A lot of the public sees “preppers” as crazy people who are getting ready for a cataclysmic event that will never happen. Things like giant ice storms or a zombie apocalypse comes to mind.
But is there any value to being prepared?
As long as prepping is done with practicality in mind, it's never a waste of time. You'll always benefit from having backup food, supplies and other necessary resources.
However, preparing for scenarios that will never happen wastes valuable time and money, which could be put to better use elsewhere.
In this article, I'll show you how to tell the difference, give you reasons why prepping is absolutely necessary…and what you should consider beyond prepping.
What Can Happen
Before you watch these videos, keep in mind that my intention is not to scare you. I simply want to illustrate the point that natural disasters can be sudden and devastating.
This video shows disasters from around the world in 2024.
This second video shows the biggest disaster in every state in the USA.
Remember that even though some of these disasters happened awhile ago, there is always the potential for an equally dramatic event to happen today.
I hope that these videos illustrate that we cannot be complacent because we never know when one of these disasters will hit.
If you're just getting started, read my beginner's guide to prepping to learn the fastest and easiest way to begin your journey.
Pros and Cons of Prepping
In my opinion, prepping is a no-brainier. But if you need to weigh the costs and benefits, here they are.
Pros
- Have high-quality supplies in an emergency, instead of scrambling for scraps
- Daily peace of mind
- Increases the likelihood that you and your family will be safe in an emergency
- Pay less for your supplies over time
- Build confidence that you can do things for yourself
- Stop worrying about problems and create solutions
- Help others
- Brings families and communities together
- Be ready for lesser emergencies
- Can give you purpose
- Helps you stay organized
- Encourages you to be resourceful
Cons
- Costs extra money
- Requires extra thought and time
- Need storage space
As you can see, the benefits greatly outweigh the downsides.
If you're still not convinced, then consider this…
Your Great, Great Grandparents Didn't “Prep”
Before the word “prepping” became part of our popular vocabulary, storing food, water and necessary supplies was simply a way of life.
If people during those times didn't store food, there was a chance they wouldn't make it through the year.
Unfortunately in the modern age, we've become accustomed to easy access to food and water. Amazon Prime and similar services can deliver almost anything to our door.
But there's no guarantee those things will always be around. In fact, it's very likely that these services will be periodically interrupted. Natural disasters, harsh weather or labor strikes are very real possibilities in our modern world.
Therefore, we should start thinking like our great, great grandparents. Even with all of our modern conveniences, we still have to face the reality that things can go wrong and we should take responsibility for our own well being.
This can be a daunting task, but if you start small, it's achievable.
What if Nothing Happens?
A common concern is that nothing will happen and all that work and money will be wasted.
That's certainly a possibility.
So if you're worried about this potential outcome, then ask yourself what is more important to you.
- Being prepared for almost any emergency
- Suffering greatly if there is an emergency
I don't know about you, but given the amount of natural disasters happening around the world, I would rather have at least a minimal amount of preps available as an insurance plan, instead of worrying about what could happen tomorrow.
As long as you make a plan and keep your preps practical, it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive.
The choice is yours.
How Long Should You Prep For?
It's can be easy to bite off more than you can chew. So it's best to start small.
I suggest being prepared for 3 weeks to start.
From what I've seen, it takes about 2 weeks for the situation to stabilize after a disaster. Therefore if you're prepared for 3 weeks, you'll have a little bit of a buffer in case it takes longer than expected.
Obviously, you shouldn't stop there. But it's the best place to start.
Once you have 3 weeks covered, then build your preps gradually until you have enough for 6 months.
If you want to be prepared for more, then that's up to you.
Some situations like extreme cold might require more supplies.
Again, it can be easy to go overboard so more than 6 months is overkill, in my opinion. But use your discretion and figure out what is best for your situation.
Going Beyond Prepping
Once you have your basic needs covered, pat yourself on the back for getting started.
But you're not done yet.
Before you move on, I feel that it's useful to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Consider how long you ultimately want to prepare for. Is 6 months your ultimate goal? 1 year, 2 years?
Why do you feel that you need to prepared for that long?
These are questions that I cannot answer for you. It's something that you have figure out for yourself.
On top of that, what do you want your daily life to look like?
Consider how you'll integrate your preparation into your everyday activities. Figure out how you'll get your family and others in your community prepared.
Once you have everything in place, your journey does not stop there. Remain alert and flexible because new situations may come up that will require additional work.
But don't stress about it. Having your basic preps covered is a fantastic start.
Final Thoughts
In summary, I feel that prepping is NOT a waste of time. It's essential to be prepared for whatever may come.
Since nobody knows when these events will happen, the key is to be ready at all times.
It can be easy to put off being prepared but I encourage you to get to work because the best time to get started is right now.
