10 Things To Consider While Starting Out With Preparedness

the-coming-storm

Lets say you’re just getting started with preparedness. It may seem overwhelming. Where to begin? What to focus on? You may feel that you’re very far behind (because you’re just starting). You may have the urge to hurry up (mistakes happen when you’re in a hurry).

The following ten considerations may help you get started with all that:

In no particular order, except to have them in a list:

10 Ways To Get Started With Preparedness

1. Pace yourself.

Once you get started you might get so excited that you’ll concentrate too much and spend too much time (and money) on just one category of preparedness. This category may simply be whatever it is that you enjoy the most, or are most familiar with. Maybe you’ve been looking for an excuse to dump some time / money into a particular prep – and now that you’re officially getting started you might be tempted to go too far, so to speak ;) Just keep that in mind and try to diversify your time and energies into a broader set of things that you can do for general preparedness.

2. Start with the basics.

Wait to invest time and money into fringe areas until you have a good start with the basics of general preparedness. You probably instinctively know what some of these basics are. And there certainly are many opinions regarding ‘the basics’, although some of them include:

>> Preparedness Level 1 – 4

3. Food Storage.

Begin with a solid 3-week supply of ordinary foods that you normally eat (or would eat) – preferably those which do not require refrigeration or freezer. Then build it to 3-months. There are a bazillion articles on this site about food storage:

>> MSB articles on the Survival Kitchen

4. Drinking Water Filtration.

There are all sorts of reasons why you may suddenly need a good drinking water filter to avoid water contamination and/or to procure water for safe drinking from a non-conventional source. Decide on a good water filter and get one. It’s a good idea to have a good one for home use and another portable water filter for ‘on-the-go’.

>> The Best Countertop Water Filters

5. A simple Emergency Kit in your vehicle.

Without being overly elaborate, build yourself a general purpose e-kit to keep in your car. In a backpack (in case you have to walk out), this might include calorie-dense food-bars, maybe some MREs, water (water bottles), portable water filter, flashlight, Toilet Paper (you never know…), knife, cordage, compass, regional map, along with several other suggestions which are listed in some of the following various articles here on Modern Survival Blog:

>> MSB Survival Kit articles

6. Prepare for power outage.

I bring this up because this is a fairly common thing that you will encounter (and no doubt you already have encountered)! Instead of making it through several hours or half-a-day without the grid (which really doesn’t require any prep), imagine a longer term blackout grid-down scenario which lasts for many days, a week, or even two. Now think of all the things you’ll need to do or have in order to ‘survive’ in reasonable comfort when it happens.

>> Alternative Energy articles on MSB

7. Lists.

Write it down. Makes lists. Think of high-level categories (the 30-thousand foot view) of the areas that you want to address. Then begin to list what you would like to do beneath each category. By organizing your thoughts on paper you will be able to track your progress or edit what you’re doing. Plus it helps you to remember everything ;) Believe me, it’s easy to forget things especially when you’re overwhelmed with so many things that you would like to do…

8. Think “self-reliance”.

Preparedness at its core really comes down to aspects of self-reliance. Taking care of one’s-self. It’s one thing to rely on a deep pantry of food storage, but one day it may run out. Then what? Think about all aspects of your life whereby you are relying on other systems to provide or sustain you. And then think of ways to offset that. For example, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of growing your own garden. Secondly, learn how to preserve your harvest (e.g. canning). Even when determining the basics of general preparedness, it most always surrounds the notion of self-reliance. You rely on yourself and the things that you can do for yourself to survive under varying circumstances. Discover for yourself what those things should be and then work on them…

>> Self Reliance & Self Sufficiency — What’s the Difference?

