Hacking the ‘Disaster Prepper’ Paradigm: Ep. #5 — On Emergency Preparedness & Resilience

A new series devoted to tech hacks explained by an actual hacker that you can use to set yourself apart from the woefully unprepared when the unthinkable happens. Free read link here for non-members.

"Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of." — Stephen Hawking

[Author's Note]

I've been doing some personal reflecting lately, re-prioritizing what's important to me in my life. It certainly feels to me like a good time to reflect as the world is a bit tumultuous, but the longer I live the rarer I believe those tranquil periods of world peace to actually be. I've not published anything new in a couple of months as I've been reevaluating life and which direction I want to go with my writings. I've been discarding the non-essentials, choosing instead to be more intentional about how I spend my time and energy. I've been reflecting more and writing less, but I realize I've still got so much more I want to say about so many different topics…

I think it would be a massive mistake to write me off just yet! I'm not a big fan of Medium for blogging, but at the end of the day, it's where I've chosen to post my writings. Until portability of intellectual property becomes a legal right online, Medium is where my content will live for the foreseeable future. I was considering switching back to Substack, but decided against that for now. I'll probably be writing less and more sporadically as I take more time to focus on what's important to me. However, I aim to write and publish at least one new post a month, maybe more, maybe less. I guess you'll just have to wait and see!

Here's a nice Trap mix to bump and grind to from skeler while you read this piece: https://youtu.be/O4t8hAEEKI4. I often like listen to this mix and others when I am in my creative zone or working on security research or something.

The Reality: Mother Nature Will Eliminate Us If We're Not Careful

Think you can survive what mother nature throws at you? It largely depends on your level of preparedness, conditioning, and mental fortitude. Moreover, it seems as though every time I turn on the news or read the headlines online, there is some new catastrophe somewhere in the world that appears to be induced by climate change, or at least somewhat related to it. Wildfires in places that don't normally experience wildfires. Flooding, tornadoes, monster super typhoons and hurricanes. I think the steadily rising heat is probably the most alarming trend as every year appears to be the next hottest year on record. Civil unrest and wars are on again, off again involving the usual instigators; leaving ordinary folks of the world to live in some kind of Twilight Zone limbo reality.

I can't help but feel like so many other people these days that my world view is becoming increasingly pessimistic. I think it's important that we rebel against that feeling. There is still good in this world, but there is also evil and you will know the difference between the two when you experience them for yourselves first hand. After you've been around for a few decades on this third rock from the sun, and hopefully grown a little wiser, life becomes more about the small things that make you happy. It becomes about strategically best positioning yourself for longevity and survivability in both health, investing in experiences and not things as much. Naturally life evolves over time into "think more, do less physically" as we age and our bodies become less capable physically to do the things that were once so easy.

Taking it to the macro historical view level, when you consider that humans have survived on this planet in one form or another for approximately six million years, with Homo sapiens — the modern form of humans — only existing for about 300,000 years of that timeframe and civilizations only began to emerge around 6,000 years ago (Kiprop, 2021), it's quite astonishing that humans are still here in existence given our reckless nature towards caring for our only inhabitable planet.

Well, that and the fact that there's little we could do to prevent an extinction level event such as a huge asteroid crashing into the Earth. Luck, then perhaps… In contrast, the Earth itself is estimated to be approximately 4.5 billion years old (Kiger, 2025). When you think about it in that context of time, humans are really just a blip on the radar of this planet and if we're not careful, we could be extinct before you know it.

There is no doubt that life today, in 2026, is vastly different for the average human being than it was a couple hundred thousand years ago. Sure, technology has a lot to do with that but also we wouldn't have the technology we do if we didn't first have farming and industrialization which changed how we grow our food and scaled production of goods.

As a species, we humans have come a long, long ways since the days of the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Some good things were lost in that evolutionary process, and still other good things were gained. Technology is arguably one of the most critical facets of human evolution, but it is not without its own costs to our planet's precious resources. We have the longest average life spans in modern history — not Methuselah 969 years kind of Biblical longevity — but long in terms of modern historical lifespans.

As with recent preceding years, 2026 has brought with it new chaotic weather events like destructive storms and tornadoes, wildfires and deadly disease outbreaks (i.e., the Hantavirus and Ebola) with global climate change affecting rainfall averages across the country and drought conditions enabling intense wildfires in areas of the U.S. not accustomed to dealing with those types of disasters in recent modern history. The question becomes, how do we prepare for uncertainty and disasters now that the world seems to be slowly boiling us in the cooking pot? How do we become more resilient?

What Does it Mean to Become Resilient?

