The image that people get in their minds when they think of survivalists is the same one that the media pushes...some guy sitting on a pile of MRE's and a cache of weapons waiting for the end of the world.
They don't even remotely talk about people who have some food and water stored up in their basement in the event of a tornado.
Our country (the United States, that is) has all kinds of disaster relief agencies, as well as individuals willing to help in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The most notorious of these is FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, we must all be aware of what truly goes on here. The government agencies first priority is not helping the individual victim of a disaster. Their #1 priority will be continuity of government. And often, they hand down the orders that prevent other relief agencies and individual volunteers from entering the area and lending a hand until they are certain that the government is in tact and working.
So, you are on your own. Or, perhaps, you and your neighbors are on your own. Thus, you are responsible for your own survival or rescue until FEMA has secured the government.
So....how does one take care of one's self?
#1
Have a plan. What are your more-than-likely emergencies? Around here, we don't get hurricanes...but we get plenty of tornadoes and ice storms. So, 99 times out of 100, we are going to be sheltering in place.
However, your more-than-likely emergency might be a hurricane. Or flooding. Or perhaps earthquakes and wild fires. Your plan may have to including "bugging out". Personally, I would suggest preparing for both.
#2
List what you will need. The important things you will need are water, food, shelter, protection, supplies, and communications. One of the things I always suggest is to get a Boy Scout manual and study the camping supplies list. No, you don't have to purchase everything on the list...just have them, or something similar. Your plan, like ours, may be sheltering in place (staying at home)...however, having a bug-out bag (also known as a "G.O.O.D.", Get Out Of Dodge, bag).
They don't even remotely talk about people who have some food and water stored up in their basement in the event of a tornado.
Our country (the United States, that is) has all kinds of disaster relief agencies, as well as individuals willing to help in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. The most notorious of these is FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, we must all be aware of what truly goes on here. The government agencies first priority is not helping the individual victim of a disaster. Their #1 priority will be continuity of government. And often, they hand down the orders that prevent other relief agencies and individual volunteers from entering the area and lending a hand until they are certain that the government is in tact and working.
So, you are on your own. Or, perhaps, you and your neighbors are on your own. Thus, you are responsible for your own survival or rescue until FEMA has secured the government.
So....how does one take care of one's self?
#1
Have a plan. What are your more-than-likely emergencies? Around here, we don't get hurricanes...but we get plenty of tornadoes and ice storms. So, 99 times out of 100, we are going to be sheltering in place.
However, your more-than-likely emergency might be a hurricane. Or flooding. Or perhaps earthquakes and wild fires. Your plan may have to including "bugging out". Personally, I would suggest preparing for both.
#2
List what you will need. The important things you will need are water, food, shelter, protection, supplies, and communications. One of the things I always suggest is to get a Boy Scout manual and study the camping supplies list. No, you don't have to purchase everything on the list...just have them, or something similar. Your plan, like ours, may be sheltering in place (staying at home)...however, having a bug-out bag (also known as a "G.O.O.D.", Get Out Of Dodge, bag).
And then, of course, be ready! Check your supplies minimally twice a year....make sure everything is working and the food isn't expired. If there is a hurricane coming, be ready to leave before they give the evacuation signal. Have your bug-out bags ready in the event of an earthquake, fire, or flood and your house becomes dangerous to remain in.
#3 WATER
You will need to be able to locate, carry, and purify your water. This can be as simple as having a couple of cases of bottled water that you purchased at your grocery store. It can also be as complicated as having a Berkey water filter, touted as being able to filter the nasiest of stagnant pond water. Of course, for Bug-Out bags or vehicle, you will need to scale these down a bit. (There are smaller versions of water filters for camping).
#4 Food: No, you do not need to get MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat, or Meals Rejected by Ethiopians). You can have canned food that you are use to eating, like spaghetti-o's or Cambel's soup (or the organic equivilant). There are dehydrated meals in a cup that you add boiling water to and let it sit for 3-5 minutes...usually Ramen-style noodles or soups. There is also back-packing food.
And as you are getting your food, you have to think of how you are going to prepare it and eat it. Have plenty of water on hand for those items that need water. You can get camping equipment as a means to cook your food if necessary.
#5. Shelter.
