Most preppers have a SHTF plan for just about any disaster situation. Bugging out, bugging in, surviving in the city, the wilderness, drought, floods, hot or cold…we can adapt the situation because we’ve collected the right combination of knowledge, equipment, and skills.
SHTF and You’re in Another Country: What Do You Do?
We think we’ve imagined every possible scenario and know exactly how to survive. But what happens if you’re in another country for work, vacation, or some other reason, and SHTF while you’re abroad?
Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, you’re not going to feel as secure as you would feel at home. For a SHTF situation to happen when you’re so vulnerable would be unthinkable.
Just when you thought your trip would be fun, what looks like a beautiful tropical island or bustling city suddenly becomes hell on earth.
So what do you do now?
Basic Survival in Another Country: Prepping For an Emergency
Basic survival in another country means being prepared for an emergency long before you board an airplane for your travel destination.
As an outdoor guide, I’ve been asked to go to many different parts of the world, and I lived in Japan for 3 years.
Before boarding the airplane, heading up the gangway to a ship, or getting in my car to go visit, work, or live in a foreign land, there are a few preps I’ve learned to undertake.
What do I mean by survival preps?
After all, don’t I just buy the latest travel guide like Fodor’s, Frommer’s, DK Eyewitness Travel or Rick Steves‘; make sure my passport is current, get vaccinations needed for the region, obtain an entry visa, and book my trip? Well, actually, yes that is where you start, but there is more. Do you want to be prepared if an emergency arises while enjoying your trip abroad? Take a little extra time to prepare before heading out. Here is what I do.
The Basics
I start by covering the basics most international travelers do when preparing to venture to a foreign country:
Make sure my passport is current, renew if need be or apply for one.
Check for visa requirements and obtain them.
Look for travel alerts and warnings.
Get any recommended vaccinations or boosters for the region.
Purchase a travel guide or two (see the links above) and maps to learn about the lay of the land, people, culture, customs, language and currency.
But that is just the start to my travel preps. Please read on….
Dig a Little Deeper
Along with the basics, my travel prepping involves a little intelligence gathering. It’s great to know some key basic information about the country and not just from the latest travel guides or internet sites.
via Basic Survival in Another Country: Prepping For an Emergency – Survival Mom.
If you are a survivalist you know that the smartest thing to do is to be prepared, always.
Before you even leave home and head for the airport, you should already have a plan in case SHTF while you are away.
Keep your valuables close to you such as your travel credentials, credit cards, a local map, your smartphone with roaming enabled, and enough cash for a ticket home.
If you can bring your bug out bag and its contents pass security, that would be great — but if you’re not sure if you will be able to take it with you on the plane, it’s best just to leave it at home. You can purchase some essentials when you reach your destination country.
Go shopping for emergency SHTF supplies right after arriving if possible. Mark the location of the US embassy so you can head over as soon as possible if SHTF. Do not head for the mountains or anywhere else.
The preparation can vary for each country and you may have your own ideas. No one really knows what’s going to happen when SHTF, but if you are prepared, you have greater chances of surviving.