In cybersecurity, when we talk about resilience, we are estimating how much a computer system is able to withstand and recover following an attack. Technology has finite limitations, however, just as humans do, and can only withstand so much before it it is uResilience is not only a physical quality, but just as importantly, it is a psychological mindset. Some things like computers, smartphones, gear, equipment, vehicles, homes, or watercraft can be made more ruggedized in various ways and can be adapted to increase resilience in the same way that people can adapt themselves to become more resilient than other people.

Toughness is a mindset and so is resilience in a sense as well. The will to make preparations, to best position yourself to be able to survive random, chaotic man-made and natural disaster events such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, severe weather, wars, mass shootings, riots, economic ups and downs, etc. A person's physical conditioning is a measure of their resilience and will help determine how well they're able to withstand adverse conditions.

The will to survive and maintain our quality of life that we have worked hard to establish should serve as the igniter that erupts into an unquenchable inferno inside of us — the will to survive at all costs. That's the mindset that motivates us to get up each day and go to work to make a living, so we can provide for ourselves and our families, but also set a little aside for emergencies.

Beyond that though, and dictionary word definitions, the world being as unpredicable as it is, there are those of us who strive to be resilient and self-sufficient to whatever degree we can. We don't like being dependent on a system that we know will fail us when we need it most (e.g., power grid, water systems, natural gas, gasoline, etc.). Some want to position themselves and their families to survive more so than others.

Some people may not care one bit if they can survive a major disaster. To each their own, I guess. Then there are those who, when faced with a real disaster situation, think they'll be able to just take stuff from others who are prepared. For those people, I say good luck with that! I'm curious to see how that works out for you…

So, then the question becomes how we can build more resilience into our lives and include the things that we need to survive?

• Do I live in a place that is below sea level? If yes, then move to an above sea level location once able to afford to do so.
• Do I live in a place that's going to be difficult to escape from during periods of civil unrest? If so, consider moving outside of or closer to the outskirts of the city. Have multiple routes of egress, if possible.
• Do I have backups of my digital files other than the Cloud? Consider adopting the 3–2–1 backup rule which is a data protection strategy that recommends keeping three copies of your data on two different types of media, with one copy stored off-site. This approach helps ensure that your data is safe from loss due to hardware failures, disasters, or cyberattacks.
• Can I grow food in my own backyard garden as opposed to being fully reliant on supermarkets or neighbors? Gardens are smart and so is having chickens, cattle, pigs, goats. However, it's not realistic that everyone lives on a homestead and has these things. Do what you can where you are with what you have! That should be everyone's motto.
• How about spares for this or that? Do I have backup generators.
• What kind of protection should I have? Guns and ammo are great until the ammo runs out. How about knives, axes, bows, slingshots for hunting small-to-medium size game?

One method to cut down on costs and invest in long-lasting items is to buy vintage things which are generally sturdier, more well-made products that will last longer. This is always good habit to practice. Often the newer, flashier, tech-dependent goods don't last long are, in fact, engineered to break down after a specified time period as part of manufacturer planned obsolescense.

That's great, but how does that relate to disaster preparedness you may be asking? Well, I can only speak for myself, but I'd rather the things I own work properly when I need them to than to have a bunch of useless, cheap crap that breaks down when I need it the most. I don't want cheap stuff, I want to spend my hard earned money on quality things that will last instead. That's an important distinction to make for yourself and directly ties into self-preparedness. Ask yourself whether you're living this way and what in your estimation will you be able to rely on during times of need? The results may shock you and will help you better prepare.

Being Responsible Humans & Using the Resources We Already Have

Some among us are wasteful. Be not like them. Don't waste food — ever. Don't waste supplies, or allow them to expire before using them. That's just a complete waste of money and, in some, cases senseless animal deaths. If we stand to have any chance at survival during distasters, we cannot be wasteful and must make use of the resources we already have. All the prepper channels talk about the big four survival needs: Shelter, Water, Fire, and Food, but there's much to survival than that. Also consider these points:

• Know what resources and supplies you have on hand (maintain lists)
• Know how to use what you have
• Know when to replenish and/or rotate supplies/medications
• If you own items that can be used for multipurpose functions, know what they are and test them before it's go-time!
• Know where you can replenish your supplies during times of emergency (e.g., stores, network of family, friends, neighboors, etc.)
• If you can't obtain the things you need, know alternative methods to achieve the same or similar results. What things could you swap out to achieve the same end state? Paper books are great for this to give you ideas and reference points.

