Being prepared is more than having enough food, water, and supplies to survive for a few days. It is about being self-sufficiently equipped to meet your needs for at least one year!
Most preppers have what they consider to be their “go-to” foods — vegetables or meat that can easily be cooked and served with limited equipment. Others keep tabs on how much money they have in case there are unexpected expenses or shortages. Some stockpile specific items such as blankets, batteries, or ammunition.
Some people start by buying only small amounts of certain things because it seems like a lot at first. As time goes on, however, they find themselves investing more and more in survival gear due to its usefulness.
But what if something bad happens and you don’t have enough to live on? Or what if you run out before you can use some item properly? Starting off with just a little bit of most things is very common sense advice.
I would also recommend against buying expensive gadgets and supplies unless you have an adequate supply already.
Food Storage
Having enough food for at least two years is the best place to start when thinking about what things you could potentially live off of during an emergency or natural disaster.
Most experts agree that you should have three months’ worth of nonperishable foods in order to survive, however some go as high as six months! This depends on your individual needs and how much energy you consume while eating.
By having enough food, you will be giving yourself a basic safety net in case something happens and you are unable to find adequate supplies elsewhere.
Some ways to store food include: buying a large quantity of specific items, growing your own produce, and either renting or owning a freezer or fridge that can hold a lot of weight.
Many people also buy packaged foods which contain nutritional value and amount limited only by their packaging. These are usually not too expensive per ounce so they are a cost-effective way to stock up as well.
Now let’s talk about where to store this food…
Geographical diversity is one of the most important factors in ensuring your survival in the event of a catastrophe. This means figuring out how to eat locally, if possible.
You want to make sure your diet has a balance of nutrients so health can be maintained. It also gives you more options in the event someone else is able to supply you with food.
Having sufficient supplies away from home and being familiar with how to prepare them makes sense next.
Water Filters
First, you should make sure your water filter is correct for your drinking water source. For example, if your water comes from natural sources like rivers or lakes, then a sand filternate filter is appropriate. If your water is purified by chemicals, then a charcoal filter is needed.
There are many types of filters that can be used to purify our water. The most common type is a filtering system containing ceramic beads or balls which trap contaminents such as bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. These traps must be replaced periodically, however, making it important to have an adequate supply.
Making sure your home is stocked with at least one 1 gallon (3.7 L) bottle of freshwater per person is a good start.
First Aid Kits
One of the most important things to have in your prep repertoire is a first aid kit, or what some call an emergency medical bag. A first aid kit should contain all of the basics such as bandages, pain relievers, antiseize sprays, cough drops, etc.
You don’t want to go through all of this work getting everything you need for first aid stuck somewhere along transitory trip after disaster.
So where can you store your first aid supplies? There are several different places that are ideal depending on how much money you have to spend.
The best place to start buying first aid equipment is online. You will find lots of sites with free first aid kits and instructional videos about how to use them.
A word of warning though, many of these freebies only include small portions of the first aid kit! Make sure to check out the whole thing so you know what everything even looks like.
Bug Out Bag (BOB)
Having a BOB is one of the first things you should look into as a beginner prepper. A BOB is also referred to as a survival bag, emergency kit or preparedness box. It typically has small supplies such as food, water, the important documents that you will need while being evacuated, and may include some basic gear such as hats, scarves, and gloves.
There are many good brands that make very functional BOBs. They are not expensive, but they are worth the money due to their quality. The most common items in a BOB are either dried foods or packaged foods that we can eat without requiring too much energy to consume them. These are helpful if there isn’t anyone around to help you cook for yourself.
We would recommend having at least two weeks supply of non-perishable foods in your BOG. Some people have gone several months with only enough food for themselves because they learned how to grow vegetables and/or fruits or find other ways to satisfy their hunger.
Having a couple days’ worth of drinking water is also an excellent idea.
Shelter/Bugout Location
Having a bug out location is one of the most important things you can have as an amateur prepper. This will allow you to survive a major disaster with enough supplies for at least two weeks!
Most people don’t realize how crucial this is until they try to find yourself after a catastrophe. If you don’t have a place to go, you won’t survive.
Fortunately, having a retreat space prepared is more affordable than you might think! Many homeowners use their house or apartment as their shelter due to it being close by and easily accessible.
Some even pay to use it during times like hurricane season when floods are possible! By using your home or apartment as a safe haven, you’re already paying to invest in your survival.
Another way to achieve this is to purchase a portable cabin that you can take with you.
Survival Gear List
Having enough food for at least two years is an excellent way to start investing in survival gear. Luckily, there are many easy ways to do this!
Most people begin by buying a large quantity of dried or packaged foods such as MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) or individual packages of nutritional supplements like gummy vitamins.
These are great starting points because they’re already prepared and typically cost less than the fresh produce that you would also need to purchase if you are not preparing your own meals.
By having these ready-to-use foods on hand, it will help you feel more relaxed about eating since you’ll know what exactly you’ll get from one package to the next.
Furthermore, most people don’t buy enough variety of food and none of them really taste very good either. By stocking up on some basic supplies, you’ll find yourself enjoying food much more frequently.
It’s important to always keep an eye out for discount coupons too so you can save money while still staying prepared.
Emergency Radio/Cell Phone
Having an emergency radio or cell phone is one of the most important things you can have as a prepper. They are both very popular products that many people own, but not everyone uses them effectively!
If someone was in trouble and needed help for their vehicle, they could use your car’s radio to look for assistance. Or if there were no signal at home, they could use your cell phone to make a call and ask for help.
This article will talk about some helpful tips for using your emergency radio correctly and what types of radios are best for different situations. It will also discuss how to manage your cell phone efficiently while being a prepper.
Hopefully this information will show you how easy it is to prepare for unexpected events by having these basics in place.
Fire Extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher in your home is one of the most important things you can have as a prepper. It will save you and those around you from significant damage or loss due to flames.
Most people know what kind of extinguishers they should have, but few actually pull them out and use them. Before grabbing that gray canister thing, make sure you know how to use it!
Luckily, there are several different types of fires and ways to apply an appropriate amount of foam for each type. There are even some apps and websites which teach you how to use a fire extinquisher correctly so that you get the best results.
Fire blankets are also helpful in containing flame spread. These are usually made of polyester material and work by taking heat energy away from the burning surface and re-emitting it into the surrounding area.
What is the importance of knowing how to use a fire extinguisher?
Too many people forget about this basic item because they think it is already part of their everyday life. But when disasters occur, these individuals are nowhere to be found.
If someone close to you has announced that they are going camping for the weekend, then chances are they have determined what kind of extinguisher they will take with them.