The events of the last three to four years have pushed many people into the prepper world (I prefer the term ‘Survivalist’ but ‘Prepper’ sounds friendlier, I suppose). Between riots, pandemics, the threat of nuclear war, and natural disasters, it would be foolish to not be a prepper! The problem that so many people face is that it is such a huge topic. With so many opinions, and frankly a lot of nonsense, it can become overwhelming and people just give up. So, we’re going to delve into some of this with the hope of helping those who are just starting out, or possibly encouraging you to start.
There are two things to remember on this journey:
- The government isn’t coming to save you, and
- Never become a refugee.
The first thing you have to do is decide what you are preparing for. Do you live next to a military base or nuclear reactor? Both of those would make great targets for terrorists to attack. What about natural disasters? Hurricanes, floods, snow storms, tornadoes, wildfires; all of these are concerns. Maybe you’re concerned about the possibility of a nuclear conflagration. The words “Nuclear War” are tossed around fairly casually today, something that wasn’t done even during the Cold War. A big concern for many in the prepper/survivalist community is an EMP, or electromagnetic pulse, either man-made or natural. Potentially, an EMP would destroy much of our modern electronics, and we’d be back in the 1800s.
So, where do you start?
Think of this as the Rule of Threes. You can survive three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food. That means the first thing to do would be to build yourself a 72-hour kit. This is considered the bare minimum to start with. This kit will have enough food, water, medicine, clothing, shelter, and protection for your entire family for three days whether you are at home or not. Most people will have these supplies already, it’s just a matter of putting it all together in a bag or plastic tub that can be grabbed at a moment’s notice. Ideas of what to put in your kit can be found at www.ready.gov. Pre-made kits are also available at some big stores like Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, and Academy.
You need to begin your food and water storage plan.
There are some important points here. First, don’t buy any bulk foods that are on sale if you won’t eat them. Just because the local grocer knocked generic brand garbanzo beans in the can to $0.20 doesn’t mean you have to go and buy a hundred of them. If nobody in your house likes garbanzo beans, that’s a waste of resources.
You also don’t want to go out and spend $3,000 on survival food. Again, if no one likes it, it does you no good. Begin by building up a three-month supply of your regular foods, the stuff you know your family will eat. I know, you’ll hear a lot of people say two weeks’ supply is sufficient, but who knows how long this event will last? The more you can store, the longer you can last until the end of the event, whatever it is. Water is difficult to store in bulk because of its size and weight, but having one case of bottled water per person in your home, some gallon bottles, and a water filter made by Sawyer or Berkey, at a minimum, will keep you going.
Have alternative methods of lighting and heating.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a wood stove, congratulations! You’ve got cooking and heating covered. For everyone else, kerosene heaters and lamps, candles, and propane stoves are just some of your options. The one good thing about prepackaged long-term survival food is that most of it only requires water, so you’re only having to use the heat for a short time. You could store cases and cases of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) which is what the US Military issues to its troops in the field. However, they are expensive, and you only get 12 meals in a case. Are they good to have around? Yep. Keep a case in your vehicle along with some water and you’ll be good to go.
From here, the next thing in the survival equation is you!
Take an honest look at yourself, and if something needs to be changed to enhance your long-term survival, get on it.
Assess your health needs.
Get a thorough physical from your doctor to assess any potential medical problems that you may not be aware of yet. If you are taking prescription medications, ask if you can get at least a 90-day supply of them. You can use the excuse of worries about supply chain shortages, which really isn’t much of a lie. While you’re there, talk to the doctor about getting on a physical training regimen. If the most exercise you get is going from the car to your office, you need to change that. Surviving a crisis, either long-term or short-term, will be a stressful event. No matter your age, you can do something to increase your stamina and strength. It doesn’t even cost a gym membership. More people have home workout equipment now than ever before. Some push-up bars, an ab roller, and some exercise bands will go a long way toward increasing your longevity.
Take care of any dental issues.
If you’re still waiting for your last wisdom tooth to come out, go and get it done now instead of having to do it yourself with a pair of pliers by lamplight. The same goes for your eyes. Optimally, we would all have laser eye surgery to correct any problems, but if one must wear corrective lenses, ensure they’re in good, solid frames and have several pairs of them.
Start acquiring practical skills.
If all you have done is a Red Cross CPR class, it’s time to step up to the next level. At a minimum, a Stop the Bleed class should be on your short list of classes to take. Some of the medical supply companies, such as North American Rescue and Dark Angel Medical, have short videos on their websites showing how to properly use their products. Dark Angel Medical and Lone Star Medics also conduct traveling courses, and getting hands-on training from professionals will go a long way in boosting your confidence during a crisis. Start now on building a deep first aid and medical supply.
Select your firearms.
Besides your developed skills and attitude, nothing will ensure your survivability to a greater degree than properly selected firearms. Needless to say, that can become an extensive topic. I’ll go into more detail in future articles but for now, a Glock 19 9mm pistol and an AR15 rifle in 5.56mm should be your priorities.
Taking practical firearms training should be next.
If you can’t protect your family and your gear, someone else is gonna take it. Learn from a qualified instructor, not your neighbor who was in the military 40 years ago, your grandpa who “grew up around guns,” or your best friend’s uncle who was a State Trooper 20 years ago. Find an instructor who is not just up to date on current shooting techniques, but also understands adult learning theory and continues to train themselves by going to other schools and conferences.
Along with firearms, practical unarmed self-defense should be on your list, too. Reality-based fighting techniques that you can use on-demand is the goal. A Hunter’s Safety class or a Concealed Carry class are nowhere near the equivalent of training with Massad Ayoob, John Farnam, or Tom Givens, and getting a black belt in Tae Kwon Do is not the same as learning practical combatives from Craig Douglas or Kelly McCann. (If you don’t recognize those names, you’ve got some Googling to do!)
Build a self-sufficiency library.
While there is a plethora of self-sufficiency material on the internet, it is best to begin acquiring hard copies of books and manuals that you’ll need. A good start would be the anthologies from Backwoods Home magazine. They have been in business for over t30 years, so there’s a lot of great information in them. Also, manuals on home repair, beekeeping, animal husbandry, car repair, firearms repair, gardening and canning, meat preservation, and first aid all need to be on your bookshelf.
Becoming a Prepper — Little Steps, Consistently
These are just some of the things that you need to take into consideration as a budding prepper. If it seems insurmountable, it’s not. Even taking little steps, like an extra can of vegetables every time you go to the store is one more can that will keep you going a while longer. There’s a saying in the preparedness community: “The best time to start prepping was ten years ago. The second best time to start preparing is now.” No one knows what the world will throw at you. The more prepared you are, the more knowledge you have, the better able you’ll be to handle it. We’re going to cover all of this as time goes on. Talk to you later.
