Grid Down- How To Survive And Protect Your Family In A Powerless World

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Table of Contents

Grid Down- How To Survive And Protect Your Family In A Powerless World

Introduction To A World Without Power

Reasons Why A Large Scale Power Outage May Be More Likely Than You Think

How To Build An Emergency Power Outage Kit

Tools That You Need If You Are Preparing For Grid Failure

Bugging Out vs Hunkering Down When The Power Grid Fails

Foods To Hoard When The Power Is Out

Storing An Emergency Safe Drinking Water Supply

Sanitation Without Power: The Basic Items You Need

Cooking When There Is No Power

Bartering 101 In a World With No Power

Introduction To A World Without Power

One can only imagine what it would feel like to be forced out of our homes with our loved ones in tow and not enough supplies, because a power outage of major proportions is almost   While many people would laugh at the thought of power grid failure and consider it a preposterous notion, we should remember that certain calamities like typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis can happen, depending on your location. Any of those occurrences can cause a power outage that can last for days or weeks. Therefore, while many might scoff at the idea of preparing in advance, please remember that paranoia can sometimes be a good thing.

What Does A Power Grid Failure Look Like?

A power grid failure is the most realistic threat that we could ever face. There are two probable factors that could cause an outage system failure and equipment failure. Please note that system and/or equipment failure are the most probable causes. Even so, if this were to occur, the outage would only last for a few hours.

System failure can be caused by the disruption of equilibrium between the power supply and the power drawn. It can be triggered by extreme weather conditions. Equipment failure may occur at the main station, line or transformer level. These can be caused by digital processing errors or physical damage.

Calamities pose a larger threat, as the destruction would make it impossible to restore power right away. Banks and online financial establishments would close down, especially if the outage was caused by a calamity of epic proportions. Once this happens, the area involved, which in most cases is quite large, will be without electricity for days, weeks or even months. Calamities can cause system and equipment failure.

Please note that there are other lesser yet equally important factors that can cause grid failure. Malicious behavior may also cause a power outage. This would include cyber-terrorism and attacks directed towards major infrastructure. Electromagnetic storms and the reversal of the magnetic field can cause temporary or permanent damage to equipment.

What Would Happen?

The loss of power might not seem catastrophic to some people. However, one haws to consider that a majority of our needs require power. Refrigeration, food preparation, lighting, sanitation, cellular communication and life support devices would cease to function. Thus, people would increase their fuel consumption, as generators require fuel.

People will start to hoard food and medication a day or two after the outage, especially if a calamity caused the power disruption. Please keep in mind that the desperate need to survive can motivate some people to use violence to get food, medication and other supplies.

While other unaffected locations may try to assist the people affected by the power outage, there may not be enough to go around. By this point, most emergency services, medical facilities and public servants will feel unable to cope up with the demand for food, shelter, medicine and other basic needs.

If the power is not restored for a few weeks and months, civil unrest is bound to occur because both finances and supplies will be scarce. Fuel may be in short supply as well. Tacloban City, Philippines experienced a power outage due to Typhoon Haiyan. It lasted for more than two months. During this period, the area resembled a war zone, despite the relief efforts.

How Do I Prepare For A Power Grid Failure?

The best thing to do is to be prepared and be calm. Keeping a positive attitude will help ease stress and help you make better decisions.

If you live in a location that is prone to power outages, it would be best to come up with a plan for you and your loved ones. Here are a few important tips to help you get through a power grid failure:

• Have at least 2 weeks to one month's worth of supplies.

• Create a storage area specifically for this purpose.

• Stock up on fuel, water, cooking and sanitation needs.

• Design a plan for sanitation, entertainment and living or sleeping quarters.

An Introduction to Powerless Survival: What Should My Plan Include?

If you reside in an area that might be prone to power outages, it pays to stock up in advance. Please take note that you will need the following to survive: drinking water, food and snacks, lighting sources, heating, communication, first aid, sanitation, protection, alternative power sources and other necessities.

Drinking Water

Drinking water is a must, as dehydration is one of the factors that can lessen you chance at survival. It would be best to have 1 -- 2 gallons each day set aside for every member of the household. If you have pets, the general rule is one ounce per pound daily. Please make sure you have enough for 2 to 4 weeks.

You should also consider purchasing purification tablets or even a water filtration system. Both will come in handy, as you would be able to purify and filter water from rivers, lakes and other unsafe sources.

Food

When it comes to hoarding food, you need to consider how much you usually eat a day, plus snacks. As a rule, it would be best to prepare for three daily meals, even if you usually like to skip breakfast.

Canned foods are better than the dried variety because they require little to no heating and may last longer as well. While oversized cans may seem like a great idea, please consider how much your family can consumer per meal and remember that once cooked, they may spoil in a few hours, as you cannot store them in the refrigerator due to the lack of power.

If you or any of your family members have food allergies, it would be best to stock up on brands that you have already tried, as medical assistance may be hard to come by during an emergency. Please keep a list of food that your family members may be sensitive to as well. You can choose to store canned goods and other food items yearly and use them before they expire. However, you must remember to replenish them again.

Since the gas lines may be affected, you should consider alternative cooking methods like charcoal grills, fire pits and also butane stoves. You should also have a month's supply of your pet's wet and/or dry food stored away in preparation.

Lighting

If you have a generator, you may be able to enjoy basic lighting for a few days. However, if the fuel runs out, you will need other lighting sources that can run independently. These will include candles, flashlights and headlamps, as well as the means to power or light your illumination resources like matches, batteries, lighters. 

Solar powered items are great for illumination, as they do not require batteries, which may run out in time. Solar garden lights can be used to illuminate different parts of the house. You might want to buy a solar-powered battery charger, as you will need to recharge your batteries at some point.

Heating

If you live in a location that is prone to cold weather, you will have to consider your heating options. It would be best to keep everyone in the same room to make the most of your body heat.  Windows and doors must be sealed properly to avoid drafts. A towel should be laid along the bottom of the door to keep the cold air at bay. You will need to stores sweaters, pants, blankets and other items to keep you and your family warm as well.

You might want to have a fireplace or wood stove ready, as both are great heating sources. It would also be wise to stock up on wood and other heating essentials, depending on the alternative option you decide on. Although propane may seem like a good idea, it could put you and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if the area lacks proper ventilation. Please remember to buy a fire extinguisher as well, in case of emergency.

If you would like a safer option that does not put you and your loved ones at a risk of noxious fumes, heating rocks may be the best alternative solution for you. This is done by heating rocks over a fire and transferring them into a heat-safe oven or some form of cookware.

Communication

We have all seen the movies and we know that radios come in handy. Since there may not be any power, a hand crank radio would be the best way to go. Please remember that home phones and cell phones may be affected by the power outage.

Sanitation

While we cringe at the thought of it, a power outage can change the way we feel about hygiene. You might want to consider stocking up on antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, as both may be used without water. While you have the option to wash your dishes in stored rain water, it would be best to have disposable options as well.

When a power outage occurs, fill as many buckets as you can with water, just in case the power does not come back on. It also pays to know if your toilet can flush without the need for power. Have buckets handy for laundry purposes as well, and make sure you have a large supply of detergent.

First Aid

If you have any maintenance medicine, please keep a supply of them that will last you for more than one month, if your doctor permits you to do so. Aside from that, you will need a supply of your usual vitamins, antibiotics, antibacterial ointments, bandages and other over-the-counter medications you can stock up on.

