Survival Gear: Are You Prepared?

The California firestorms of last summer and autumn were sheer hell. Truly. I am so sorry you lost your home in the Tubbs fire.


Here I am, living in wildfire and earthquake territory and I have absolutely nothing prepared for anything, except that my meds are in their bottles.

A little off topic: At first I thought this thread was going to be about that Survival reality series, but with a twist of some sort for PC.

After reading what a lot of y'all went through with natural disasters and the need to be prepared for the next one, my heart broke.

I remember rarely being prepared for earthquakes in the past, and I certainly wasn't prepared for a blizzard where I used to live. Heavy rainfalls (not hurricanes) led to flooding in areas where used to live as well. I've lost quite a few things over the years due to flooding and earthquakes.

My daughter and her adoptive family lost their home from a wildfire. I worried so much about her, but she and her family wound up being okay.

Still, the past and potential future losses from natural disasters are enough to make anyone prepare for the future, so as to prevent such losses.

The real deal pales in comparison to any reality show we see on television.

Although I reside in a relatively disaster-free area, I will most likely have to move again (in the far future), where there will most likely be natural disasters. Either way, I want to be prepared. There are so many great tips you have all shared that I'm going to make me a list one day and go shopping for some survival gear, especially if I decide to travel.

Thank you all for the tips!

I'm so sorry for all that most of you have been through.

My power went out earlier today. I went about 5 hours without power. I had food in the house, so I wasn't starving. My all-electric apartment went without heat, so it was cold. I had enough warmth to sustain me, and I have blankets. The stairwells were pitch black - no light. The entrance and exits are accessible only through FOB, all electric, so no going in or out. I realized that I didn't pack my flashlight or extra batteries. I also realized that I didn't purchase a can opener to go with my can goods - silly me! Even the basics I lacked for my own survival gear within the home. My cell was almost dead, but I charged it with the laptop's battery by plugging the USB into my computer. It helped a little, but toward the end, my battery nearly died. I realized now that I need a backup battery for my cell, just in case. I also realized that if I were trapped and needed to escape from my apartment, I'm missing rappelling rope (and a refresher course on how to repel, since we learned in the Marines how to do that).

And this was just a power outage for 5 hours! Survival gear is important for even the minor issues such as power outages. Eek! I respect this thread now more than ever. Hee hee.

Just a warning that the MRF 60-in-1 tool card 'multitool' that was mentioned previously has quite sharp edges, so do please be careful when holding this 440C high carbon hardened stainless steel card tool. Preferably use gloves when handling. Inexpensive for its capability, it's a very handy, neat piece of survival gear that also comes in anodized black. The tool card be added to which increases it super use - can even be used as an axe. The card tool comes in a stitched small leather wallet and is thin enough to be inserted into your own.

I moved away from Tornado Alley, and made the decision to not move to the hurricane-prone coasts. So I guess my disaster "preparedness" is actually disaster avoidance.

I am not prepared now. However I am familiar with various firms that sell prepackaged long lasting food that only need to be hydrated since they are freeze dried. Plus these same companies sell water purifiers, cooking equipment and other materials for surviving long lasting diseasters. Hopefully these products won't be needed. Conversely its good to know there are businesses that help people who need these products.

@Seafarer

I moved away from disaster zones, too. I deal with power outages, but that's the extent of it (so far). Hee hee.

Glad you are safe from disasters now.

@mugwort2

I wonder if they sell MREs to the general public? Hmm... Or, space food that the astronauts eat. Hmm...

You too!