Please note: this is only an informational post specific to the state of Arizona. It is always important to read your own policy. You can find your policy coverages on your Declarations Page or Evidence of Insurance. If you have any questions about your current insurance policy, you should contact your insurance agent.
The Basics
Hello, fellow Arizonans! I’m Dani Johnson, also known as The Survival Lady. While I may have been born and raised in a small town north of Seattle, Washington, my heart (and my home) is now firmly planted right here in Chandler. About four years ago, my husband and I made the move to the Grand Canyon State to be closer to family, and we haven’t looked back since.
Life here is good, especially with my amazing husband and our furry child, Ruger, by my side. My two incredible nieces and wonderful parents also keep our family circle tight. When I’m not helping people, you can often find me packing up the truck and heading to my favorite off-grid spot – the kind with zero cell reception – for a day of shooting and exploring, or maybe even an overnight camping trip. And on those days I need to recharge, there’s nothing better than cozying up at home with my boys and a funny movie. Whether I’m outdoors or in, as long as I’m with my husband and Ruger, I’m happy.
I’ve always had a passion for helping people, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have found work that allows me to do just that for my fellow Arizonans. You see, I wear a few different hats, all focused on supporting you through life’s big moments and everyday needs.
Work Life
The Survival Lady Blog
- Survival 101
- Safety Strategies
- Life Organization
- Family Planning
- Insurance 101
- Insurance Tips & Industry Updates
J Martin Insurance Agency LLC
- Customer Service Representative
- Marketing Manager
Happily Ever Print LLC
- Fully licensed, bonded & insured Notary Public in the State of Arizona
- Ordained Minister, offers wedding services in the State of Arizona
The Event
My journey to becoming “The Survival Lady” was born from a terrifying, life-altering event. On April 19, 2021, around 5 AM, our apartment building caught fire. It burned down in under five minutes. Yes, you read that correctly – we lost everything in under five minutes. When I say everything, I truly mean it. We even lost a beloved family member. All we had were the clothes we were sleeping in (no shoes), our bug-out bags, and what was in our cars.
Five minutes truly is no time at all, and we didn’t even have the full five minutes. The building was engulfed in just under five minutes, meaning we had maybe two minutes to act. All I had time to do was call 911. All my husband had time to do was grab our bug-out bags, guns, and ammo bags. I swear, I saw our dog leave the apartment; he was so well-trained, the only reason we ever used a leash was due to apartment rules. I knew I would find him waiting by either my car or my husband’s truck, where he always waited when we were getting ready to leave. But unfortunately, he wasn’t there – he must have gone back inside the apartment after me. We still don’t know to this day, all we know is he is gone.
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The Creation of the Survival Lady
About three months before the fire, I started to get a really bad feeling that something bad was coming. I wasn’t sure what it was or when it would happen, but it prompted me to start researching “bugging out” and what to do in case of an emergency.
At the time, I only had a partial Bug-Out System in place. While that was certainly better than nothing, I kept thinking, “What if?” What if I had a complete Bug-Out System that morning? Since I can’t go back in time to redo that morning, I’ve had to settle for sharing my experiences to help others. I’ve combined all of my research and the hard lessons learned from our experience into a comprehensive system designed to help families facing an emergency situation. I just wasn’t sure how or where to share my system.
To this day, both my husband and I experience symptoms of PTSD from that event. I never fully realized how much it was affecting my husband until one day, the toaster set off the smoke alarm, and he immediately jumped up, saying, “We need to grab what we can and go now!” Once I understood how deeply this was impacting us and that time alone wouldn’t simply make it disappear, I decided to take action on sharing our story and my system and The Survival Lady was born. My hope is to help other families avoid going through what we have, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to face the unexpected.
This blog post offers general information based on my personal experiences and research. While I strive for accuracy and timeliness, I make no guarantees about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the content, particularly as it applies to the state of Arizona. Any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk, as it’s not intended as professional or expert advice.
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