Most of the items we use daily involve some form of digital technology. Technological advancements in recent years have rendered most households reliant on the digital world. I know I use a lot of digital products. I live in a rural area, and we don’t have underground cables for internet or TV power. We have Verizon for phones and hot-spot internet, Starlink for our Internet (it finally came here a couple of years ago!), and DirecTV.
Recent events have made it evident that technology is less reliable than some think. At any given moment, a disastrous digital outage could strike. A mass outage has the serious potential to cause extreme chaos worldwide.
To protect your household, you need a backup plan for handling basic tasks without any technology to fall back on. If the worst tech scenario occurs, the items listed below will help you and your family reduce your tech dependency.
Read this: Digital Blackout Survival Guide
First-Aid Gear
Since medical care will likely not be running correctly during a mass outage, you need to be able to handle health issues at home. A first-aid kit packed with useful items will help you avoid being turned away at a hospital and heal ailments in the comfort of your home.
Some valuable items in a first-aid kit include:
- sterile bandages,
- gauze,
- alcohol wipes,
- pain relief pills,
- ointments,
- a thermometer,
- tweezers,
- and any medications you or a family member might need for individual ailments.
Certain types of oxygen masks require power, which could be compromised in a power grid failure. A backup generator as part of your first-aid preparation can help maintain the ability to breathe for anyone who might need it.
Many people also rely on CPAP machines to breathe during sleep. These machines require power and would need a backup generator in the event of a power grid failure.
[lasso id=”2812″ link_id=”4680″ ref=”amzn-ble-power-station-1000w-grecell-999wh-solar-powered-generator-with-110v-ac-outlet-pd-60w-fast-charging-backup-lithium-battery-pack-power-supply-for-outdoor-home-camping-travel-emergency-rv-van”]First-aid kits can be built yourself by buying individual items to pack in them. You can also buy premade ones that already include many supplies. Either way, analyze your and your family members’ health and add any other supplies you think could be helpful—it’s better to be overprepared than underprepared.
You must also know how to use all the items in your first-aid kit and what to use them for. First-aid manuals can help, or you can find information from books or online to write down so you’ll have it even if there’s no internet.
Safe
Cash is essential in a technology blackout, as digital payment methods will not function. It will be extra valuable in a digital outage, as people will have no way to pay for necessities. However, cash is also a physical item that thieves may try to take from you.
You need a safe to protect your money and, therefore, your ability to provide for your household. A durable, high-quality safe will prevent anyone from stealing your cash.
When looking for a safe, ensure you get a mechanical one and avoid anything electronic, as that would defeat the purpose and lock you out of your cash in a long-term mass outage.
[lasso id=”3849″ link_id=”4681″ ref=”amzn-dayi-safe-box-2-0-cubic-feet-home-safe-with-fireproof-waterproof-bag-security-safe-box-for-money-cash-valuables-digital-electronic-keypad-dual-alarm-system-removable-shelf-d-45″]Hidden Compartments
Hidden compartments are another great, non-digital way to keep cash or valuables safe. They can take many different forms and go completely unnoticed by outsiders.
Some hidden compartments are built into furniture.
- Side tables,
- bed frames,
- shelves,
- dressers,
- and most other pieces of furniture can have hidden compartments.
You can also get ones that look like regular household items, such as:
- water bottles,
- soda cans,
- canned goods,
- books,
- and much more.
- You can even get appliances resembling air conditioning vents and outlets.
There are also hidden compartments that can go outside. Various items, including:
- plant pots
- and fake rocks can store your items safely without being noticed by potential thieves.
Some safes are even designed to be hidden underground. These safes would be another option for storing valuables, as long as you remember where they are buried.
[lasso id=”3851″ link_id=”4682″ ref=”amzn-cloud-maison-fake-soup-can-diversion-safe-keep-your-valuables-safe-like-jewelry-cash-money-coins-car-keys-storage-home-security-peach”]Outdoor safes might not be suitable for those living in areas where it rains often. Some underground outdoor safes are often waterproof and designed to withstand rainy conditions.
Survival Food
Since the food supply could be compromised in a long-term mass digital outage, it would be wise to ensure your household can still access nutritious food even in such an unfortunate scenario.
Some survival food on the market has a shelf life of decades. Some survival food comes in large buckets that contain multiple packages to provide meals for a given amount of time.