9. Your home and personal security.

Examine your security vulnerabilities and determine what you may need to shore it up. While we live in a relatively peaceful society, it could flip to societal chaos very quickly when the masses get hungry and/or lose their creature comforts…

>> Personal and Home Security articles on MSB

10. Keep quiet about it.

When you’re getting started in the realm of preparedness it is very tempting to blurt it out to all your friends and family (because you are naturally excited about it). Unfortunately (and remarkably) the notion of preparedness, self-reliance, and independence is ‘alarming’ to many people – particularly those who may be very dependent upon .gov or those who have been indoctrinated into the far social-left (or further). If things ever ‘get bad’ (and I believe that they will), you don’t want everyone to know that you’re somewhat ‘prepared’ – because others may look upon ‘your stuff’ as justly belonging to them (as though you unfairly hoarded it – even though you acquired your preps before the collapse). I could go on with many pages about this, but just remember the old saying, “Loose lips sink ships”.
Zip it…

Conclusion:
There as SO MANY things that I could say regarding suggestions for those who may be just getting started with preparedness. The categories are limitless and endless. Hopefully the tips above have provided a bit of insight into what you might do while getting started. Just keep reading this site for more (and search it for the many existing articles).

…and read the comments!

Speaking of comments, lets hear from you. What might you add for those who may be just getting started? What are some of the basics for general preparedness that you might suggest?

56 Comments

  1. After Katrina, I mailed FEMA’s list of emergency supplies with my Christmas cards. It lists 3 days of supplies to be kept on hand for the most frequently occurring emergencies. It’s a good intro to get thinking about preparedness and a quick first step. Available at ready.gov

    Another suggestion that helped me focus is to consider all the scenarios for which you might prepare and then organize them by how likely they are to occur. Plan your preparations around the situations you are most likely to face. Also remember as conditions change, re-assess. If the virus situation is resolved or the riots go away, your priorities may be different.

    1. Agree Mama
      Prep for what us most likely to occur. IMHO, a hurricane or flood is more likely to occur than a zombie apocalypse.

      1. INPrepper:
        All depends on what your definition of a zombie is….
        Mine isn’t like the walking dead, mine is as simple as an unprepared, desperate person. How many of those are we gonna see coming up if these riots and unrest keep happening?

  2. There is a wealth of information on MSB so think of it as a learning tool not just entertainment. There are a lot of folks on here that prepping is not a project, it is a way of life. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or share you concerns as it is a lifetime learning process and contrary to some’s belief, no one person has all of the answers. It is never too late to start and remember that every day you prepare for is one more day of survival.

    1. Well said Romeo Charlie
      It many times is a blurred line that falls more into homesteading, at least thats my take. And spot on that nobody has all the answers. Good reminder, honestly, stuff that works for one person doesnt necessarily work for another, be it where they live, their family situation, their financial situation etc…
      It can be daunting, better to start and try than to do nothing though.
      😎🤙🏻

      1. can be daunting, better to start and try than to do nothing

        Very true. Newbies need to understand that every can of food bottle of water or bag of rice puts them one step closer to the goal

  3. This a good list for beginners and for all others who should re-evaluate their level of preparedness over time as items are used up and/or damaged/compromised.

    It is also important to assess the level of urgency needed to address every item on the preparedness list. In my case, there is a sense of urgency to finish the construction of the chicken house NOW, as the baby chicks we ordered 3 weeks ago are getting too big for the temporary space we created for them. This is now at the top of our priority list, and other things on the preparedness list have now been shifted to lesser positions of importance. We should have already finished with the chicken house construction, but that’s how life goes sometimes.

  4. Anyone reading this blog has already made the first step, that is…losing the “reliant” mindset. Most folks don’t realize how much their quality of life, much less, their very existence, relies on others. Once they begin to realize this, if they have half a brain, they set about rectifying that, and becoming more self reliant.

    I blame much of the shortages in goods we are experiencing right now is due to the fact that folks are waking up to how reliant they are on others, and how unprepared they are in facing not being able to rely on others.

    Those who were not preppers (the majority) started hitting the stores seeking that 3 week-1 month supply of staples.

    They suddenly realized they could not rely on the police to protect them, so they scarfed up guns,……. any gun….and ammo….as much as they could find.

