The Survival Plan to Disaster-Proof Your Home

You already know the statistics of your plane crashing:  about 1 in a million! Nonetheless, once you stow your carry-on and take your seat, do you read the safety information card? Research into plane crashes has found that people who read the safety briefing cards are more likely to survive. These rituals that we consider an utter waste of time actually give our brains blueprints in the unlikely event that we need them.

Survival is not just a product of luck. We can do far more than we think to improve our odds of preventing and surviving even the most horrendous of catastrophes. It’s a matter of preparation — actually reading the in-flight safety card before takeoff — but also of mental conditioning.

Humans are programmed with basic survival skills. When frightened, we get a shot of performance-enhancing hormones, and the blood pumps to our limbs to help us outrun whatever enemy we face. But in modern times, we are hardly aware of such natural skills and most of us do little to understand or develop them.

Firefighters, police trainers — even stockbrokers — have told stories of seeing people freeze under extreme stress. I am one of those! Like deer in the headlights of a car, I have often chosen the wrong survival response in a crisis situation. Rather than choosing to fight in a crisis situation, I have been known to freeze in my tracks — especially when it comes to talking in front if a crowd!

Many flight attendants are now trained to scream at passengers in burning planes, “Get out! Get out! Go!” People respond well to leadership in a disaster, and then they can do remarkable things.

Are you ready to anticipate the strange behaviors that you will encounter at the worst of times?

But for many of us, preparation means little more than crossing our fingers and hoping to live. Regular people can learn from that knowledge, since, after all, we will be the first on the scene of any disaster.

During a crisis, you may not have the time or resources, nor will you be in the right frame of mind to consider everything you need to do.  Here lies the importance of making well-thought out survival plan and storing supplies before disaster hits and you are surrounded by chaos, fighting, freezing or fleeing.  Take precautions now, before it is too late. This includes mental adjustments, as well as physical.

Where to Begin

The first, easiest and most logical place to begin is to create a kit or some type of document case that can be grabbed up quickly if you need to evacuate.  This would contain such things as:[am4show guest_error=’noaccess’ ]

• Birth certificates
• Insurance documents
• Medical records
• Marriage license
• Divorce decree
• Government documents such as for Social Security or disability benefits
• Deeds
• Vehicle titles 

Pick an emergency contact and have every one in your family memorize the phone number.  In case of emergency, each is to call the contact for a full report.

The next step is to stock interm survival supplies in the trunk of your car.  Keep in mind this is short-term emergencies.  This might include:

• A case of bottled water
• Blankets
• Sheet of heavy plastic
• Flashlights and batteries
• Signal flares
• Package of glow sticks
• 100-hour survival candles
• Matches (waterproof, windproof)
• First aid kit
• Crackers
• Beef jerky
• Protein bars
• Powdered milk
• Dried fruits
• Milk
• In a cold climate, insulated coveralls and boots
• Emergency cash
• Toilet paper
• Whistle to signal for help

If you have these two kits compiled, then you have made a step that fewer than 5% of the population has ever thought to make.

A Little At A Time

For many families, just putting groceries on the table is challenge enough.  Begin with items such as condiments, canned items, packages of pasta, cans of tuna, etc.

To begin your storage pile, record everything that your family eats during one month. Keep a list of what you normally use in food such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, tea, coffee and don’t forget what you feed your pets.

When you think of storing grain, wheat is often considered but grains such as millet and barley are overlooked, even though they have a longer shelf life. Don’t forget popcorn!  This nourishing treat will last for up to 10 years! Bay leaves will deter insects from any grain invasion!

Create storage by adding shelving units in your utility room or plastic bins under the beds.

Start thinking of how you would survive with no power.  Run through a number of possible scenarios and begin to prepare.  If you have a camp stove, learn how to use it.

Grow Miracle Food

This miracle food costs very little, can be grown anywhere and is very simple.  It is sprouting!  You can sprout almost any type of seed for a tasty treat that contain vitamins (A,C,B) minerals, proteins and enzymes.  In times of crisis, pour water over the seeds and cover with a porous lid or cheesecloth.  When you have little fresh produce to enjoy, you can have consistently reliable sources of high nutrient vegetables in sprouts in just 3-4 days.

Flower-pot Fridge

Recently, I came across a method for creating a pot-in-pot refrigerator.  Otherwise known as the “zeer pot,” it is an invention that keeps food fresh without electricity.  It can play a timely role in that of an emergency. Claims have been made that it can keep food edible for up to 20 days!

Making a flower-pot fridge is simple:

• Choose 2 ceramic pots of different sizes (be sure there is no glaze)
• Plug the hole in the bottom of both pots.
• Fill a layer of sand on the bottom of the largest pot before setting in the smaller pot.
• Fill around the sides with more sand
• Add the water almost to the brim (sea water, rain or river water could be used)
• Cover with wet towel
• Allow inner pot to cool down
• Store food items inside (meat for up to two weeks)

This is an excellent way to reduce our carbon footprint, get off the grid and eliminate using electricity.  It may mean the difference between starvation and having enough food to fear yourself in an emergency survival situation.

I don’t pretend to provide a comprehensive study on preparation or survival. No one enjoys imagining the worst or how vulnerable we are.  It only takes a disaster movie to realize what it might be like without modern conveniences: heat, light, running water, washers, dryers and automatic garage door openers! We never really think of how much we have until the day it goes away.

It reminds me of a proverb from the Bible.

“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.” Proverbs 30:25

The ant diligently stores away food for the summer and when the cold hits, the ant is snug and fed.  The time to prepare is prior to any calamity that might come.

I hope to have heightened your level of awareness and move you toward developing plans, habits and action steps that could possibly safe your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Do this while you still can and you’ll never be sorry.

What  is your family emergency plan?

 

Grandma Barton is mother to Joe Barton (founder of Barton Publishing), grandmother to 6 grandkids and 28 step-grandkids, and over 3000 Home Cures That Work members. She is a two-time breast cancer survivor with the help of Dr. Saunders and natural remedies. Grandma loves finding cures within the home to treat all sorts of ailments. With tips she’s learned on the farm and along the way, Grandma Barton brings a time-tested and trusted voice when it comes to home remedies. She really is an inspiration to us all.