Some kits provide thirty days’ worth of food, whereas others may give a year’s worth. Many of these kits contain dehydrated food that only requires water and heat for preparation.
Another good food option is canned goods. Although canned goods typically only have a few years’ shelf life, they’d still be a good semi-long-term option requiring no extra ingredients.
[lasso id=”2482″ link_id=”4683″ ref=”emergency-food-essentials-bundle-of-the-weekssf”]Other types of food that would be good for a long-term outage situation are non-perishable goods. Things like:
- rice
- or pasta,
- dried beans,
- honey,
- and powdered drinks like milk are all shelf-stable, reliable options.
Non-Digital Cooking
Modern cooking appliances are reliant on modern technology. When that technology fails, all of those appliances will be useless. You need to have the proper gear to cook without needing power.
Being able to start a fire is essential for cooking without technology.
- Firestarters make lighting a fire significantly easier.
- You can also get a flint and steel to start a fire without needing a lighter, which can run out of fluid, or matches, which can run out after you use them all up.
You also need durable cookware. Get a set of pots and pans made of a material that can be used on an open flame, such as stainless steel.
Another way to cook without using digital appliances is to use a portable stove. The only downside is that they are gas-operated, so they’re not an indefinite option, especially if you don’t have backup gas or any way to obtain more.
A solar cooker is another option that doesn’t require technology to work. A solar cooker requires nothing but sunlight to cook your food. The fact that it doesn’t need any additional materials to function is suitable for a long-term outage scenario.
[lasso id=”2858″ link_id=”4684″ ref=”amzn-gosun-fusion-solar-oven-and-cooker-hybrid-electric-grill-portable-high-capacity-indoor-or-outdoor-solar-cooker-american-oven-camping-cookware-survival-gear-powered-by-sun-or-electricity”]Foraging Books
One way to gather food without needing digital assistance is through foraging. Gathering edible plants can be an excellent way to provide nutrition to yourself and your family, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
A guide on foraging will help you gather plants that won’t make anyone sick. You’ll be able to learn tips and tricks on foraging and will know what to watch out for without needing to browse the Internet.
[lasso id=”3855″ link_id=”4685″ ref=”amzn-the-foragers-guide-to-wild-foods”]Related: Edible Plant Identification for Senior Survivalists
Hunting Gear
Hunting is another non-digital way to gather food in an outage situation. Having the proper gear is important for hunting success. Without the right equipment, your efforts will most likely be in vain.
Camouflage clothing is one kind of hunting gear you need. Blending into the natural surroundings is essential so an animal doesn’t notice you and run away.
It is also important to have the proper hunting tools, such as:
- firearms
- or bows.
- Ensure you also have backup arrows or extra ammunition.
- Devices to call game animals would also be good to have.
Water Purification Gadgets
In a mass long-term outage, people may easily lose access to clean water. To ensure that people still have clean water, they need items to purify contaminated water.
One way to do this is to have ways to start fires, like
- firestarters
- and flint
- and steel.
You can also boil unsafe water to decontaminate it and kill pathogens that can make you sick.
A water filtration straw would also be a good option for accessing clean water. These straws can be used directly in dirty water, filtering out the most dangerous microorganisms.
[lasso id=”3862″ link_id=”4687″ ref=”amzn-yuclet-4-pack-water-filter-straw-portable-personal-water-filtration-system-water-purifier-survival-emergency-preparedness-for-camping-hiking-drinking-travel-hunting-and-family-outing”]A water filter or even water purification tabs would also be a good way to clean your water. There are many different types on the market, but you need to ensure you get one that isn’t digital, as that wouldn’t work properly in an outage.
[lasso id=”3866″ link_id=”4688″ ref=”amzn-aquatabs-397mg-water-purification-tablets-100-pack-water-filtration-system-for-camping-emergencies-survival-and-rvs-easy-to-use-water-treatment-and-disinfection”]Fuel Stabilizers
Gas stations won’t work in a mass outage. Transportation, however, is essential, especially in an unstable societal situation. Most vehicles need gasoline.
Even if you stock up on gasoline, it has a set shelf life—not that long, either. Usually, it lasts three to six months. In a short-term outage, this would probably be a sufficient shelf life.
However, if you want to prepare for a long-term scenario, you should get fuel stabilizers. Fuel stabilizers can extend gasoline’s shelf life to one to three years. That’s a significant difference and would be very helpful in a long-term outage.