    It strained inventories, emptied the distributors warehouses. Retail shelves told the story as gaps appeared…..panic set in.

    Hopefully, just in time balance will be restored in the coming weeks…..but I wouldn’t bet on it. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are taking advantage of the fear and near chaos.

    If some form of normalcy returns, hopefully most folks will maintain their new assemble cushion against future disruptions. I have my doubts…both about a return to normalcy or people showing that they’ve learned.

    Whatever…..we have plenty of uncertain times in front of us…no time to slow down on preps.

    1. Dennis, have to agree with you on the notion that the general population is ” Waking UP”. Went to my local Lowes today. It is the only place near by that sells food grade buckets. They usually have dozens of them, but today I got the last one that they had.

      1. you can get food grade buckets and lids and sealants at Emergency Essentials on line.

    2. We had an example of that, with the number of people donating their new supplies (TP, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc) within weeks of the first “panic.” They decided almost immediately that they had over-reacted and it would never happen again. How many times does it take for a new habit to form? Isn’t it 7?

      1. Actually you can’t fix stupid. Those same people will be buying again in a couple of months when the next shortage starts

  5. MamaLark mentioned something that really helped me: if you are relatively new to the idea of being prepared, give some thought to what you are preparing for, some examples:

    – weather events
    – pandemic (new or next wave)
    – natural disaster
    – food and supply shortages
    – civil unrest (shelter in place)
    – potential bug-out (gotta go!)
    – financial collapse (system)
    – loss of job/income (personal)

    As you weigh the likelihood of various scenarios, and their potential impact on you & your family, you begin to think about what the biggest threats to you, and how you would deal with each.

    That kind of thinking really helped me prioritize my prepping activities, research and purchases. The list will vary based on your individual concerns and geography (ie: earthquakes vs blizzards vs hurricanes) – but once I started thinking in these terms, I felt like I was working with a sense of purpose rather than haphazardly.

  6. Ken, would you consider bringing back your topic of what did you do to prepare this week? I always found it to be interesting and motivating to learn how others prepare. Thanks for the best site on preparedness!

    1. Pam,
      That’s now the “Open Fourm”.

      – Sitting around the campfire with fellow MSB’ers
      – Off-topic conversation throughout the week
      – Preparedness accomplishments
      – Q&A among MSB’ers

  7. Had a weird experience. Have a neighbor down the road who seemed like an usual guy. Nice house/farm/cars, claimed to be a Christian. So I set him a list of things to buy ” just in case” because like the rest here I see a storm coming. Anywhoo , it turns out he is a Bernie Sanders Commie supporter, went nuts accusing me of spreading “hate” and threatened me and the DW’s life on Fake-Book.

    Moral of the story, just be careful as to who y’all share your list with.

    1. S.W.,
      Sorry for your “neighborly” experience. I would consider it a learning situation about OPSEC .Once the word is out you cannot retract it. Share your list with no one, the storm is coming for sure. Stay safe.

    2. SW
      We as human beings seek companionship and often, that leads us to
      assign certain virtues to those we meet. In today’s environment that
      could be deadly. Exercise great caution and engage in multiple
      engagements before broaching the subject with others.Remember
      if TSHF, you don’t want people showing up at your door due to the
      fact that they heard you have prep. Simply my opinion and we all
      know about opinions.

      1. K-bay
        True words,,
        I recently got to talking with a couple young guys i had been working with recently, sounded like they were on the same page as I, long story short, they are from the other side…. i know one thing for sure,
        I wont hesitate to ventilate either of them if i see them near my homestead if things have gotten dicey.

        1. Yeah, I’ve said here before, the time to try and get folks to think about preparing for possible future events has come and gone. Now is the time for OPSEC by battening down the hatches. If folks didn’t get the hint over the last several years and especially this year, they won’t get the hint from us.
          Besides, if someone approaches and says they are interested in prepping, tell them to Google it. Most likely they have Internet just like everyone here. That way, they can learn about prepping without compromising OPSEC.

