The Basics

There are certian things you need to cover when you talk about surviving in any type of enviroment or area.

Here is a list (in order)
1. Shelter
2. Water
3. Warmth (in winter)
4. Food
5. Security


There are other parts of surviving, but these are the basics. You can build on these 5 things as little or as much as you want or need to.

Today we will cover shelter/home

Shelter.
Since I plan to stay in my home, shelter is a given for me, but it it is not done with just staying at home. If you lose power thing can get ugly quick. In the winter it will get cold fast in your home. Nothing works that you are used to using every day. Here is what I have set up at my home. First I have a fire place with enough wood to last me a while. I also have a gas grill. You can use your camping equipment (Gas Cooker) at home, this is dual prupose gear. If you have to leave you home you can take these things with you (camping gear) this includes a portable heater.
Some of these propane items can only be used outside, read the manuel that come with the item.

Prep your home for survival
I have plywood boards I can use to cover my windows (Hurricane boards) in case of a bad storm or in case a window breaks (tree come through it) it will also help keep people out. Thick blankets can be use to cover the windows during the winter (helps keep the cold out).

Power/Propane
I keep a small generator on hand to keep my fridge and freezer running. It is hard to store fuel (gasoline) on hand for these things ( I keep 10 gallons). Everything else is what I use for camping, battery powered lamps (gas one are good too). I am a big fan of propane I use the small green ones (DOT 39). I can cook, heat, ands light with these. They are small and store easily and they do not cost very much. I aslo keep a couple of the big propane bottles on hand for my gas grill and cooker.

Toilet use.
Yes you can still use your toilet, water systems are usally seperate from power systems. If for some reason your normal water supply (city or well) does not work here is what you can do.
Your Water heater in a normal house holds between 30 to 40 gallons of water (drinkable). Take a hose and hook it up to the connection on the outside of your water heater, run the hose to the closest toilet, take the lid off the tank part, turn hose on and fill the tank up and use toilet like you would normaly. It works on gravity no power needed!

This set up can be used for other thing also.

Your Shelter/home is vital to your survival, it keeps you warm, keeps you out of the weather elements, also it is much easier to survive at home, because you have all the supplies you need to keep you alive.

Next Blog:
Water storage.