Lately, in Europe, there’s been much discussion about preparing a 72-hour emergency kit. In this article, I explore, based on my experience, whether I’m prepared to do more than just write on my blog to survive a possible global crisis.
DISCLAIMER
This post is not a survival manual, nor can I assure you that it will help save your life. I will simply pose hypothetical situations, explore possible solutions, and share personal and others’ experiences related to the topic. And why not? With a touch of humor as well.
WITHOUT COMMUNICATION
If we think about it for a moment, since the internet became a trend, traditional media have been losing prominence. Nowadays, almost everything is managed through an app. But what would you do if, suddenly, you were left without phone signal or internet?
My father asked himself that same question when he was a soldier during the armed conflict in Peru. At that time, although the internet didn’t exist, communication via radio or telephone was vital for survival. One day, all communication was cut off, and he, along with his battalion, had to decide the route to return to the base.
Fortunately, my father had a battery-powered AM radio that accompanied him during his night watches. That night, during a broadcast, they announced that the bridge they were supposed to cross the next day had been destroyed. However, the battalion leader ignored the warning and they made the journey in vain. So, perhaps having a battery-powered radio isn’t a bad idea, as well as knowing whether the information is reliable or not.
WITHOUT A KITCHEN
One of the most cherished memories of my childhood is, without a doubt, my visits to my grandmother Mimi’s house. Although her house was humble, it was always a cozy place, where her delicious food, freshly milked cow’s milk, and abundant fresh fruit were never lacking.
Today, as an adult and cooking enthusiast, I am still amazed to remember that Mimi cooked most of her life with firewood. Unlike a modern kitchen, where you can regulate the intensity of the fire by simply turning a knob, she had to master the art of lighting and maintaining a live flame, sometimes without a lighter or matches, something that still seems incredible to me.
And not to go too far, I also learned that she and my grandfather used to go to the river: while he caught shrimp with his bare hands, she improvised a stove with wood and stones to cook rice. In the end, they shared a picnic day, without sophisticated tools, but with much ingenuity and love.
FIGHTING THE COLD
If winters in Germany already seem crazy to you, can you imagine spending a night without heating at 14 degrees below zero? That’s exactly what happened to me once, in the first shared apartment I moved into. It was winter vacation time and, to top it off, I was completely alone at home.
That night, no matter how much I was in bed with double pants and a coat, I couldn’t get warm. Desperate, I tried to come up with a solution. Searching through the trash can, I found an empty plastic bottle, filled it with hot water, and put it in the bed as if it were a thermal bag. Additionally, I placed newspaper under my shirt to retain some body heat, something I heard homeless people did on cold nights in Lima.
The next day, upon waking up, the windows of my room were completely fogged up. Luckily, during the afternoon the heating started working again. Over time, I even learned to improvise a homemade heater using a candle and a flowerpot; I recommend looking it up on the internet because it really works!
PANIC AND REACTION
At school, during earthquake drills, they repeatedly told us that the first thing to do during an earthquake is to stay calm and then find a safe place. On one occasion they also told us: “The most dangerous thing is not natural disasters, but people in panic.” Many years later, I confirmed it myself.
It was a summer with heavy rains in my native Arequipa. That day I accompanied my aunt and cousin to the bus terminal when suddenly a woman in panic shouted: “¡Huaico, huaico!” That meant that the river had overflowed and was bringing with it a huge amount of earth, trash, and everything in its path.
Suddenly, a crowd began to run towards us. My aunt was stuck in a corner, while I spotted some stairs as a possible safe place. On the other hand, my cousin was paralyzed, watching the stampede approach. I didn’t process very well what was happening until, without thinking, I jumped to cover her with my body. I felt several people stepping on my back while I struggled to get up.
When it was all over, I managed to take my aunt and cousin to the second floor of the terminal, which was already full of people. Then I set out to the farthest area I could find. It wasn’t until I reached a store, where calm music was playing, that I realized how far I had come. I bought a Coca-Cola and went back to look for them.
And now that I think about it… What would you have done?
FAITH AND PILGRIMAGE
During a long transport strike in Arequipa, amid a turbulent time for the family, my mother, seeing how money was running out, decided to have faith. She walked about 8 kilometers to get to her hair salon and try to earn at least a little money.
By nightfall, my mother still hadn’t returned. It was then that it was my turn to have faith. Faith that she would return safe and sound. Faith that she wouldn’t have to walk alone, in the dark, those 8 kilometers back home.
Finally, my mother arrived around 11 at night. Luckily, on the way, she found a cargo truck that gave her a ride to a point near our house. That day she couldn’t earn any money, but I was happy she had returned.
That day I made a promise: to always take care of my mother. A promise that to this day I keep with all my heart. Because going out into the unknown, without security and out of necessity, is also an act of courage. And you? What would you have done?
CONCLUSION
Definitely, my memories—and also my imagination—have flown upon seeing the news about a possible global crisis. Although I have lived and witnessed some quite extreme experiences, I sincerely hope not to relive them.
On the other hand, there is an element that undoubtedly does not appear in manuals or emergency kits: the luck factor. Because sometimes, no matter how prepared one is, a little bit of that is also needed.
So, in the meantime, all that remains is to stay calm, have faith… and hope that everything turns out well.
