserve for a rainy day.  Again, there are laws you need to abide by so don’t go afoul of them.

8. Cord – about 100 foot length of cord should be sufficient for a survival kit. If you have room, you can’t go wrong with more cord/rope.

8.1.   Type 3 nylon AKA 550 cord, AKA parachute card – This is some strong stuff.  It is rated to hold 550 lbs if it is the type 3 style.  It comes in many colors green and white being what I see most but climbing stores will have more.  It is an outside nylon tube with strands of nylon cord inside.  You can cut the cord and remove the inside strands and use them for fishing repairing and lashing.  If you need to you can remove the individual strands of the tube and use it for sewing, it is rather strong.  The outside tube is roughly rated for 80 lbs and is useful for lashing, traps and much more.

8.2.   Braided nylon line – This can be bought in just about any store and is useful for lashing and securing items.

8.3.   Twine – Not my first choice, but will work in a pinch.  Remember you are only limited by your imagination: cat5e cable will work when nothing else is around.

9.      Tools

9.1.   Knife – The Rambo knife is a bit excessive, but a good knife is imperitive. I have a Randal (http://www.randallknives.com ) 5 ½ inch model 18 survival knife I’ve carried through 8 combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.  For the first 10 years of my military career, I carried a USMC K-BAR (https://www.kabar.com ).  It was inexpensive back then ($20 to $30) with a sound blade made of decent steel.  Mine has been used in the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the jungles of Panama and all in between. Don’t forget one of the many multi tools or Swiss Army style knives; they bring a lot of tools to the table. This is another area not to skimp on.

9.1.1.      Belt / fixed blade -Randle, K bar, I had a Cuchillio De Monte for a bit in Panama where I learned the hard way that you shouldn’t throw knives into trees for entertainment.

9.1.2.      Folding – Swiss Army, Leatherman, Gerber, Hesco? What is that? A Hesco is a metal wire box you set up and fill with dirt to protect your perimeter.  Well in every bunch of Hescos you receive to build your defensive perimeter there is a small bag with a multi tool/ a razor knife with a compartment for extra blades, and a mini multi tool.  Most of the time when they finally make it to you this pouch has been taken out.  I did manage to get one though. Muuhahaha.

9.1.3.      Multi Tool / Swiss Army – Tthere is no one that is “better” than the other.  Do some research and find the one best for you.

9.1.4.      Machete- Nothing cuts the brush quicker. It is a great tool to have even in temperate climates. It is gap filler between a belt knife and an ax. It does heavier chopping than a belt knife but won’t fall a tree like an ax.

9.1.5.      Kukri – Similar to a machete but a little shorter and has a forward curving blade. I have always wanted to get one but haven’t yet. Maybe one day.

9.2.   Saw

9.2.1.      Pruning – These saws are designed for cutting wet wood; they have wide teeth that don’t gum up with sawdust as quickly.

9.2.2.      Folding – I carried one of these as a sniper for creating hides and loopholes.  They are fairly in expensive and some have changeable blades.

9.2.3.      Wire – I find these a little difficult to use and have broken a few.  Your best bet is to make a bow saw and use it that way.

9.3.   Axe / Hatchet – If you are forced to survive for an extended period, your supply of small branches to use for your fire will run out and you may be forced to chop some of the larger pieces you find.  Also the right one can double for a hammer.

9.4.   Canteen cup / Metal cup – This is a life saver on a cold day. Being metal you can place it in the fire pit to warm your water to make coffee or cocoa.  Hey, it is a feel good.  If you are cold, wet, and miserable, a cup of coffee will make you FEEL better and help you keep going.  That is some strong medicine.  The military makes one that fits around the standard one qt canteen and inside the nylon pouch that makes it convenient to carry and use.  I place some tape on the rim because it does get extremely hot.

9.5.   Mess kit / small pot & pan – The military used to issue a mess kit with a knife fork and spoon. This was made of metal and had a pan and a divided plate.  They are rugged and nearly indestructible.  I have various items that were made in the early to mid 1900’s that are still ticking.

9.6.   Whet Stone / File – These are used to sharpen your knives, axes, machetes.

9.7.   EMT Sheers – These are handy to have around they are strong enough to cut a penny.

9.8.   Signaling devices

9.8.1.      Mirror – this is used to reflect the sunlight to flash a search aircraft.

9.8.2.      Flares – these are used to mark your location. Arial flares are can be seen for miles but they burn out quickly.  Road flares are most commonly used to mark vehicle break downs and accidents.

