Top 15 Preparedness Tips for Any Crisis: Gear, Fitness, and Tactical Resilience
- Sara F. Hathaway
- Sep 9
- 5 min read
Welcome to Episode 486 of The Changing Earth Podcast, where hosts Sara F. Hathaway and Chin Gibson blend post-apocalyptic storytelling with real-world survival strategies to help you dream, survive, and thrive! As we celebrate National Preparedness Month, we’re leveling up our classic preparedness guide with 15 essential tips to face any crisis—be it a power outage, natural disaster, or societal upheaval. From multi-hazard kits to hardcore physical training and Krav Maga, these steps, rooted in a decade of Changing Earth wisdom, ensure you’re not just ready but unstoppable. Let’s dive in with practical, battle-tested advice to keep you and your family resilient year-round.
1. Build a Multi-Hazard Emergency Kit
Your go-bag is your lifeline. Pack a flashlight, extra batteries, a multi-tool, first-aid supplies, medications, and N95 masks for dust or smoke. Include a loud, keychain-sized whistle for signaling—Sara swears by these for their lifesaving potential in debris or isolation scenarios. Add sturdy gloves and a helmet (bike, hockey, or ski) for head protection. For flood-prone areas, toss in a compact life vest. Ensure 72 hours of supplies per person, and check your kit every season to keep it fresh. Visit preparewithchangingearth.com for 72-hour kits that support the show!
2. Stock Non-Perishable Food
Store 3–7 days of non-perishable food per person—canned goods, energy bars, and electrolyte packets for high-energy demands. Research low-sodium options to reduce water needs, as Sara notes some kits are sodium-heavy. Rotate stock to avoid spoilage, and consider dehydrated single items like butter or peanut butter for versatility. Granny Pam’s book on cooking with dehydrated foods is a great resource for creative meal prep.
3. Secure Water and Purification
Stock 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3–7 days. Sara loves her Waterfull system—a 30+ gallon tank for fresh water storage—or try AlexaPure filters with squeezable bottles for quick, spit-free hydration (unlike straw filters). Keep purification tablets or a portable filter on hand for contaminated sources. Water’s a pain to store, but it’s non-negotiable—find space and keep containers clean.
4. Inspect Home Heating and Power
Test furnaces, chimneys, and space heaters to prevent fires or carbon monoxide leaks before cold weather hits. Install smoke and CO detectors, and check backup generators for outages. Sara’s tip: Use a garage whiteboard to track tasks, like her family does for woodshed prep. Stock seasoned firewood to avoid creosote buildup from green wood, as Chin learned the hard way.
5. Reinforce Home Structure
Bolt furniture to walls and secure heavy objects to withstand shaking or high winds. Check seals around windows and doors, as summer sun can degrade them. For flood risks, elevate valuables and stock sandbags or inflatable barriers. Plywood for windows is a must for wind events—Chin’s go-to for hurricane or tornado prep. A fortified home is your castle.
6. Prepare Alternative Heat and Light
Stock thermal blankets, hand warmers (for shoes, jackets, and back), and solar/battery-powered lanterns. Oil lamps are affordable—grab lamp oil online, as Sara found it hard to source locally. Fire-resistant blankets are clutch in wildfire zones. Generic 72-hour kits often include quality solar blankets, offering value you can’t beat buying separately.
7. Winterize Your Vehicle
Check tires, antifreeze, and battery—cold snaps kill weak batteries fast. Add tire chains, a shovel, flares, and a chainsaw with a carry box for debris (Sara and Chin’s lesson from a tree-blocked road). Keep a full tank and an advanced kit with blankets and fuel. Sara’s story of freezing her engine block in Tahoe underscores the need for proper antifreeze—don’t skimp!
8. Enhance Vehicle Kit for Obstacles
Beyond basics, include a folding hand saw or hatchet, as Chin keeps in his truck, for clearing branches. Sara recounts Morgan’s epic hatchet work on a massive tree—proof that simple tools save the day. A chainsaw is ideal, but secure it to avoid mess or theft. These additions ensure you’re not stuck when roads are blocked.
