Learn to prepare for trouble at Mesa survival expo

It would not be easy for a family to ride out two weeks at home in the event of a catastrophe, but you can learn everything that you would need to get the job done at the Mesa Convention Center on Friday and Saturday.

The Self-Reliance Expo features speakers, exhibits and demonstrations covering everything from storing enough food and water to get through an emergency, to using solar power to treating medical injuries.

“If you look at 5 percent, you would be overshooting the number of people with [these] skills,” said expo spokesman David Safewater.

Safewater said becoming self-reliant in the home can be done cost effectively.

“You could get away with $200 to 300 if you planned it properly and that’s why we want people at this event,” he said. “They can learn to work within a budget they have.”

Lisa Bedford from the Valley will be among the speakers. She is better known as the “Survival Mom,” who encourages other women to adopt a calm, common sense approach to an uncertain future. She is the author of Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family For Everyday Disasters and Worst Case Scenarios.

“Sometimes we think of extreme events but millions of Americans have lost jobs,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be an end-of-the-world scenario.

“Just think of a two-week period where you can’t get anywhere. You can’t get help and the wheels start turning. You would need medication, a way to purify water, have enough pet food on hand and people need to realize they can do this.”

The expo runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.