9.8.3.      Whistle – these devices can be heard for great distances and draw attention to your location.  Now remember, they probably won’t be heard it in a helicopter.

9.8.4.      Personal locator beacons (PLB) – these are fairly new to the civilian market it transmits a signal on the international distress frequencies and boats and aircraft can home in on your position, or there is an imbedded GPS and it broadcasts your location.

9.8.5.      Flashlight – like the mirror you flash the searchers to gain their attention.  This works well at night, use sweeping motions as opposed to holding it steady.  Not to mention the utility of seeing what you are doing in the dark.  Pack spare batteries also.  When storing, I would store the flash light with batteries reversed of each other (the two negative ends together) so the light doesn’t accidently turn on.

10. The Pack – What you can fit in your pack will obviously depend on how big it is.  How big it can be depends on what you can realistically carry on your back all day. Here are  some options to think about.

10.1.  The basic backpack – Useful for a short trip from your base camp to go ‘into town’ or some other known location when you expect to return shortly. Possibly useful for a planned single overnight trip.

10.2. The framed pack – These can get quite pricey, but the frame of the pack will help you carry heavier loads by distributing the weight.

10.3. Pouches/Hooks/Clips – When deciding on a pack, take a look at the attached hooks and clips, if there are any as well as additional places to attach extra hooks and clips.  Does it have external pockets, mesh or otherwise, and are the compartments that it offers actually useful?

There are various publications covering survival, the individual kits recommended by them are fairly similar, but do differ.  Here is a comparison of what some suggest.

The following are images of my survival kit.

If you can find one of these fishing kits, awesome, otherwise, all of the individual items can be found at the store and assembled pretty easily.  It’s called: Fishing Kit, Survival, #4220-00-244-0764.

The following is my homemade trapping and fishing kit. This all fits in the compact pouch.  There is a lot of stuff that fits inside and it fits comfortably in your pocket.

This is what I carry in my web gear.

Where do you begin?  When do you begin? How much notice will you get before it all falls down? How much is too much?

The Boy Scout motto is: “Be Prepared,” and should be considered a phrase to live by. If you live in Florida, read up on hurricanes.  If you live in Kansas, learn how to deal with tornado. Michigan? Blizzards. Know your area. Whether it is a blizzard or hurricane, everyone should be prepared for a minor disaster.

Before

Your first efforts should be in stockpiling food, water, prescription medicines, emergency supplies and fuel.  Be sure to stock up on milk and bread too…you know everyone else will be. When deciding which food to stockpile, remember that electricity will mostly likely be one of the first fatalities. Without a generator, Ben & Jerry’s won’t last very long (so eat that first!). Canned foods and dehydrated foods (like Ramen and jerky) last the longest.  If you are maintaining a stockpile, remember to rotate the food out. Stockpile food you eat normally, that helps in rotating the stock. Get appropriate containers for supplies like flour and sugar.

Water. Water. Water. Then more water. You should stockpile at least one gallon per person per number of days you expect to be planning for. Then stockpile more. Ice stores well, if you can make it before hand.  For temporary emergencies, fill the bath tub before hand (that tidbit comes from living through several Florida hurricanes), this water is good for being able to flush toilets and washing up after the power goes out.

Medicines are not quite as easy to stockpile, but do what you can to have basic pain relievers, a well stocked first aid kit (that you know how to use) spare glasses or contacts and over the counter medicines such as allergy relievers, cold medicine and medicines for stomach ailments. If you are not already certified in basic first aid, get certified. Becky and Joey both teach basic first aid and CPR classes. Bandaging basic wounds and dealing with minor injuries should not hinder your survival plan.

Supplies you should always have on hand in case of emergency should include: flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, steel wool, radio (battery or hand crank), hammer, nails, screwdriver, screws, boards, sheets of plywood, appropriate clothing (several changes of clothing), sleeping bags, clean socks, feminine sanitary products (if there is a girl of age in the house), food for pets, crowbar, chainsaw, axe, handsaw and some firewood.

Stockpiling fuel. Two words. Be careful. Only use DOT approved fuel containers, some plastics are destabilized by fossil fuels and can dissolve when storing gasoline. Ensure that your storage area is clean and free from fire hazards. The area should be sheltered from direct sunlight and kept relatively cool. How much do you store? Determine your vehicle’s fuel capacity (My SUV holds about 16 gallons) and store enough to cover the period you expect to be isolated, though in most cases you won’t be moving much.  If your plan involves travel, plan to have enough fuel to make it to your destination plus 15%. If you have other fuel burning items (like a propane grill or generator) be sure to store enough fuel for them as well.

