I don’t think I’m yet convinced that in the UK we need to worry too much about being prepared for disasters. However, I found these articles interesting and worthy of ‘bookmarking’ to consider later.

100 Items to Disappear First

“From a Sarajevo War Survivor”

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.

Read more: The Power Hour

50 Survival Items You Forgot To Buy

1. Acoustic Instruments – For entertainment and morale.
2. Aluminum Foil – Great for all sorts of things like cooking food, boiling water, enhancing antennas, keeping sunlight out, etc.
3. Axes – How else will you chop firewood?
4. Baby Wipes – Really easy way to keep clean.
5. Baseballs, basketballs, footballs, etc. – Playing ball is a great way to stave off boredom and keep morale up during hard times.
Credit Card Knife
6. Bicycle Gear – If gasoline is in short supply, you might need your bike to get around. That means you’ll need a bike pump, extra tubes, etc.
7. Book lights – It’s difficult to read by candlelight and you don’t want to waste your flashlight’s batteries. Book lights are cheap and last a long time.
8. Books – You might be surprised how much free time you have after the SHTF. Now’s your chance to read those books you always meant to read (like Atlas Shrugged).
9. Bug Spray – There is usually a major lack of proper sanitation after a disaster, especially if there isn’t running water. That means there will be more roaches and other critters. There might also be a lot more mosquitoes.
10. Bullion Cubes – These make boring meals much more delicious.

Read more: Urban Survival Site

A view on Prepping from April 2014

While channel surfing a little while back, I stumbled across the National Geographic channel’s show Doomsday Preppers which follows people who have essentially made a lifestyle of preparing for what they believe is going to be a catastrophic disaster that will lead to the end of civilization as we know it.

Almost all of the people profiled appear to be gun-and-ammo-loving Americans, who stockpile decades worth of food and paper products and believe having gazillions of gallons of gas will be their new world’s currency — when they come out of hunkering in their bunkers.

I can’t claim to have seen every episode, but I saw enough to find it ironic how often its subjects are preparing for something like a collapse in the banking system or faith in paper currency, or for a dirty bomb, but no one ever seems to be preparing for global warming in this extremely fretful segment of society.

It’s an odd and unfortunate paradox that the people who seem most concerned about future threats to our way of life seem to disregard one of the most dangerous and obvious ones we face at this very moment, today.

A United Nations (UN) report has put the world on notice that climate change will force millions of people to relocate triggering famine, inciting conflict and losing trillions of dollars worth of economic gains. The irreversible consequences of climate change will lead to economic mass migration. Then, there is a risk of violence which will increase from protests triggered by international or civil conflicts.

While I don’t think it’s a good thing to scare people unduly, a healthy respect for something on this scale is warranted. It’s a good idea to get an emergency preparedness kit, decide on a plan, and have awareness of what to do in the event of a disaster. It’s doubtful you will need an underground bunker with a year’s supply of canned food; it is, however, common sense to have a weather radio, flash light, and some non-perishable food items and all your necessary medications on hand in case the power is knocked out by a storm for example.

Along with your emergency plans, find the time to discuss with your family where you would go if you needed to take shelter in your home or if you needed to leave town for an impending hurricane or earthquake. Are you are unsure of what disasters are likely in your area or where you should go during an earthquake or tornado? Do sensible research. There are a number of resources online to get informed about disaster preparedness.

CDC’s preparedness website and FEMA’s emergency strategies and solutions are excellent resources for reliable and credible information on how to look after yourself and your family. Share your research with your neighbors and other members of your community. Knowledge is powerful and life-saving, and should not be wasted in the selfish pursuit of only looking after number one.

I find the Doomsday Preppers resembling escapists more than survivalists. Focusing on how to abandon modern life with the motto of the SHTF scenario — when the “Shit Finally Does Hit the Fan,” alarming and void of any caring for mankind, outside their own families. We’re in this world together, and our responsibility to preserve this planet goes well beyond any single individual’s bunker’s walls.

Source: Huffington Post