Surviving during a disaster event takes a lot of preparation and determination, even more so if it is a SHTF event. You need to be ready if you are going to survive. But, how do you achieve “ready”? If you are new to prepping, it might seem a daunting task to get prepared to survive. Here are 35 survival tips to keep in mind that will help you to be ready for anything that comes your way.
Survival Tip #1: Get out of debt.
If there is an economic crisis, being in debt is one of the worst positions you can be in. Instead of using your financial resources to take care of your family, you’ll be worried about holding on to your assets.
The only way to ensure that no one will be knocking on your door, wanting to take everything you own because you defaulted on your debt is to eliminate your debt.
Create a plan to get out of debt and work your plan until you’re free. If you need help, here is a link to help you get out of debt fast.
Survival Tip #2: Create an emergency fund.
It’s wise to have at least six months of your income in savings once you’ve become debt free. Having a cash reserve is the smartest first step to achieving financial independence and security. This money can be used to handle expenses should there be an economic collapse, illness, injury, or job loss.
The fastest and easiest way to build your cash reserves is to continue the money saving and budgeting you used to get out of debt until you have enough where you could live your current lifestyle for six full months, even if you didn’t earn another penny in income.
Here is a worksheet to help you budget out your expenses and find the room to save.
Survival Tip #3: Make sure you have a 72 Hour Emergency Kit.
This is the ultimate survival tip for all new preppers. In an emergency, you will have to be able to take care of yourself. The bare minimum for that is to have what is called a 72 hour emergency kit. It contains the food, water, and other supplies you will need for at least 72 hours.
In an emergency that requires evacuation, you need to have a bug out bag emergency kit ready that you can grab and go. This kit must also have food, water, and basic necessities for everyone in your family for three days.
Here are a couple of links to get you started putting together your own kit.
Survival Tip #4: Storing water is a top priority.
You can only survive for three days without water. Any emergency preparation needs to include water storage. The more you store the better. Begin storing water now and look into options like rain barrels that help you store water for free.
If you think that storing water is no big deal, just take a look at the deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria wiped out their infrastructure. They might have access to water, but it is not clean water, and it is killing people to drink it.
How to Store Water for Drinking and Cooking
Hydration for the Apocalypse
Survival Tip #5: Learn to grow your own food.
When you can’t run down to the corner store to buy food, knowing how to grow your own food will be a huge asset. Start now by growing your own garden and learning how to preserve your harvest.
Even if you have more than a year’s worth of food storage, your disaster situation can outlast your pantry. Having the ability to grow more is essential should we experience a SHTF event.
This is much more a lifestyle change than merely a survival tip, but it is hugely important should we go through a long-term SHTF event.
The Joys and Woes of Gardening is my experience in growing food for the first time.
Survival Tip #6: Keep important documents together.
In an emergency, you’ll need to have copies of important documents such as your driver’s license, passport, marriage license, home deed, automobile titles, and insurance policies. Keep copies of them with your emergency kit – both paper copies and electronic copies on a flash drive.
Ready.gov – financial preparedness
Critical documents to safeguard
Survival Tip #7: Don’t try to do everything all at once.
A rookie mistake made by a lot of new preppers is trying to do everything at once, getting overwhelmed, and giving up.
Once you have decided that preparing is your only option to survive any potential disasters, you must take steady action to get prepared. If you give up, survival during SHTF will not be an option.
Don’t quit! Instead, choose a few things to work on each month. When those are complete, move on to your next step. Baby steps will ensure you are ready and able to survive.
Survival Tip #8: Learn first aid skills.
This survival tip can mean the difference between life and death. It’s important to have a first aid kit – in fact that’s one of the first preps that beginners should concentrate on. If you or your loved one are hurt during an emergency, you must be able to care for that injury before anything else.
Live first, then survive!
Invest in a first aid kit that can cover most injuries you could potentially face, including cuts, burns, broken bones, and other traumatic injuries. Be sure that it also contains medications such as pain relievers, antihistamines, burn cream, etc.
