The Doomsday Survival Kit

Armageddon. The End Of The World. The End Of Time. Since the beginning of time civilizations have toyed with the idea of doomsday, and some religions have sweared by it, as secularists have done via warnings about climate change and nuclear Armageddons. Armageddon has been lurking in the mind of every civilization that has ever existed; even The Third Reich believed in the Apocalypse. In our time of modernity it is in our psyche like an uninvited guest causing pessimism and hopelessness; these fires are only stoked by the media acting like the proverbial prophet of doom.

Those who lived in New York City during the attack of 911 got a taste of what doomsday could be, of what an Apocalypse was. As I watched those two planes slam into The World Trade Center from my office window a couple blocks away, it indeed was a rehearsal for doomsday. Now as we are thrust into this sick economy it may be the end of the world as we know it-both economically and socially. But shall it be a blossoming new world or a doomsday fraught with pestilence, evil and hunger as the last book in the Bible -Revelation- alludes to as the end times? Regardless we as individuals must prepare as if it were a doomsday in our future

It's a fool whose caught with his pants down in public, hence, a person caught unprepared may be the biggest fool of all if he had a chance to be prepared. Before doomsday let's get into the Pre Doomsday mode where we take a look at our daily modus operandi. It may surprise how unprepared we are and be glad that we still have time.

First take a look around you at your significant others or friends and ask yourself how will this person act in a clutch-a disaster? Will he be calm when the food runs out and there's none coming in anytime soon and find creative ways to find some; or will he be thinking about cooking you and your dog like the Donner Party* did to one another when they were waylaid out west by bad weather?. Perhaps it may be time to get new associates. But the bottom line is know who you are associating with-their strengths and weaknesses.

The next thing you should do is get several high-beam flashlights, several battery operated radios, and around six months of batteries for those items. And it may be in your best interest if you carry one on your person just in case the electricity is kaput; a radio should be carried too.

Make sure you and your family have at least 3 months medication if they take any; six months would be the ideal and check to see the expiration date on it. A First Aid Kit with splints, band aids, tourniquets and antibiotic salve is key; A course in CPR and medical emergency is a good idea. Check your local Health Department for information about where to find courses for such things. All the above is good policy because of enforced curfews, and anarchy may shut down your daily operation.

As far as food is concerned some survivalists advocate canned goods, I advocate bagged dried goods like beans and rice because they are healthier than the former. Obtaining a Hibachi or any charcoal grill that can be cooked on without electricity is a good idea. If you carry 10 pounds of extra weight it may be useful if the food trucks can't get in and you must rely on reserve fat. Stock up on at least 6 months of food just in case there is anarchy in the streets or anything else which prevents food from being delivered to the stores.

Perhaps you and your neighbors can start a community garden if you live in a city. You may be able to plant on the roof of your apartment building and/or have a little food garden in your apartment. You may find it useful to go to survivalseedsbank.com for more information. Remember a person can survive without food for weeks, but water is another matter.

Water is needed everyday to sustain life and is not easily store because of its volume. However if you live in the country and have a well or a lot of space you're in good shape. However for those who live in an apartment or smaller quarters and don't have a lot of space, six months of water is good. Be sure to factor in 2 Gallons per human or pet per day for drinking. Omit any for bathing but keep some hand sanitizing lotion so you won't pass any germs.

Keep buckets around the house for alternative toilets if the sewage system fails .Bury your accumulated sewage in the ground with some bio-degradible material which you may buy. In the old days they called these waste buckets chamber pots or slop jars. Well what is old is new nowadays.

Have your house weatherized to prevent heat or cold from seeping from the windows. You can purchase yard of plastic or vinyl from any fabric store to accomplish this on the cheap. Keep blankets on hand-at least 10 per person-as wellas Camping Gear like tents and sleeping bags; yes you can use them in the house. Always have a adequate amount of clothes for each season.

Have an alternative means of transportation and be aware that public and private transportation may not be available at times if at all. Everyone should keep an adequate supply of walking shoes and a Bike will come in handy. There a many creative ways to hook up a bike. I've seen some that look like Cadillacs and beds.

Talk to people who have been through hard times like the Depression, Recessions, War and Social Upheavals. And don't get snooty just because someone isn't young; they went through similar like you when they were young-there is nothing new under the sun. Older persons have insight about how to survive hard times-they're alive right? If you don't have the option of talking to someone about that, there are many books written about the depression from an individual's point of view instead of the geopolitical nonsense.

If you do all of the above and have no security - you are in trouble. When all semblance of civilization is lost in the panic of the crisis and people start foraging for food and other thing to sustain life, morality and the moral compass may be out the door to be replaced with anarchy. Thus people either become prey or predators. But what about you? What about your family?

Some people advocate guns and others build fortresses to keep people out-but a good, keen mind might be better than a weapon. Knowing who and what is in your community may be key to your survival. A dog is good sometimes to prevent an attack-its bark sends shivers up the spine of any miscreant.

You and your family should have a place where you can meet at in case of an emergency and everyone should have an escape plan for the house, block, state etc In fact it wouldn't be unreasonable to have mock drill as people do with fire prevention. A friend of mind claims that her home was built by Holocaust Survivors as everyone had two entrances and thus two exits to escape if anyone was trying to get ahold of them. I walked through her house and it wasn't hard to get lost in it if you were not familiar with the layout.

Keep some mad money around for emergencies. It suggested that at least a hundred dollars per household member is essential. Remember cash is king if the ATM's shut down as some did during 911.

A stocked liquor cabinet is the order of the day, spirits taken moderately will keep you healthy and even your mood. It also is good for medicinal purposes in some instances to ease pain and get through a cold virus.

The best line of defense for doomsday is to be prepared both physically and psychologically. In this article we underscored some suggestions that may be helpful when you're in a pinch-the real doomsday kit is the one between your ears.

*Donner Party-Group of 19th Century Travelers who got lost out in the American west and had to resort to cannibalism. They maintain via their journals that the cannibalized had already expired-let the reader use his on judgement; ironically one of the surviving persons opened a restaurant which was successful.