We all know that feeling when a storm is coming….regardless whether it's a literal storm or some kind of life disruption.

It’s that moment when everything feels still (almost unnervingly so) and you just know that something’s about to change.

I’ve learned over the years that those moments of quiet can be just as important as the chaos that follows. They’re a chance to get your head right, and that’s where real preparedness starts.

When I first started down the path of prepping, I wasn’t some hardcore survivalist with a bunker full of MREs. Heck, I wasn’t even thinking about prepping for some big and dramatic lifestyle!

It all started with a simple ice storm when I was 16. The power was out for weeks, and our small town had to rely on each other to get by. People were struggling, but those who had a plan (as in those who knew what they needed and stayed calm) came out okay.

That was my “aha” moment, when I realized that preparedness isn’t just about gear or supplies.

It’s about the mindset.

I spent years diving deeper into what it means to be ready, and not just physically, but mentally. The real difference between someone who makes it through a disaster and someone who doesn’t often comes down to how they handle things in the moment.

When things go south, your ability to keep your cool can be the difference between solving the problem and making things worse.

I’ll be honest, I’ve had my fair share of freak-out moments. I remember one time, when I was much younger, we had a power outage that lasted three days, and I swear, my first instinct was to panic.

I didn’t know where the candles were, how to start the generator, or even where my backup water was stored. I was running around in circles, thinking I had to do everything all at once.

But over time, I learned the hard way that the first step in any emergency situation is to take a breath.

When you’re in the thick of it (and it doesn’t matter whether it’s from an actual disaster or just a minor inconvenience that’s stressing you out) it’s easy to start spinning your wheels.

You might feel pressure to act immediately, but I’ve found that the most effective approach is to stop, assess, and prioritize. And more than anything, stay calm!

This doesn’t mean you won’t feel anxious. It’s totally okay to have moments of doubt, but the trick is to use that anxiety as fuel, not let it take over.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the power of calm…specifically, the calm before the storm.

A true sense of calm doesn’t come from some magic secret.

The calm before the storm is a moment of reflection, and it’s also a chance to look at your plans and ask yourself if you’re truly ready. 

Now, I’m not saying you should sit around and wait for disaster to strike. That’s not the point.

But what I am saying is that the more you prepare, the less you’ll need to panic when things go sideways, and the more calm you’ll be.

Here’s what I do when I know something’s coming, and it’s worked for me every single time:

So, here’s the bottom line: you don’t need to have everything figured out in advance.

But the more you prepare, the less you’ll feel overwhelmed when the storm hits…whether literal or metaphorical.

Take it one step at a time, stay calm, and know that with each small action, you’re strengthening your ability to handle whatever comes next.

This Survival Stew is one of my go-to meals. It’s simple, filling, and made from stuff that’ll last forever in your pantry.

Plus, it’s easy to cook over a campfire or on a small stove.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Once you have those items, you can follow these steps:

And that’s really all you have to do! 

But there’s beauty of this stew: you can tweak it to work with what you’ve got. I’m all about using what’s available, so don’t sweat it if you don’t have one or two of the ingredients. 

With that said, here are a few points I’d keep in mind:

Give it a try, and don’t be afraid to make it your own. Add what you have, take out what you don’t, and remember…prepping (including preparing food) isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being prepared.

On December 17, 2024, Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, got hit by a magnitude-7.3 earthquake.

Now, if you’ve ever been through an earthquake (or any kind of major disaster) you know that everything can change in the blink of an eye. For those in Port Vila, the shaking lasted about 30 seconds, but the aftermath? Well, that’s something they’re still dealing with.

Buildings crumbled, landslides buried homes, and a 25 cm tsunami rolled in.

14 people lost their lives, and hundreds were injured.

But what really stood out to me wasn’t just the destruction; it was how the community came together in the middle of it all.

And that’s where we can all learn a thing or two.

When the ground starts shaking, the first instinct for most people is to panic.

Trust me, I get it…I’ve had my moments.

But here’s the thing: when you panic, you waste precious seconds that could make a big difference. The folks who made it through this earthquake without injury were the ones who knew exactly what to do.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

It sounds simple, but those actions save lives. People in Port Vila who followed those basic steps (taking cover under a sturdy table, staying low to the ground) were the ones who came out the other side in better shape.

My daughter Wendy always jokes about how I have the family practice drills every few months.

And you know what? She’s right. We do! It’s not just about teaching the kids what to do in case of an emergency so much as it’s about muscle memory for everyone. 

So when things go sideways, you don’t want to have to think about what to do…you just want it to be second nature.

Key Takeaway: Practice your earthquake drills with your family. Show your kids (and anyone else in your household) exactly where the safe spots are and how to react when the shaking starts. It could save a life!

After the quake hit, Port Vila’s infrastructure went down fast.

Roads cracked, bridges collapsed, and the airport was basically out of commission for days.

But here’s the thing: people didn’t just sit around and wait for things to magically fix themselves.

They adapted.

Emergency crews got creative, and they used alternate airports and even boats to bring in aid. The military set up makeshift operations, and despite all the damage, they found a way to get help where it was needed.

This is exactly why I always tell my family to have multiple backup plans. If one route is blocked or one method fails, you need to know what comes next.

Last year, when we had a big storm roll through, I made sure my wife Sarah and I knew exactly where we’d go if we needed to get out of dodge quickly.

Sure enough, we had to use those backup routes when a tree blocked the main road. It’s one thing to hope things go smoothly…it’s another to have a plan in place for when they don’t.

Takeaway: Always have a backup plan! If you’re relying on your car to evacuate, know two or three ways out of town. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, because if one road’s blocked, you need another way to go. And if you’ve only got one way to communicate (like your phone), what will you do if that goes down?