Of course, if you don’t know how to use the supplies, they don’t do much good. Take classes to learn basic first aid so you’re ready in an emergency.
Survival Tip #9: Build a survival library.
The more resources and information that you have the better. There are many valuable videos, eBooks, and guides that can help you to learn more about what you need to do to prepare your family for any disaster.
Decide which areas that you want to learn and keep the knowledge in your head. Then, for other less important subjects, build reference libraries that you can refer to when needed.
Remember, the knowledge and skills you have are the only preps guaranteed to you during an emergency. Make the investment to learn what you can before you rely on your library.
Survival Tip #10: Prepare based on your area.
There are some survival events everyone needs to prepare for such as an economic collapse or a fire. But you should also think about natural disasters that are most likely to happen in your area such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or wildfires.
If you live in an urban area you should be prepared for civil unrest and violence. If you live near a chemical plant you should be prepared for a chemical accident. Knowing your area helps you to target your survival efforts.
Peter Drucker said, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Why would you prepare for a hurricane if you live a thousand miles from the ocean? Concentrate on what you need specifically, in both disasters and skills to learn.
Pay attention to this survival tip to stay focused on making sure you are prepared for what you will encounter in your own area. Leave the other crap for someone else.
Survival Tip #11: Develop an evacuation strategy.
Plan ahead for situations that require evacuations. You never know when you will have to leave in a moment’s notice. If you cannot prepare and plan for evacuation when the need arises, you had better have a plan in place already.
Determine several routes and possible destinations such as the homes of family members or friends. You should also map out appropriate hotels or motels along the way. Keep a paper map with these routes and locations highlighted.
Also, plan for a family communication and reunification plan should the need for evacuation occur when your family is not together. It is important to know where to meet, how to communicate, and who is responsible for what during an emergency.
Survival Tip #12: Keep at least a half tank of gas at all times.
If you’re one who has a tendency to let the gas gauge hit E before you fill up again, change your habits. Instead, fill up your tank whenever you get to a half tank.
Always having at least a half tank of gas will help you to get further during an emergency when you can’t stop for fuel. You won’t get far on an empty gas tank during an emergency where the only way to survive is to evacuate immediately.
Survival Tip #13: Have regular disaster drills at home.
Do you know why the military is always ready to respond in any given situation? It’s because they train constantly for any possible situation they might encounter.
But, training isn’t just for the military. It’s important that everyone knows what to do when there’s an emergency and the only way to ensure that is to train. You’ll want to have fire drills, earthquake drills, tornado drills, evacuation drills, and any other type of survival need you have in your area.
The more you practice, the calmer you’ll be when there’s a real emergency. This will help everyone to stay safe. Make plans for how you’ll leave your home or where you’ll go in specific emergencies. Don’t forget to plan a common meeting place.
Survival Tip #14: Build your food storage a little at a time.
You don’t have to have a two year supply of food purchased in your first month of prepping. Instead, buy a little at a time. Most people can add a few items each time they go to the grocery store to add to their storage.
Concentrate first on making sure that you have enough of a staple food that will prevent starvation for every member of your family. For most of us, that means storing grains like wheat or rice.
Then, slowly add to your staple of food with items that add in more nutrients (think fat, protein, vitamins, etc.). Store for a month, then 3 months, then 6 months, etc.
Survival Tip #15: Get to know your neighbors.
During a disaster, it really helps to know the people who live around you. Those relationships will help others to be more inclined to give you assistance if you need it. In turn, you can give aid where you’re needed for neighbors who are worse off than you.
Having a sense of community during a disaster can build synergy. You’ll get more done together than you will by completely isolating yourself. Knowing your neighbors will help you to know who to trust and who isn’t reliable.
The information and relationships can make the difference between life and death in an emergency.
Survival Tip #16: Save money by purchasing used supplies.
There are some supplies you can find at thrift stores, garage sales, and even on online flea markets. For example, camp stoves, mess kits, and tools are often inexpensive in these places. Find time to browse these alternative marketplaces for items that will be a priority in a disaster situation.