This can be your own home, your vehicle, camping supplies, or a hotel in some far off place (and the money and means to get to that hotel room). Include light and heat (or cooling) as a part of this. In the event of an ice storm which takes out your power, you will be better off staying at home with a wood-burning fireplace and kerosene lantern than braving the icy streets to search for a hotel room that still has power.
#6 Protection
I know, my more liberal of friends are probably groaning right now. I'm not asking everyone to run out and buy and AK-47. However, you need some form of reliable protection. Trust me...the predators don't care about the economy or any liberal psychology of a perfect world. Predators are predators, and they take advantage of situations where their prey are helpless and vulnerable. How many rapes and robberies went on in the GOVERNMENT APPROVED SHELTER during and after hurricane Katrina? For heaven's sake...have at least some mace on hand. Take a self-protection course. You may not be just protecting yourself...you could be protecting someone helpless.
#7 Supplies
The list of supplies could be long. I suggest you look at the boy scout camping supply lists, as well as Bug-Out or G.O.O.D lists written by survivalists. Adjust the lists to your needs, and get the most important things first. Pay attention to the needs of small children (diapers, bottles), women (sanitary needs), and those with medical conditions (battery-run nebulizers, medications, etc.) Don't take "go to the hospital" from your doctor as an answer to your medical needs in times of an emergency....the hospital may be overwhelmed....or perhaps it won't even be there.
#8 communications
This can be as simple as a battery powered radio to listen to, or it can be a solar-powered AM/FM/Weather/Television with crank power backup, and military-grade walkie-talkies for each member of the family. The truth is, during a disaster, you will want a way to get information. Not to mention that often times, listening to the radio makes great therapy during a time of disaster....you know you aren't com
pletely alone.
#3 WATER
You will need to be able to locate, carry, and purify your water. This can be as simple as having a couple of cases of bottled water that you purchased at your grocery store. It can also be as complicated as having a Berkey water filter, touted as being able to filter the nasiest of stagnant pond water. Of course, for Bug-Out bags or vehicle, you will need to scale these down a bit. (There are smaller versions of water filters for camping).
#4 Food: No, you do not need to get MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat, or Meals Rejected by Ethiopians). You can have canned food that you are use to eating, like spaghetti-o's or Cambel's soup (or the organic equivilant). There are dehydrated meals in a cup that you add boiling water to and let it sit for 3-5 minutes...usually Ramen-style noodles or soups. There is also back-packing food.
And as you are getting your food, you have to think of how you are going to prepare it and eat it. Have plenty of water on hand for those items that need water. You can get camping equipment as a means to cook your food if necessary.
#5. Shelter.
This can be your own home, your vehicle, camping supplies, or a hotel in some far off place (and the money and means to get to that hotel room). Include light and heat (or cooling) as a part of this. In the event of an ice storm which takes out your power, you will be better off staying at home with a wood-burning fireplace and kerosene lantern than braving the icy streets to search for a hotel room that still has power.
#6 Protection
I know, my more liberal of friends are probably groaning right now. I'm not asking everyone to run out and buy and AK-47. However, you need some form of reliable protection. Trust me...the predators don't care about the economy or any liberal psychology of a perfect world. Predators are predators, and they take advantage of situations where their prey are helpless and vulnerable. How many rapes and robberies went on in the GOVERNMENT APPROVED SHELTER during and after hurricane Katrina? For heaven's sake...have at least some mace on hand. Take a self-protection course. You may not be just protecting yourself...you could be protecting someone helpless.
#7 Supplies
The list of supplies could be long. I suggest you look at the boy scout camping supply lists, as well as Bug-Out or G.O.O.D lists written by survivalists. Adjust the lists to your needs, and get the most important things first. Pay attention to the needs of small children (diapers, bottles), women (sanitary needs), and those with medical conditions (battery-run nebulizers, medications, etc.) Don't take "go to the hospital" from your doctor as an answer to your medical needs in times of an emergency....the hospital may be overwhelmed....or perhaps it won't even be there.
#8 communications
This can be as simple as a battery powered radio to listen to, or it can be a solar-powered AM/FM/Weather/Television with crank power backup, and military-grade walkie-talkies for each member of the family. The truth is, during a disaster, you will want a way to get information. Not to mention that often times, listening to the radio makes great therapy during a time of disaster....you know you aren't com
pletely alone. 
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