Have you ever actually carried your bug-out bag for more than a mile? 1. Yes, I test it regularly 2. Once or twice 3. No but I should 4. I don't have one yet Reply with your answer!

What's the one thing in your bug-out bag you'd never leave behind? Not the obvious stuff — your personal must-have.

What NOT to pack in a bug-out bag (FEMA + Army guidance): → Full-size tools (weight kills you) → Gear you've never tested → More than 3 days of food → Anything you can't carry at a jog Most overlooked item? Reference material. "I think I remember" vs "here are the exact steps" can be life or death.

The average American now spends nearly twice as long without power per year compared to a few years ago. The grid is getting worse, not better. Aging infrastructure + stronger storms = longer outages. This isn't fear — it's the data.

The psychology of survival — why some people freeze and others act:

What's the one skill you'd want to already know if everything went sideways tomorrow?

The Army uses the SURVIVAL acronym: S — Size up the situation U — Undue haste makes waste R — Remember where you are V — Vanquish fear and panic I — Improvise and improve V — Value living A — Act like the natives L — Learn basic skills BEFORE you need them That last one is the whole point.

The US Army Survival Manual starts with psychology, not fire-building. Because your skills are worthless if panic takes over first. The #1 survival tool is your ability to think clearly under stress.

5 communication methods that work when cell towers don't: 1. GMRS radios — 20+ mile range, no exam, $35 license covers the whole family 2. Ham radio — steeper learning curve but unmatched range and reliability 3. Mesh networking devices (goTenna, Meshtastic) — text via Bluetooth relay 4. Whistle + …

Quick test: could your family reach each other right now with no cell service, no internet, no power? If not — what's the gap?

A family communication kit costs less than one month of cell bills: → GMRS radios ($85-250) → $35 FCC license (covers whole family, 10 yrs) → Laminated contact cards → 2 meeting points → Fixed check-in schedule Total: $150-400 for a family of 4.

Texas needed an emergency federal order to keep the grid running during Winter Storm Fern in January. This is the same grid that failed in 2021 and killed 246 people. If you live in Texas and your emergency plan is "they'll fix it this time" — please have a backup.

How many gallons of water do you have stored right now? 1. None 2. 1-5 gallons 3. 5-20 gallons 4. 20+ Reply with your answer!

What's the #1 water mistake you see preppers make?

5 ways to purify water with zero electricity: → Boil (1 min rolling, +3 min above 6,500 ft) → SODIS — clear bottle in direct sun, 6 hrs → 2 drops unscented bleach per liter, wait 30 min → Iodine tablets (follow dosage exactly) → DIY sand/charcoal filter Any purification > no purification.

27,000 power outages in Upstate New York this weekend from wind alone. Not a hurricane. Not a bomb cyclone. Wind. If a windstorm can knock out power for tens of thousands of people — what does your "no power for water" plan look like?

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