How to Prepare Yourself To Survive a Large Scale Disaster

2017-10-11T16:12:26-04:00

Nuclear war, natural disasters, mass riots and martial law - any of these things could completely destroy our way of life; scarier still is that they could potentially strike at any time.

Most Americans scoff at the mere thought of their lifestyle changing so dramatically, and would likely call anyone a lunatic for proposing such an “unthinkable” scenario. However, most people do not know how fragile our economy and our power grid really are. Most Americans are tragically unprepared.

For the moment, let us focus on one of the more unpredictable natural events: solar flares.

The solar cycle lasts approximately 11 years. During each cycle the sun can exhibit wild changes in its magnetic fields and release incredible amounts of energy. Solar flares can release more energy than one billion megatons of TNT, and this energy moves incredibly fast. From the time a solar flare leaves the sun, it takes less than eight minutes to reach Earth. If a solar flare actually hit the planet, it would most certainly knock out all electronics devices, destroying them in the process.

This is a very real possibility; in fact the American government has an emergency warning system in place for such an event, which would hopefully allow power plants enough time to shut down all critical systems prior to the event, mitigating the effects such energy would unleash. However, were this early warning system to fail, the destruction could set the United States, and the planet, back decades. There would be no clean, running water, cell phone service, or internet. Vehicles would no longer run, air conditioning would stop functioning, and hospitals would lose all power. Looting and riots would likely ensue quickly. Food and water would be looted first, while others would go after jewelry stores and banks. After a few days, people could become violent in their pursuit of food for themselves and their families. This is a nightmare situation that most people never even imagine. More Americans should not only become aware of this real possibility, but prepared for it to happen.

Let's take a look at some basic survival requirements.

A 154 lbs. male requires, at minimum, 32 ounces of water a day. A gallon is 128 ounces, so a single gallon of water should last a person four days. A gallon is not a lot of water when you are thirsty, however a single gallon does weigh quite a lot and takes up a considerable amount of space. Remember, this is the bare minimum for one person. If you have a family, even a small one, these gallons can quickly add up.

A person can go without food for approximately three weeks, theoretically. However, the initial stages of starvation can lead to violent outbursts. After the first three or four days, hunger pains subside, inevitably leading to lethargy. A lack of electrolytes can cause violent cramping making a person uncomfortable and possibly even physically unable to move. According to numerous medical advisors, it is not recommended that women consume any less than 1,200 calories a day and for men to consume no less than 1,500 calories a day without medical supervision.

Environmental temperatures below 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit will eventually cause someone's body temperature to drop low enough that he/she risks succumbing to hypothermia. To combat this, a person will need to stay more active, which will require more water and food – a limited resource under these circumstances. A good idea is to keep insulated clothing on hand or have a heating source such as a fire. However a fire can be dangerous as fire or smoke often will attract the attention of others.

Depending on the type and magnitude of the disaster, relief efforts may come in as little as a few hours or as long as several months In Hawaii, for example, a major disaster such as a tsunami or earthquake would leave the people stranded. In preparation, the state of Hawaii has made it clear that disaster relief efforts may take as long as two weeks to arrive to the shoreline. For those living inland, relief efforts can take as long as two months, assuming that only Hawaii is affected and Federal aid and resources are not being directed to the western American shoreline This scenario is only based on an island. A cross-continental disaster could result in relief efforts lasting years.

Families should plan to have a safe place to take shelter, enough water and food rations to survive the first initial weeks, plans to sustain life well past this, knowledge of how to obtain food and clean water, and general methods of protection. Often there is safety in numbers; however, traveling with only those you trust is equally important. Larger groups can put a strain on food and water rations. Many may be forced to travel in smaller groups with limited protection in order to ensure they have enough food and water to survive.

Some important questions to ask yourself are:
Do you have an emergency plan and does your family understand this plan?
Do you have enough food and water to last a month?
Do you have blankets and warm clothing?
Do you have batteries for flashlights?
Do you have the materials to gather firewood and start a fire?
Do you have a radio? Is it protected from an EMP or Solar Flare?
Do you have the means to protect you and your family?
Do you have the resources and knowledge to make ammunition?
Do you have cash on hand in the event banks and ATMs are closed?
Do you have hygiene materials?
Do you have first-aid ointments and antibiotics?
Do you have enough medication for those who need it?
Do you have enough gasoline to travel?

Most of us do not think about the possibility of a dramatic disaster affecting our way of life, let alone how to prepare for one. In my experience, those who have considered the possibility believe that it would be short-lived, or that the government would keep them safe. However, this is just not the case, as the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina have proven. The natural disaster showed just how unprepared communities were; many people died of starvation and dehydration, even in disaster centers. Even now, the western-most states of the United States are threatened by the very real potential of a major earthquake capable of releasing enough energy to destroy most infrastructure and generating hundred plus foot tsunamis. It’s time for everyone to start preparing.

