Tsunamis are nature’s bulldozers—walls of water triggered by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, capable of drowning coastlines in minutes. They don’t mess around: waves can hit 20-30 feet high, moving at 500 mph in the open ocean, slowing only to unleash chaos onshore. In the US, we call them tidal waves. I’m so glad I’ve…
Landslides are the earth’s silent assassins—tons of rock, mud, and debris sliding down slopes with little fanfare until they bury everything in their path. Triggered by rain, earthquakes, or human meddling, they can wipe out homes, roads, and lives in a heartbeat. I have never been in a landslide. Florida is below sea level, so…
Floods are nature’s slow siege—rivers swell, rains pound, or dams break, turning dry land into a watery graveyard. They don’t rush in like tornadoes; they creep, then overwhelm, drowning homes, roads, and hope if you’re not ready. I have had to evacuate an oncoming flood when Hurricane Dora hit Florida in 1964. We were renting…
Volcanoes are the earth’s pressure valves—when they blow, they spew lava, ash, and toxic gas with a fury that reshapes landscapes and chokes the unprepared. Eruptions can melt roads, bury towns, and turn day into night in hours. We don’t have volcanoes in Florida, but this is good to know if I travel where there…
Wildfires are relentless predators—fast, ferocious, and fueled by wind and dry earth. They can ignite with a single spark and devour miles of land in hours, leaving ash and chaos in their wake. Unlike hurricanes or tornadoes, wildfires don’t always give you days to prepare—sometimes you’ve got minutes. Do You Know How To Plan for…
Living in Florida most of my life, I have encountered hurricanes. Again, I’ve been lucky. I have lived in somewhat protected areas, so I haven’t experienced any huge disasters. Mostly, we have just had to pick up tree limbs, etc. I even built our new barn for my horse to withstand 150mph winds. At that…
Tornadoes: Plan to Outlast the Twister A huge swath of bad weather, with many devastating tornadoes, just passed through the southern states. We were lucky. It passed just above us a bit to the north. We seem to be in a somewhat protected area, but with climate change making these natural disasters even more deadly,…
In life, emergencies seldom announce their arrival. When disaster strikes—whether it’s a natural calamity, unexpected wilderness stranding, or urban infrastructure collapse—the line between survival and catastrophe often hinges not on expensive gear or specialized training but on creative improvisation. How Can I Apply Survival Hacks to Everyday Objects? I’ve been researching this question. I found…
Survival prepping might seem like an activity for younger people, but a lifetime of experience can lead to a thoughtful and measured way of preparing for emergencies. In this article, I share the personal stories of seniors who have taken survival prepping seriously. Their accounts remind me that preparing for unexpected events isn’t about fear….
When you must leave everything behind, survival comes down to what you can carry. Every item in your bug-out bag needs to justify its weight. If it doesn’t serve multiple functions or directly contributes to keeping you alive, it’s just dead weight. The answer to this question may surprise you. It sure did me! But…
Survival isn’t just about the tools you have or the supplies you stockpile. It’s about the strength of your mind and your ability to adapt to adversity. In any emergency or SHTF scenario, mental fortitude often decides between success and failure. While having food, water, and shelter is essential, your mindset determines how effectively you…
When disaster strikes, one of your most critical decisions is whether to stay in your home or evacuate to a safer location. Known as the “bug-out dilemma,” this decision isn’t always straightforward. Both choices come with risks, challenges, and benefits, and making the wrong call can be life-threatening. Deciding to shelter in place or leave…
