A little over a year ago I went to a training course that examined some of the threats this nation and the world could face in the coming decades. During the training, we talked about things like water scarcity, famines, pandemics, nuclear war, and the national debt.

I have to admit it wasn’t the cheeriest of courses, but it was thought-provoking and it did help me jump start my new lifestyle.

Some of the discussions helped me realize how fragile our economy was. It led me to think through some of the “worst case scenarios.” And honestly it’s what started me on my prepping journey.

It began with the question of, how can I help my family be more prepared for an unexpected event?

Little did I know that a little over a year later we’d be living through a global pandemic. A pandemic that encouraged us to stay at home and that showed us how fragile our stores really were in an emergency scenario.

Now before you think I’ve gone apocalyptic prepper on you, I’m not really THAT worried about nuclear war.

I’m much more concerned about a localized emergency or unexpected event.

Here are the things I started prepping for:

1. Localized emergency - In our area, a winter storm could cut power for days or weeks. We also faced evacuations for wildfires in our local area not that long ago. What types of emergencies are likely in your area?

2. Financial downturn - Our nation’s economy is in a constant cycle of ups and downs. I want to be ready if there is another recession or depression. This means being really intentional about how we save and where we spend. We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we are making progress.

3. Shortage of supplies - The just-in-time supply chain we currently use in our country means that running out of food and supplies in stores is a not really out of the realm of possible. Ironically, during COVID-19 our local stores ran out of supplies like toilet paper, meat, and dairy products for weeks. Going into the stores reminded me of how quickly panic could ensue in an emergency and how that could disrupt my ability to provide for my family. Luckily, because of prepping, we didn’t have to stress when the toilet paper ran out…I knew we had enough to be okay.

4. Loss of a job - I also want my family to be comfortable knowing that even if my husband or I were out of work for an extended period of time, we’d be okay. Prepping helps give me some stability and a sense of peace. We can’t predict the economy or unexpected events, but we can plan for them.

When I started prepping I wanted to take concrete actions to make sure I felt more confident and secure no matter what life threw at me.

But I think what surprised me was that once I started prepping, I realized wasn’t as outrageous (or crazy) as I initially felt. It turns out that most prepping is just common sense and a return to some basic skills that previous generations had.

Here are 3 things you may not know about prepping:

1. The Government Wants You to Start Prepping!

Before I started researching how to prepare for emergencies, I had no idea the government encouraged us to become preppers!

In fact, like most Americans, I sort of assumed if some catastrophe hit my area that the government would send help. And in most cases, they do, but sometimes it take a while.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages us to get ready for the unexpected.

“If an earthquake, hurricane, winter storm, or other disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, and electricity for days or even weeks. By taking some time now to store emergency food and water supplies, you can provide for your entire family.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency

We don’t have to look any further than Hurricane Harvey or Katrina to understand the wide-spread impacts an emergency situation can have. At the very least emergency agencies recommend we have 72 hours worth of supplies for our family, and now many agencies recommend we keep a minimum of two weeks worth of supplies at home.

I think 72 hours and then two weeks worth of supplies are great initial goals.

I’ve decided that for my family I’m more comfortable coming up with a plan for supplies for much longer than that. You’ll figure out your comfort level based on your own unique situation, your budget, and your ultimate goals.

2. Prepping Is for Normal People Too!

The popular media has encouraged us to look at preppers as somewhat (or completely) crazy people who are building bunkers in their back yards. And yes there is a small subset of preppers that are preparing for apocalyptic endings or TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World As We Know It…pronounced Tee-a-twaa-kee) scenarios.

These are the extreme preppers that are building bunkers, faraday cages for an EMP attack, and are stocking up on fire-arms and ammo.

But the good news is that most preppers are just focused on being prepared for the unexpected.

They are storing up water, some food, and probably some basic medical supplies to keep their families safe in an emergency situation.

They are thinking through the scenarios that might hit their local area and they are taking intentional steps to have the things that need to keep their families comfortable during the unexpected.

You don’t have to be crazy to be a prepper.

3. Your Grandparents (or Great-Grandparents) were the equivalent of modern day preppers.

Most of our grandparents or great grandparents lived through the depression and WWII. They understood what it was like to be without things that we take for granted.

However, unlike most Americans today, they had the resources and skills to be somewhat self-sufficient during desperate times.

They saved EVERYTHING because they knew that you might use it some day. They had victory gardens and knew how to cook from scratch. The skills weren’t glamorous, they were just part of surviving during tough times.

A lot of preppers today, are seeking a return to at least some of these skills for themselves and their families. Backyard chickens and small gardens are now in-style, and if we are being honest make a lot of sense for those of us who are seeking to be a little more self-sufficient as part of our prepping journey.

Don’t panic…I’m not recommending you give up Target, but I can tell you there is something satisfying about knowing you know how to make yeast and bread from scratch (skills I’ve learned on this journey).

I think the outbreak of COVID-19 is waking us up to a new reality. A reality that our economy is fragile, that pandemics do happen, and that being a little more prepared could make a big difference in how stressful these unexpected events are for our families.

I think that prepping will become more mainstream over the next few years.

I think those of us who cook some from scratch, have supplies in our basements, and know how to make our own beeswax candles will be the norm.

There is a lot to learn and do, but it’s an adventure, and one that can help you stay calm in the midst of chaos.I’d love to join you on your journey.

What’s the one thing you’d like to start prepping for? I’d love to hear. Drop a comment below or send me an e-mail at hello@thepurposefulprepper.com.