Protection

Due to the possibility of civil unrest, you may need to arm yourself with items that will protect you and your family. While firearms might be effective, they can cause serious damage to you or your loved ones. Please consider items like pepper spray and other alternative weapons instead.

Alternative Power Sources

Solar power and generators would be particularly helpful in case of a power outage. However, you would have to plan way ahead for that, as they may require a bigger budget. Even so, you should consider purchasing them in case of an emergency.

Other Needs

Ask your family to make a list of the things that they cannot do without for two weeks to one month. This will help you gauge what you will need to keep in storage as well. You could include board games and other entertainment aids, especially if you have young children. If you have a baby, please stock up on his or her essentials, like diapers, milk, baby food and vitamins.

A power failure that lasts for a few hours may sound like fun, and a good way to skip school or work. However, if it lasts for a few days or more, those who would dismiss it as a minor inconvenience would discover just how much they rely on the grid and electricity. They will come to realize that most of our necessities require power after a few days without it.

This is a brief introduction to powerless survival that may help you and your loved ones get through a few hours to a month without power. Please note that you can tweak it to match your current location and consider yourself lucky if you do not have to worry about heating options

During a power outage, please remember not to panic. By keeping a positive attitude and your wits about you, you and your family will be able to get through it without unnecessary amounts of stress. If you feel like you might panic, remember that you have a stockpile filled with essentials that can last you for a month or more. That should be enough of a motivation to make you and your loved ones feel safer.

Reasons Why A Large Scale Power Outage May Be More Likely Than You Think

In recent years, as the US infrastructure has declined more and more, there has been an increase in talk about how the US would survive if the national grid crashed. This was a topic that used to be only discussed on the fringes by survivalists and on alternative news boards. However this has changed as evidenced by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary talking about. Along with the comments made by the DHS Secretary, back in 2013, thousands of workers and employees from national utilities, FBI anti-terrorism officials and agents from various government agencies from the US, Canada and Mexico got together for a massive drill to that simulated the effect of a huge grid failure. This was the largest such drill and in the end attracted representatives from more than 150 companies and organizations. What to do when the grid goes down is a question that has gone mainstream.

Experts tend to focus on 4 possible scenarios that could cause large scale grid collapse. The first is a cyber attack. Gone are the days that hackers are just teenagers with too much time on their hands or criminals out to make a quick buck by stealing bank information. Although these threats do exist, the type of hacker that poses a threat to the national grid is one looking to cause chaos. As evidenced by the Stuxnet attack on Iran, the tools to attack power grids exist. Electric companies in the US have testified in Congressional reports that they are daily fending off attacks by hackers probing their cyber defenses. Additionally, cyber attacks  and hackers are getting more sophisticated as there is growing evidence that many have official/unofficial support of foreign government agencies.

The second scenario is an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack. The plot as envisaged by experts is that a hostile nation or terrorist groups launches a nuclear missile at the US. It detonates a few miles up in the air, unleashing a huge and powerful electrical current over the country that would crash anything electrically powered and cause a cascading failure in the national grid. There is some debate over how severe the damage would be after such an attack but the experts do agree that the damage would be at least fairly severe.

The third scenario, and possibly the most dangerous, comes from the Sun. This is because the sun experiences solar storms that unleash massive amounts solar radiation that are similar to the electromagnetic radiation caused by a nuclear bomb detonation - just much much bigger. In 1859 the telegraph system of the US and Europe was knocked out by a solar flare. In 1989 a moderate flare knocked out Canada's Hydro-Quebec station leaving millions without electricity for hours. Some experts rate say that the threat of a solar flare is bigger than the threat of an international EMP attack. The National Academy of Sciences also says that the Sun is more than capable of knocking out a sufficient number of high-voltage transformers to take down the entire national grid.

The fourth scenario comes from within the grid itself. The biggest problem of the grid is that the most distant parts of the grid are dependent on each other. If the right part of the grid goes down, it can cause what is known as a cascading failure. Imagine what happens to a line of dominos when the first one tips over the second and so forth.  Usually the impact is minor when there is a failure in one section. However, in an article published in Nature Physics in 2013, researchers concluded that the grid is crucially dependent on a number of vitally important nodes and that it is only a matter of time before there is a systems wide cascading failure. An example of how bad it could get was demonstrated in 2012 when an electrical blackout in India left 620 million people without power.

So what should one do if the grid does collapse? What sort of situation is one looking at? The best idea is to be prepared for a long term grid down scenario and by long term read 1 to 6 months or more. And with electricity down for that length of time be ready for something much like the stone age. How does one prepare for something like that? The answer is to stockpile supplies and foodstuff that can last a long time without climate control. If one has enough food and water near to hand one can survive fairly well without electricity. Combine this with the means to restock your food stores - gardens, farm animals - one will be even better off.

Additional challenges that one should prepare for is staying warm in the winter without electrical heating. One will have to know how to stay warm in the winter and prepare hot meals as well as how to stay cool in the very hot summers. Stockpile blankets and learn how to build a good fire are both vital skills to learn. Lastly and most importantly is to have a large supply of clean drinkable water on hand. With the power out, many normally clean water supplies will quickly become unusable and clean water will become a very valuable resource. What many may not know is that during an emergency a typical person needs a gallon of water for drinking, washing and cooking.

When thinking about what to do when the grid goes down, it is very important to not only have supplies set aside but to have an emergency plan that can easily be put into place. And perhaps more importantly, it is vital to not given into the worst impulse and join the mobs that more likely than not be turning on each other. Keep calm, do not take unnecessary risks and stick together. Having a tight knit family and community of people that one can completely rely on can be as beneficial as if not more beneficial than having an excellent plan and a lot of stockpiled supplies.

How To Build An Emergency Power Outage Kit

While there are various levels of preparation that one can undertake in order to make sure that they are ready for an emergency. It is essential that you at least prepare on a minimal level. Many people want much more than just enough to get by on for a few days and they take their preparations to a much higher level; however, no matter what type of scenario you might envision or how much you are willing to invest in your plans and preparations, the one thing that is absolutely clear is that everyone needs some type of power outage kit.

Whether you are faced with a natural disaster that lasts a few days or you are facing a long term power outage from more catastrophic situations, such as a cyber-attack that takes out the entire power grid, knowing that you have the essential tools and supplies you will need in order to keep your family safe and comfortable can never be underestimated. Nobody hopes for an emergency situation, but when one arises, you want to be sure that you're prepared. As the old adage goes, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

Of course, there will be a number of variables that will play a role in how you prepare. For example, your specific location, your vulnerability to various threats, your training in survival methods and certainly, your budget, will all need to be taken into consideration. However, it is important to remember that even with a limited budget and your anticipation of low risk, taking measures to at least have on hand the minimal supplies and tools for a power outage kit will help provide protection for you and your family during a power outage. After all, even if you don't expect a blackout from a terrorist attack, storms and other natural disasters can easily leave you without the power you've become accustomed to.

At a minimum, you should plan on having at least the basics on hand. While the after effects of a hurricane can often be days in the coming. You'll likely get a somewhat accurate prediction of where the hurricane is likely to deliver its most devastating blow within days or at least hours of the actual storm. This can give some people enough time to at least grab a few essential items, but it is certainly not the ideal method of preparing for an emergency. Of course, other disasters, such as a blackout from an EMP attack or cyber-attack will not come with any advance warning. When the power grid goes down, you'll likely be stuck with the limited supplies you have on hand. A few fortunate people might be able to make it to their nearest store and grab minimal supplies, but items like batteries, water and other essentials will be cleared off the shelves almost immediately.

