I know, I know, thinking of yourself as a prepper can be a little uncomfortable…
Trust me I get it!
I used to think preppers were CRAZY (thank you Doomsday Preppers), and it took me months before I really embraced the title of “prepper,” even though I had started stocking up on water, food, and yes, toilet paper.
The good news is that in our community a prepper is simply someone who takes intentional action to be more prepared for a particular scenario, in our case, emergency or unexpected scenarios.
I started this community to take the crazy out of prepping!
I’ll provide practical advice for you and your family so you can feel more confident in times of chaos.
You can now proudly call yourself a prepper (without the tin hat).
Common Beginner Prepping Questions
Where do I start?
Trust me, I know it can be overwhelming to get started on your prepping journey. Simply think about prepping in terms of your survival needs. You need water, food, shelter (heat/cooling), medical supplies, and a way to provide security for your family.
(Download the free Prepping Quick Start Guide to help)
Are the pre-made medical kits worth buying?
I am not a fan of pre-made kits for most prepping requirements. The biggest reason I steer clear is because they are often over-priced and don't actually have the supplies that are most useful. Even worse when kits are pre-packaged, you don’t have a chance to learn how to use the things that are included. You are normally better off building your own kits whether they are food storage kits, medical kits, or bug out bags.
How can I store enough water?
Most experts recommend that you store 1-2 gallons of water per person/per day. That can add up fast! Aim to start with a 72 hour supply. You can use 5 gallon water storage containers (larger containers get too heavy to move), gallon jugs, and commercially bottled water to start.
What kind of food should I store?
There is a difference in what kind of food you store based on how long you plan on keeping the food in your home, what your current diet looks like, and how comfortable you are cooking from scratch. However, a good rule of thumb, is to store food that your family already likes (and regularly eats!) that is shelf-stable (think pasta, canned goods, rice, beans, etc) And don’t forget the comfort food! Who wants to survive without chocolate?
Do I need a bug-out bag?
If you’ve read any prepping websites, you’ve probably come across the term-bug-out bags. These are simply bags you can take with you that have a 3-day supply of water, food, clothing, etc. The short answer is, YES. Having the supplies you need to evacuate your house quickly can reduce stress and chaos in the event of an emergency.
How much stuff do I need to store?
Oh…now this one is tricky! How much you need to store depends on the type of emergency you are preparing for, where you plan on staying, the size of your family, and your own threshold for feeling “secure.” The Federal government now recommends that US citizens maintain enough in their home to live for two weeks without resupply from stores. This is the minimum I believe any of us should have on hand for a disaster…we’ll talk more about long-term storage later!
What’s Your Biggest Prepping Challenge?
