Tools You Need to Survive

Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.

Thomas Carlyle

To be prepared for a disaster, tools are all-important. Tool collections are usually where some men can build a real man cave and where women can create something useful and beautiful.

Basic tools such as the following are the foundation to any emergency tool collection:

• Shovel

• Pickaxe

• Saw (strongly recommend the Silky Saw),

• Pruning Shears and Branch Loppers for clearing brush,

• Work gloves

• Took kit - a good quality took kit with 50-75 hand tools: hammer, sockets, ratchet, tape ruler, bit holder, bits, pliers, screw driver, hex keys etc. Lot of quality standard kits exist from brands like Craftsman, Dewalt, Stanley, and Husky. I have two such tool kits for redundancy and to have wide assortment of tools.

• Extra miscellaneous nails, screws, and bolts

• Garden hose - long to reach your entire property or enough to cover at least reach 100-150 feet around your house.

• Leaf rake - to remove leaves for fire protection.

• Knife - a high quality knife and a good sharpener.

• Paracord - a knowledge of knots can help you utilize paracord in any number of ways including for trail markers, hauling logs, lifting in a pulley, hanging food or game, fishing net, rope ladder, trip wire, trap, tether, rescue line, as a sling or splint, sutures using individual strands, and many other ways.

• Chainsaws - For fallen trees or supplying firewood, a chainsaw is an awesome tool. Wear work gloves, eye protection, and chain saw chaps for safety. Ensure you have chain and bar oil. If you have a gasoline chainsaw, naturally, you will need gasoline and oil mix if required. For close in-house work, the electric chain saw is very effective. Read your instructions and view safety videos. Rest if you get tired. Husqvarna, Echo, and Stihl brands are usually excellent brands for chainsaws. Whatever your brand practice starting and using. Be safe with a chainsaw because a wrong move or difficult situation can quickly turn into a nightmare.

• Other helpful tools:

Knife sharpener

Axe Trowel

Weeder

Rake

Hatchet

Hoe

Pick

Pry bar

Nail gun with compressor

Files for sharpening

• Dremel. skill saw, jig saw, and electric drill can be helpful if electricity is available.

Additional tools you may need depend upon your own and needs and those of your family. Possibilities include tools for personal care (nail clippers, tweezers, scissors, toothbrushes), clothing maintenance and repair (needles, thread, scissors, sewing machine, crochet hook), gardening (hedge and pruning clippers), food preparation (cutting, chopping, mixing, storage), medical (first aid kit, see When There's Not A Doctor In The House), measurement (rulers, tape measures), office (writing tools, staplers, paper), building (hammer, nails, wrench, saw), vehicle maintenance and repair (tire inflation, gas can, spare parts), cleaning (mop, broom, cleansers, microfiber cloths), barter (silver, gold, liquor), and other tools, depending on your family and household needs.