OFF THE GRID Survival Supply Store Grand Opening

OFF THE GRID SURVIVAL SUPPLY STORE, the Valley’s first survival supply store and one of the only in Riverside County, opens its doors on Friday, December 9th at 10:00 am in Palm Desert, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local elected officials. The American Red Cross -- Riverside County Chapter will be there with its Emergency Response Vehicle and a Disaster Preparedness Specialist. OFF THE GRID is donating 10% of all profits to the American Red Cross -- Riverside County Chapter during its first weekend of operation.

OFF THE GRID is filling a need and setting a trend for area residents and businesses to “Be Prepared.” Its concept is simple -- supply people what they need to be self-sufficient and self-sustaining when disasters of any type occur. The 2500 square foot store sells all the supplies necessary to withstand major disasters -- including earthquakes, wildfires, flash flooding, civil unrest and the ongoing threat of terrorism -- in a comfortable shopping environment with a knowledgeable survival supply sales staff. “We created OFF THE GRID to answer the question everyone should ask themselves. If a major disaster were to happen today, right this second, ARE YOU PREPARED?” says Darin Damme co-owner of OFF THE GRID. Damme and partner Rob Riddlemoser also own Out of the Box Gold Store, located next door to OFF THE GRID.

Damme asks chillingly real questions, “If the grocery store shelves were empty, ARE YOU PREPARED to feed and sustain you and your loved ones for an extended period of time? If there was no electricity, ARE YOU PREPARED to light your house, cook for your family, power your electronic devices?  If there was no running water ARE YOU PREPARED to find and treat the limited water you find to keep you and your family alive and healthy? ARE YOU PREPARED if electricity, water service, trash service, postal deliveries, internet, television and telephone communications were cut? ARE YOU PREPARED to live OFF THE GRID?”

For most Coachella Valley residents and business owners the answer is no, they are not prepared. This is a disturbing fact since the San Andreas Fault runs through the Valley and is, as experts warn, “long overdue” for a major quake. As soon as people are aware of the inherent challenges facing them should a disaster occur, they can properly prepare. That’s where OFF THE GRID steps in as the one-stop-shop with an inventory of hundreds of survival items, including food storage survival kits, two-person survival backpack kits, cases of water pouches, emergency 72 hour meal kits, folding stove with fuel tablets, 147-piece OSHA first aid kit, emergency lantern with radio, and food rations for dogs and cats, to name just a few items.

Before OFF THE GRID, you would have to go to at least half a dozen stores to purchase the necessary items to assemble a true survival supply kit.  OFF THE GRID offers pre-assembled, “grab and go” survival kits to which additional items and accessories can be added. People can also purchase a la carte items and customize their, “OFF THE GRID” Survival Kit to last several days, a week, or even a year and for their family’s size. For total preparedness, people should have multiple survival supply kits for home, car, work and for children to keep at school.

Damme and Riddlemoser are positioning OFF THE GRID as the one-stop community resource and “command central” for valley residents and business owners to become educated and informed on true disaster preparedness. A variety of Informational classes, including “Are you prepared: a citizen preparedness program” and “Home and small business disaster preparedness” will be offered. Book signings by best-selling survival specialists are also planned. OFF THE GRID features a kitchen for demonstrations on properly preparing the large variety of survival meals available. These are not typical MRE meals (Meals Ready to Eat) but include offerings such as lasagna, stroganoff, chili and macaroni.

People can check in with OFF THE GRID for weekly survival tips. “The Red Cross is all about disaster preparedness and OFF THE GRID opening right in the center of the valley makes us, as an organization, feel better prepared to help the community when the need arises,” notes Scott Kiner, Vice Chairman of the American Red Cross -- Riverside County Chapter.  

OFF THE GRID is open seven days a week from 10-6 and is located at 73-185 Highway 111 Suite C in Palm Desert, just east of Monterey, next to Out Of The Box Gold Store. Contact OFF THE GRID at 866-OFF-THE GRID.