[lasso id=”4949″ link_id=”6731″ ref=”amzn-sta-bil-storage-fuel-stabilizer-keeps-fuel-fresh-for-24-months-prevents-corrosion-gasoline-treatment-fuel-additive-that-protects-fuel-system-gas-stabilizer-for-fuel-storage-32-oz”]Home Security Gadgets
Relying on digital security systems won’t cut it in an outage, long-term or not. They could even do the opposite of their jobs and put you in danger in the event of a cyber attack.
To prevent this, rely on tangible security devices. Since these don’t rely on a digital system to function, they’ll protect you even if every piece of technology becomes obsolete.
Durable locks on every entryway will secure your home without technology. Deadbolt locks are some of the strongest on the market, so checking those out would be an excellent place to start.
[lasso id=”3879″ link_id=”4753″ ref=”amzn-brinks-transitional-single-cylinder-deadbolt-matte-black-built-for-rigorous-residential-protection-with-ansi-grade-2-security-e2401-122″]Door jammers are another type of item you can use to secure entryways in your home. They work by jamming the door, so if anyone somehow gets through your locked door, they wouldn’t be able to open it anyway.
Books
Books are a great way to gather knowledge without relying on technology like the Internet. Stocking up on different kinds of books can help you keep your knowledge intact, learn more without the Internet, or pass information on to others.
Having non-digital access to information is essential when preparing for tech outages, as a situation like that could wipe out all of the knowledge humanity has amassed on the Internet.
You can get multiple books on different topics or an encyclopedia, which contains much information on many topics in a single place.
[lasso id=”3881″ link_id=”4754″ ref=”amzn-the-preppers-survival-bible-the-complete-worst-case-scenario-survival-guide-life-saving-strategies-to-be-self-sufficient-and-keep-your-family-safe-in-every-emergency”]Temperature-Related Items
In a mass outage, those living in areas with extreme temperatures, whether high or low, will be affected by the inability to use their AC units. Controlling the temperature in harsh conditions is vital to survival.
To prepare for this type of situation, you could get thermal clothing. Thermal clothes trap your body heat and keep you warm significantly better than regular clothes. You can also add insulated coats to this.
Blankets and sleeping bags made of insulating materials, such as wool, will keep you warm even in rough, cold winter conditions without an operable heating unit.
Lightweight clothing will help you stay cool in hot temperatures. Look for clothes labeled moisture-wicking. Linen and cotton are also typically good clothes that keep you cool.
If your house gets a lot of sunlight through its windows, you should also invest in blackout curtains. These curtains block much sunlight, so they can cool your house significantly.
[lasso id=”3884″ link_id=”4755″ ref=”amzn-bgment-thermal-insulated-100-blackout-curtains-for-bedroom-with-black-liner-double-layer-full-room-darkening-noise-reducing-rod-pocket-curtain-52-x-63-inch-pure-white-2-panels”]This type of gear can be tailored to your family’s needs. When selecting items like first aid devices, survival food, and others, consider their medical conditions, comfort, and preferences.
Have you experienced a digital outage? What kind was it? What did you do without your digital technology? Have you made any special preparations for the loss of digital tech? Please leave a reply below to assist others in their survival prepping.
I’m the daughter of 2 original survivalists who moved from the north to sunny Florida. My mother, along with her parents, bought 30 mostly uncleared acres in 1938. The first home was made of pecky-cypress and built by a house-raising. My mother raised 10,000 chickens.
My divorced mother met and married my father in 1948. From pine trees on our property, he hand-built a log cabin. He also built a tarpaper-lined 65’x45′ pool with duck pond overflow. We had an artesian well for our water and powering our hand-built waterwheel for the pool. He built a substantial cantilevered roof workshop with a car pit in the massive cement floor.
Since my early teens, I have read a ton of books about survival, prepping, the bomb, an apocalypse, homestead living, and SHTF situations. As an adult, I continue to read sci-fi, survival prepping, and science. I practice a prepper lifestyle albeit a bit modified, read a lot, buy a lot, pack/store a lot of anything survival related.
Read my About Me post for more details on our self-sufficient living. I lived there until I went to college in 1968.
My SurvivalPrepperSupply.com blog strives to educate individuals on coping with natural and human-caused disasters using article posts about preparing for emergencies.
