Preppers and survivalists are sometimes viewed as paranoid and fearful, but in reality, being prepared means you don’t have to live in fear. As you continue to work on your survival plan and become more self-sufficient, you’ll become more confident and less worried about perception.
However one of the hardest things for new preppers and survivalists, is trying to do everything at once, getting overwhelmed, and giving up. The easiest way to overcome this is to choose a few things to work on each month. Baby steps will get you where you want to go and they may not seem like much, but anything you do is going to be better than the nothing you did before.
There are several steps you can take to dramatically reduce your exposure to disasters and major events.
However one of the hardest things for new preppers and survivalists, is trying to do everything at once, getting overwhelmed, and giving up. The easiest way to overcome this is to choose a few things to work on each month. Baby steps will get you where you want to go and they may not seem like much, but anything you do is going to be better than the nothing you did before.
There are several steps you can take to dramatically reduce your exposure to disasters and major events.
1: Learn to grow your own food. When you can’t run down to the corner store to buy food, knowing how to grow your own food will be a huge asset. Start now by growing your own garden and learning how to preserve your harvest.
Even if you have more than a year’s worth of food storage, your disaster situation can outlast your pantry. Having the ability to grow more is valuable.
Even if you have more than a year’s worth of food storage, your disaster situation can outlast your pantry. Having the ability to grow more is valuable.
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By Dennis Diaz
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2: Build a survival library. The more resources and information that you have the better. There are many valuable videos, eBooks, and guides that can help you to learn more about what you need to do to prepare your family for any disaster.
3: Prepare based on your area. There are some survival events everyone needs to prepare for such as an economic collapse or a fire. But you should also think about natural disasters that are most likely to happen in your area such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or wildfires.
If you live in an urban area you should be prepared for civil unrest and violence. If you live near a chemical plant you should be prepared for a chemical accident. Knowing your area helps you to target your survival efforts.
If you live in an urban area you should be prepared for civil unrest and violence. If you live near a chemical plant you should be prepared for a chemical accident. Knowing your area helps you to target your survival efforts.
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4: Have regular disaster drills at home and develop an evacuation strategy. It’s important that everyone knows what to do when there’s an emergency. You’ll want to have fire drills, earthquake drills, tornado drills, evacuation drills, and any other type of survival need you have in your area.
The more you practice, the calmer you’ll be when there’s a real emergency. This will help everyone to stay safe. Make plans for how you’ll leave your home or where you’ll go in specific emergencies. Don’t forget to plan a common meeting place.
Plan ahead for situations that require evacuations. Determine several routes and possible destinations such as the homes of family members or friends. You should also map out appropriate hotels or motels along the way. Keep a paper map with these routes and locations highlighted.
Determine the fastest and most out of the way route to local hospitals. In the event of an emergency, you may need to take someone to the hospital. If the emergency is just at your home, traffic may not be an issue and you can use the shortest possible route. However, in the event of road closings, heavy traffic, bad weather, etc. you will probably want to take the most out of the way route to get where you need to go. This may seem like a bad idea, but it will take less time than sitting in heavy traffic on a main roadway.
The more you practice, the calmer you’ll be when there’s a real emergency. This will help everyone to stay safe. Make plans for how you’ll leave your home or where you’ll go in specific emergencies. Don’t forget to plan a common meeting place.
Plan ahead for situations that require evacuations. Determine several routes and possible destinations such as the homes of family members or friends. You should also map out appropriate hotels or motels along the way. Keep a paper map with these routes and locations highlighted.
Determine the fastest and most out of the way route to local hospitals. In the event of an emergency, you may need to take someone to the hospital. If the emergency is just at your home, traffic may not be an issue and you can use the shortest possible route. However, in the event of road closings, heavy traffic, bad weather, etc. you will probably want to take the most out of the way route to get where you need to go. This may seem like a bad idea, but it will take less time than sitting in heavy traffic on a main roadway.
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5: Get to know your neighbors. During a disaster, it really helps to know the people who live around you. Those relationships will help others to be more inclined to give your assistance if you need it. In turn, you can give aid where you’re needed for neighbors who are worse off than you.
It is always a good idea to know who your neighbors are, and what their experience is. For example, if you have a neighbor who is a nurse, you might be able to call on them should someone be severely injured, until the paramedics arrive. If there is a neighbor who is home during the hours that you work, you could give them your contact information in the event that there is an emergency and offer to do the same in return.
Having a sense of community during a disaster can build synergy. You’ll get more done together than you will by completely isolating yourself. Knowing your neighbors will help you to know who to trust and who isn't reliable.