    3. Uh…or they’re the bottom feeders that ate the unprepared. Even after your month, be careful.

      1. Lauren, you know the difference between a catfish and a lawyer? Well, one is a scum sucking bottom feeder, and the other is a fish.

  8. Preparedness is a journey, not a destination.
    Make a plan, ask questions (in the right places), research.
    This is a great place for info and recommendations.
    Do not dally, keep moving forward.

    1. Agree 100%
      Also, start small. A beginner shouldn’t start with a two acre garden as their first time. It could be overwhelming and result in future discouragement and giving up. Start small, a potted herb garden in a window sill could be a start. Then expand as experience and knowledge increases.
      Along the same lines, start out small with firearms. Get an inexpensive 22 rifle and learn how to use. Don’t need to start off with a tricked out $2,500 AR-15.
      Further along the same lines. One doesn’t need to go out and spend $2000 on a gajillion months food supply. When out shopping, just pick up an extra item or two of the regular things used. If one eats green beans on a regular basis and normally buy three cans a week, buy four cans and store away one. The next week, do the same. After three weeks, one has a weeks worth of green beans stored away that they regularly eat. Slowly do the same with other food items like canned corn, noodles, breakfast cereal, etc…. after a few months a person would have a couple weeks worth of food stored and they really wouldn’t notice the difference in the food budget.

  9. For people that don’t know where to start, buy an extra case of bottled water and a case of ramen noodles and put it up. Now you have started and are better off than most other people. Next week buy an extra case of canned corn or whatever veggies you like and keep adding a case of canned goods every week. In a short time you will have a nice stock pile for less than $10 per week. I also like to have an emergency stash of money. I started by putting all of my coins in an index card box. When that box gets full I have enough to spend on other preps without killing the budget. My first bug out bag was just an overnight bag I put together when one of my granddaughters was in and out of the hospital for a while. It had a change of cloths for me and DW, a blanket and a roll of quarters for the vending machines. You don’t have to do anything huge all at one time. You can just start doing small things on a regular basis and they will add up after a while.

  10. Go flip the breaker off and turn the water off to get a feel for how it’s going to be and see how long you can make it before you have to go turn it back on(keep a list of what you wish you had during that time)
    Save and buy good quality not the cheap stuff when you find good quality stuff go buy several more before it’s redesigned to save the manufacturer a couple pennies

  11. This site is the most convenient of libraries. Worth every mi Ute I spend on here learning.

  12. As many here have stated, just start. Most scenarios have things in common, no power, no water, no food, no security, etc. Plan first for the common things we all take for granted, food, water, security, and branch out from there on items that would make life more tolerable, easier, safer, when something happens. Part of this is knowledge, much of which can be found on this site, and the will to use it and then keep learning. No arm chair preppers please. Lastly pass it on, most especially to your sons and daughters.

  13. About once a year Ken asks “What are you prepping for?” and receives a bunch of responses. Well, so far this year we’ve had a pandemic, economic collapse (depending on state’s guv), unexpected school closure (ditto), near miss on abrupt governmental change, widespread violent civil disorder, food and supply shortages, and extreme weather. Sometimes a taste is as good as a meal. Been a very tough year for some who are now thinking more long-term – location, location, location. Not always an initial aspect of prepping but one that eventually arises and takes time to sort out and possibly act on.

      1. kevinH – Ohhh you better knock on wood, right now! What’s gotten into you, saying that?!

  14. I was so excited about getting a garden going again. Worked hard, fenced it in and the dog ate through the fencing and destroyed the garden. I guess this is one of those hard lessons to learn before the garden is really needed :(

    1. T in TX, what?! The dog ate your homework?! I feel your pain. When our dog first came out to the farm with me, she would lay next to me as I planted little shrubs and watch. Before I noticed what she was doing, she was going behind me…well, really beside me but a couple lengths over, pulling out what I planted, then digging a hole and throwing it in her own hole. She was not as careful as I had been; I lost a couple of little shrubs that day. It took me awhile to break her from helping when I planted. She thought it was a game.

