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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.