New Orleans has just breathed a sigh of relief as the latest hurricane came and went without much destruction. But other places around the globe haven't been so lucky. 

China was recently hit with two devastating earthquakes. So was Peru. That earthquake might have been linked to the volcano exploding in nearby Chile. And who can forget the Indonesian tsunami which claimed 300,000 people, people who just vanished from the face of the earth as though grabbed by an unseen hand?

Disaster! It touches us in the news and through the airwaves. It is everpresent as a constant reminder of how fragile life and existence can be. Yet, as common as it may seem to be today, how do you prepare for it?  

Most of us take the safety and convenience of our daily lives very much for granted. We are used to flicking the switch and having our entire home illuminated, even in the darkest parts of the night. We can go to the refrigerator or microwave at any time of the day, and get a snack when our stomachs growl. We can turn on the faucet or uncap a bottle to get the refreshingly clean water we need to drink.

For many people in the United States, that façade of safety and comfort was demolished by recent events, such as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.  People were deprived of everything they had once taken for granted and were forced to fend for themselves – sometimes with horrible consequences.

However, we can learn from the sadness and destruction caused by that disaster.  We can learn to stop relying on government organizations to provide for us when we’re thrown into a worst case scenario. Instead, we can learn to make preparedness part of our lifestyle.

Why a Preparedness Lifestyle

Some of you may be thinking: “I’m prepared. I know what to do in case of an emergency.” Unfortunately, preparedness is not something you can do in advance, forget about, and use effectively when the time comes. It just doesn’t work that way.

Our ancestors are a great example. They couldn’t afford not to be prepared at all times for the worst that could happen.  Taking the necessary steps to be ready against the forces of nature and other risks were the main reason so many survived to become prosperous later on.

People who say they are ready for an emergency usually are not going to have the skills and preparation necessary to truly weather a serious problem, especially if that problem ends up lasting a long time. You may have stored some canned goods in your basement just in case your home gets blown away by a tornado. But what are you going to do if something prevents your family from getting electricity, food, heat, or other necessities long-term? Having an answer means you’re living a preparedness lifestyle.

Steps to a Preparedness Lifestyle

One of the main differences between being ready for an emergency and truly being prepared is the way you handle the food situation. Having a storehouse of food in a safe environment is definitely a good idea because you need ready access to nourishment in case your traditional convenient food supply is unavailable.

While you can purchase freeze dried food or canned goods to store, these will only provide you with nourishment for a limited period of time. If they run out before you have access to a grocery store again, what will you do to feed yourself and your family?

The answer is part of a preparedness lifestyle: cultivating your own crops. By growing crops yourself and by using these as the food you preserve for your future needs, you’ll not only be saving money over the cost of those canned goods but you’ll also be teaching yourself a skill that will be valuable for the rest of your life, no matter what happens in the future.

Water is another critical element you’ll need for your survival. Again, most people prepare for an emergency in much the same way they’d prepare for a camping or hiking excursion. They buy some bottled water or some of those emergency water pouches you can find at sporting good stores. But those small amounts of water aren’t going to last forever and aren’t going to be very helpful when you need water to cook with or for basic hygiene needs.

Storing water is an important habit to get into. You can purchase water storage barrels in a variety of sizes from 15 to 55 gallons. If they are stored in a cool, dry area, your water should keep indefinitely for a long time. However, the barrels can also be reused to catch rainwater or to store water that you’ve boiled for safety from rivers or streams. Again, this is all part of a preparedness lifestyle. So is learning how to conserve water so you don’t end up being wasteful.

Finally, you’ll need to learn some basic survival skills and have some basic tools. Even if you wouldn’t normally hurt a living creature, you need to be ready to kill food in order to survive. Learn how to use a bow and arrow – it’s better than a gun because it’s reusable in case you run out of ammo. Another very usable skill: learning how to skin and clean an animal, preserve the meat, and cook it to perfection will undoubtedly come in handy. 

And don’t forget mastering the skills of firebuilding.
 
These are the beginning step in a good preparedness plan. Do what your ancestors did. Live preparedness as a lifestyle. It's better to be prepared than sorry.