Preparedness the First Steps

Much of the focus throughout this year (2012) has been on the so-called doomsday preppers, and there is even a show dedicated to preppers. Preppers are individuals that take preparedness to a new level and many dedicate their entire time and financial resources to getting prepared. You may watch these shows and wonder what you should prepare for because most if not all preppers have a specific scenario in mind thus, they prepare based on that. Therefore, some of you may be overwhelmed because literally anything can happen, so how do you prepare for all possibilities.

First, you must realize that regardless of the disaster you will always need the essentials to maintain life. Shelter, water, fire/energy, nourishment and medical care are essentials you will always need. However, certain situations will require specialized clothing and equipment to survive such as a nuclear detonation or the release of chemical and biological contaminates into the community. Preparations for nuclear, chemical and biological attack are the next level after you have gathered the essentials for survival. Presumably, the crisis will disrupt your utilities, such as electricity, water and gas for cooking and heating. This is where you begin; you must prepare to live without modern conveniences.

Start With the Basics and Work Up From There

How do you decide how much? The amount of supplies and materials depends on what you are preparing for. Do you simply want to be ready for power disruptions during a natural disaster or do you believe in a doomsday scenario. Some believe they will have to survive on their own for years if not for their entire life if certain scenarios play out, and others feel it may be only a few years before communities and government are operating again.

As history has shown us natural, disasters can be devastating and are made even more so when people and communities are not prepared. You can be without utilities for several weeks while living in a home that is damaged or even living in a tent in the front yard. This is the effects of any disaster whether it is manmade or natural. If you survive the crisis itself, you must then survive the effects. As stated before, emergency supplies and materials are not necessarily disaster specific, and without the basics, you will not survive to have to worry about nuclear, chemical or biological attacks.

You will need at least two weeks of food and water if planning for natural disasters. Typically, experts and community leaders recommended a 72-hour supply, but that recommendation is outdated. As you prepare remember you will have to perform all tasks without the benefit of electricity.

For those that believe in the doomsdays theories you will need enough provisions to get you through at least the first two years. You will need to develop a reliable food source such as gardens and raising livestock. It will take several years to begin producing enough to preserve so you will need enough food and water as you begin preparing for long-term survival. You must not have the worry of providing for your family while you work on alternative sources for survival.