      1. DAMedinNY
        Thanks for sharing your garden story. It’s hard enough to garden in the Texas desert, but a fun loving plant puppy makes it almost impossible. I guess I will need a bigger fence.

  15. The conspiracy theorist in me always wonders whats up with the .gov recommendations. Things like keep three worth of food on hand when FEMA takes at least 2 weeks in most cases. Or walk 10,000 steps a day which is equivalent to 5 miles to the average American. Most small towns in America are less that 5 miles across, coincidence?? Seems their trying to tell the average American something. Some of the things on the lists are pretty big investments too like generators. In the USA its taboo to be a “prepper” but in other countries like Sweeden or Finland encourage their citizens to “prep”. We have very limited space but we still prepare food wise for at least 2-3 months and then we also have equipment for long term.

    1. Rob
      Yeah, most people in know who are into prepping (whether they acknowledge it as such or not) don’t have whole house generators, a solar array, a wind farm, a an artesian spring in the back yard, or night vision gear. They might have a small generator that they use with an electric chainsaw or a well with a pitcher pump.
      One thing is for sure, prepping can be time intensive. But it doesn’t have to be all consuming especially starting out. Start small such as taking a first-aid class on the weekends. An hour or two here and there. Having a bunch of doodads is great but if those doodads fail, that takes us back to point A. So, knowledge is of utmost importance. Don’t need to start out studying how to remove a kidney in the woods during a SHTF event. Learn how to disinfect and bandage a cut and proceed from there. Don’t need to start if leaning how to rebuild a car engine. Learn how to change the tire first (it’s amazing how many folks don’t know how today).

  16. You here can swipe left on this page for a list of topics Ken has posted articles on over the years, with good info in the comments as well.
    I think I would advise a beginner to start with the gear you will wear and carry while walking, as if you have no vehicle and must travel many miles. Full dress rehearsals- boots to headgear, backpack, water, weapons- whatever.
    Maybe a multitool, full tang blade, water bottles, extra power for your cellphone/charger, headlamp/batts, whistle, socks, fire makers, hat, bandanas, tp, gloves, food, first aid items…
    – click on the “survival kits” group of articles on this site for more suggestions. Get all that stuff together while you can.

  17. Preparedness takes time and money, as you say.
    First I would consider where to start with that time and money.

    What is lacking in your household?
    Food, an alternative water source, defense, hand tools,
    medications?

    Prioritize and go from there, slowly, but steadily.

    What are your immediate concerns that you feel that you may be lacking?

  18. Budget! Allow an amount to be spent each week. Allow another amount to be saved for the large purchases.
    Always buy on sale.

  19. Well I feel I made it!
    I started hanging out here about 3 and a half years ago. I was in pretty good prep condition when I started hearing about a virus in Woohan! Back in Jan/Feb, I was able to stock up on the things being discussed right here on MSB. TP, N95 Mask, increased my freezer meats, paper products of all kinds, pasta, can goods(stuff I knew we would eat), powdered milk fresh and canned veggies. Took out cash (a little at a time) for many weeks to stock pile. etc,etc.
    I really think Ken’s site here maid me oh so comfy right up to this minute!!!

    A sincerer Thank You Ken. (and I still learn things even now . . .)

    1. epo3, that’s awesome! Glad to have inspired a bit towards your self reliance.

  20. I saw this on a site many years ago…

    Here are ten things that you can do now that will make you better prepared than 90% of the population. And everything is available at your local shopping center – so it’s easy.

    You can do all ten steps at once or divide each into a separate week and shopping trip. But you need to get it done as soon as possible. Keep in mind that this is only a starting point and isn’t presented here as a completed list.

    1. Head to the nearest Wal-Mart, Costco or whatever and pick-up 20 lbs. of white or brown rice and 20 lbs. of pinto beans. White rice has a better storage life while brown rice has more nutritional benefits – your choice.

