A common assumption made by most survivalists is that the world is most likely to end when they’re sitting comfortably at home. While this is highly sensible, it may lead one to make dangerous mistakes that may ultimately take a toll on their wallets.
While it is smart to keep your house equipped with everything you could need in an SHTF event, tragedies are just as likely to happen while you are at work or conducting errands around town as they are at home. In the worst-case situation, you may find yourself utterly unprepared to deal with a severe, life-altering catastrophe.
To be ready, you’ll want to prepare your workplace and vehicle at all times. Here is a quick checklist and guide to keep you prepared for any emergency:
- Making bug-out bags for your car and office
- Preparing roadside emergency kits
- Preparing extra fuel
- Keeping your car maintained
- Keeping bad-weather gear in your office
- Making an escape map
- Familiarizing yourself with safety measures at your workplace
Getting Started: Keeping your car ready to go
Since you’ll most likely be closer to your vehicle than your home when tragedy strikes, it would be a good idea to start preparing your car first. These are a few steps for a quick start:
Making a handy bug-out bag for your car
Although you certainly won’t have enough space in your car to keep a fully equipped bug-out bag (BOB), it is a good idea to prepare a smaller version to guarantee that you will be ready. Remember to keep the bag as compact and small as possible.
Keep all the necessities in your bag, which should at the very least include:
- One complete change of clothes
- One pair of walking shoes or hiking boots
- Two gallons of water
- About 4,000 calories worth of granola, nuts or protein bars
- A basic first-aid kit
- A spare phone
- A multitool/hunting knife
- Lighter or matches
- Large tarp
- Emergency blanket
- Poncho or raincoat
- A firearm
- Extra ammunition
- Map of the area
As you’ll have to be selective about what you carry in your BOB, there are a variety of possible additions to consider based on your temperature, terrain, and needs. You’ll have to alter your BOB if you have pets, old folks, or kids under your supervision.
It is really easy to overpack, believing that you’ll only need a fraction of what you’ve brought. Don’t be afraid to make some cuts. You’ll be glad you lowered your weight in an emergency since you’ll have to go faster and conserve gasoline.
Remember that if your automobile is broken into, everything inside, including your firearms, might be taken. Even if bugging out is your plan A, you wouldn’t want to spend all of your survival funds on equipment and supplies for your car.
Preparing a roadside emergency kit
There’s a good possibility you’ll be forced to drive under less-than-ideal situations in a survival situation. It is also possible that the roads are broken or covered with debris. You may be pushed to drive across natural terrain that is incredibly rough and uneven. This raises the likelihood of a punctured tire or even stuck on the side of the road.
Having problems with your vehicle has never been fun, but if it occurs amid civil upheaval or a natural disaster, it may put your life in risk. As a result, you should try to be as ready as possible while dealing with vehicular issues. Cars today may not be as self-serviceable as older models, but there are still lots of issues that may be resolved on the road.
Your emergency roadside kit must at least have the following items:
- Jumper cords
- Triangle reflectors, flares, or LED danger indicators
- One quart of oil is recommended
- A gallon of antifreeze/coolant that has already been combined
- Multitool or basic tool set
- Tire inflator (canned)
- A portable compressor
- Gauge for tire pressure
- Jack
- Four-way lug wrench
Make sure that everyone in your household knows how to change a tire as it is a straightforward process that’s simple to teach. The more talents each member of your group has, the more time you will be able to save and the greater your chances of survival will be.
Prepare extra fuel
Apart from driving a car that can operate on non-conventional fuels like plant oils, there aren’t many methods to prepare for long-term fuel supply. Gas stations will eventually run out of gasoline, and your car will no longer be a viable means of transport. You may, however, take a few actions to improve your readiness.
One of the best alternatives is to keep a small amount of additional gasoline on your premises in a secure and authorized container. Make sure the reservoir is in a secure location away from your home. It’s also a good idea to conceal or disguise the tank in some other way, since you don’t want it to draw the notice of passers-by who might require gasoline as well.
Keeping your car maintained
Keeping your automobile in good, working condition is one of the finest ways to set yourself up for post-apocalyptic success. Make it a habit to get your tires oil changed on a regular basis, as well as to keep your fluids topped off. Remember to check your spare tire’s air pressure regularly.
More importantly, have your car serviced once a year. Inspect all of your car’s key systems, particularly those with wearable components, such as your belts, brakes, and clutch. If the technician notices any issues, get them repaired right away.
Getting Started: Prepping your Office for the worst
Now that you’re satisfied with how prepared your car is, it’s now time to shift your focus to getting your office ready. Remember that a million things may happen to prevent you from getting to your car, so you’ll want to be prepared to leave your office and head straight for safety at any time.
The following are some of the first steps you should take:
Preparing a separate BOB for your office
Make a smaller bug out bag like the one in your car, and keep it in your workplace. You might need to restrict the amount of space you use, so concentrate on having the most essential stuff. More or less, it can be the same stuff in the BOB that you have stashed in your car.
However, be aware that others, including your boss, employees, and cleaning staff, will have access to this BOB. This implies you should keep any potentially dangerous items out of the bag. You don’t want to put your career in jeopardy for the sake of being prepared.
Keep bad-weather gear in your office
Although your workplace bug out bag will be restricted in storage, you should have enough space in your office to put a jacket and/or thick overcoat in case the weather turns bad while you’re at work. This is not only a great concept to put into practice in daily life, but it also would be helpful in the event of a natural disaster.
If possible, keep a pair of rubber overboots, a decent winter hat, and a scarf at your workplace. A pair of small hand warmers, for that matter, probably wouldn’t take much room on your desk but will be useful if you need to make an easy escape in chilly weather.
Make a map of all the routes you’ll need in case of an emergency
In the case of an emergency, you’ll need to get out of your office as quickly as possible, so familiarize yourself with the best routes you may take. Your house will most likely be your final stop, but it’s also a good idea to plan routes to the nearest and safest highway and the local hospital.
You wouldn’t want to name a specific path to these locations though. Because emergencies have a habit of clogging highways and closing main highways, make sure you map out multiple routes to each essential location. A paper map with several routes indicated is a good idea to keep in your bag. You won’t have to rely on electronic GPS gadgets or mapping software this way.
Learn about the safety measures at your workplace and where to find important resources
Take advantage of the emergency evacuation plans that most big offices will have accessible for your consideration. This will not only inform you how to get out of the building in an emergency, but it will also tell you how everyone else is attempting to leave the office. It may assist you in avoiding crowds or anticipated bottlenecks and determining a different path to safety.
You should learn where to find critical safety equipment like fire extinguishers, defibrillators, flashlights, first aid kits, and other tools. These tools will not only be useful in a crisis, but they may also come in handy at work on any given day.
