Even though only 900,000 people worldwide die each year from natural disasters, about 160 million people are affected in one way or another. Both these numbers are astronomically high, and since a natural disaster can strike anywhere, at any time, it’s important to be prepared.
If you live in an area that’s prone to natural disasters, you’ve already seen the destruction that they can bring. Most people aren’t prepared for a natural disaster, and that’s one of the reasons that the tragedy they bring is so destructive. One thing’s for sure: you want to be one of the prepared ones.
The best way to be ready for a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, or tropical storm is to build a survival backpack. Survival backpacks contain all the things you might need to make it through a disaster, from food and water to first aid materials to a flashlight that lets you see in the dark. Lots of people even include inflatable life vests in case they’re dragged out to sea!
One thing’s for sure: a survival backpack will definitely come in handy in the case of any disaster. Read on to find out why building one and keeping it handy can, literally, save your life.
1. They’re Sturdy and Resilient
Remember those JanSport fabric backpacks you carried through the high school halls? Remember how cool they were, especially when you put buttons on them?
Yeah, well, those are not the bags you’re going to want to use when assembling your survival backpack- and you’re not going to be putting buttons onto it, either.
In fact, you aren’t going to want to include any unnecessary items at all. One of the reasons that survival backpacks are so effective is because they only contain the bare essentials, making them lighter than they would otherwise be. If you put in too much stuff, you run the risk of wearing the fabric down.
Of course, having the right kind of bag is important, too. You don’t want it to just be made of average materials. No matter how lightly you pack and how careful you are, you’re still going to be carrying it under extreme conditions.
Survival backpacks need to be sturdy and resilient. It’s what makes them… well, survival material.
This means you’re going to want something made out of a durable, water-resistant material like nylon. You’re also going to ideally want a bag that’s insulated with added layers of protection.
Hdbackpacks.com has some sturdy bags at an affordable price. These bags are made specifically to be used in natural disasters and survival situations. You can also buy fully assembled survival kits here, so that’s a huge plus.
2. Organization is Easy
In a good survival pack, you’re going to have a lot of zippered pockets. This is important for a couple of key reasons, the main one being that each pocket will ideally be insulated with materials making it water and heat resistant. More pockets are better because it means more protection for your essentials.
But there’s another equally important reason, too: organization.
In a crisis, you are going to be stressed in the first place. Anxiety (see: terror) is really the only normal reaction to watching a tidal wave sweep in and destroy your town. You don’t want to be stressed out by trying to keep track of your things, too.
Having a survival backpack that either you bought put together or have put together yourself stops you from having to panic about this. After all, you’ll have at least gone through it and will know where everything is. This is an especially easy task if there are a lot of pockets for organizing!
Additionally, since everything’s been organized in advance, you’ll have an easier time remembering where everything is than if you threw it together in the middle of a tornado. You can memorize which pockets items are in under calm, safe conditions. This will help you learn in a way that trying to remember everything in panic mode just won’t let you.
5. Keeps You Calm in Crisis
Another fact of the matter is that you aren’t going to need to panic when disaster does strike. Without a survival backpack, you would need to run around your home trying to find items that may or may not even be there. After all, who owns a fire-resistant jacket just to wear to the movies?
Even items like non-perishable foods might not be in your home at all times. You might not even have the things you need if you don’t have a bag that has everything in it.
Even if you do have what you need, you’re going to be scrambling and tearing through the house trying to assemble and organize essentials. While this would be inconvenient in most situations, it will be detrimental in a natural disaster. After all, emotions will already be incredibly high.
Knowing where everything is will be a huge blessing in this scenario. Also, note that your survival backpack needs to be kept in a safe place where it won’t be lost or ruined. You’ll really be panicking if you can’t find everything you know you’ve assembled.
Of course, no matter what, you’re still going to be extremely panicked when disaster strikes. Some coping tools will, of course, be in order, so check out the coping techniques of a Navy SEAL. You can learn to calm down within five minutes so it’s easier to grab your survival backpack and come up with a plan.
4. Less to Keep Track Of
Alright! You’ve successfully managed to grab your survival backpack and remove yourself from the situation safely. Now what?
If you don’t have a survival backpack and instead are carting around either loose items or a flimsy purse you just threw together, you’re going to need to focus on keeping track of your essentials. This will be really challenging because a lot could happen. Getting blown away in extreme weather conditions is likely, but just dropping it in the chaos is a possibility, too.
Plus, bags that weren’t made for extreme conditions are likely to disintegrate at the first sign of disaster, or just soak through and make your food soggy. That’s why having a survival backpack is essential. It’s made for the conditions and will probably be fine.
Plus, when you have a pre-assembled survival backpack, you can rest easy knowing that it’s all you have to keep track of when you’re battling the elements. There won’t be multiple packs or any loose items, just the backpack.
Plus, since it goes on your back, your hands will be free for other things. This is essential because you’ll be able to do more and escape or help others, if necessary.
5. Better Safe Than Sorry
The bottom line is that it’s better to be safe than sorry in a natural disaster, and having a survival backpack is the best thing you can do to ensure your safety. Besides, having something that you put together in calm, safe conditions can alleviate worry about what will happen if disaster does strike.
You’ll be prepared.
This also makes it easier for you to think about what you will do in case of a natural disaster. Most people don’t even consider this because it hasn’t happened yet, and it’s admittedly not the most fun thing to think about. But having a survival backpack forces you to come up with a plan.
You’ll be knowledgeable.
Another piece of good news is that your plan will be more comprehensive. You won’t need to worry about assembling items. You won’t worry about how escape will be possible. The survival backpack will have everything.
You’ll give yourself a chance.
Build Survival Backpacks
Any natural disaster coming your way is terrible. No one wants to lose their possessions in a desert fire or have their home swept away in a tidal wave, and no one wants to go through the trauma of a disaster, either. But survival backpacks can help you to make it out alive.
Because these bags are organized, resilient, and calming, they can save lives. Going into a natural disaster unprepared is a huge way to undergo even more trauma than necessary, so it’s best to be prepared.
Now that you know the ways a survival backpack is necessary, it’s time to learn how to pack one. Check out this article to learn all the things that you’ll need to put into a successful survival backpack.
Remember: it’s better to be safe than to regret it later!
