Recently, the White House decided to step up its efforts to be ready in case of a catastrophic solar event. Here’s what you need to know:
In 2012, a massive solar flare narrowly missed the earth. Solar flares can create an intense electromagnetic pulse capable of:
- Frying the power grid
- Taking down the Internet
- Wiping out all cell phone capability
- Rendering anything that uses electricity (including your car) inoperable
If such an event were to take place, power could be out for months – or even years. How would you survive such a disaster?
If you couldn’t use your credit or ATM card, what would you do? If the utilities to your home ceased functioning, what’s your Plan B? If your grocery store or pharmacy shelves were stripped bare in a tidal wave of panic buying, how would you feed/take care of your needs and those you care about?
The key lies in being ready. You likely wear a seatbelt, own a fire extinguisher, and have some sort of insurance. All of these are things you hope never to need, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have them.
Simply put, you cannot depend upon the government to be there to help you – not in any kind of mass, national event. Gone are the days when the United States kept enough food and medicine on hand to take care of all of its citizens. Today, the government has plans only to take care of itself. You, your friends, your family – are all on your own.
The time to get ready is before something happens, because when society breaks down, so do people.
So in the spirit of developing an “every day ready” mindset, here are a few links I thought you would enjoy:
One Second After by William Forstchen is one of my all-time favorite thrillers. It’s a fabulous look into life after a catastrophic national disaster and a great means to introduce the concept of being ready with friends or loved ones who might be reluctant to explore preparedness.
A pop culture spin on the basics from the CDC. Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse
Preparedness 101: A Newbie Guide
Getting started takes tenacity. Here’s a deeper dive into several of the issues covered above.