    2. While you’re there grab 5 lbs. mixed beans, 5 lbs. of white sugar, 5 lbs. of iodized salt, one gallon of olive oil (can be frozen to extend shelf-life), 5 lbs. oats, 10 lbs. each of white or wheat flour and cornmeal.

    3. Now head over to the canned foods and pick-up 20 cans of canned fruits and 20 cans of canned vegetables. Be sure to buy only those brands and contents you normally eat and nothing exotic. No need to shock the senses.

    4. Now over to the canned meats. Pick-up 20 cans of various meats, salmon, stews, spam and tuna. Again buy only those brands with contents you normally eat and nothing exotic.

    5. Okay. Now to the to the peanut butter shelf and toss two 40-ounce jars in the cart. The listed shelf life is just over two years and each jar has over 6,000 calories. Peanut butter is an excellent instant survival food.

    6. Over to the powdered drink mix – go on I’ll wait…Okay, pick up two 72 Ounce Tang Orange drink canisters (provides 100% of the US RDA vitamin C requirement per 8 oz. glass). Also grab six 19-Ounce Containers of Kool-Aid Drink Mix.

    7. Off to the vitamin and supplement aisle, pick up 400 tablets “one a day” multivitamin and mineral supplements.

    8. Now to the department we all love – sporting goods. Go to the camping aisle and pick up 4 five gallon water containers. Fill with tap water as soon as you get back home.

    9. While you’re there buy 250 rounds of ammunition for your primary defensive weapon. More if you can, but this will be a good start. Also a good universal cleaning kit.

    10. And lastly pick up the best LED flashlight you can afford, extra batteries and bulb. Also grab two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters. Don’t forget to date, use and rotate – remember first in first out. Let’s get started. What would you add to the list?

    1. I know the site you saw that on. Don’t really like the owner of the site and haven’t gone there for years but that one was good advice

  21. If you’re just now starting to prep, if you have a spouse or partner in life, start to get them on the same page as you immediately, it will make everything you do so much easier. I cannot stress this enough.If you have to justify every purchase or action to your other half it will only slow down your progress to preparedness.Include them and ask them for their input along the way.Good luck.

  22. If you are skinny, get fat. If you are fat, stop dieting and stay fat. Time enough to lose weight after thshtf.

  23. so-called dry boxes! my family and I lost most everything in the 2019 midwest floods, experience is a dear teacher and a fool will learn from no other! a wise individual once told me! steel ammo cans are not good for rice and beans! the condensation caused them to swell and let in water, and lot of the plastic field boxes are not so dry! ones with heavy contents will float or stay submerged and will go both ways and compromise the seals and allow water in. Things happen unbelievably fast! our hose was underwater in less than half an hour and it was close to a mile away from the river! procrastination can kill! we got out just in time before the roads would have been unpassable. a few things I found interesting is you would be surprised what will survive being underwater for a week and a half! centerfire all worked properly after dry, had three fail, and believe it was due to other causes. and god does have a sense of humor! when the waters finally receded and I could get back there, a movie titled the story of Noah’s ark was laying on the ground face up right in front of my house! and sometimes things happen for a reason!

    1. Oddhawk
      Yup, water goes everywhere. A friend of mine who went through that a few times uses 55 gallon drums for a lot of stuff. Pelican boxes too, but they are expensive. They are not boat people but after the last time they bought a couple used flat bottom aluminum boats, he said just incase,,,

    2. Oddhawk,
      yes sir, in Japan where it floods all the time and every where, one of the trix
      is have a couple small boats, fill them with the goodies in dryboxes, then tether the
      boat/s with rope to the highest point of the house or such with a good length of
      the rope to allow the things to float with the rise of the water.

