In a SHTF scenario, all things are possible. From a nuclear explosion to civil war, there are many things that you can do to keep yourself and your family safe.

The problem is that most people think that they are prepared, when in fact they are not. So, in order to better prepare you for the unthinkable, we have compiled a list of 10 things that will better help you when shit hits the fan.

10) The City WILL Fall

If you live in a large city, you may want to rethink that. When hell breaks loose, the city will crumble. People will be fighting, stealing, raping and murdering, and you do not want yourself or your family caught in the cross-hairs.

If you are unable to leave the city, you should invest in either property in a rural area or invest in friends who own property in a rural area. Make sure that you are honing in on all of your skills though, most people will deny you access to their land and goods if you have nothing to bring to the table.

9) Evacuation Route

No matter where you reside, you will need a couple of evacuation routes. So what if you have the PERFECT plan laid out. If that route has been blocked, damaged or made impassable, you will need a secondary one.

When deciding which route is best, make sure that you take the road least taken. In other words, do not take common exits and routes that are well known. When chaos ensues, you will realize that everyone else is taking the same road, you will be better off and able to move quicker if you are not having to stop and wait for traffic.

8) Diesel Vehicles

So, you bought a Prius? Well, when the grid goes down, so does that smart, high gas mileage car. It doesn’t matter if you drive one, as long as you have another hard-fuel vehicle ready. Diesel will be more readily available than gasoline.

If you get something that is military-grade diesel, you will also be able to use things like rotten/dried leaves as a means to make your own fuel. Do some research about how to do that now because when SHTF, you will not have time.

7) Self Defense

Self-defense does not mean carrying a gun that you have never shot. Self-defense means knowing multiple ways of how to defend yourself and your family in a bad situation.

Whether you are trying to escape a rabid dog or trying to overpower someone whose goal is to hurt you, self-defense is essential to survival.

Recommended: 10 Self Defense Techniques Everyone Should Know

6) Stay Fit

All of the escape routes, self-defense maneuvers and survival skills that you have learned will get you nowhere if you cannot outrun the situation. You need to start working out and exercising now because you will not have time to hit the gym when things get rough.

5) Basic Survival Skills

You will need to know AT LEAST your basic survival skills. You should be figuring out how to catch your own food, how to sew basic stitches, start fires, find and filter clean drinking water, CPR and even which plants are poisonous.

If you cannot distinguish poison ivy from an English Ivy, you need more lessons! Survival is more than getting away from the bad people. It is surviving on your own when you have no one else to turn to.

4) Advanced Survival Skills

So, you know how to do everything in number five? Well, now you need to start worrying about other things. If you don’t know how to shoot a bow, this lesson could really help you in a survival situation.

You should be learning how to track animals and people, how to use different vines to make cords, how to store food so that it doesn’t go bad and anything else that could help you. Think outside of the box because everyone and everything else will be trying to survive as well.

3) Discover your Inner BOB

You don’t know who BOB is? Oh, well, you need to get to work on that! BOB mean bug-out bag. In a bug-out bag, you will have everything that you need in a hurry up and go situation.

You will have things like first aid kit, fishing twine, water, food, firearm with extra ammo, raincoat (these are handy for so many different survival things), medications and anything else that you think is necessary to have at all time. So, discover your inner BOB, make friends with him and get your butt in gear. One last note, do not pack the bag so much that you cannot carry it because then it is useless.

2) Food and Equipment Trail

If you already have your evacuation route planned, you should start thinking about other things. In an emergency situation, you may not have time to pack up your car, so you need to have some necessities stored along your evacuation route.

If you are traveling country roads, dig a whole near a familiar landmark and bury some essential items in it. You would be amazed at how much you can store along your route, and how handy this will become.

1) Be Mentally Prepared

All the primping and prepping will be useless if you have not mentally prepared yourself for an emergency situation. You should start going on survival camp-outs, now. You should have timed drills using your escape route. You need to make sure that all of your hard work pays off.

Basically, you need to think like you are the last person (or family) on Earth who is sane and in control of the situation. There are many other ways to plan for a survival situation, but this list is a great place to start if you are just beginning your trek to surviving ultimate demise.

We recommend joining The Warrior Tribe to really prepare.