Fortify your home. How much of this is done will depend on the actual severity of the disaster you are expecting and how much notification you have of it. Tornadoes are quick to come and go, often leaving little if any time to prepare. This is another reason why having your hidey-hole prepared is so important. In a hurricane, windows can be taped to help avoid breakage or they can be covered with sheets of plywood.  Tack down loose shingles and secure any gutters that may blow loose. Blizzards may require moving your stockpile of firewood into the house.

During

After you have stockpiled and fortified, your best bet, once a minor disaster hits is to stay at home unless you are evacuated.  If you are evacuated, there is a reason for it…LEAVE. If your plan involves travel, leave well before the expected arrival of the disaster. Once the disaster hits and you are at your planned location, wait it out. Don’t take off exploring as soon as the eye of the hurricane hits…the other wall is right behind it. Stay home until authorities clear roads for traveling. Often times martial law will be enforced during disasters. Your family needs you at home, not in jail.

If there is a break in the storm (be it blizzard or hurricane), take that time to check your fortifications and make any quick repairs that may be needed. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather and do not get caught in the shed unable to get back to the house. If there is time, check on your neighbors, especially elderly people living alone. HINT: You should check on them pre-disaster too, see if they need help with anything. It is the neighborly thing to do.

Keep yourself occupied. Play games. Get a collection of board games together that can be played by candlelight. It is not a bad idea to play them occasionally with the family without the disaster too. Decks of cards are good but make sure you know how to play several different games. Our family likes: Killer Bunnies, Clue, Risk, Life, Cranium, Pictionary, and Scattergories to name a few.

Read. We will have a list of fantastic books (soon, I promise) to help you prepare for the worst and deal with it when it happens. Read them. Again.

After

Minor disasters often knock out basic necessities such as electric, gas, water and television. They can also knock down trees, overturn lawn furniture and cause other landscaping nightmares. Now is the time to go out and inspect your home. Security is now your main concern. Take care of downed trees (here’s where that chainsaw comes in handy) and other immediate hazards. Check on your neighbors. Continue to keep children occupied by playing games. Older children can assist with repairs or with cooking and other necessary chores.

Where you live will determine how quickly your utilities get restored. When I lived across the street from a hospital my power was back within a day or so after a hurricane. Others in the area were without power for months. Be aware that phone service, cell phone service, power, water and television may take days if not weeks to return.  Localized disasters will have emergency management services responding fairly quickly to help with food and water distribution.  My advice is remain calm. Prepare accordingly. Help your neighbors. Improvise. Adapt.

Other Tips:

Keep it normal on a variety of levels.  Snow storms are cold; around here (North Carolina) we are not used to that kind of cold for extended periods. The same goes for most of the south. Raising your heat (if you have electric heat) to compensate for the cold puts a strain on the electrical grid. When enough houses raise that strain, the power eventually goes out.  Try to conserve the energy by planning to wear sweaters and extra socks. Use the fireplace and/or any other fuel burning heaters you may have. Obviously, keep your home warm enough so that no one gets ill or injured, but strive to keep the stress off the power systems.

Be on the watch. Joining (or forming) a neighborhood watch is an excellent idea. It helps you get to know your neighbors and lets the savvy would-be survivor know who he or she can go to for help and who will need help.  Talk to your neighborhood watch group about conserving energy during a crisis.

Stay on your routine, especially if you have children. Big storms are scary for kids. I remember when Richard really thought he was in danger of being blown away by an incoming hurricane. It was a category 2 I think, nothing too major. Anyway, keep them to their bedtimes and any other normal routines that can be safely maintained.

Prepare. Preparation is your best bet. Have enough supplies on hand (gas in the car, milk in the fridge, diapers in the closet) to cover the reasonable amount of time you believe the event will last. Over preparation can be as bad as not being prepared at all.  A year’s worth of diapers is not necessary for surviving a hurricane, for instance. Or, more reasonably, buying more milk than you can expect to keep fresh through a power outage.

Carry cash. Life may take VISA, but when the power is out, you need to be able to pay in cash. Obviously, we are talking about localized events with this one. Cash may not be as important in more widespread disasters. Keep an emergency fund in your house. How much you keep is up to you, but we recommend more than you think you will need.  Keep another (not much, enough for one or two gas fills) in your car. Get a piggy bank; every week drop a $10 or $20 in there. Eventually you will reach whatever goal you set for your fund.

I like things that are organized, so in an attempt to create organization for this blog before it gets out of hand, here are some of the things you can expect to find in the categories I expect we’ll be discussing.  Enjoy.

