How to Prepare Yourself To Survive a Large Scale Disaster

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?