Does Your Life Depend on the Internet Always Being Available? I Have Bad News for You…

What's the impact to you if the Internet goes offline? I'm not talking about for an hour or three. How would you manage it were down for a sustained period of time like weeks? For most people, it would be an inconvenience but they could get by and probably remember how to do things the old fashioned analog way. But not everyone… Some people weren't around for the analog times and have no clue what pre-internet life was like. Those people are going to struggle during any sustained internet outage. Many companies would probably go bankrupt because their entire business model is built upon Internet accessibility. Cyber insurance won't cover "acts of war" or "acts of God".

One of the first targets of modern warfare is the critical infrastructure systems that nations rely on to manage everyday aspects of life: water plants and waste water treatment facilities; electrical power grids; traffic management systems; rail, air, shipping systems; cell phone provider networks; GPS; and the internet among many other critical infrastructures. You get the idea. Now, imagine how chaotic everything would be if those systems were unavailable. These types of critical infrastructure systems are strategic targets during armed conflicts and they will first be remotely targeted by cyber adversaries and/or targeted during ensuing kinetic warfare.

Do you think your local grocery store would be able to accept payment using debit or credit cards considering Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems would no longer be internet-connected? This is an example of when having enough of a cash supply on hand would rule the day. Would ATMs still work in the event of a sustained power outage? Probably not, right. You get the point — try to keep enough cash on hand to last you for a week or two until services can be restored. If critical infrastructure is down longer than a couple of weeks, I think even some disaster preppers are going to feel the pinch.

Essential Digital Tech Prepping Tips

• Power Redundancy: Pack dedicated solar-powered chargers, hand-crank power banks, and extra USB charging cables in your go-bags.
• Offline Navigation: Download offline regional maps via the Google Maps Support page so you can still find evacuation routes if cell service drops — and, it will!
• Digital Document Backup: Scan essential documents (IDs, passportrs, social security cards, insurance policies, medical records, marriage & birth certificates), important photos, and secure them in an encrypted cloud using two-factor authentication.
• Vital Apps: Download the FEMA app to receive real-time National Weather Service alerts across multiple locations.
• Optimized Communications: Utilize text messaging and social media updates instead of voice calls during disasters. Texts require far less bandwidth and will go through even when cell towers are congested.

Emergency Communications Checklist

📞 Phase 1: Pre-Disaster Setup (Do This Today)

• Create a Contact Sheet: Write down phone numbers, email addresses, and physical home addresses for all immediate family members.
• Pick an Out-of-State Contact: Designate one non-local relative as a central hub. Local lines often jam, but long-distance calls frequently go through.
• Program ICE Contacts: Save emergency contacts under the name "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in every family member's phone contact list.
• Draft a Template Text: Pre-write a message like "We are safe. Heading to [Location]. Do not call, text only." to save time and battery power.
• Set Up Medical IDs: Enable the built-in Health/Medical ID feature on smartphones so First Responders can view crucial health info from the lock screen.
• Register for Local Alerts: Sign up for your county or city's wireless emergency notification system online.

🔋 Phase 2: Gear & Hardware Preparation

• Buy a Hand-Crank Radio: Keep a NOAA weather radio that runs on solar, hand-crank, and disposable batteries in your emergency kit.
• Pack Backup Power Banks: Store at least two fully charged 10,000+ mAh power banks per person inside waterproof bags.
• Keep Legacy Tech Cables: Pack the exact charging cords needed for every device, including older USB-A or micro-USB types if applicable. Use a label maker to label the cables for the devices they correspond to.
• Stash a Low-Tech Backup: Print your entire contact list on physical paper and laminate it or seal it in a plastic bag.

🚨 Phase 3: Communication Rules During a Disaster

• Text First, Call Last: Send text messages instead of making voice calls. Texts use a fraction of the bandwidth and will queue until a signal opens up.
• Keep Calls Under 10 Seconds: If you must call, state only your location and safety status, then hang up immediately to free up the network.
• Update Social Media Status: Use safety check-in features on major social platforms to notify all friends and family at once assuming internet access is still working.
• Turn Off Data Drainers: Put phones into "Ultra Power Saving" mode, dim the screen brightness, and turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFS, and background app refresh.

Trust Not & Verify. Be Prepared. Become Untraceable.

#offgrid #homesteading #disaster #prepper #diy #tech #hacker #hacks #underground #emergency #preparedness

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References

Kiger, P.J. (2025, April 8). How Old Is Earth and How Did Scientists Figure It Out? Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/how-old-is-earth.htm

Kiprop, V. (2021, January 12). How Long Have Humans Been On Earth? Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-long-have-humans-been-on-earth.html

"resilience". (2026). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience