Outdoor Life Prepare for Anything Survival Manual (8 page)

Nothing is going to stop a Mad Max–style gang of marauders from tearing their way into your home during the apocalypse, but you can toughen up your home against common thieves and make it harder for them to gain entry.

LOCK THE DOORS
Solid-core doors and beefy deadbolts are a great way to discourage break-ins. Yes, these can be pricey, but they should add value to your dwelling and a little more peace of mind to your night’s sleep. Sliding-glass doors are extremely vulnerable; be sure they have a locking steel pin to keep them from being forced open, or go low-tech with a length of dowel or 2x4 that you can place in the door’s tracks to keep it from being forced open by intruders.

BE WINDOW SMART
If any of your external doors has a glass pane in it, make sure it’s made of shatterproof plastic or safety glass. Be sure that all of your windows lock (however, also be sure they’re easy to unlock from the interior, for fire safety).

GET THE REAL DEAL
Get a home security service. It’s hard to beat an actual alarm service and monitoring. Modern services even include fire detection, carbon monoxide monitoring, and other features. If the cost is deterring you, sit down and write down what your life is worth. It should be worth more than what the alarm service costs.

Your garage door is a particular point of weakness, since most of them have rather flimsy construction. If you have a security system, be sure it covers the garage (you’d be surprised how many people forget this step).

If you have an automatic garage-door opener, you can reprogram it to be different than factory settings. Contact the manufacturer for details—it’s usually very simple and adds an extra layer of security.

If you’re going out of town (or want to be extra secure overnight, or when home alone), you should consider installing a slide-bar latch or a padlock to keep the door from being manually rolled up. You can also cut a piece of wood to fit snugly into the door’s track, and clamp it in place, preventing it from rolling up. Disable the opener beforehand, so that if you forget and try to open it, you won’t damage the door.

Barring your front door (if it’s inward-facing) may seem a little medieval or excessive, but if you live in a crime-prone neighborhood, or are concerned about home invasion before, during, or after a major disaster, they’re worth considering. You can buy a commercial prefab kit, but it’s not that hard to install some sturdy brackets into the studs on each side of the door frame (go for the top, middle, and bottom just to be safe), and keep three sturdy 2x4s at the ready for when you need to hole up securely.

Get 10 different survival experts together and you’ll hear at least 10 different ideas to fill the perfect survival pantry. Factors include what emergency you’re preparing for (earthquake? economic crash? the end times?), how many folks you need to feed, and what you like. Your postapocalyptic pantry shouldn’t be all beer and cheese puffs (although the latter are great fire starters), nor do you want to spend weeks, months, or years gnawing on hardtack and tofu jerky. A good pantry plan balances out storability, nutrition, and taste. The following pages have a few checklists to get you started.

You’ll probably want to make your first trip to one of the big warehouse stores, since they tend to stock large bulk packages and have great prices. However, selection can be spotty. So, in order to fill in the gaps, look online and in specialty stores for additional items to round out your supplies.

A lot of people get superexcited about prepping and feel like they need to stock up on everything immediately. It makes more sense to build your stash a bit at a time, being sure to get what you really want and need, rather than what’s on sale this week at the MegaloMart.

It’s debatable what’s absolutely essential for your survival pantry, and what’s a “nice to have,” or even a “you stocked up on what?” Here are some pretty inarguable staples everyone should at least consider.

SALT
It makes your food taste better, helps you preserve meats, and lasts pretty much forever. Almost all salt sold commercially is iodized—but check just to be sure. You need that iodine for thyroid health.

BAKING POWDER
This pantry essential is used in cooking, but it’s also good for cleaning, deodorizing, or other household chores.

FATS & OILS
Tubs of solid vegetable shortening have fairly long shelf lives. Olive oil is healthy and versatile but tends to go bad more quickly, so buy it in smaller bottles and open as needed. Coconut oil is a surprising favorite (see item 37).

SUGAR & OTHER SWEETS
White sugar can be stored for a very long period if packaged right (see item 36). Honey and molasses are also good to have on hand for cooking and for livening up oatmeal and the like.

BEANS
Sure, beans and rice are practically a prepper cliché, but most clichés exist for a reason. Dried, beans can last for up to 30 years, they’re full of nutrients, and when cooked right, they’re really pretty tasty.

RICE
Like beans, rice is one of those go-to staples that has kept large portions of this planet’s population alive through good times and bad. Combine with beans to boost nutrients.

VITAMINS
No matter how well your pantry is stocked, you may not get the variety that would be ideal in your diet. Supplement with a good multipurpose vitamin and mineral pill just to be sure.

CANNED GOODS
Stock up on a good selection of fruits and vegetables—choose whatever you and your family like best, but be sure to get a variety for extra nutrition and to prevent boredom if you’re eating out of your stockpiles for a while.

COFFEE AND/OR TEA
Some people might class these beverages under luxuries, not essentials, but those people have never seen an addict at 6 a.m. without caffeine. Even if you’re not a giant fan of coffee, it can be a fantastic trade good, so you should stock at least a few cans just in case.

DRIED FRUIT
A great way to store fruit for the long-term, and a fantastic source of concentrated nutrition. A handful of raisins can sweeten your morning cereal, and some dried apricots make a nice portable source of energy. Buy them in bulk or make your own (see item 178 for instructions).

Protein is absolutely essential to your everyday health, and many of us already eat less than we should . . . even without the additional stress of trying to survive heavy weather or other challenges. Here are some key protein sources to keep on hand.

HARD CHEESE
In Europe, people stash cheeses for months or even years inside cool, dark caves. The secret? A good coating of wax. It’s not easy to find hard, waxed cheeses in the United States, but they are available, and the little search to find a wax-clad wheel of Parmesan will be worth it in 10 years when you grate it on your postapocalyptic pasta.

JERKY
Dried meat or fish is close to 100 percent protein, and it lasts a long, long time (Native Americans and other cultures made jerky for long-term use and for easier transport). Buy all-natural products that have fewer additives—the same stuff that keeps it “moist” also makes it spoil more quickly. You can also make your own (see item 186).

CANNED & DRIED FISH
Stock your pantry with canned tuna and salmon, as well as surprisingly versatile sardines (see item 105). All fish are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, and any fish that has tiny, edible bones, such as kippers, also provides a good dose of calcium.

WHEY PROTEIN
Protein powder isn’t just for gym rats! It has a long shelf life and a very high protein content—a small scoop can have as much protein as a whole steak. Stir into water or milk for a high-protein, on-the-go meal replacement.

NUTS & NUT BUTTERS
Nuts can go bad relatively quickly, but they’re a good source of protein, healthy fats, and calories, so it makes sense to have some on hand. Buy peanut butter in smaller jars so you only have to open and use as needed.

DEHYDRATED MILK
It’s nutritious and long-lasting when nitrogen-packaged, and can be used in cooking or to add to that coffee you hoarded. You did remember to hoard the coffee, didn’t you?