Most homeowners don’t worry about intruders, much less nuclear blasts and gunfire. However, true survivalists know that these are all very real and present dangers, so a typical lock and key just won’t cut it.
Rather, they need tools, systems, and shelters to protect themselves and their assets in every situation. The more they can prep in advance, the more likely they’ll be to survive and thrive, regardless of potential threats.
Whether you’re prepping for calamity or simply trying to safeguard your home against unwanted guests, there are a few upgrades you should consider making.
1. Grade 1 ANSI Deadbolt
Nearly 60% of burglaries involve forced entry, so a strong deadbolt is key to protecting your home from intruders. As a survivalist, you probably already have some sort of lock-and-key deadbolt system in place. However, if it’s anything but an American National Standards Institute Grade 1 deadbolt, you’re due for an upgrade.
ANSI Grade 1 systems are the highest-rated and most effective type of deadbolt because they’re the most difficult to disable. Check company websites to find out how highly their locks are rated and determine whether you want a smart lock. One of these bad boys will cost a few hundred dollars, but they’ll allow you to lock, unlock and visually monitor your home from afar.
Of course, there’s always a chance that someone might hack the smart lock. However, if you have an alarm system and other security devices in place, the intruder won’t get far.
2. Biometric Access Control System
If money is no object, installing a biometric access control system may be one of the best ways to protect your home. There are several types of biometric technology. One of the most common uses fingerprints to identify and either permit or deny access to anyone who tries to enter a room or building. However, many others also rely on eye, face and hand recognition.
Using a biometric access control system at your front door may also protect you and others from the coronavirus and other germs. If you use one that relies on facial recognition, no one has to touch handles, keys or keypads to enter your home. This touchless technology truly is the future of home security. If you can get your hands on it now, you’ll certainly be ahead of the curve.
3. Ballistic-Resistant Window Shields
Regardless of how strong or secure your doors are, someone could still get in through the windows, even if they’re double-paned. Moreover, if you fear an active shooter, bombing or ballistic missile strike, the shock waves and shrapnel would shatter your windowpanes and send glass flying in all directions. Therefore, it’s best to install ballistic-resistant window shields if you want optimum security for your home.
These devices often adorn guardhouses and mobile security booths and will be just as effective on your windows at home. Look for brands that will custom manufacture the shield to fit your window frames. Then, choose between a sliding or swinging access port opening. At their highest rating, these kinds of shields can withstand a shot from .30-06 armor piercing ammunition.
[Editor’s note: They do make window security film that, although it won’t stop bullets, it will help with reducing glass breakage if smashed with a brick, for example.]
4. Glass-Break Sensors
Are you looking for something less visible and more informative? Opt for glass-break detectors that immediately alert you of break-ins. Unlike a door or window entry sensor, this device monitors audio frequencies to recognize the sound of shattering glass. Their detection method can be faulty, as glass breaking on your TV or in your kitchen can trigger an alarm. However, a higher-quality sensor will reduce these false alarms.
Glass-break sensors also prevent burglars from entering through sliding glass doors, which aren’t usually compatible with traditional entry sensors. A single sensor can cover multiple square feet of space, so you’ll only need to purchase a few, depending on the size of your home. Consider buying ones that are compatible with a professional monitoring or alarm system to keep all your alerts in one app or security board.
5. Security Cameras
Quality security cameras a must-have these days for any good homeowner, but if you want to get the best, here’s what to consider.
4K Color Night Vision Camera
Hardcore survivalists will likely already have security cameras in and around their homes. However, if you’re still using technology with traditional night vision, you’re missing out on 4K color night vision monitoring. These cameras feature full-color images and better contrast in low-light conditions so you can detect everything from a suspect’s hair color to their license plate number.
[Editors note: My wireless Blink cameras do great during the day but, truth be told, aren’t the best at night.]
When choosing a system, look for ones with long-range color night vision so you can see further and capture objects at a distance. Features like 3D DNR and wide dynamic range technology may also be worth investing in as they help balance light and minimize static and blur. As a result, you’ll end up with clearer, high-quality images any time of the day or night.
8-Megapixel Image Sensors
IP security cameras rely on a megapixel resolution to provide higher-quality images than CCTV cameras. The higher the megapixel, the better the resolution — and the easier it is to decipher a person’s face or license plate number. Thus, if you anticipate needing to identify suspects as opposed to replaying footage of a bomb blast, cameras with 8-megapixel image sensors are your best bet.
Security systems that feature this many megapixels offer incredible resolution. However, you’ll likely use more data due to their high bandwidth. If purchasing more data isn’t an issue for a survivalist like yourself, this won’t be much of a problem. Plus, when you consider how quickly you’ll be able to identify a burglar, an 8-megapixel system might start sounding like a worthwhile investment.
Security Cameras With Digital Zoom
Security cameras have two types of zoom: optical and digital. The former uses a fixed lens that’s stereotypical of point-and-shoot cameras, while the latter can change the zoom mechanically. Optical zoom keeps the picture clear as you close in in real-time.
