Destiny Survival

            Meet Joe.  He loves gadgets, especially his cell phone with all the latest features.  He’s a member of the more than one sixth of American households who have given up landline phones completely.  He’s part of a rapidly growing number, so he’s in good company, or so it would seem.  He used to have a landline phone, but decided to cut his expenses.  Besides, Joe figured that only telemarketers called on that outdated technology anyway.  He didn’t want to be like his technologically challenged grandmother, who wouldn’t think of giving up her landline phone.

            There’s just one thing Joe didn’t count on.

            The storm was so massive it knocked out power for miles around.  Cell phone towers were damaged or down altogether.  Service was spotty where it existed at all.  It wasn’t safe to travel anywhere, and Joe was stranded at home.  He was hurt and needed medical attention.  There was no reliable way to charge his cell phone battery once it had run down.  He had no knowledge of communicating by radio, nor any kind of radio that could be used to call for help.  No one could get through to him either.  He’d have to wait for rescue workers and hope they found him in time.  As Joe lay trying to keep warm, it occurred to him that maybe having a landline phone wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

            Does Joe sound like anyone you know?  Could this be you?

            When it comes to survival communications and preparedness, don’t overlook technology that seems to be outdated.  Have more than one means of communication at your disposal.  It’s a good idea to have a corded telephone on hand, as Joe discovered in our little scenario above.  Even if you never use a landline connection for anything other than a computer, you would do well to have an inexpensive phone you can plug into that phone jack if necessary in an emergency.  Unless there’s been an earthquake to break cables, or perhaps a major flood that damages them, you’ll have phone service when electricity is out.  Obviously a cordless phone won’t work without power, so you need a corded phone.  A cheap phone with no frills will serve the purpose.  Have one in a survival kit.

You can buy a cheap phone from Wal-Mart, or you can get an inexpensive corded phone online by clicking on the picture of the phone below.  That takes you to the page on Amazon.com where you can order this no frills phone.  Features are pretty basic, but it does all you’ll need of a landline phone in an emergency.  There’s really no good reason you should be without a landline phone for emergencies when your life is at stake.