No matter what time of year it is, some part of the country is getting set for potential natural disasters and the family that takes heed of the season will always survive comfortably. Others act as though inclement weather, forest fires or earthquakes come as a total surprise and when they are left for extended periods without power or water, they are usually dependent on emergency supplies trucked or flown in by agencies like FEMA or the American Red Cross.
The sad truth is, at any given moment your family could be struck by some kind of disaster, and it is a smart household that stocks up for those eventualities. Actually, there is much you can learn from nature if you want to be prepared to weather a storm, as the saying goes, and here are just a few of those survival tips you can discover.
The Gatherer Survives
Within the animal kingdom, there are quite a few species that are known to be gatherers. These creatures begin collecting seeds, nuts, berries and other plants that store well in order to have a ready food source throughout the long winter months. The most common winter gatherers are:
- Bears
- Squirrels
- Mice
- Chipmunks
- Snakes
Even toads store food for times of ‘famine.’ Families would do well to learn from gatherers in the animal kingdom if they want to survive an unexpected calamity of some kind, natural or manmade. If you aren’t a gardener who cans and/or vacuum seals produce from your garden, you may want to check out emergency rations at sites like Simplefamilypreparedness.Com.
Keep Plenty of Canned and Dry Goods on Hand
Even if you garden, some foodstuffs aren’t grown in the typical garden. You may want to have plenty of rice, dried beans, and pasta on hand. Also, you will need to stock up on bottled water, enough to keep your family in drinking and cooking water for a period of at least two weeks. In winter months heavy snow and ice storms can cut power or burst pipes, leaving whole towns or neighborhoods without electric and/or running water for extended periods of time.
The rule of thumb is to be prepared for at least 14 days. While some areas have been known to be without utilities for longer periods of time, the thinking is that government and philanthropic agencies can reach even the remotest of regions within that period of time. Even then, rations may be limited, so keep that in mind. It is always better to be overstocked than understocked.
From keeping extra paper goods and cleaning supplies on hand to stocking up on candles and firewood, you should have a checklist prepared in the event of an emergency. Speaking of emergencies, don’t forget to stock your first aid kit because times of disasters are also times when many people are injured in the cleanup or survival process. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and if you can afford it, try to stock up on more than you believe you’ll need. Being prepared with a survival kit may one day make the difference between life and death, so take example from nature to keep enough food and water stored to keep your family healthy until help arrives.