WHEN THE GRID GOES DOWN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

If EMP happens, sewage will be the most important issue. It will back up from the municipality sewage plant. You probably have to disconnect your municipal energy water and sewage first, then worry about your fridge. Living through Katrina, the loss of municipal electricity caused the most damage. 

A reliable power supply is the lifeblood of any modern society. Disruptions to everyday life are exponentially higher if an electric grid attack prompts a major power outage. Due to the significant public safety concerns, and the economic fallout resulting from even a short power outage, the electricity system “faces imminent danger” from cyberattacks. If an outage were to occur, communications to the public would be a critical link to recovery. Utilities must prepare now to be in the best position to communicate and maintain the public’s trust throughout the event and into the future.

Disasters come and go each year. It is through developing a self-reliant mindset, having essential survival gear and a handful of critical skills, that you and your family will be able to prevail in an urban crisis.  When the Grid Goes Down will show you how to make your home and lifestyle more self-sufficient and the critical gear needed along the way. 

Over 80% of people on this planet live within 100 miles of a coastline. Despite attempts at getting the population better prepared, according to FEMA, only 40% of the U.S. population actively prepares.

Topics include: the six key areas for creating a self-reliant home : 

water storage and purification methods
alternative water sources at home
creating a water map for your region
the three essential food types to stock up on
designing an off-grid medical kit
home security and personal defense measures
safeguarding the exterior and interior of your home
heating, cooling and lighting when the power goes out
alternative sanitation and hygiene methods

A Simple Way to Cook
Since our stove is electric, if the lights go out, we can't cook. But since we can boil water with a handy little one-burner, propane stove that I've had for decades, we can quite comfortably weather any short-term blackout without even bothering to fire up the generator. Don't have a camping stove? I highly recommend one, for yourself and as a gift.

Discover how our grandfathers used to preserve food for long periods of time.

How Long Could You Live Off Your Larder?
The pantry's always pretty full around here, and we could certainly survive quite nicely for a few weeks if the supermarket was closed, its shelves bare, and/or the road to town impassable. But we're always happy to stock up when the items we regularly use are on sale.
Focus on canned goods and dried fruit that can be stored without refrigeration and eaten without cooking. Don't go for warehouse-sized cans, unless your family can eat the contents in one sitting. Without refrigeration, food can go bad quickly. And if you don't have a hand-crank can opener, pick one up.
Don't forget to keep a supply of the items you buy at the health food store, any paper goods that you regularly use, and include some comfort foods, too. You'll all be happier campers if you've got some special treats squirreled away.

Back to Basics: How to Learn & Enjoy Traditional American Skills,The Lost Ways  is truly a treasure trove of useful and fun information for family projects, whether you want to garden, fish, raise chickens, make your own cheese, yogurt, beer or hand-cranked ice cream, build a sauna, or make your home more energy efficient. We really love this book, which makes a great gift.
 

Some have seen this problem coming for a long time and changed their entire way of life by going off-grid. They have found alternative sources such as solar, wind and diesel to power their homes and machinery. A majority of us, who have not gone off-grid, are making a concerted effort to avoid dependence on this ailing infrastructure and preparing for life without it.

Books can be your best pre-collapse investment.