When it comes to emergency preparedness, your power outage kit is something you should begin assembling immediately. It's important to remember that in the event of a blackout, many of the things you take for granted will no longer be there. Consider some important factors, such as, what will you do when it gets dark? Do you have an alternative source of light that requires no power? How will you cook, get hot water, charge your phone, keep in communication with others or keep informed of what's happening in your area? Just about everything you do on a day-to-day basis requires electricity and when the power goes out, you need to be prepared. Start with the basics and as your budget permits, gradually increase and improve what you have to work with.

For example, as a very basic starting point, you should have on hand candles, flashlights and lanterns for every person as well as extra rechargeable batteries for important electronics, such as for flashlights and a radio. You're also going to need some way to cook, so a portable camping stove or grill will be necessary. Of course, keeping warm and dry and having adequate shelter are extremely important. At a minimum have blankets or screening as well as clothing appropriate for the climate.

Having a supply of clean water is going to be critical. If the power goes out, you might not have access to water. It is recommended that you store at least one gallon of water, per person, for a minimum of 10 days. For even a small family, this can mean having to store a significant amount of water. Consider using 5 gallon water jugs, they are easier to transport and store. You'll also want to have a world band receiver so that you can keep up to date on important information regarding the crisis. A world band receiver will allow you to pick up channels outside of your immediate area.

During times of crisis, panic can ensure and you will need to have some form of security to help protect your loved ones. You should have at least one shotgun with 100 rounds of ammo. You'll also want to have at least a few hundred dollars on hand since banks won't be open and ATMs will be down. Cash will be the only thing you have to purchase things from people who might have what you need.

Another consideration that many people overlook is the importance of having some method for providing sanitation for your family. Trash bags and a 5 gallon bucket can quickly be converted into an effective portable toilet. A little kitty litter can be extremely helpful in controlling odor.

Once you have these basic items in place, you can start expanding and building on what you have. Improve your security by making sure every adult in your family has a handgun and they know how to use it. Keep a little more cash on hand. You can also store additional water or improve your power source by installing solar panels, a power inverter or a generator. You might even want to consider getting headlamps for every member of your family and a tent large enough to accommodate all of you.

Tools That You Need If You Are Preparing For Grid Failure

An ideal starting point for anyone who is embarking on a preparedness journey is specifically prepping for a 2-week power outage.  Those who can survive 2 weeks without electricity comfortably will be in a superior position than the majority of individuals living in North America.

It is very possible for a disaster to literally render your area powerless for 2 weeks.  There have been major hurricanes in recent times that have left areas without electricity for more than 2 weeks.  Preparing for 2 weeks without power will enable you to be ready for a vast array of short-term emergencies.  These include civil unrest, interruptions of income and quarantines.

To start, think about the tools you need in a power outage.  Determine what your needs would be if you were unable to leave home for 14 days.  When you start the process of creating your plan, you could be pleasantly surprised that most of what you would need is already available around the home.  All it takes is organizing the items so that you will be able to see what you need.

Below are some of the tools you need in a power outage that will take care of your needs for a 2-week period.  The recommendations can be modified to your specific climate, family and home.

Food and a Method of Preparing It

As it relates to food, two schools of thoughts exist:

• You need food that does not require cooking

• You need a method of cooking that does not depend on electricity.

If you decide to cook, ensure that there is enough fuel to last for two weeks.   Choose foods that will cook quickly like canned beans that can be warmed up quickly or even eaten as is.

Water

No one can live without clean drinking water for any extended period.  In a disaster situation, there could be no tap water available or the water might be unsafe to drink.  In a disaster, boiling of water might be difficult.  Therefore, it is important to properly store a 2-week supply of water.  For drinking water, the rule of thumb is 1 gallon a day for each person.

There are inexpensive ways to create a water supply system.  You could use clean 2-liter soda bottles or buy 5-gallon jugs of water from the supermarket.

Heat

If you live in a cold climate and the power outage occurs during the winter, heat will definitely be a necessity.  After the outage, you will be able to stay warm for a 24-hour period by blocking off a room and grouping everyone together.  The door should be kept closed, with a folded blanket or towel placed along the door bottom to preserve the warmth.  A couple of candles along with your body heat will also help to keep the space relatively warm.  Additionally, it is very important to dress in warm clothing.

After 48 hours, you will need other means of warmth.  A wood stove or fireplace would be quite handy for those who have one.  All that is required are pieces of dry wood that would last for 2 weeks. 

If there is no wood stove or fireplace, a propane heater and fuel could suffice.  However, it is important that the family is not exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning.  This is possible in poorly ventilated areas.  Buy a battery-operated CO2 alarm to help safeguard the family.

Sanitation Needs

Reduce the need to wash items.  Store an adequate supply of paper towels, paper plates, disposable cups and other utensils.  Stock up on disinfecting sprays and cleaning wipes.  Before handling food and after using the bathroom, use hand sanitizers to get rid of germs.

Examine you sanitation options.  Find out if the toilet will still flush when the power is out.  There are some sanitation systems that use electric pumps.  If there is no risk of the toilet backing up, just store water in the bathtub that can be used for flushing.

Another effective sanitary option is stocking up on kitty litter and heavy duty garbage bags like the ones used on construction sites.  A garbage bag should either be placed in a drained toilet or a bucket.  Kitty litter should then be sprinkled in the bottom of the garbage bag.  Every time a member of the household uses the bathroom, another handful of kitty litter should be added.   Ensure that the bag does not get too heavy to handle. Securely tie up the bag and store outside until things are back to normal.

Light

It is extremely vital to have light during a power outage.  This is especially true if children are in the household.  During a distressing situation, there is nothing scarier than being in total darkness. Fortunately, lighting is among the easiest and least expensive things to plan for.

Lighting solutions include:

• Long-burning candles

• Garden stake solar lights

• Kerosene lamp and kerosene oil

• Flashlights

• Solar or hand crank lantern

Tools and Supplies

Below are a few basic items that will make life a lot easier during a power outage:

• Waterproof matches/lighter

• Various sizes of batteries

• Pliers

• Wrench

• Screwdriver

• Hammer

• Manual can opener

• Super glue

• Duct tape

• Bungee cords

• Sewing kit

First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit should include antibiotic ointments, sprays, bandages and other basic wound care items.  Additionally, you should include cold medicine, allergy medication, pain relievers, anti-nausea pills, cough syrup and other basic over-the-counter medications.  If sanitation will be an issue, anti-diarrhea medications are especially important to have.

Special Needs

Every family has needs that are unique to them.  Think about your daily household needs.  It could include special foods, diapers or prescription medications.  For households with pets, supplies are needed for the animals as well.  To determine what you need, jot down the things you use during the course of a week.

These are the most essential tools you need in a power outage.  They will go a far way in making your days without power much more bearable.

Bugging Out vs Hunkering Down When The Power Grid Fails

Should you stay or should you go? It's one of the classic questions among preppers, and one that really does need an answer for emergency situations. People constantly argue the merits of one of two big philosophies - in the face of disaster, will you Bug Out, or will you Hunker Down? There's absolutely no agreement on this matter - there might only be two options here, but you'll probably get a thousand answers about why one or the other is preferable. There are a few die-hards that will tell you that your choice has to be absolute - and it will dictate your ability to survive.

