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Stocking up on supplies to survive an emergency situation is easy. We can all buy stuff and learn how to use it. But when the time comes that we really need it, there's no taking chances on preparation. You may think you have your plans and gear in order, but until you run through the following scenarios, there's no way to know if you're truly ready for anything.
These 4 tips will help ensure that you're ready to bug out.
1. Dial In Your Bug Out Gear
Before hikers complete the 2,000-mile journey across the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)–which starts at the southern border of California and ends at the northern border of Washington–they have to make a few test trips to get in shape and dial in their gear.
But what does it mean to “dial in your gear”? It's simply the process of using your gear over and over to figure out what you need, what you don't need, and to get a feel for how to use everything efficiently. Testing your bug out materials is no different, whether it's a bag you keep in your car, a stowed-away firearm, or even food that's ready to be moved at a moment's notice.
Just like a hiker preparing for the PCT, you should take out your gear and put it through a few real-life scenarios to make sure you have all the right stuff and get rid of any excess you don't need.
2. Know Your Technology
There's a lot of great technology out there for preppers, but if you're not comfortable using it in non-survival situations, it won't be much use when you really need it. Take Roadpost satellite phones, for example, which can make calls from anywhere on the planet and can certainly save your life if cell service were to go down. If you let this phone sit in a drawer and collect dust, you could completely forget how it works years later by the time you actually need it.
Keep your tech charged and use it often to stay familiar with it. This is just another step in “dialing in your gear.”
3. Practice Your Family Escape Plan Every Month
You're ready to go and you know your plan, but does your family? Don't count on a single run-through to form good habits. Real emergencies are full of panic and uncertainty, and only repetition can help prepare your loved ones for real-life disaster.
Give your family a schedule to practice multiple escape plans for different scenarios. Then, once they're comfortable with each plan, spring some unscheduled drills on them. This will give them a feel for being prepared without being able to prepare.
4. Assess Your “Survival Wealth”
Wealth is often described as the amount of time you'd be able to live without working. So instead of dollars, wealth is measured in time. Survival wealth is no different — it measures the amount of time your supplies and knowledge would help you live in an emergency situation.
When you go through the above scenarios, you will start to get a feel for your survival wealth. Try to determine a real number and then assess if that amount of wealth is enough for you and your family to endure any possible situation.