  24. Many good comments and suggestions for long term survival, but nothing catches you quite off guard like sitting down for the 10pm News and all of a sudden you have an unexpected power outage, in an instant you forget about bed time and scramble for that flashlight that has 2 or 3 practically dead D cell batteries, then you think about that oil lamp that you never bothered to get oil for, then you try to remember, where did I put those 15 hour candles, about then I remember those new solar powered sidewalk light that I have in the utility room, I get one of them and pull the little red tab, and on comes a nice soft glow and about that time the power comes back on. Then I think to myself, I ain’t gonna let that happen again. Until The Next Time. Trekker Out

  25. Someone here posted long ago to look through your home with new eyes to see what you already have that is or would be useful. Stage all your items where they are within easy reach/use. Place your necessary items where you can easily get to them when needed in times of emergency. This process will also help you clean out and get rid of things you do not need. Take them to a donation center or sell them for extra cash and clean your home of the clutter you do not need.

    Getting out of debt is critical so you are ready for a loss of job or major health issue that hurts your employment situation. Read Dave Ramsey and he will advise you of how to reasonably get out of debt and still eat.

    Gather needed items for your survival without going into debt. Just changing your eating habits will safe you a ton of cash. Covid has helped with one wasteful American habit – going out to eat for most meals. 1. Learn to cook from scratch and you will save a bundle that can be used to increase your food storage. 2. Cut your meat consumption in half to save money. You will still get the needed protein and calories and probably loss those pounds you don’t need. 3. If you are not already eating beans and rice – start. Learn to cook these items from scratch and enjoy being full, saving money, and getting the complete protein when combined properly. 4. Get to know your area farmers and buy your meat and vegetables from them whenever possible. You will save a bundle buying in bulk for meat and it won’t be injected with the added preservatives, etc. 5. If you have not already, ask our Good Lord, Jesus Christ, to come into your life. He will help guide you and give you peace. This should probably be first, but many quit reading when God is mentioned. Many are looking for solutions and don’t realize He is the solution. That doesn’t mean we should not take action. He guided you to this blog so you are on the right track.

    Don’t get too excited and tell everyone what you are doing. You won’t get them on board that easily. Each of us has a story about someone that we should not have tried to bring into the “prep” fold.

    Welcome to all the new “faces” that have been posting. You may have been behind the scenes for quite awhile but it is always refreshing hearing new experiences. And content about your neck of the woods helps too (shortages, attitudes, unrest, new ideas).

  26. When talking with people I use the rule of threes to help people with there priorities. It consists of, you can live for three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three week’s without food. I start with security, a Ruger 10/22 is a good choice, there inexpensive, dependable, and cheep to practice shooting with. Next is shelter and explain you have where you are living know, what if you have to leave. I suggest buying a used / new camping tailor or motorhome according to your budget. Then water/ filtration and food.
    Quite often people would tell me that there going to come to my house and my immediate response is if you don’t have your own shelter and food you will be turned away. This gets them thinking, if they just need a place to park they are not a burden and will most likely be welcomed any where.

  27. Thanks for the article Ken.

    I have been posting and following this site for over 10 years now. The regulars here have passed on a lot of knowledge in the archive section and new info comes out every week. My own area of expertise came from my years of living off grid for 3.5 years back in the 1980’s. For long time readers and contributors, this article is a good reminder to check on and fill the holes in your inventory or maybe it is time to learn a new skill.

    My one hint for the new people that may be reading this site is: Before you bring home mass quantities of any food, give some thought to storage. I hate wasting food and it pained me greatly to lose some expensive freeze-dried food to mice because I was too cheap to buy and use a metal garbage can with a tight fitting lid.

    This latest pandemic and the civil unrest is bringing many people into the world of self-reliance. I see this as a good thing. This site is a treasure that contains a lot of useful information. I am proud to have contributed some to this body of knowledge. I do hope it survives in the future for years to come.

    1. Thanks for being here so long! I do remember your commenting here from very early on…

      I especially like your statement, “This latest pandemic and the civil unrest is bringing many people into the world of self-reliance. I see this as a good thing.”

      It surely has. Lets hope it sticks…

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