If you are part of the “prepper” subculture that has been around for some time and recently has been popularized by television shows, then you probably already have the basics covered. If you are a newcomer to prepping, don’t get overwhelmed. You do not need to spend a ton of money or dedicate every waking moment in order to improve your chances of survival in an emergency. It is very easy to get started and cover the basics, which include food, water, and shelter. If you cover these three needs, plus any required medications for those who need them, then you are giving yourself, and your family, the possibility of survival in a catastrophe. There are numerous other things which can increase the likelihood of survival, and still more items that can improve comfort, but without food, water, and shelter you cannot survive for long. Two other things that I would prefer beginners add to their basics would be a book about survival and a quality knife. Check in advance to ensure the book covers any scenarios possible in your area. A knife is a very basic, and essential, tool in almost any survival scenario no matter than surroundings, and having a week or two worth of food, water, and shelter will give you the time to review the book and begin making other arrangements. While this is not sufficient for “The End of The World As We Know It” scenarios, it will be of great use in the far more likely event of a severe storm or earthquake cutting you off from civilization for a short time. Beyond the basics, you can add a little at a time until eventually you are prepared for almost any possibility.
How much food and water to have on hand depends on where you live and how long it will likely take to restore services after a severe emergency, such as Hurricane Katrina. If you live in a heavily populated area outside of likely hurricane, flood, earthquake, and volcano zones then you will likely see order restored quickly. If you live on an inaccessible island, whether literally surrounded by water or created by impassible terrain such as found in areas of Alaska, then you probably already expect to be on your own for stretches of time even under normal conditions. The third scenario, as experienced during Katrina, is that of a heavily populated area that is especially vulnerable to catastrophe. When a large number of people are affected, then emergency services are quickly overwhelmed and it takes time for help to arrive from other areas. For most people, two weeks of supplies is a good starting point, building up to a month or more as circumstances permit.
In addition to on hand supplies, you should also consider potential sources of food and water nearby. If you live in an agricultural area, learn a bit about crops grown in the area and when they become edible. For those who happen to be hunters or fishermen, make sure to keep any needed equipment on hand. Learn about local sources of wild edibles, but use extreme caution as some poisonous plants and mushrooms resemble those that are suitable to eat. If you have water nearby, have a way to purify it in order to replenish your stock. In areas that receive plenty of sunshine, a clear plastic or glass bottle can be used to reduce microorganisms by merely allowing a filled container to sit in the sun soaking up UV rays. Be aware, though, that if you are downstream from an urban or industrial area there may also be chemical contaminants to deal with. A tremendous variety of filters are available as well. Two types that I am a big fan of are the pocket sized emergency filters, for their convenience, and the gravity fed filter bladders, for their ease in supplying a decent amount of drinking water.
My preferred knife is a fixed blade knife with a non slip handle, full guard, and a single edge full tang blade of approximately four inches in length. You should also have a sturdy sheath for carrying it, but after use I clean and oil mine and store it outside the sheath to prevent corrosion.
For shelter, consider whether you will be able to heat your home without power or if you should relocate to a smaller building or even a tent. The amount of effort and fuel it would take to keep a 2500 square foot home warm in a northern winter should not be underestimated, and is likely wasted effort unless you have a large number of people living there with you. Scout areas to move to that you can reach even if roads are blocked, on foot if necessary. Keep in mind you will be carrying your supplies, unless you have prepositioned some of them near your planned bug out location.
As you continue your research into preparing for emergencies, you will come across numerous checklists covering everything from what is needed for a weekend without electricity on up to rebuilding civilization after an apocalypse. I will be including several of these checklists on CrimeRepellent.com. Don’t let the gloom and doom scenarios get you down, but don’t totally disregard them either. The emergencies you are preparing for may be unlikely, but they are possible and most of them have even happened before. Happy prepping!