Preparation:  ”The best offense is a good defense” … is that how it goes?  Anyway, disasters don’t generally send invitations giving you a ‘get ready by’ date, so it is up to the potential survivor to plan how best to prepare his or her (pronouns will be used variably and at random) family.  The preparation section will talk about things to have on hand, how to prep for certain types of events, and skills to hone.

Basics: Mankind (and dogkind and cat kind and whatever other animals you may be trying to protect) have a few basic needs that must be met in order to survive which include: food, water, and shelter.  This section focuses keenly on these basic needs and how to meet them.

Advanced Survival: After your basic needs are met, we can focus on more advanced techniques. Minor emergencies shouldn’t require these skills.

Rebuilding: The situation has changed, more or less permanently. Now it’s time to get back to rebuilding life: gardening, sewing, brewing. Not an inclusive list, but some of the things that will be discussed in this section.

Who said there is no humor in disasters?  Not that the ice storm that hit in January of 2010 was a disaster…but, being in North Carolina, few people plan on snow or ice storms. I think the state owns a snow plow…maybe two. So you can imagine all the things we see that are funny while at the same time tragic.  Here’s a rundown of my FaceBook posts from the time.

Becky

Day 2 of our imprisonment in the ice…The sun mocks me. It is shining down upon the layers of ice, but there is no warmth, no sign yet of melting. If anything, the ice is worse than yesterday. Supplies are running low…rationing will only go so far. The crew is restless…scared. We’ve heard no word about a rescue……if things don’t improve we may be forced to take more drastic measures to survive.

Becky

Have been reading Swift’s “Modest Proposal”…will contemplate his advice.

Marianna

Made it out through an open airlock yesterday. Met others at the mall who also made it out, although I would not have ventured out given the choice. Will venture out again today, against my better judgment. Someone might need a new blouse or cosmetics to get them through this crisis.

Becky

Ensure that your exploration party is well armed. Society is falling apart at the seams. Though our own resources are mightily strained, we will respond to any call for assistance. The vehicles are all encased in ice, but Kali is sure footed and will help us traverse the ice.

Becky

Ventured to the vehicles in order to recover some data. Discovered a forgotten cache of Doritos. We may survive. Observer’s Note: Kali is not as sure-footed as we once thought. I witnessed her slip and fall on her rottweiler butt on the ice in the backyard.

Becky

I have spent several hours trying to free the vehicles and I think I may be able to get them working again. I have heard rumors or a trading post that is setting up some distance away. Some of the team and I are going to see what kind of supplies we can procure. We must be careful though, I’m going armed. Leaving some people at basecamp for protection; Kali is in charge.

Becky

We successfully made it to the trading post. There was a tense moment as an avalanche of ice was flung at our vehicle from the roof of an obviously hostile (or stupid) survivor. Only Morgan’s quick warning and my superior defensive driving skills saved us from certain death. At the trading post, people seemed to be in good spirits as it appears … that the ice is beginning to melt. There were no chips to be found…lots of cans of soup though, shows you the intelligence of the majority of the people in this town. Also, we witnessed a man with a huge cart filled with water. I wondered at this behavior as power seems to be stable…perhaps he is replenishing his supply in preparation for the next storm. I was also struck by the number of people attired in sleepwear. Were they forced to burn their clothing for warmth yesterday? I can only imagine the horrors those people endured. Thankfully, we were well prepared and were able to stock up on the one supply we were running low on: garbage bags.

James

can you upload the location of this trade post to my PiPboy2000? I got caps… 1

Becky

Let me see if my omni-tool can transmit the data through the mass relay (I got an upgrade, so we should be good)…yep, there you go. A word of warning: credits are preferred, but they have a cap exchanger there. 2

Pictures from the Ice Storm of 2010

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1 Reference to Fallout 3, Bioware, 2009

2 Reference to Mass Effect 2, Bioware, 2010

People will theorize all day on the potential end our world can come to.  Mega-Earthquakes. Pandemics. Meteor Strikes. Zombie Apocalypse. Nuclear War. Alien Invasion. But, in the end, the how doesn’t really matter.  What matters is what are you left with?  How can you now survive?

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” ~ Charles Darwin 1

This blog is not designed to focus on surviving any one type of end-of-the-world disaster, though certain posts may be more applicable to certain scenarios.  Instead, we hope to journal our family’s own road to preparedness and provide safety and survival information that cover a broad range of situations from total collapse to temporary states of emergency from natural disasters.

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* Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1962).

1 Charles Darwin, ThinkExist.com, 12 January 2010, [url].