Scientists have outlined numerous ways by which a major disaster could destroy our way of life. It’s not a question of if, but when. Are you prepared?

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Oct 11 at 2017 5:08 PM

2017-10-11T17:08:00-04:00

I consider having food, water, emergency supplies and a basic plan common sense for everyone. Living in various places, I have seen how emergencies and natural disasters can occur in minutes or less and there is no longer any time to prepare once it starts.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2017 4:11 PM

2017-10-12T16:11:50-04:00

I was actually talking to someone about this recently. I think it's a good idea to have a stock of food and water to last you and your family a month or so at least. The longer the better. The food can be rice and beans and corn meal and whatnot. It doesn't have to be fine cuisine. The next thing you need in your arsenal of knowledge is how to make unclean water clean. It's not that difficult but it takes a little knowhow. Next is sanitation. Having a bathroom plan can be the difference between life and death. Literally. Guns and ammo are vital for hunting/protection. Then, I'd put the stuff you listed (flashlights, radios, etc.)

I'm assuming you have a house and there should be no immediate need to leave it. Also, and this is important, what you do after the first few weeks will greatly depend on what our society does. If it comes together to rebuild and help one another, great. If it collapses and people freak out and start robbing and killing for food and water then you may have to adjust. Our society is basically clueless on how to survive without the modern conveniences we currently enjoy so how fast we adapt to our new environment will play a key role in the decision making process.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 14 at 2017 9:18 PM

2017-10-14T21:18:02-04:00

As a civilian hospital Emergency Manager, let me make a few points. The average plastic water bottle is good for 2-3 years of shelf life. There are companies that make water that is good for 50 year shelf life, Is it cheap no, but you buy it once and forget about it. First Aid, a tube of triple antibiotic ointment is good for about 2 years give or take.

HEPA filters: here is the dirty little secret no one will tell you. The average filter, unopened will last for decades. But if you are wearing an N-95 with those cheap rubber bands, shelf life is 5 years if you are lucky as the rubber will dry rot by then.

Better to go with a respirator, and have removable filters.

NBC people who stock pile charcoal filters, five years and they break down.
Food, as others have pointed out, you don't need the super expensive stuff. I tell patients and staff, build it over time. When go shopping buy an extra can or dried good and set it aside. Do that every time you go shopping you will have a good cache of supplies. Remember to rotate your stock to get the most life out of it.
Batteries, typical lead batteries are good for a 2-3 years. Duracell, and I think Rayovac have 10 year shelf life batteries, spend the money and get a good one.
Hand cranked lights and radios are the bomb. We have been replacing all of our flashlights with hand cranked. Two reasons, less hazmat waste, and they double for charging cell phones and other devices.

Maps, have maps avail be to how you are going to get somewhere.

The average American uses as much as 20 gallons of water per day. Not all of it has to be potable.
If the power goes out work with your neighbors to use one fridge freezer at a time. They will stay cooler longer if they at not opened.

Pandemics: Learn to wear an N-95 properly or doesn't do any good. Limit your exposure. If you are sick, STAY HOME! Keep both you and your pets up to date on shots.

Speaking of Pets, get a crate that can handle your pet, have food water and medications for them.
FYI as part of the Post Katrina act, shelters that get reimbursed with federal funds cannot turn away household pets (there are some rules to this). One of the exceptions, only one reptile is authorized to go into a federally supported shelter, and that is pet turtles. Snakes, gators, boa's, lizards, and fish are prohibited.
Vehicles, while everyone is ready to go ot the hills, keep in mind fuel will be scare. Having an Armored five ton sounds great, until you have to fill the tanks.

Cash, have $200-500 in $1's, $5's, and $10. Wont anyone have access to money, and those that do can buy, but if they can't make change you will end up giving it away.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2017 4:56 PM

2017-10-25T16:56:03-04:00

I got a bugout/survival bag in it contains 2 hydration systems with 4 1.5 liter water, survival knife, survival handbook, 1 multi tool, 2 pocket knives, 7 MRE, r1 rain jacket, 1 hygiene kit, 1 pair of shower shoes, 1 weeks worth of canned food, 1 first aid kit, 2 bundles of 550 chord, 1 compass, 1 map of the island of Oahu, 1 ranger Handbook, 4 walkie talkie, 2 flashlights, a weeks worth of undershirts and underwear, 1 Sig Sauer p229 with 5 mags of 40 cal and water purification tablets as well as last but not least 1 giant tub of peanut butter.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Dec 4 at 2017 6:15 PM

2017-12-04T18:15:49-05:00

Common weather events; Hurricane, Blizzard, Heat Wave, Seasonal Snow Melt and heavy Rains can tax many communities. FEMA and many state agencies recommend a minimum supply of 3 days food & water for self sustainment during some events. Most individuals and families are ill prepared for even common emergencies and systems become taxed early on into events.