There's really not a right answer here, unfortunately. It's one of the most debatable questions in the world, next to opinions on firearms, and even asking it is a great way to start an argument. What you're really looking for is an argument that fits your personal circumstances - and that, unfortunately, means that you're going to have to sit down and do a lot of the legwork on your own.

Before we spend too much time delving into The Big Question, it's a good idea to stop and talk about some of the jargon. If you're new to prepping circles, it's a good idea to have this kind of lingo down. Bugging Out is the tried and tested process of packing up all of your survival gear and heading out to a safer location. Bugging Out is usually done if you plan to leave forever - usually because your home is no longer safe. That said, people do bug out fairly frequently in the case of real-world natural disasters - even FEMA recommends that you keep some supplies around to do just that.

Its opposite is Hunkering Down. When you perform this act, you plan on staying home and riding out the worst of whatever is coming. It's an act of preparing your home to be self-sufficient and your own personal fortress for a worst-case scenario. Hunkering down takes work, but it means keeping your property safe.

If you really want to figure out what to do, you actually need to look at your circumstances. That's right, there's no best answer for absolutely every situation. What you're going to need to do is to ask yourself a few simple questions and figure out what will fit.  These questions include: 

-    The Situation - Is there something happening that makes you feel like you need to leave? Is there a threat that makes your home unsafe?

-  The Reason-  Do you have a reason to stay? Do you have a place to go?

-  Ability  - Do you have the physical ability to get to another safe place?  What about your family? What about your pets?

You'll need to think about each of these in-depth, so let's discuss them here:

The Situation

What's going on is going to play a big role in why you're going to stay or go. There's a huge difference between bugging out vs hunkering down without power, for example - or figuring out whether to abandon your home if you're fleeing instability during an economic collapse. Is your goal in bugging out to get back home, or to get to a new place? Where's your family in all of this? Where are your supplies? Where are you going to go - what's going to be there when you arrive? As you might imagine, your answers to this are a huge factor in what you're going to do next. 

The Reason

Why are you making this decision, anyway? If there's a flood warning, odds are it's not a good idea to stay in your house. If you're looking at an alien invasion, you probably want to get out of the city. As silly as some scenarios might sound, there are factors that will determine for you whether you need to get out of your house or start to fortify it. You don't need to be married to any solution unless you've got all the necessary information.

Ability

As much as the average prepper thinks he might be superman, let's be honest - not everyone can realistically bug out. Can you really handle hiking for miles with all of your gear? What about your family? What about your pets? Do you need to be close to your medication? What are you going to do if you run out in the wilderness? You might have great physical reasons not to bug out. 

One good thing that you have going for you is that most preppers have a lot of experience when surviving. You usually have a lot of options when it comes to any survival situation, and (at the moment) you have the time to really think about your decision. You've got to make sure that you ask yourself all of the right questions, and make sure that you figure out what's going to work for you - not some nameless jerk on the other side of a computer screen. No one has all the information on your life, so make sure that you make your own choices.

What's my opinion? If you're a fairly average person, you're almost always better off staying home. You're probably not going to be able to live off the land or scavenge for supplies in the wilderness  - it just doesn't work that way. Being realistic means taking the time to really think about your strengths and weaknesses. Honestly, that might not even be true for you - you might be the Ultimate Mountain Man, a person who routinely catches squirrels bare handed and has an awesome tree fort in the middle of the wilderness ready to go. For most, though, my opinion stands - it's just better to be at home.

One thing stays true, though - everything could change tomorrow. Don't just take my advice, and make sure to really think about what works for your own life. Don't make a decision and stick to it - be flexible about what you can do to survive.

Foods To Hoard When The Power Is Out

Any number of cataclysmic disasters could occur at any time. A super typhoon or tsunami that strikes an island nation, a hurricane that devastates communities near the shoreline and several miles inland, or a terrorist attack using a weapon of mass destruction or an EMP that shuts down power across the nation, resulting in widespread food and water shortages. Whether such disasters are caused by climate change or acts of God, they can strike just about anywhere and anytime. Therefore is it smart to make a comprehensive list foods to hoard when the power is out.

Following a catastrophic disaster, supermarket shelves will be stripped bare in a matter of hours as panic spreads. Contrary to what many people think, supermarkets do not stock tons of excess supplies or inventory. In most cases, what shoppers see on the shelves is what they've got. For example, whenever a major hurricane or winter storm targets a highly populated area, anxious shoppers grab every last can of beans, bottled water, and flashlights. This makes sense, as without the right foods and supplies, it is difficult to make it through a crisis situation.

The Best Foods to Hoard When the Power is Out

Several things need to be considered when selecting foods for a survival situation. It is not about buying one's regular groceries multiplied by a hundred, but rather, it is about stockpiling food that one will eat instead of one's regular groceries. This may require eating shelf--stable food that one is not used to eating. Still, eating strange food is better than starving to death. When selecting foods to hoard when the power is out, one needs to consider the following:

• Since the power will be out, the freezer and refrigerator will not work.

• With the exception of canned foods, most other food is not packed for long--term storage.

• There is no way to pack snack foods for long periods; therefore, one should avoid stockpiling such foods.

• One should choose foods that will provide maximum nutritional value for the minimum size.

The Ideal Prepper's List of Foods to Hoard

Seltzer Water and Distilled Water

Water should be the first item on the list even though it is not a food to hoard. No one can survive without water, and distilled water is the purest form of water. Preppers should have an adequate supply of water and a good plan to get more. In addition, they should consider storing canned seltzer water in their pantry. Canned seltzer water is ideal because it lasts for an indefinite period, helps relieve constipation, and will even add a fizzy pep to one's water supply.

Other important food items to stockpile include dehydrated powdered milk,  protein bars and whey powder, hard cheese encased in wax, and canned liquids such as vegetable juice, pineapple juice, and canned coconut milk. Chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, and stewed tomatoes can also help when it comes to cooking rice without depleting one's supply of drinking water.

Canned and Dehydrated Meats

The best source of protein for a prepper is meat. Meats provide up to 90% of sustenance needed to survive. Given that 90% of plants are inedible or deadly to humans, it makes sense why preppers should stockpile foods such as canned sardines, canned tuna, canned salmon, and canned mackerel, all of which are rich in omega 3 oils. It is also good to stock one's fridge with meats such as smoked salmon, hot dogs and sausages that can last for a long time when frozen. Organic sausages and hot dogs are also good; however, one should consume them first in case of a power failure.

Tea, Coffee, Ovaltine, Bouillon and Tang

People have been drinking tea for more than 5,000 years for a good reason. Since the quality of water in the ancient past wasn't very good, they boiled water to kill bacteria and used tea to make it taste better. In addition, tea can help one dehydrate quickly in an emergency situation. Caffeinated teas provide additional energy, while other types of teas provide a soothing and calming effect, which one may need after a disaster. Coffee for survival is important too. Its primary benefit is to increase one's mental alertness. Bouillon cubes are made up of compressed stock, while tang enhances the water supply.

Oils

When making a list of foods to hoard when the power is out, many people tend to forget about oils. One cannot cook much without oil; therefore, it is important to buy small containers of virgin oil. Olive oil is a good choice; however, it can go rancid after one or two years. Coconut oil can be a great replacement since it is heat stable and does not go rancid as fast as other oils.

