What are the top survival skills everyone should know?

The five most important survival skills are water procurement, shelter building, fire-starting, food sourcing, and first aid. These fundamentals apply whether you are in wilderness or urban environments.

How do I create an emergency preparedness plan for my family?

Start with a 72-hour emergency kit, establish meeting points, and create a communication plan. Effective family preparedness covers three tiers: immediate (24-hour), short-term (72-hour), and extended (30-day) scenarios.

What should I pack in a bug out bag?

A bug out bag should sustain you for 72 hours with water filtration, food, shelter, first aid, fire-starting tools, navigation, and documents. Prioritize versatile items over specialized ones.

What is the difference between wilderness and urban survival?

Wilderness survival focuses on procurement from nature; urban survival focuses on resource improvisation and human-made infrastructure.

How do I prepare for a grid-down scenario?

Grid-down preparation requires alternative communication, independent energy, stored water, and preserved food. Focus on redundancy across systems.

What gear do I need for survival?

Essential survival gear includes a quality knife, water filter, fire starter, first aid kit, cordage, and navigation tools.

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Emergency Preparedness

By Randy Salars·Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Philosophy of Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is about planning ahead for unexpected events—natural disasters, accidents, power outages, or other crises. By preparing in advance, you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community when it matters most. Preparedness is not about fear—it's about empowerment, confidence, and peace of mind.

This page provides practical guidance, tools, and resources to help you create effective emergency plans, build supply stockpiles, and develop the skills needed to respond to a wide range of scenarios. Whether you live in a city or rural area, preparedness is for everyone.

Core Components

Creating Emergency Plans

Learn how to assess risks, set priorities, and make step-by-step plans for different types of emergencies. Effective planning is the foundation of preparedness.

Building Supply Stockpiles

Find out what to store, how much you need, and how to rotate supplies for food, water, medicine, and more. Smart stockpiling ensures you're ready for extended emergencies.

Communication Protocols

Ensure you can stay in touch with family, friends, and emergency services even if networks are down. Communication saves lives in crisis situations.

Community Networks

Work with neighbors and local organizations to share resources, skills, and information. Strong communities are more resilient communities.

What Are the Best Planning Tools & Resources?

Emergency Checklist

A comprehensive printable checklist to help you cover all the preparedness basics.

Download

Family Emergency Plan

Create a personalized plan for your household, including meeting points and contact information.

Template

Bug-Out Bag Guide

Learn what to pack for quick evacuation and how to keep your emergency kit ready.

Guide

Additional Preparedness Topics

Evacuation planning and routes

First aid and emergency medical skills

Pet and livestock preparedness

Special needs considerations

Information sources and alerts

What Are Some Tips for Effective Preparedness?

Review and update your plans and supplies at least twice a year

Practice emergency drills with your family or group

Label and organize your supplies for quick access

Keep important documents in a waterproof, portable container

Stay calm and flexible—adaptability is key in any emergency

Wisdom on Preparedness

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
— Benjamin Franklin

"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program."
— Spencer W. Kimball

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