Top 10 YouTube Videos on How to Cross a River Safely
Crossing a river wrong is one of the fastest ways a backcountry trip turns into an emergency, and it’s a skill best…
Live Monitoring — Survival Siren Command Center
Video Guides
Top 10 YouTube Videos on How to Forage for Winter Food
Foraging doesn’t stop when the weather turns cold, and YouTube has no shortage of creators showing what can still be gathered in…
Top 10 YouTube Videos on Making Char Cloth for Fire Starting
Char cloth is a staple of traditional fire-starting kits, and YouTube has no shortage of videos showing how it’s made. We’ve rounded…
Top 10 YouTube Videos on How to Build a Solar Still
Knowing how to get drinkable water from seawater or damp ground is one of those skills most people have heard of but…
Top 10 YouTube Videos on How to Survive a Bear Encounter
Bear encounters are one of those subjects where watching someone else deal with it first is time well spent. This list rounds…
Top 10 YouTube Videos on How to Read a Topographic Map
Learning to read a topographic map is a lot easier when someone walks you through it on screen, and YouTube has no…
Top 10 YouTube Videos on Catching Fish Without a Rod
Catching fish without a rod is one of those skills that’s far easier to learn by watching than by reading. We’ve rounded…
Top 9 YouTube Videos on How to Treat a Wound in the Wild
Treating an injury miles from help is one of those skills you hope to never need but really don’t want to learn…
News
M1.1 Solar Flare Detected on the Sun – Minor Radio Blackouts Possible
GOES satellites measured a M1.1-class solar flare peaking at 2026-10-05T18:48:00Z (X-ray flux 1.1e-5 W/m2, radio-blackout scale ~R1). Flares cause immediate shortwave radio blackouts on Earth's sunlit side. If this flare launched a CME toward Earth, a geomagnetic storm could follow in 1-3 days - worth watching the Kp index.
State Department Issues Worldwide Caution for U.S. Travelers
The U.S. State Department has issued a Worldwide Caution, urging Americans everywhere to exercise increased vigilance - typically prompted by heightened global tensions or an active conflict. Reported: "Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (October 4, 2026)".
Flood Warning Covers 35 Areas Across Midwest and Florida Through October 7
Flood Warning issued October 5 at 10:51AM CDT until October 7 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO (National Weather Service, United States). Currently covers 35 areas: Calhoun, IL; Pike, MO; Pike, IL; Franklin, FL; Polk, IA; Poweshiek, IA; Tama, IA; Callaway, MO; Osage, MO; Gage, NE (+25 more areas).
London Power Outage: Thousands of Homes and Businesses Without Electricity
A large-scale power outage is being reported: "Power outage in London, thousands of homes and businesses remain without electricity". Widespread outages can be caused by severe weather, grid failures, or - relevant to what this site tracks - a strong geomagnetic storm inducing damaging currents in transformers.
FAA Issues Ground Stop at Atlanta Airport – Widespread Delays Expected
A large-scale flight disruption is being reported: "FAA issues ground stop at Atlanta airport". Mass cancellations or ground stops are usually caused by severe weather, a major technical outage, or a security/safety event.
Flash Flood Warning: Coffee, Dale, and Barbour Counties, Alabama – Until 5:15 AM EDT
Flash Flood Warning issued October 5 at 2:20AM EDT until October 5 at 5:15AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL (National Weather Service, United States). Currently covers 3 areas: Coffee, AL; Dale, AL; Barbour, AL.
G1 (Minor) Geomagnetic Storm Now in Progress — Aurora Possible in Northern U.S. Tonight
Planetary Kp index has reached 5.3, which is NOAA level G1 (Minor geomagnetic storm). Aurora likely at high latitudes (northern-tier US states, Scotland, Scandinavia, Canada). Possible impacts: minor power grid fluctuations, minor satellite operation impacts, migratory animals affected.
U.S. 395 Closed Both Directions in Douglas County Due to Spring Fire
A major road closure is being reported: "U.S. 395 closed in both directions in Douglas County due to Spring Fire". Large-scale closures are usually caused by severe weather (flooding, ice, wildfire), a structural failure, or a serious multi-vehicle incident.
Global Stress Reports
Global Seismic Stress Report – September 28, 2026
Every two weeks, we compare earthquake activity in major fault zones worldwide against each zone’s own long-term average. A zone that’s normally…
Global Seismic Stress Report: Busy Pacific Edges, Quiet Mid-Ocean Faults
What We Found We looked at 200 earthquakes (magnitude 4.5 or bigger) recorded worldwide in the last 14 days, and compared activity…
Global Seismic Stress Report: Five Busy Zones, Six Quiet Ones
What We Found We looked at 200 earthquakes (magnitude 4.5 or bigger) recorded worldwide in the last 14 days, and compared activity…
Global Seismic Stress Report: Busy Week in the South Pacific, Quiet Elsewhere
What We Found We looked at 198 earthquakes (magnitude 4.5 or bigger) recorded worldwide in the last 14 days, and compared activity…
Global Seismic Stress Report: Southern Ocean Activity Rises While Six Segments Go Quiet
This fortnight’s Global Seismic Stress Report covers the last 14 days of earthquake activity measured against each segment’s own 3-year baseline. Across…
Earthquake
Earthquake Survival: Precautions, Kit & Early Warning in 2026
Drop, Cover, and Hold On remains the science-backed protocol during a quake, but 2026's real story is how early warning systems and Cascadia research are reshaping what preparedness actually means.
What NOT to Do During an Earthquake: Essential Tips
Earthquakes are unpredictable and can be incredibly destructive. Moreover, as our sun moves into itssolar maximum phase, the earthquake frequency is going to increase over the next few years. So, while it's crucial to know what actions to take during an earthquake, it's equally important to understand what not to do during an earthquake.
Communication
How to Make a Family Emergency Communication Plan When Mobile Networks Fail
Build a family communication plan for network outages, with written contacts, school collection arrangements, accessible meeting options and a worked example.
Emergency Communication: Staying Connected When Towers Go Down
During Hurricane Milton, over 12 percent of Florida's cell sites went dark. Here is how GMRS, ham radio, satellite messengers, and NOAA weather radio actually compare as backups when the towers fail.
How to survive a communication blackout
In our modern world, it's easy to take communication for granted. We have access to our phones, the internet, and other forms of communication at all times. But what happens when that access is suddenly taken away? Whether due to natural disasters, civil unrest or other unforeseen events, communication blackouts can happen at any time. So, how do you survive if you find yourself in the middle of a communication blackout?
Winter Survival
20 ways to stay warm during the polar vortex
A polar vortex storm is a severe weather condition that brings extremely low temperatures, high winds, and heavy snow. During such harsh weather, it’s important to stay warm to avoid hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related illnesses. Here are 20 ways to keep yourself warm during a polar vortex storm:
Survival Stories
Tsunami Survival: Warning Signs, Stories & Precautions
The ocean gives you a warning before a tsunami arrives, but only if you know what you are looking at. Real survivor accounts from 2004 and 2011 show why reading the signs matters more than waiting for a siren.
The 2018 Tham Luang Cave Rescue: A Remarkable Story of Survival and Resilience
In the annals of survival stories, the Tham Luang cave rescue stands as a testament to human tenacity, courage, and the power of teamwork. It unfolded in the summer of 2018, when a junior football team known as the Wild Boars embarked on an adventure that turned into a global rescue mission. Here’s a deeper look at their incredible survival story.