If the last couple of years has taught us anything, it is that we need to be prepared for global emergencies. The panic buying that occurred at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that many people could not find some of the most basic necessities, such as toilet paper. And now, thanks to the war in Ukraine, there are fears of a global food shortage as well as rapidly rising energy prices that could mean blackouts across the country. So, what can you do to ensure that you and your family are prepared for all eventualities?
Preparing for a Financial Crisis
Financial crises occur periodically and when they do happen, people inevitably find themselves out of work and struggling to pay their bills. It is impossible to know how and when a financial crisis will occur and whether it will affect you directly but being prepared is the best way to face it head on. This means making sure you have enough money to weather things like rising inflation, higher interest rates, or even a cyber-attack that shuts down the banks.
Getting a handle on your spending is one way to be prepared. Try cutting down on your monthly expenses by going through your bank statements and seeing where you are spending unnecessarily. Try going out less and cooking from scratch instead of getting takeout. Make a point of keeping some cash in your home, either in a locked box or a safe. In our current relatively cashless society, it makes sense to have some access to cash in case there is a failure in the banking system and ATMs are not working.
Preparing for a Food Shortage
You don’t have to go into immediate panic-buying to prepare for a global food shortage. Getting ahead of the game here is a wise move, however. Think about the things that would benefit you and your family in the event of a food shortage. For example, non-perishable items such as pasta are great to have on hand. The people at CedarStone Industry say that investing in a food-grade stainless steel tank means that you will have somewhere to store either food or water to help in the event of an emergency. You should also stock up on canned foods if you have the room to store them.
Another way to weather a global food shortage is by growing your own produce. Even if you don’t have a lot of garden space, you can grow a variety of vegetables in pots and planters that you can place on a balcony or patio or even a window sill.
Preparing for Blackouts
With worldwide demand for energy higher than the current supply and prices rising all the time, it is not a stretch to assume we could see power blackouts, particularly over the colder months when demand increases. Being prepared for such events is vital.
You should consider a way of heating yourself and your family with a portable gas heater or extra blankets. Make sure you have plenty of flashlights or candles as well as a way to cook. A small portable camping stove with gas will enable you to boil water or even cook some eggs.
Benefits of Being Prepared
There is nothing weird about being prepared for a disaster situation. You don’t have to go full-on survivalist but making sure that your family is relatively comfortable for a short period of time just makes sense. Knowing that you have heat, light and warmth will help to reduce any fear or anxiety that might otherwise creep in during such a situation.