However, doing so will also narrow your field of view, which may cut people or objects out of the video. Meanwhile, digital will let you zoom in after recording a video, but the picture will become more pixelated.
Since you’ll only be putting security cameras up to surveil people and things near your building, there’s no need to use optical zoom cameras. It’s smarter to invest in ones with digital zoom so you can get a better view of possible suspects after you record footage. Look for a system with pan tilt zoom so you can adjust the camera angle.
6. Motion-Activated Floodlights
Motion-activated floodlight score points with eco-conscious homeowners and hardcore survivalists alike. These home security devices use energy-efficient LED lighting and turn off automatically when no one is nearby. Plus, some of the best ones can detect movement as far as 70 feet away. So, whether you’re home or not, you can keep your yard well-lit and scare off intruders.
When shopping around for floodlights, look for ones that feature a 180-degree sensing angle and a camera to record whatever triggered it. Consider how many lumens each system offers as well. Some of the more elite lights will emit nearly 2,000 lumens — about the same brightness as cars’ headlights — while low-end products will only use 200 or so to illuminate your home. If you have a large yard, the brighter, the better.
7. Security Smoke
Do you have $10,000 to spare? Stop an intruder in their tracks with a smoke blaster. Once they trigger the device, it’ll blow fog laced with pepper spray or a sleeping compound into the air. The particles are minuscule, so they’ll settle slowly and reduce the likelihood of residue and contamination. Plus, they’ll hang in the air longer so you have time to call the police or at least stop thieves from running away with anything.
Some survivalists install a fogger or smoker as part of their home’s tactical defense system, which will automatically work to fight off intruders. However, many brands allow for remote control so you can access and trigger them from afar if need be.
8. Automatic Driveway Gates
Improve your entire property’s security — and luxury factor — with automatic gates. We don’t need to tell you that steel gates can boost your home’s curb appeal. However, most people don’t realize that establishing a perimeter can also prevent unwanted guests from setting foot — or wheel — on your property. Some systems will even monitor who goes in and out and trip an alarm system if someone climbs the bars.
Automatic driveway gates are available at most home improvement stores and have become a popular choice among millionaires and the average homeowner alike. Choose among materials like vinyl, wood, iron, aluminum and steel to create a strong barrier between your home and outside threats. Consider purchasing ones with spear points or finials as well to further deter burglars from scaling the bars and hopping the gate.
9. NBC Filtration System
A nuclear, biological or chemical air filtration system is a must in any bomb shelter. However, current events have convinced some survivalists to begin installing NBC systems in their homes as well.
This unit blows air outside of your shelter to ensure that no contaminated air from pollution, nuclear fallout, wildfires or explosions gets inside. This way, you and your family can breathe easily for years, even if the air outside your home is unbreathable.
Most filtration systems feature a nuclear-grade HEPA filter and activated carbon to filter out contaminants. They also use overpressure to ensure the pressure inside your home is greater than the surrounding environment. That way, any air leaks flow outward instead of inward. Simply attach your unit to a wall inside your home and draw air through a pipe or register duct.
10. Footstep Sensors
If you have all of the above, why would you need a footstep sensor? Well, if you own a yacht or similarly large boat, you may want to consider escaping to it in the event of a worldwide emergency.
However, because their engines are loud and their decks are expansive, hijackers can easily board your ship if you aren’t paying attention. In this instance, it’s important to have a footstep sensor under your deck.
This security system will detect every footstep, immediately alert you to potential threats and train your cameras on the person’s location. Won’t you trip the system every time you step on deck, though? Not necessarily. Each person’s walking gait is unique, so if you purchase a sensor that can identify your footsteps, the alarm won’t trip unless someone else climbs aboard.
11. Invest In a Panic Room
Even with all these security measures in place, there’s a chance someone or something could get into your home. As a survivalist, you must prepare for this situation — however unlikely it may seem — and the best way to do so is to build a panic room.
It will essentially act as a bunker within your own home and feature strong fortifications like bullet-resistant doors, walls, ceilings and floors.
If you have a few hundred thousand dollars to invest in such a room, opt to build an entire safety core instead. These multiroom units include bedrooms, bathrooms and even kitchens so you can survive and thrive for weeks — or years — without any contact with the outside world. But even a few to several thousand dollars may suffice to retrofitting an already existing room, like a master bedroom closet.
Plan Ahead and Stay Safe
Keeping an eye on current events and knowing who your enemies are will boost your chances of staying one step ahead of potential threats. However, there’s no way to predict when or if another country will target your home during a nuclear strike.
Likewise, you probably won’t be able to determine when the next pandemic or a zombie apocalypse will occur. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself is to plan ahead and prepare for the worst before disaster strikes. And if you’d like a great list of significantly less expensive solutions, get the book: 28 Powerful Home Security Solutions.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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