In a survival situation, anticipation is critical.

There will always be things that surprise you, things that you did not plan on and things that happen you did not expect.

Here are a few in the hopes you can reduce the overall list of unanticipated events.

1. Your glasses break.

You need to be able to see, so this is an important one. Personally, I am pretty much useless without my glasses or contacts. Trying to survive in a post-SHTF world while being half blind would be quite a challenge.

Solution: Have a couple backups, and keep them in different locations in case one is destroyed or you’re unable to get to it. Don’t be afraid to buy several pairs of glasses secondhand. You should also keep an eyeglass repair kit handy as well.

2. Your water filter is destroyed.

Since you can’t live 3 days without water, it should be a top priority. That’s why I’ve often told new preppers that one of the very first things they should do is get a good water filter. But what if your water filter breaks?

Solution: Here are some other options…
• Have some backup filters. LifeStraws are small, affordable, and filter over 250 gallons.
• Stock up on water purification tablets. Great for bug out bags.
• Bring your water to a rapid boil for at least a minute.
• Distill the water. This will take a while, but the distilled water will be safe to drink.
• Make your own filter out of rocks, sand, charcoal, and grass.

3. Your fire starting materials are lost.

Fire is crucial. You need it to cook food, boil water, and possibly to stay warm. But what if you somehow lose your lighters, matches, or flint and steel?

Solution: Learn some other ways to start a fire. They’re a lot harder and require time, energy, and patience, but you might have no choice. There are several methods….
• Make a fire plough. This is a fairly simple method that everyone should learn.
• Learn some other primitive methods such as the hand drill and the bow drill. More info here.
• Use a battery and steel wool or a gum wrapper. Both methods are explained in this video.
• Use a full water bottle aimed at a tinder bundle with the sun reflecting through it.

4. Cash becomes worthless.

Hyperinflation has happened dozens of times around the world. And with the way central banks keep pumping new money into their economies, there’s the possibility it could happen in your country next.
Solution: Have some barter items. Things that are both portable and useful, such as toilet paper, water, food, medical supplies, alcohol, lighters, and so forth.

5. Your flashlight dies and you don’t have spare batteries.

You don’t want to be stuck in the dark every evening, especially if you have things to do. So what should you do if you run out of batteries?

Solution: Have some backup lighting options. If you don’t have any backup lights, then make your own candle. There are many ways to do this…
• Make a big candle out of a tub of Crisco or lard.
• A stick of butter can be transformed into a candle by inserting a wick made of toilet paper into the center.
• Use duct tape to wrap a few crayons together. Light the paper around the crayons and you have a quick candle.
• Poke a hole into a can of tuna, push a thick string into the hole, then light it. You can eat the tuna afterwards.

Any of these situations could happen in a SHTF moment or especially in a long-term survival situation.

Being prepared for them in advance is just one more tool you can add to your survival arsenal.

For more tips on surviving the unexpected, please visit the Urban Survival Sight.