Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (17 page)

Ready for something a bit more exciting than a savings plan at the local credit union? These options are higher risk but also give better coverage in case of certain potential disasters. Of course, if all the computers go down worldwide, and your money’s in Bitcoins, you may have a lot of useless 1s and 0s.

GO OFFSHORE
If you have some funds to spare, consider investing in foreign currencies in more economically stable regions of the world, or look into having a bank account outside the country. Just be sure that in the event of an emergency, you’ll have a way to access those funds.

GO FOR THE GOLD
Precious metals have been used as a medium of exchange for millennia, due to their rarity and beauty. Buying platinum, gold, or silver by the ounce is a little costly but may ultimately be worth it. Their value has stayed fairly consistent or risen over the years (though not so much, of late), and depending on how you buy them, their worth is measured in either intrinsic (the cost of the metal itself) or collectible value (if it is in the form of rare coins or memorabilia, either as a pure metal or mingled). Whatever metal you choose to invest in, don’t just rely on certificates that can be cashed in for metal later; get hold of the stuff itself and store it securely where you can access it Just like any other currency, it’ll be worthless if it’s out of reach.

GET CRYPTIC
The last few years have seen the rise of “cryptocurrencies”—created “moneys” used by people on the Internet (and sometimes offline), to buy everything from cupcakes to computers. Bitcoins, Litecoins, and the like are traded all the time by aficionados and can fluctuate in value, but in countries where the local economy and currency have been very unstable (such as Greece and Cyprus) some people have turned to this method of exchange for goods and services. It can be slightly tricky to get into the world of cryptocurrency, but it may be well worth the effort.

Once you decide how much money to keep on hand for emergencies, you’ve got to figure out how and where to keep it. In an ideal world you’d have it all in smaller bills, since in an emergency, shopkeepers are probably going to be cranky about making change for those Benjamins. That said, two grand in twenties is a big wad. Use your best judgment, and store as much of it as is reasonable in smaller bills, then use big bills for the rest of the stash for convenience. And we beg of you, whatever you do, don’t hide it under the mattress. That’s the first place burglars will look (the second is taped to the back of paintings, in case you were wondering). So, where to put it?

BURY TREASURE
Go all pirate-style and bury the booty in your yard. Be sure you use an airtight, waterproof container. A common mason jar is a great choice. And don’t forget where you buried it!

FREEZE YOUR ASSETS
If your freezer is packed with foil-wrapped leftovers, it’s easy to make one of those packages actually contain money, not mom’s meatloaf, as the label suggests. If you have a fairly empty freezer, this is a worse idea, as it may just stand out.

PICTURE THIS
Taping cash to the back of pictures is a terrible idea. But if you want to get a little craftier, you can stash currency in between a framed photo or poster and the cardboard backing.

BOOK IT
Ah, the old hollowed-out book trick. Corny as it sounds, if you have a bookcase full of hardcovers, it’s not hard to hide your cash among them. Use a sharp blade to carve out a pocket in the midst of the pages. Choose a really boring book so no one pulls it off the shelf and accidentally discovers your stash.

In most natural disasters and other emergencies, electrical power and computer lines go down for at least a little while. That means that not only are ATMs and card readers at your local supermarket down, even if you can get to your bank (assuming it’s not flooded, destroyed by a quake, or shut down due to terrorist threats) they may not be able to call up your account information.

So once you’ve found the right place to squirrel it safely away from thieves and partying teenagers (not to mention yourself—always resist the urge to dip in “just this once” when you need a few bucks), how much is smart to save? It rarely takes more than a week for utilities to come back on after a storm, flood, or earthquake, so a week’s worth of funds is the place to start.

Calculate what you’d spend on groceries and emergency supplies (also factor in the fact that price-gouging is more than likely, unfortunately). If authorities order an evacuation, gas and motel costs will come into play, as well. Your specific needs will vary based on the size of your family, where you live, where you’re going, and so forth, but experts estimate that a rough amount of two thousand dollars should cover those costs, with a little extra on top—just in case.

You’ll probably want to have a range of fuel options on hand, depending on your needs and what sort of emergency you feel is most likely to happen in your region. This chart gives you a starting point for considering your needs and making decisions.

There are many different types of fuel containers, but for gas the most common style is red plastic with a built-in spout of some form. It’s standard that kerosene containers are blue and diesel ones are yellow. It’s important for you to know and follow this convention so you don’t end up pouring diesel into your car and ruining it, or putting gasoline into your camping lantern and frying your eyebrows (at the very least).

All liquid fuels lose potency over time. For example, diesel will last about a year if you’re storing it in a sealed container at temperatures below 70°F (21°C). If storing at much higher temperatures, that time drops down to six months. Fuels can also develop deposits that block filters and affect efficiency—or even damage your engine.

So, what to do? Luckily there are additives you can use to extend your stored fuel’s life without affecting its eventual efficiency. Check your local home-improvement store for products, and follow instructions carefully. You should be able to extend the life of stored fuel for a few years, which could quite literally be a lifesaver.

You might also want to consider looking into storing pure gasoline, which is different than the stuff you pump out of your local station’s pumps, in that it has no ethanol mixed in. Look on the Web to find stations.

No matter how much liquid fuel you’re planning to stockpile, certain considerations remain the same. You’re dealing with a combustible, poisonous material, so you should apply a few extra measures of caution.

CONTAINERS
Even the fumes are combustible, so liquid fuel should be stored in airtight containers that do not vent. You should be able to walk into the area where your fuel is stored and smell nothing. If that’s not the case, either fumes or liquid is leaking, and you need to fix that fast. Store your fuel in approved plastic or metal containers, and check them frequently.

LOCATION
Don’t store fuel in your basement or even in your garage if you can help it. The ideal spot is a storage shed on your property located at least 30 feet (9 m) from your home (this is true for firewood as well). In the event of a house fire, you don’t want to add any more combustibles to the mix. Some recommend underground tanks, but this is illegal in many places and a serious risk to the quality of your groundwater. Don’t risk it. If you want to stockpile fuel in bulk, you can purchase above-ground storage drums.

TEMPERATURE
As with food storage, you want your fuel kept somewhere clean, dark, and as cold as possible. Direct light and higher temperatures can degrade fuel’s quality quickly and, in a worst-case scenario, pose a fire risk as well.

There’s a school of thought that says you can never stockpile too much fuel. While there’s something to that, your space and resources are limited, so you need to do a little figuring and make the right decision for your circumstances. Here are the rock-bottom basics.

BUGGING OUT
If you need to leave fast, and gas stations are unlikely to be open (which will happen in just about any natural disaster), figure out how much gas or diesel you’ll need to fill your tank and to refuel on your way to wherever you imagine will be your destination. That will vary wildly depending on where you are, how many cars your family has, and how far you reckon you’ll need to drive. Do that math and then add a little extra just for safety.

STAYING PUT
If you have a gas-powered generator, try and estimate how you’ll use it and what that would burn. A rule of thumb is about 15 gallons (57 l) per week, assuming absolutely minimal usage. How many weeks do you think you’ll need to prepare for? Do that math and stock up accordingly.