Becoming a Prepper can seem daunting at first but, if you go at it in a really methodical way it is actually pretty easy. Don’t look at it as a fear-based activity, instead treat as more of a just-in-case activity. And that’s what it is really. Prepping isn’t just about this idea that the apocalypse is upon us it’s more that things come up and it can only bring piece of mind to be prepared. If you’re just staring out, here are some tips and tricks to help you along.
Risk Evaluation
Not going to sugar coat it, prepping for a potential emergency can leave you with a laundry list of things to do. The important thing is to not get overwhelmed and start small. First thing is to figure out what you’re prepping for. Is your area prone to a particular natural disaster? That’s the disaster you’re going to want to prep for.
Start Small
Your only goal right now should be to prep for 3 days. That’s it. That’s the recommended about of time and while you can always add more, that’s an easy goal to reach.
Checklist
It’s a lot harder to prep if you’re constantly worrying about what you forgot. To avoid that, make a checklist with everything you need to do and all the things you need to pack. For example: Pack a go bag ( list everything that should go in there and more on that below), make a plan, designate a meeting place, etc. I would also recommend sorting your list my what is the easiest/least stressful for you. Start with those and then add in increasing difficulty. Once you start crossing off those easy things you’ll have more momentum to tackle the bigger stuff.
Contact List
Really the easiest thing you can do is to make an emergency contact list. Grab an index card or a piece of paper and clearly right down the names, numbers, emails, and even addresses of close family members or friends in case of emergency. Laminate it if you can. If not, keep in a waterproof/fireproof pouch.
Documents
Another really easy thing you can do is gather all of your important documents and make copies. Place them neatly in a waterproof/fireproof pouch or folder so you can easily take them with you.
Medication
Another easy think you can do right now is make a list of all the medication that everyone in the family takes. If it’s possible, try to get a supply of those stashed away. That’s not always easy because a) prescriptions expire and b) doctors might not prescribe you extras of medication. So the first thing to do is account for all the over-the-counter medications: Tylenol, Advil, Zyrtec. Things like epi-pens and inhalers that you can get spares of. For everything else, make sure the list is somewhere prominent so you’ll be reminded in case of emergency– like taped to the front of your go bag or door to your shelter ( if it’s in your house).
Go Bags
Before you even start worrying about packing supplies and making sure you have every little thing, there is another way. You can actually purchase a ready-made go bag packed with pretty much all the essentials you’d need in an emergency. The only things you would have to add are the items above and any other personal or special items your family might need. If you want to purchase a ready-made kit Redfora and Ready America have some great options.
Food & Water
Next thing on the list is to start getting your food and water together. The recommended water supply is one gallon of water per person per day for three days. You will also need three-days worth of food as well for each member of your household. Note, all food should be shelf-stable so that it can last a long time in storage and not be spoiled should you need it sometime in the future.
Personal Care Items
You probably already have extra toiletries around your house or you can easily pick them up on your next shop. Remember things like baby wipes, oral care items, hair car items. Feminine hygiene products, etc. Anything your household uses normally.
First Aid Kit
You can easily get an extensive first aid kit delivered right to your door and all you have to do is chuck it in with the rest of your emergency supplies.
Disaster Plan
There’s a reason this is coming at the end of the list because for many this is the hardest part. You have to figure out where you will be sheltering, is it in your basement? Are you running under the assumption that you’ll be evacuated? If an option, you might want to have a plan for both. While this might end up being the hardest task on the list, the good news is that Ready.gov has some helpful resources to guide you through.
Now you have a pretty comprehensive list of some easy-to-follow steps to start your prepper journey. There’s no science behind it, the key is just thinking ahead and we hope this list helps you along.
