Library

Essential guides

Sixteen guides covering every area of self-reliance, ordered from most urgent to longest-term. If you're new, start with "When help doesn't come".

  1. 01 The core idea

    When help doesn't come

    In a major disaster emergency services get overwhelmed. How to cope on your own for days.

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  2. 02 The basics

    72-hour kit

    What to store to be self-reliant for three days: the complete list, by category, with no filler.

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  3. 03 Most urgent

    Water

    How much to store, which containers, the hidden water in your home and four ways to make it safe to drink.

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  4. 04 Food

    Pantry

    A pantry that gets eaten and restocks itself: calories, a supermarket list and what to do with the fridge in an outage.

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  5. 05 Hot meals

    Cooking without power

    Stove, retained heat and no-cook meals: how to eat hot food during an outage without risking carbon monoxide.

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  6. 06 The forgotten prep

    Sanitation

    What to do when you can't flush: the two-bucket toilet, hygiene without water and dealing with trash.

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  7. 07 No electricity

    Power outage

    The first ten minutes, your phone battery, the fridge, heat and cold, and what the Iberian blackout taught us.

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  8. 08 Health

    First aid kit

    What it should contain, ordered by priority, and what to leave out. And why a course beats any gear.

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  9. 09 Prevention

    Home safety

    Detectors, extinguisher, shut-off valves and anchored furniture: what keeps the emergency from starting in your own home.

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  10. 10 Communication

    Family plan

    What to do if there's no signal and you're apart: contacts, meeting points, alerts and radio.

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  11. 11 The whole family

    Pets

    Their kit, their ID and a plan so you never have to choose between evacuating and staying with your animal.

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  12. 12 Interactive infographic

    72-hour bag

    The 28 items in an evacuation bag, where each one goes and why. Explore the bag piece by piece.

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  13. 13 Away from home

    Car and everyday carry

    Emergencies can catch you far from home: the car kit, the bag for walking home and what fits in a pocket.

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  14. 14 Depends on where you live

    Natural hazards

    Floods, hurricanes, wildfires, heat, snow and earthquakes: what to do in each case and how to read warnings.

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  15. 15 Psychology

    Mindset

    Denial, freezing and normalcy bias: how we really react, and what to do to decide better and care for your people.

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  16. 16 3 months to 1 year

    Long term

    Food that lasts decades, water without storing tons, money, skills and neighbors: what matters in long crises.

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Put it into practice