Unless you've been under a rock for the last decade, you can't help but sense that the world seems to be turning a tad more unstable, unpredictable and just plain dangerous. Anticipating assaults by both nature and man, communities and governments across the country are urging everyone to make a commitment to emergency preparedness. You may well have to do without the basics for awhile, but advances and innovations in all types of gear and gadgets have made facing the unknown a whole lot more manageable.
Interestingly, much of the research and development behind the most recent generation of ingenious, portable "off-the-grid" devices comes from a few global technology companies who have made a commitment to helping disadvantaged millions in the developing world. Good examples are the super-efficient woodstove and lighting systems produced by Philips Electronics. Although these superbly-designed devices are not sold here, their fundamental technology can be found in backpacking and survival gear readily available in our part of the globe. But let's go full circle. Take away our trusty power grid for an extended period and most of us might welcome a little corporate benevolence too.
Along these lines, here's a chilling take on what the future may hold -- from a 2006 article that's been making the rounds in survivalist circles: "What if calamity were predictable?"
PRELIMINARIES | WATER | FOOD | ENERGY