Whole Wheat Flour

Wheat is rich in fiber, vitamins, protein, and even minerals such as selenium. One should stock enough wheat because it contains more nutritional value when it has the whole grain. Fortunately, there is not currently any genetically engineered wheat on the market. In addition to wheat flour, one should stockpile cereals such as shredded wheat, rice, corn, and oats. Potato flour is another excellent addition to a prepper's pantry. It is gluten--free and a wonderful thickening agent.

Other foods to hoard when the power is out include:

• Dried corn

• Corn as a vegetable

• Oatmeal and oats

• Bread crumbs and stuffing

• Ready to eat, shelf--stable meals

• Crackers

• Potato flakes

• Rice

• Pastas

• Dried fruits, raisins and fruit strips

• Jellies and jams

• Canned fruits

• Canned veggies

• Legumes and beans

• Seeds, nuts and nut--butters

• Honey

• Iodized salt

• Molasses and sugars

• Herbs and spices

• Condiments

• Chocolates

• Dry yeast

• Baking powder

These are the essential food items that should be on the list of foods to hoard when the power is out. The list may include non--food related items such as charcoal, firewood, lighter fluid, can openers, candles, disposable cups, paper plates, and plastic utensils. People who are lucky enough to have a root cellar should stockpile enough fresh potatoes, apples, garlic and onions to last several months. However, one should avoid storing them in the refrigerator or plastic bags. They need to be stored in a dark, cool, and well--ventilated, pest--free space.

Storing An Emergency Safe Drinking Water Supply

Many parts of the country are occasionally hit by severe weather systems and natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and so on. In the wake of such disasters, people often find themselves left stranded without any power source or a running source of water, sometimes for as much as several weeks. Whereas humans can easily live without electricity, and can even survive for weeks without food, it's virtually impossible to go without drinking water for a few days at most.

During natural disasters, our normal drinking supplies can sometimes get quickly contaminated with dangerous pathogens, often with nobody suspecting it. As a doomsday prepper, the best strategy for water storage without power is to collect and store a personal safe water supply.

How Much Water Should You Be Store?

If your normal water supply becomes interrupted by a natural disaster or you are unsure about its portability, you will require a safe supply for drinking, preparing your food and for personal hygiene. It's strongly recommended to store enough water to take you and your family for not less than three days at the very minimum (five gallons per person per day). That means that if your household has five people, 25 gallons (5x5) will be enough to take you for a day. But, to be on the safer side, you should store enough water to take you for about 10 days. In the example provided above, the family would require 250 gallons of clean stored water.

What Containers Should You Use To Store Water?

You should store your water in sanitized food-grade plastic containers, though glass containers can also be used if they are available in large enough sizes. About five 55-gallon water drums will probably suffice depending on your family size (each costs about $60). If you want to store massive amounts of water, you can purchase a 10,000-gallon plastic tank for about $5,500.

To sanitize your containers, start by washing the inside and outside of each container using soap and hot water. Then you can disinfect them using 1 teaspoon of non-scented household bleach added to a quart of water. Finally rinse the containers thoroughly using plain clean water. Avoid using milk containers because they usually harbor plenty of bacteria and are generally harder to clean. You should also avoid using bleach containers for storing drinking water because they are not made from food-grade plastic. Moreover, it's easy to mistakenly use the water stored in such containers for washing your clothes which could be disastrous.

If you don't have access to large containers, you can simply use plastic jugs and gallons to store your water.

When Should You Disinfect Your Water?

If you get your drinking water from public supply, there is no need to treat it since it is already treated. The only exception is if your water company issues an emergency ''boil water'' notice in which case you should disinfect your water before storage. Avoid using any water if it looks murky or cloudy, or has a strange taste or smell, since this is a sign that it could be contaminated.

If your water is supplied from a private spring, well or some other untested sources, it's strongly recommended that you purify it before storage.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) advises that you should avoid using water from hot water boilers, radiators, water beds and swimming pools for storage for emergency purposes.

 In theory, water has an indefinite shelf life since it does not spoil or break down like most chemical substances do. In practice, however, you should change your stored water every 6-12 months because water that is stored for long tends to lose its taste.

How Should You Purify (Disinfect) Your Water?

There are four main methods that you can use to disinfect your water namely:

• Boiling

• Chemical treatments

• Distillation and Filtration

• Reverse osmosis

Boiling Water

Boiling water is one of the most common and effective ways to purify water by killing potentially harmful pathogens. Boiling water continuously for 3 to 4 minutes is usually enough to kill dangerous bacteria. The only downside of boiling water is that it removes much of the dissolved air giving it a flat and rather unpleasant taste. To aerate your water and improve its taste after boiling, transfer it repeatedly from one container to another.

Chemical Treatments

Chemical treatments such as chlorination or addition of iodine tablets are other effective methods of  purifying water.

To chlorinate your water, you can use basic household bleach (this is usually 5.25% sodium hypochlorite) because it does not have any scent and is supplied free of any color components or cleaners. If your water is clear, add 8 drops of bleach to each gallon of water, of ½ a teaspoon per 5 gallons. This means that if you need to disinfect a 55-gallon drum of water, you should add 5½ teaspoons of bleach. If your water looks a bit cloudy, it is recommended to double the amount of bleach. Mix the water thoroughly with the bleach then let it stand for about 30 minutes. You should be able to detect a slight chlorine odor. If you are unable to detect any odor after treatment, treat the water again then let it stand for 15 minutes.

You can also add iodine tablets to your water to disinfect it. Iodine treatment is usually faster and more convenient that chlorination. It does have some caveats though. First off, it has not been properly established if there are any side-effects of using iodine in your water over the long-term. Some people are known to show allergic reaction to iodine. Additionally, iodine is not recommended for pregnant women or people with thyroid problems. If you would like to use iodine to disinfect your water, it's a good idea to limit its use.

Sanitation Without Power: The Basic Items You Need

Sanitation is about so much more than just smelling nice and looking your best. It might seem like a world without showers and flushing toilets would be one that was just full of minor inconveniences, but proper sanitation is actually a necessity for long-term survival. Without it, you'll find yourself dealing with germs and infections, both issues that can kill you if you don't have modern medical care.

That's why it is so important to set up a sanitation protocol without power. Without the luxury of power or indoor plumbing, you'll have your work cut out for you. Fortunately, you'll be able to create a fully-realized sanitation system without an electricity at all. You'll just need to right gear to set up your sanitation station.

The Items You Need for Sanitation and Hygiene

A Camp Toilet

Yes, you'll need someplace to go that's not the woods. While it'd be great if the plumbing kept working after a catastrophe, you really shouldn't count on that. As such, you need to look for a system that doesn't rely on electricity or plumbing to work.

There are a few good items that you can use to make up for a standard toilet. There are portable camp toilets on the market, some of which are little more than a five gallon bucket with a seat. If you've got more room, you can also consider the humble porta-potty, the same as you'd see at a camp site or festival. You can even find a composting set-up that will give you a little more material for your vegetable patch.

Toilet Paper

One of the most common jokes among preppers is that toilet paper will be worth more than gold after a major disaster. In many ways, that's absolutely true - if you can stock up on toilet paper now, you'll be prepared for the future. If you can't, though, you're going to have to learn how to rough it.

If you're out of toilet paper, you can actually use an old-fashion bidet. The newer models require power to use, but old models are pretty much just a basin of sanitized water. Don't knock it until you've tried it - it's better than searching for soft leaves.

Waste Bags

Human waste is a biohazard, and it needs to be disposed of correctly. If you've got a portable toilet, you need a biohazard bag. Trash bags can work in a pinch, but you'll need something a bit more serious if there's any kind of infectious disease going around.

Sewage Treatment Packs

If you've got an RV, you're already fairly familiar with sewage treatment kits. These deodorant/treatment packages kill the smell of sewage and work to break down the more harmful elements that are present. In this situation, it can actually be quite helpful to seek out a bacterial solution that actually eats the waste, allowing you to process it safely without having to worry about tainting your groundwater with chemicals.

Gloves

If hygiene's your goal, you've got to have gloves. Simple, latex hand gloves are all you need - buy a big box, and make sure that you keep it stocked. These gloves are a necessity for handling waste, and are also good for first aid. In fact, a good box of latex gloves is useful for about any situation in which you need to create a barrier between your skin and any other substance.

Hand Soap

While people may scream and shout about the various miracle products out there, one of the real front line defenses against poor hygiene is old-fashioned soap. You don't even need antibacterial soap - there's no proof that they're any more effective than older soaps, and you might as well save a few cents where you can. Make sure to get a liquid, though, as germs have an odd tendency to flock to bar soap.

Bleach

Bleach is one of the ultimate sterilizers. You can use it to kill the germs on just about anything, but beware - it does actually expire. If you're worried about lugging around the excess liquid, you can pick up bleaching tablets that activate with water. They're light, but some of them can make hundreds of gallons of effective solution.

Lysol

Here's another common household item that's a real life-saver for those who are into prepping. Lysol - and similar store brands - will kill almost all the germs on any surface. Among the nastier germs that it can kill are Influenza, polio, and Hepatitis A - as well as various other viruses and germs. This is one of the best things you can buy for a prepping situation, so make sure that you stock up.

Person Hygiene Items

Let's get a little personal for a moment - there might be things that you need that others don't. From diapers and wipes to tampons and pads, there are certain personal items that you need around to make life a little easier. Stock up on all of these items when you can, as your comfort level (and health) can help you to stay more aware and increase your chances of survival after a disaster.

Dish Soap

Yes, another kitchen item. Grab it whenever you can, and as much as you can. Get concentrated when you can, and use it to clean - it will help you to keep all of your utensils free of germs and will eliminate food residue that can attract bacteria.

Paper Flatware and Utensils

Dishes are great - but they're easy to break and they get dirty. One of the best ways to deal with the dish issue is to get rid of it. Paper plates and plastic utensils are dirt cheap, and you can stock up on them over time. The more you have, the less likely it is that you will have to deal with the mess associated with dishes. It's really one of the best solutions you have, so long as you have the ability to store the plates.

Paper Towels

Along with shop towels, these are great items for cleaning up. Disposing of them after lets you skip some of the clean-up, and they don't take up that much space. You'll still need towels, but these are a great alternative for smaller messes.

Laundry Gear

Guess what? If the power goes out, you're not going to have a washer and dryer. As such, you're going to need to go old school - laundry soap, a clothes line, and clothes pins will help you to keep your clothes clean. Dirt is one of the worst offenders at breaking down your clothes, so make sure that you have the necessities available to keep your clothing clean.

Distillation and Filtration

Distilling and filtering water is a newer treatment process than boiling or adding chemicals. Distillation involves boiling water and then condensing the vapor into liquid again. Distilled water usually has a flat taste, but can be improved by boiling.

Filtration simply involves passing water through a filter to remove debris and sediments. It's recommended when the water has lots of sediments and suspended solids.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis (RO) is used in conjunction with activated carbon filtration to remove all dissolved solids, improve turbidity and remove heavy metals such as lead, asbestos and other harmful substances. RO filters are capable of removing pathogens of all sizes as well, but it's not recommended to use the method to disinfect contaminated water.

How Should You Store Your Water?

Once you purify your water, store it in containers marked with the words ''Drinking Water'' and indicate the storage date. Store your containers in a dark cool place since direct heat and light can slowly degrade plastic containers. If you store your water in the basement, make sure there are no gasoline, kerosene or pesticide containers around because hydrocarbon vapors are capable of penetrating plastic containers. Make sure the cap is tightly secured.

If you happen to open your water containers later for use, replace the cap immediately after drawing water and then refrigerate it to discourage growth of bacteria. If no power is available, keep the container in cool place. Try and use the water within 1-2 days of opening the container.

Bottom Line

Storing water for emergency purposes is quite easy, yet many families ignore these simple steps until a disaster strikes. Keeping a few days' worth of water safely at hand is not only incredibly reassuring but can be a real life saver as well. Just follow these simple water storage resources and you are good to go.

Cooking When There Is No Power

The vast majority of kitchen appliances today require gas or electricity to run. That is why if the power goes out, many people would panic because they feel like they do not have any other option for cooking their food. People have been using microwaves and other kitchen appliances for years, so it would be hard to imagine life without using them. Even if you have non-perishable food stored up, you will eventually want to have a hot meal.

The good news is you can prepare many foods without any power. All it takes is a little preparation and planning. Below are some of the options you have for cooking when there is no power:

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves are the closest thing to the convenience and power of an oven inside of your home. Using a wood stove is an ideal choice for the winter months. Most people probably would not want to heat up a wooden stove in the living room during the summer months. You can easily fit the pans on top of the stove and regulate the heats easily.

Backyard Grill

This is the option many people use when their power goes out. One of the reasons the backyard grill is a popular choice is because it is already outside. It is also very easy to set up. One of the disadvantages of using a grill is that it needs propane. If you want to cook with a backyard grill, it is a good idea to stock up on some propane.

Many people opt to use charcoal instead of propane. If you want to use charcoal, you want to make sure you have a few bags of it in your home. Keep in mind charcoal does not last as long as propane. However, you will still be able to cook for a few days if you have charcoal. If you heat your house with propane, you can use an adapter to run your grill.

Campfire

People have been using a campfire to cook their food ever since the beginning of time. Many people would use this option if they run out of propane. This is also an option you may want to try if you needed to cook something for a longer period of time. You can even cook a stew over a campfire. You do not have to make a fancy fireplace. However, it is a good idea to put some rocks around the pit, so the fire can be contained.

You may want to purchase cast iron cookware if you want to cook with a campfire. It is also a good idea to purchase two if you want to cook a big meal. Additionally, you will need to choose a method to suspend the cookware over the fire. For example, you can create a tripod.

Camping Stoves

You can use the same Coleman propane cylinders you use for your lanterns. However, there is a disadvantage that comes along with using camping stoves. The grill grating can be used over a regular campfire. You can also use backpacker stoves, but they are not a good choice for cooking bigger meals. Backpacker stoves do heat up small amounts of food nicely. There are also a love of fuel options available.

Rocket Stove

It is relatively simple to build a rocket stove. You can use the materials you have in your shed. You can even use cans to create a rocket stove. You can also fuel them using twig and sticks. One of the many great things about rocket stoves is they can produce heat without leaving a footprint.

Lantern

Just about anything that can produce heat can warm up food. You can use lanterns to heat up your food. This is an option that is convenient for some people. Candles can be used to heat your food, but this should be your last option. It will take a long time to heat up your food if you use candles. However, if you are already using candles as a light source, you can easily use them for heating up your food.

Solar

Solar heating is the ideal choice if you have dry weather and sun. However, it may take you a while to heat up your food if you use this option. It is also a great choice if you need to heat up small amounts of food, such as a can of soup.

There are several solar stoves you can purchase online. You can even make your own solar stove.

What Do You Need To Cook?

Cast iron is one of the materials you can use to cook. However, it is not a good option if you are on the move. You can also use tin cans. You can create a solar oven using aluminum. Make sure you have enough space to make the fire.  Additionally, you should purchase some lighters. Some of the other tools you will need include pot handlers, oven mitts, spatula, knives and wooden spoons. You may want to put some flints and strikers in your survival kit.

Cleanup

It is very important to clean up thoroughly after everyone has finished eating. It is very easy for germs to pass on cooking utensils. Cleaning up is essential for the health of everyone in the group.

In the 1880s, there was a really cool trick people used to sanitize their dishes when they ran out of soap. They would add a little bit of milk to hot water. The milk would help remove grease from the dishes. It also gives the dishes a nice shine and preserves the hands.

The only thing you really need to sanitize and clean the area is some hot water and a sponge. It is a good idea to boil the water before you do the dishes. Boiling water helps kill germs.

You should never cook with an open flame inside of your house. The fumes produced can be very toxic. That is why it is a good idea to cook outdoors if you use an open flame.

Bartering 101 In a World With No Power

Bartering is a key to survival, so practice it today. Get used to trading for the things that you need. If you can do that, you'll be a step ahead of all the people who are stuck in a cash-based world.

As much as preppers like to claim otherwise, no one can truly survive alone. At some point, you will have to get help from others - and for most, that means making a trade. In a post-collapse society, bartering is going to replace the typical forms of buying and selling. Understanding how to barter is going to be a key skill in the society that forms after things go wrong.

What is Bartering?

If you've spent your entire life in a western country, bartering's probably a foreign concept to you. The closest you have likely come is in the process of buying a car, but that is really just haggling over a price. We live in a world that's made for convenience, and that means paying with currency for a fixed price. In the world after a collapse, that's going to go away quickly. Sure, there might be a bit of currency left - usually in the form of precious metals - but the bulk of the trading that you will do will involve bartering.

Bartering, for those of you who have forgotten your middle-school geography classes, is the process of trading one item for another. It's the basis of all economies, and the first way that people started to make sure that goods could get from those who had them to those who wanted them. Bartering is centered around being able to trade something that you have for something that another person has. An equal trade involves satisfying both needs; an unequal trade occurs when one person needs something and the other person is the only source available. If anything, modern society is based on bartering currency for goods at a set price. Post-collapse, things will be based on figuring out how to assign a value for the things that you need while still being able to survive.

What You Need to Barter

So, what are the best items to barter during an economic collapse? In most cases, it will come down to one of three items - faux currency, necessities, and luxuries. The former, the faux-currency, will be a stand-in for the modern way of doing business - people could trade in anything from salt to bullets, and there may well be set exchange rates to go along with those new currencies. Unfortunately, the odds are against this kind of system being set up if things go truly wrong - and if it does exist, it will take time for the system to stabilize and for most people to adopt it.

Your primary barter set will consist of necessities. Items like flour and salt are going to be worth more than gold, simply because people can use them to survive. The same goes for medication, even over-the-counter items like ibuprofen or cough medicine. These items are going to be incredibly rare without a dedicated manufacturing system available to keep them produced, so those that have the necessities will be in the best bartering position.

Luxuries are an entirely different animal. Anything that makes life easier will be valued at a premium, and will likely be the most common type of item to be bartered. After all, people won't want to get rid of their limited supply of sunscreen - but they might be able to live without a few extra batteries. It is always recommended that you keep a few extra luxuries on hand, if only to barter with. You might miss them a bit when they're gone, but you'll be far more grateful for the necessities when you truly need them.

The Bartering Process

So, how do you actually barter? It's a real skill-set, and one that most people haven't developed. A good way to look at the process is to think back to trading baseball cards in school. You knew that certain cards were more valuable than others, and you knew that certain cards fulfilled a personal need. Your goal was always to get whatever you could while incurring the lowest cost - and this is exactly what you need to do when you are bartering.

The most useful skill when bartering is being able to come to an understanding without losing your cool. You can't be desperate, but you certainly can't be disinterested in the process. You need to let the other person know that you are willing to trade, but you can't reveal everything that you have.  If you have luxury goods, start by revealing the existence of smaller items before you ever mention the good stuff. You want to come away with the smallest amount of loss possible, so there's no need to reveal everything that you have.

At the same time, you want to be fair. Having a bad reputation among those in the bartering community will keep you from making successful trades in the future. Don't try to trick other people, and offer them a fair price whenever you can. Above all else, don't try to cheat someone out of a trade - you might as well sign your own death sentence by doing so in a world that values bartering.

Safety and Wellness

In the event that there's a post-civilization bartering civilization, it is important that you follow a few simple rules. Consider these the health and safety regulations on trading with others:

1)  Never trade with a stranger. Get to know the person before you give anything up.

2)  If you feel like something is off, don't make the deal.

3)  Never trade anything that you actually need. Eventually, you'll find yourself back in the situation of having to make an unfair trade, this time with even less to your name.

4)  Never trade weapons. This is just a bad policy, especially if you violate #1.

5)  Never bring everything to the table. It puts you in a weaker position, and invites theft.

If you can follow those rules and learn from the information above, you just might be able to work the bartering system in a way that keeps you and your family safe, comfortable, and able to survive on your own.

An economic collapse can mean little or no cash, and grocery stores with empty shelves.  When you are hoarding supplies you will need for daily living and emergencies, you should also hoard quantities of non-perishable food.  It can make the difference between being healthy and satisfied, or managing without food you need.

Stock up on bottled fruit juices, canned and boxed foods, dry goods, and plenty of snacks.  When you are considering foods to purchase, focus on products that require little preparation and do not need to be refrigerated.  Taste and nutrition are both important when you are choosing non-perishable foods.  Choose healthy products that your family likes.  Your children, especially, will appreciate favorite foods and snacks during this period of time. 

It is not impossible to get through an economic collapse.  Your survival may depend on being well-prepared.  When you do not have to rely on others for your basic daily needs and during emergency situations, you can your family can survive without unnecessary difficulty.  The more prepared you are in advance, the easier it will be for your family.

Money doesn't have any inherent value. If things go wrong in society, money will be worth less than the paper on which it is printed. If you want to survive, you've got to be smart - you've got to barter. This survival barter guide should give you a basic idea of what you'll need to stay ahead of the game.

A Word on Metals

Given the general prepper mindset and the borderline-fanatical rantings of the precious metal disciples, it is important to take at least a few seconds to discuss the value of metals as a bartering tool. Metals are exactly as important as society needs them to be - so a societal collapse renders metals nothing more than worthless hunks of rock. By all means, keep a little bit of jewelry around because people always like something pretty - don't count on it to keep you fed, though. Metals are a minor part of the bartering process, especially if things really do take a turn for the worse.

The Bare Necessities

If you're really in a life or death bartering situation, some of the best things to have on hand are the items that really mean the difference between life and death. If everything collapses, most people are not going to have the skills necessary to survive on their own. They'll need help - and you can provide it for them when bartering. This is a process of you making use of your surplus to acquire items that make your life better - essentially, the basics of commerce.

A few basics are going to go a long way when bartering, so stock up. If you've got access to flour, you've got the ability to make bread - and that's something you can trade. Anything that's a staple of your kitchen today is going to be helpful for you, especially if it is non-perishable. If you've got chickens, your eggs are going to be a valuable commodity. Likewise, a goat or cow is going to provide you with valuable butter and milk (and, in rough circumstances, meat). If you've got food, you're ahead of the game when things go wrong.

There are other necessities that will make a huge difference when bartering. Ibuprofen, aspirin, and bandages are going to be in short supply. So are things like sunscreen, antibiotics, and other medical supplies. Don't barter with these items unnecessarily, but you might be able to trade them if you find yourself in a crisis. As a rule, though, you should only trade these necessities when you have a surplus or if you are experiencing an absolute emergency - there's relatively little for which you can trade that is going to be worth losing the items that make the difference between living and dying.

Luxury Goods

We live in a society that places a huge premium on luxury goods. If you look around your home, you might realize that you don't really need everything present to survive. Even with that said, you want to have those things - they make life a lot more comfortable, and that can help you to survive some of the harshest conditions that you can imagine. If you want to make sure that you are really set to barter in the future, you're going to need these luxury goods on-hand. Not only are people willing to trade for them, but they won't cause you any real harm if they're gone.

In a survival situation, the luxuries that count the most are luxuries that also help with survival. Items like a pair of sunglasses, a good set of towels or a nice set of cooking implements go a long way towards making the day-to-day tasks of staying alive easier. If you can get together a secondary set of items that cut down the amount of work that you have to do to stay alive, you can count on them being among the most valuable trade goods that you can find.

There are also luxury items that make life a little better, even if they aren't useful at all. A guitar or a harmonica, for example, can help to lighten the spirits. A child's toy will be a huge boon, especially in a world where stopping at the local store for a birthday present is a thing of the past. If you want to make sure that you get the most for your bartering buck, keeping a few of these basic reminders of better times on your person is your best bet. Best of all, you can use them for yourself if you don't feel like trading them away.

Labor and Expertise

Human power is the most valuable asset of a post-collapse society. When the electricity goes out, you'll need people to accomplish almost anything worth doing. If you are willing to put in a little bit of hard work, you'll find that you can trade it for almost anything that you need. You just need to be a proven commodity - and that means being willing to advertise your strengths and being willing to prove a point by getting your hands a little bit dirty.

If you want to barter your labor, make sure that you have some sort of skill. Post-collapse, almost everyone who stays alive is going to be able to take care of themselves to one extent or another. You need to do things better than others can - this means working harder in the field, having the ability to repair machines that others know little about, or having knowledge that others simply haven't take n the time to invest in. If you want to make sure that manpower stays valuable, make sure that you have something to offer that no one else can match.

Building an Emergency Prepper Fund

An emergency fund can be described as a checking, saving or investment account that is intended to get you through challenging times.  While it is wise to have such a fund in place, the "prepared individual" should put a plan in place for dismal situations and have ownership of a Real Emergency Fund.  

Life is quite unpredictable and disasters and unexpected circumstances can arise at any given moment.  Events like these are many and varied.  Most individuals automatically think about events like pandemics, natural disasters and economic collapse as reasons to have an emergency fund in place; however, there are many other mundane situations that could greatly benefit from such a fund.  These include the need to replace a refrigerator, the bread winner of the family having health issues and car troubles.  Below are some guidelines on how to build a prepper emergency fund:  

For individuals who live in the United States, it comes down to the US dollar, silver, gold and bartering items such as warm clothes, ammo, fresh water, jewelry and food.  Any good financial planner will point out that to be successful, diversification is the key.  In a survival scenario, there is no difference.  For example, your emergency fund only includes platinum that you keep in your home because that is what your father did before you and he advised you that this precious metal is always the most valuable.  While this is great for you and your dad, a number of individuals are not aware of the resale potential or the value of platinum.  Therefore, this could result in you being unable to trade the platinum for goods and services or you could get a lot less than the actual value of the platinum.     

In contrast, the value of gold is more widely known.  Since the start of recorded history, gold has been a resource of wealth and value.  However, there is a fundamental problem with gold.  These days, gold is so valuable that a single gold coin could be worth more than 1300 US dollars.  If you only have gold coins in your emergency fund and you need only a loaf of bread, you will not be able to collect your change in an emergency or survival situation.  No one wants to pay $1300 for bread, under any circumstance.    

What to Have On Hand

Ideally, you should have a combination of barter items, US dollars, silver and gold.  Silver is great because, depending on the market, a silver coin with a 1 ounce weight has a worth of between $20 and $28.  For only a few hundred bucks you could have a good mix of coins.  It is also highly recommended that you have a good amount of US dollars, barter items and gold.  A number of individuals are of the view that US dollars should not be included in a prepper emergency fund since they may not be worth the paper on which they are printed.  However, having between $1000 and $2000 in $5, $10 and $20 bills could bail you out in an emergency.  There is a chance that the people who provide goods and service will still believe in the value of the US dollar, so it is definitely a good idea to have some on hand.  In addition, the weight of the US dollar makes it easy to conceal.     

Where Should The "Real Emergency Fund" Be Kept?

The first choice is always a good safe; however, if it is not well hidden, it could attract unneeded attention and defeat the purpose.  If a safe is not an option, look around the home for clever locations to keep the emergency fund.  Make sure that it is not kept in one place.  Good ideas for ideal places to keep the emergency fund include hollowed out books, currency taped to the base of drawers, air ducts, bags of frozen foods, spare tire in the car trunk and in a sealed bag in the water tank of a toilet.  There are also hidden safes that could work in plain sight without anyone recognizing what it is.    

Below is a Prepper Emergency Fund breakdown guide:

If, for example, you plan to save a total of $4000 in currency for a survival situation, a good way to break it down is outlined below.  However, it is important to note that you can do things differently.  Come up with an arrangement that will work for you. 

• Gold bullion coins, the 1/10 ounce size, can represent 20 percent of your emergency fund at a value of $800.

• US Dollars in $10 and $20 bills could represent 30 percent of your emergency fund at a value of $1200.

• All sizes of the silver bullion coins can represent 30 percent of your emergency fund at a value of $1200.

• Barter items could represent 20 percent of your emergency fund at a value of $800.

Bear in mind that the "Real Emergency Fund" should be put in place after you have made plans for things like your food, water, ammo, weapons, shelter and transportation.

Below is a list of ideas of items that can be used for emergency barter:

• Tobacco

• Batteries

• Canned Meat

• Antibiotics

• Multi Vitamins

• Synthetic Oil

• Ammo

• Shampoo

• Seeds

• Laundry Detergent and Soap

• Allergy medicine

• Disposable Razors

• Aloe Vera

• Animal traps

• Hard alcohol

• Antibiotics

• Antacids

• Antiseptic

• Apple cider vinegar

• Anti-histamines

• Baby formula

• Can openers

• Aspirin

• Canned food

• Coffee

• Candles

• Fishing gear

• Cooking oil

• Flashlights

• Sea salt

• Flour

• Tea

• Tools

• Toilet paper

In a survival or emergency situation, a number of these items will in demand on a consistent basis and they can be readily traded for much needed currencies.

The preceding guidelines should be quite insightful and be very helpful in answering the question of how to build a prepper emergency fund?