In order to completely be prepared for any disaster, you need to have your ultimate weapon armed and ready to go. As you have probably guessed, your brain is that ultimate weapon. Unfortunately there is too much for you to memorize to be a super survivor like MacGyver. Sorry, you’re just not cool enough.

There are many objectives you could pursue for countless scenarios, but you have to make a decision and stick with it to create an increased chance of success. This is why it is absolutely essential that you prepare tools to assist you in your struggle for success. Though there are many tools that will assist you in both short and long term issues you may run into, I am only showing you how to create a Survival Map in this article. Fret not, I will be posting more articles in the near future on how to create cost efficient tools to assist you in keeping your brains safe from harm.

To start off, I want to forewarn the reader that the effectiveness of the Survival Map is dependent on the work that is put into its creation. This tool needs your dedication to unlock its true potential. It may seem easy while reading about how to make it, but when you start its creation you will see its difficult nature unfold. The more time and hard work you place into this tool - the more your tool will exponentially improve your survival efficiency.

Notice: Maps are a general location marker. Most maps do not offer terrain differences or pin-point accuracy. A map is used for general location position in accordance with landmarks.

To create a Survival map you need the following resources:

1. National/State/City Street Map - preferably laminated
2. Sharpie Marker - different colors strongly suggested
3. Transportation

You can find National Street Maps online or at any major truck stop. It is wise to purchase a laminated map to be able to preserve it from the elements. Sharpie markers can be purchased at any gas station or major stores. Using color markers is a good idea for easy identification of locations. Transportation can be anything to help you move. Walking is a great form of transportation to use, but distance may prove to be an issue if you choose this healthy method of scouting.

After you have the Street Map and Sharpie Marker, start by marking your safe house and work/school. Using your safe house and work/ school as a beginning point, start marking the many resource buildings within a small radius of those locations. When marking these resource buildings, mark them as small symbols or letters on your map in the correct location on the map (i.e.- Wal-Mart as “w”; Target as “t”; Gas stations as “g” or a triangle). After you decide what symbols to use for the various locations, it is important that you make a Key listing of what all the symbols represent. If you do not make a Key, the meaning of the map is wasted. After all, this is suppose to be a helpful tool and not just one more thing you have to memorize. Plus, look at the grim idea that another survivor may stumble upon your corpse and find your map. Not only are you helping yourself, but you may be helping someone else.

After you have marked all of the locations within your direct location (and made your Key), it is time to expand the radius. It may take you several months to mark down all of the resource buildings in your area. After you have scouted and successfully marked all of the resource buildings within a 50 mile radius of your main location(s), it is time to get more complicated. Scouting within this same radius, find all of the possible safe locations that you see fit to use in case your safe house or work/ school was destroyed during the first few stages of the disaster.

Notice: There may be residents within the buildings that you have marked as a potential safe house. It is suggested that you first go speak with the current residents to secure relations with these persons prior to a disaster occurring in your location.

Now you should have a marked map with all resource buildings and possible safe houses within a 50 mile radius of your current residents. If you don’t, you are foolish. And jeopardizing your life and the lives of others for not preparing properly.

Below I am suggesting some standards of what to mark on your Survival Map:

1. Safe House Possibilities
2. Gas Stations
3. Malls
4. Stores
5. Warehouses
6. Factories
7. Storage Facilities
8. Car Sale Lots
9. Car & Tire Repair
10. Hospitals
11. Pharmacies

This concludes the How-To for Survival Maps.