As for preparations, one can prepare for most likely event but not all. Fiscally it is not practical. Water and canned, not frozen, foods are probably the requirements most people over look for nourishment. As for first aid kits, bandages and dressings can degrade with age. The greater issue is the short sighted nature of the general population and the reliance of some major Metro regions (NOLA) on Federal Disaster Assistance.

Risk assessment and management is a personal and group activity, how one manages his/her decisions depends upon most common threats, and how tied into the Electricity Depended life style most enjoy we all enjoy. And yes even stored fuels can age badly depending upon storage conditions

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jan 6 at 2018 10:41 PM

2018-01-06T22:41:39-05:00

Sorry, your going to get all that junk out of there

Response by SSgt Robert Prest made Jun 4 at 2018 11:59 PM

2018-06-04T23:59:10-04:00

17 of 20 years NBC MOS.
Can you say DEFAULT? In this case to REVERT.
The below is for you too young to remember. Sorry a little long. Could not find a free you tube site.

It is a typical evening in a typical suburban community. At the residence of physician Bill Stockton, he enjoys a birthday party being thrown for him by his wife Grace and their son Paul. Also at the party are Jerry Harlowe, Bill's brother-in-law; Frank Henderson and Marty Weiss, Bill and Jerry's former roommates; and the wives and children of Jerry, Frank, and Marty. Bill is well known and liked by this gathering; he attended the State University with Marty, Frank, and Jerry. Moreover, Bill has repeatedly administered to the health and well-being of each one of said guests and/or delivered their children. Everyone is especially friendly and jovial, even when mention is made of Bill's late-night work on a fallout shelter which he has built in his basement. Suddenly, a Civil Defense (CONELRAD) announcement overheard by young Paul is made that unidentified objects have been detected heading for the United States. In these times, everybody knows what that means: nuclear attack.
As panic ensues, the doctor locks himself and his family into his shelter. The same gathering of friends becomes hysterical and now wants to occupy the shelter. All of the previous cordiality is now replaced with soaring desperation; pent-up hostility, searing racism, nativism, and other suppressed emotions boil to the surface. Stockton offers his basement to the guests, but the shelter itself has sufficient air, provisions, and space for only three people (the Stocktons themselves) and they go in. The once-friendly neighbors do not accept this; they break down the shelter door with an improvised battering ram rendering the shelter useless. Just then, a final Civil Defense broadcast announces that the objects have been identified as harmless satellites and that no danger is present. The neighbors apologize for their behavior; yet Stockton wonders if they have destroyed each other without a bomb.

No moral, no message, no prophetic tract, just a simple statement of fact:

For civilization to survive, the human race has to remain civilized.
Tonight's very small exercise in logic from the Twilight Zone."

Unless you Tribalize, you will not survive for very long. The Zombies left will be shooting back.

Thunderdome :(

Sorry to be a downer.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jun 7 at 2018 6:46 PM

2018-06-07T18:46:10-04:00

A person can't prepare for everything. My sister once asked me about money in disaster or riot. She said what about gold? I told her you can eat gold, silver or any money. I said to invest in dry goods, water purification and bullets and lead. Lead is getting scarce which I guesss gold and silver would make good projectiles. I told her if it really got bad, you could not trade a gold coin for a can of beans. Just imagine the electrical grid went dead and stayed dead for more than 3 weeks, no matter the cause. 90% of urban american would be starving in 5 days. There would mayhem in the cities and towns. Onnce the shelves were completely of everything edible, the gangs would take over and rob and kill people for food and guns. Eventually they would spread out to the rural areas and kill the people and livestock. This is just one scenerio. My point is to have on hand 3 to 4 weeks of can goods, a water supply, a shotgun, a .22 LR bolt and a long gun and plenty of bullets. You can buy .22 Short or .22 with no powder. These will kill small game and are wispher quiet. Shot gun, home defense and a long gun capable of 200 meter 2" group. Don't waste money on an alarm, get a dog, that is protective in nature which covers a large number of breeds. This was how I prepared for Y2K which came and went without losing the electrical grid which was one of the possible effect of computers going down. Today I worry about EMP taking out the electricity. In my estimate it would take almost a month to get it up. I live out in the woods, with my wife and my dogs. Country boys can survive.