Prepping can have a negative stigma attached to it because of the TV shows that portray preppers as crazy doomsday predictors.
But in reality, it’s just common sense to be ready for any emergency that comes your way. You never know when the weather will change for the worst and you’ll be facing the “storm of the century.”
Recent events have shown us that we never know when these events might happen, and the results can be devastating. Just look at the hundreds of videos of natural disasters on YouTube and you’ll see how sudden (and destructive) they can be.
Prepping is NOT a waste of time.
Of course most people don’t expect these things, so when these events happen, many are caught off guard and there is a run on supplies in the stores.
You obviously don’t want to be one of those people who are trying to panic buy stuff.
It can be easy to put off being prepared, but if you take it slow and integrate it into your lifestyle, you might be surprised at what you can achieve in a short period of time.
And it can be fun.
So let’s get into how you can get started right now.
Your well being and the well being of your family depends on it.
Start With a Plan
The first thing that you have to do is assess your situation and create a plan.
It can be tempting to go all-out and buy all of the latest gear that you see in YouTube videos. But pause, take a deep breath, and create a plan so you don’t waste precious time and money on stuff you’ll never use.
I’ve been there, so I want to prevent you from making the same mistakes.
Here’s what to do first.
Minimal Prepping Checklist
The best place to start is with the minimum amount of stuff that you’ll need to get you through an emergency. I believe in being prepared for at least 3 weeks to start.
In my research, I have found that it usually takes about 2 weeks for things to stabilize after a major natural disaster. So being prepared for 3 weeks will make sure that you’re covered.
From there, you can build on your supplies to get you to where you ultimately want to be.
The minimum things that you’ll need are the following:
- 3 weeks of water
- 3 weeks of food
- Emergency supplies for your home in case you stay home or cannot leave
- A bug-out/emergency bag for each member of your family if you have to evacuate
- Learn to use your gear
Now that you have the basic checklist, I’ll get into the details of each item.
1. Emergency Water
The first thing you should take care of is water.
It’s said that you cannot go without water for more than 3 days. This will vary by the individual and environment, but that’s a good rule of thumb to follow when prepping.