9. Create a Family Communication Plan
Map out primary and secondary rendezvous points, including pets. Use offline apps like Zello or a NOAA radio for updates when cell service fails. Practice quarterly evacuation drills with grab-and-go bags. Chin loves FEMA’s templates for convincing skeptics—keep it simple but thorough to ensure everyone’s on the same page.
10. Monitor Local and Global Hazards
Know your area’s risks—floodplains, seismic zones, or storm paths. Monitor NOAA for weather and USGS for seismic alerts, using a ham radio (no license needed to listen, as Chin notes). Sara’s quirky tip: Watch Waffle House closures or DC pizza orders for major event signals. Stay informed without getting bogged down in media noise.
11. Secure Important Documents
Keep IDs, birth certificates, marriage licenses, vehicle titles, insurance policies, and contact info in a waterproof, fireproof, grab-and-go folder. Digitize backups on an encrypted cloud drive. Sara’s adamant: Don’t hunt for your policy number in a crisis. Even expired passports work as ID—save the DMV hassle.
12. Build Community Networks
Connect with neighbors or CERT groups for mutual aid—shared tools and skills are lifesavers. Sara’s Krav Maga community, like her Agoge school in Houston, shows the power of like-minded folks. Host preparedness drills or swap tips to build resilience. Community is your strength when systems fail.
13. Prioritize Physical Fitness
Physical readiness is your backbone—Sara’s mantra after years on the mat. Train 3–4x/week with:
Cardio: 30–45 minutes hiking/running with a 20–30 lb pack to mimic go-bag treks.
Strength: Bodyweight exercises (squats, push-ups, planks—3 sets of 10–15 reps) for endurance, not bulk. Sara warns against powerlifting; focus on lasting power.
Flexibility/Balance: Yoga or tai chi to prevent injuries and maintain balance, critical as you age or navigate uneven terrain at night.
Grip Strength: Use grip trainers or manual labor (like Sara’s woodshed work) to boost hand strength for tools or climbing. Sara’s working on this to carry heavy loads longer. Test your go-bag: Can you carry 60 lbs for a mile? If not, scale down or train up—endurance is key.
14. Master Self-Defense
Krav Maga is Sara’s top pick for practical, street-ready self-defense, blending jujitsu, stand-up fighting, and weapons like knives or multi-tools. Train 1–2x/week (45–60 minutes) to learn strikes, escapes, and situational awareness. Sara’s seen a 65-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man thrive in her class—age is no barrier. Avoid jujitsu’s ground-heavy moves (90% are felonies on the street, per Sara) and focus on quick, effective techniques to deter attackers. Practice in low-light or crowd scenarios to prep for real-world chaos.
15. Develop Tactical Skills
Build operational skills for evacuations or group survival. Train weekly (1-hour drills) in:
Navigation: Learn compass/map reading—GPS can fail, as Sara notes for solar events. Chin’s compass call to a fire department saved the day.
First Aid Under Stress: Take Stop the Bleed classes (like Brian Duff’s in Vegas) to handle trauma in chaotic settings.
Team Movement: Practice fluid group coordination for evacuations, using signals like whistles or mirrors. Sara loved the stress-induced drills with explosions for realism. Join community courses or FEMA’s resources to simulate scenarios. These skills ensure you move, heal, and survive as a unit.
Why It Matters
These 15 tips—gear, fitness, and tactical know-how—echo the grit of Changing Earth’s post-apocalyptic heroes, like Sara’s Mad Max hockey gear vision. National Preparedness Month is your cue to level up, ensuring you’re not just surviving but thriving in any crisis. From carrying a 60-lb go-bag to fending off threats with Krav Maga, you’re building a resilient life.
Grab your gear, hit the mat, and join the Changing Earth community! Visit changingearthseries.com for signed books, audio dramas, and prepper swag. Share your prep tips on X @sarahathaway19 and let’s build a stronger, ready world. Until next time, dream, survive, thrive!
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