Sure, it’s easy to think about water and food when you’re prepping, but the Port Vila earthquake reminded me that there’s a lot more to consider.

Water and food are critical, of course, but in the aftermath of the quake, people needed other things too: backup power, fuel for generators, sanitation supplies, and medical resources.

The hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, and it was clear that people who had thought about more than just food were in a better position.

Things like battery-powered radios, extra flashlights, and hygiene supplies made a big difference in those first few days.

When Sarah and I sat down to talk about prepping for a potential power outage last winter, we didn’t just focus on the essentials. We made sure we had backup batteries, solar chargers, and even a portable propane stove.

And let me tell you….when the power went out during that storm, I was really glad we had that propane stove. It was a lifesaver, and it allowed us to cook without relying on the grid.

Takeaway: Don’t just stockpile food and water. Think about other essentials: backup power, extra fuel, batteries, and sanitation items. When the basics aren’t available, these “extras” will literally become lifesavers.

Alright, folks, here’s a fun (and useful) little project that anyone can do, even if you’re not the handiest person in the world (trust me, I’m not a DIY expert, but I can handle this one).

I’m talking about making a paracord bracelet.

I’ve always got one of these on my wrist, and if you’re ever stuck in a jam, this thing can help you with everything from tying up gear to building shelters, making a tourniquet, or even setting traps.

Plus, it’s easy to make and doesn’t take much time, which is perfect for getting the kids involved, too.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Then you’ll need to follow these steps:

The more you wear your bracelet, the more it becomes a part of your everyday gear. It’s right there when you need it, and it doesn’t take up any extra space.

Hey guys, Wendy here!

I’m all about family preparedness…especially now that I’ve got my own little crew to look after.

Steve, Luke, Charlotte, and I live in the great state of Oregon east of the Cascades, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving here, it’s that you can never be too prepared.

Earthquakes (from the Cascadia subduction zone), wildfires, power outages…they can happen at any time.

And, as much as I’d like to think we’re invincible, the reality is, we have to plan for the unexpected.

One of the most important things we’ve done since settling here is create a solid family communication plan. It’s something my dad always preached about, and now that I’ve got kids of my own, I realize just how crucial it is.

When you start thinking about your family’s communication needs, you’ve got to start with a simple question:

How will you get in touch if something goes wrong?

If you live in a big city with great cell service, this may be an easy answer.

But for us? It’s a little trickier. Our cell service can get pretty spotty, especially in bad weather, and we’ve definitely lost power a few times.

During one of those snowstorms, Steve and I were frantically trying to get in touch with each other when the cell towers went down. After that, we decided we needed a plan B )and a plan C, and maybe even a plan D).

Here’s what we rely on now:

Takeaway: Think about how your family communicates now, but also think about what you’d do if that tech stopped working.

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t really think about how important a simple emergency contact list is until we had a big wildfire scare last year. Steve was at work in town, and I was at home with Luke and Charlotte when we got an evacuation notice.

We were scrambling to figure out what to do, but I realized we didn’t have a clear contact list for situations like this. So, we sat down as a family and made one.

We keep a hard copy of the list in our emergency kit, and everyone has a copy on their phone. It’s got the numbers for relatives, neighbors, and a few key friends we’d need to reach out to if the phones are still working.

But here’s the twist: we also have an out-of-state contact.

In case we can’t reach each other, we’ve got Aunt Rachel down in northern Cali who’s our “go-between.” If the family is separated, we’ll all check in with her and figure out the next step.

Then, we set up meeting points. This was an interesting conversation with Luke and Charlotte.

For weeks, I kept telling them, “If something happens, we’ll meet at the old oak tree in the backyard.” And one day, Luke said, “What if the tree falls down?”

Great point, buddy! So, we ended up choosing a few options: one is just outside our front door (because hopefully, that’s still standing), and the other is at a neighbor’s house just down the street.

Takeaway: Make sure everyone knows where to meet in case you get separated. And don’t just pick one spot. Have at least two.

This is one part of the plan that I think gets overlooked sometimes: teaching your kids the plan.

Luke and Charlotte are 10 and 8 now, and I’m always surprised by how much they actually get about emergencies. When we first started practicing our drills, it felt silly. “Okay, guys, we’re pretending there’s a fire! Go to the oak tree!”

But then, one afternoon, we had a real fire drill, and I watched Luke grab his little sister’s hand and head straight for the meeting spot. They knew exactly what to do.

We also talk about the plan regularly. Whenever we drive somewhere, I’ll ask, “What would you do if we got separated during a disaster?” or “Where’s our backup meeting place?”

I make it casual, but I want them to have these answers at the ready. And it works! Last year, when Steve and I were trying to find each other during a power outage, Luke kept calling me on the walkie-talkie, saying, “Mom, are we safe?”

As a mother, it gave me peace of mind knowing that they knew exactly what to do.

Takeaway: Get the kids involved. The more they know about the plan, the more confident they’ll feel when it’s needed. Do some drills and keep the discussions light, but make sure they understand their role.

This week, I want you to assemble your car emergency kit.

Why? Well, think about it. How often do you drive somewhere and end up in a situation where you're stuck, waiting for help, or need to make sure you’re safe while you wait it out? 

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a sudden snowstorm, a flat tire, or a full-on breakdown, because having the right gear in your car can make all the difference in getting home safely (or at least making sure you’re not totally caught off guard).

You don’t need to build some super fancy kit either. I’m keeping it simple because, frankly, there’s no need to overcomplicate it:

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Kyle, this sounds great, but I don’t have a huge budget for all this stuff.”

I hear you. The good news is, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get your kit together:

Again, you don’t need to overthink it. Just gather the essentials, keep it in your car, and forget about it until you need it. If you haven’t done this already, now’s your chance!