Category: Gear

Essential Survival Skills: Knowledge You Can’t Stockpile

JM Mason
A man in the forest with no shirt on is holding a stick over a small fire. There are fallen logs on the ground around him.

You can hoard food, water, and equipment, but when disaster strikes, skills often matter more than stuff. Gear breaks, runs out, or gets left behind. Knowledge stays with you forever. These essential survival skills could save your life—and they cost nothing but time to learn. Fire: Warmth, Water, and Morale Fire provides heat, purifies water, cooks food, signals rescuers, and boosts morale. It’s foundational to survival. Multiple ignition methods: Never rely on a single fire-starting technique. Master at least three: Lighter/matches are obvious but fail when wet or damaged. Store…

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Urban Prepping: Surviving and Thriving in the Concrete Jungle

JM Mason
A young woman in a closet in an apartment is looking through totes on a shelf

Living in an apartment or urban environment doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for emergencies. In fact, city dwellers face unique challenges that make preparedness even more critical. Limited space, closer neighbors, and infrastructure dependencies require creative solutions—but they’re absolutely achievable. The Urban Prepper’s Reality Check Forget the rural homestead fantasy. You’re not buying 40 acres and installing a bunker. You’ve got 800 square feet, shared walls, and a landlord who doesn’t love modifications. That’s okay—millions of people live this way, and you can still prepare effectively. Urban preparedness focuses on:…

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Creating a Family Emergency Communication Plan: Staying Connected When It Matters Most

JM Mason
A family sitting at a table looking at a map with a notebook and cell phone. There is a mother, a father and two small girls.

During emergencies, communication becomes both critical and challenging. Cell towers overload, power outages disable internet, and family members scatter to work, school, and other locations. A solid communication plan ensures your family can connect, coordinate, and reunite when disaster strikes. Why Digital Isn’t Enough We’ve become dependent on smartphones, but they fail precisely when we need them most. During major disasters: Your communication plan must account for these failures and provide multiple backup methods. Establishing Your Out-of-State Contact One of the most effective strategies is designating an out-of-state contact person.…

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Emergency Power Solutions for Your Home: Practical Options for Every Budget

JM Mason
There is a portable power machine sitting on a workbench in a garage with a small solar panel. There is a refrigerator in the background.

Power outages are increasing in frequency and duration across the country. Whether from severe weather, aging infrastructure, or grid maintenance, losing electricity is no longer a rare occurrence. Having a backup power plan isn’t paranoid—it’s practical. Assess Your Actual Needs Before buying any equipment, honestly evaluate what you need to power during an outage. You probably don’t need to run your entire home. Most people need: Make a list with wattage requirements for each item. Your refrigerator’s label shows this information, usually between 100-800 watts. Add a safety margin of…

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Building Your First 72-Hour Emergency Kit: A Practical Guide

JM Mason
Overhead view of a neighborhood with a lot of houses. There is a storm in the background with lightening.

When disaster strikes—whether it’s a hurricane, winter storm, or unexpected evacuation—having a well-stocked 72-hour emergency kit can make the difference between panic and preparedness. This guide will walk you through building a practical kit that actually works for real-life emergencies. Why 72 Hours? Emergency management professionals use 72 hours as a benchmark because it’s the typical time frame before organized relief efforts can reach affected areas during major disasters. Your kit should sustain you and your family during this critical window. The Foundation: Water and Food Water is your top…

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