It is always a good idea to know who your neighbors are, and what their experience is. For example, if you have a neighbor who is a nurse, you might be able to call on them should someone be severely injured, until the paramedics arrive. If there is a neighbor who is home during the hours that you work, you could give them your contact information in the event that there is an emergency and offer to do the same in return.
Having a sense of community during a disaster can build synergy. You’ll get more done together than you will by completely isolating yourself. Knowing your neighbors will help you to know who to trust and who isn't reliable.
6: Keep a bugout bag in the car. You never know where you’ll be when disaster strikes. Keeping a bug out bag in your car can help you to be prepared even when you’re not home to grab your 72 hour kit. Make sure that every member of the family will have some preparations at all times.
It is a good idea to keep several gallons of fresh water in your car at all times. Water serves many purposes, drinking, cleaning, or even putting out a campfire. A case of drinking water might be a good option due to portability of the small bottles.
Keep blankets in your car. An emergency blanket or two is always an excellent idea for your trunk. Should you ever become stranded in the winter, you will need to stay warm without running the car. Additionally, should you ever experience a home fire; you might need the extra blanket to wrap up in while the fire department is working to extinguish the flames. Keep the blanket in the car year round, and you never risk not having it when you need it.
It is a good idea to keep several gallons of fresh water in your car at all times. Water serves many purposes, drinking, cleaning, or even putting out a campfire. A case of drinking water might be a good option due to portability of the small bottles.
Keep blankets in your car. An emergency blanket or two is always an excellent idea for your trunk. Should you ever become stranded in the winter, you will need to stay warm without running the car. Additionally, should you ever experience a home fire; you might need the extra blanket to wrap up in while the fire department is working to extinguish the flames. Keep the blanket in the car year round, and you never risk not having it when you need it.
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7: Learn survival & first aid skills. There are many survival skills that will help you during a disaster. Take the time to not only stock supplies, but to add to your skill set. Some examples include gardening, water purification, fire making, food procurement, auto mechanics, first aid, building, sewing, livestock care, and cooking. You may be able to use your survival skills to take care of your own needs as well as to barter for other things that you need.
One great way to master your survival skills is to go camping frequently. Camping uses a lot of the skills you’ll need during a disaster, but without the panic and pressure. Camping is a fun way to practice your survival skills and learn to enjoy a new way of living.
If you've been camping with your family, it will be easier to adjust to having to live in the great outdoors for an extended period of time. You’ll have a much more peaceful experience if it isn’t all new.
When it comes to first aid, it’s important to have a first aid or a trauma kit, in fact that’s one of the first things that beginners do. However if you don’t know how to use the supplies they don’t do much good. Take classes to learn basic first aid so you’re ready in an emergency.
One great way to master your survival skills is to go camping frequently. Camping uses a lot of the skills you’ll need during a disaster, but without the panic and pressure. Camping is a fun way to practice your survival skills and learn to enjoy a new way of living.
If you've been camping with your family, it will be easier to adjust to having to live in the great outdoors for an extended period of time. You’ll have a much more peaceful experience if it isn’t all new.
When it comes to first aid, it’s important to have a first aid or a trauma kit, in fact that’s one of the first things that beginners do. However if you don’t know how to use the supplies they don’t do much good. Take classes to learn basic first aid so you’re ready in an emergency.
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Be prepared and be at peace
There are many things in your life that need your attention, don’t let your preparedness plan fall on the backburner. Set goals every month so that it’s always a part of your routine. Make your survival preparation a line item on your monthly budget.
There are many things in your life that need your attention, don’t let your preparedness plan fall on the backburner. Set goals every month so that it’s always a part of your routine. Make your survival preparation a line item on your monthly budget.
About the Author
Dennis Diaz is the Chief Editor of Survival Ready and host of The Prepper World Summit. He is an avid survivalist who is passionate about learning and teaching survival and preparedness skills and strategies.
He enjoys helping others prepare themselves for multiple dangerous scenarios, by coaching them on how develop their own customized survival & preparedness plans and develop their survival skills. He teaches his students and readers to make preparedness and survival knowledge part of their daily lives.
Dennis Diaz is the Chief Editor of Survival Ready and host of The Prepper World Summit. He is an avid survivalist who is passionate about learning and teaching survival and preparedness skills and strategies.
He enjoys helping others prepare themselves for multiple dangerous scenarios, by coaching them on how develop their own customized survival & preparedness plans and develop their survival skills. He teaches his students and readers to make preparedness and survival knowledge part of their daily lives.
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