I started thinking about this a bit after Sept 11th. Technology was the only think I knew, so I decided to diversify my skill-set. I started by reading Phil Gingrey books and building a metalcasting foundry as step 1. From there, I built a crude generator based on a lawnmower motor, a pulley and an automobile Alternator. This coupled with an inverter provided power for as long as I could fuel the motor.

Securing fuel for the motor, let me down the dark side of thought which is either protection or "just take it". I bought guns and learned how to use them (safely!).

Of course, later I learned about gardening and self-sufficiency and being off grid. While I've never been off-grid, I started to do thought exercises and preparation. I was never a "prepper" per se, but I learned the basics because the early 2000s created a lot of global uncertainty.

Circling back to tech, I started to learn morse code so I could HAM.

Power + communication + protection and food are the basics (not necessarily in that order).

I have some survival books and Wikipedia downloaded on a disk in a faraday box, but I'm not sure how long I'd be able to access it - it largely depends on the type of event.

A significant power outage is all it would take to simulate technology life in a disaster scenario. My servers/homelab wouldn't be of much use in a disaster, but being able to read would be tremendously useful and valuable.