You’ve heard about preppers and the whole business of preparing for emergencies and crises in advance. You’re convinced it makes sense. So how do you go about starting on that journey to becoming a prepper?
No one size fits all
- one of the most valuable lessons for any beginner is that no one size fits all when it comes to prepping – that much becomes clear when you read an article like the one that appeared in the London Evening Standard last year about the many different ways people have become sold on the notion of prepping;
- preppers come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, with a variety of approaches to the whole purpose of the game: to prepare for any future emergency, crisis, or disaster, natural or man-made;
It’s the real world
- when you start any new venture, you probably cast around for as much information as possible;
- in the case of preppers and prepping, there is a growing volume of information – and you might do well to avoid the deluge because not all of it is accurate, reliable, or even likely to be especially useful in your particular circumstances;
- in other words, keep to the forefront of your mind just what it is you might be prepping for and stick with the real world you know. It’s going to entail a different approach if you are preparing for a few days when food, water, and energy supplies might be temporarily disrupted, let’s say, to arming yourself against impending Armageddon.
Focus on storage
Whatever your approach, storage of the basics – water and food – is likely to loom large in your preparations.
Water is essential – if you don’t drink it you begin to suffer from potentially fatal dehydration. There is some disagreement about the total volume of water an individual needs to drink in a day, but figures based on research done by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggest that this might be as much as 1.6 litres for a woman and 2 litres for a man.
In the course of a week, therefore, a couple is going to need more than 25 litres of water – in any storage space, that represents quite a volume. Water purification tablets may prove useful.
Storage space for food might also become a problem if you do a basic calculation based on the number of tins you might get through in a day – the website Preparing for SHTF suggests that each individual would need at least three tins every day (one of protein, one of vegetables, and one of fruit).
Over the course of the week, therefore, a couple would get through 42 tins – once again, a strain on your available storage space, especially if you are hoping to food enough provisions for longer than a week at a time.
Consider investing in specialist dried foods, which take up less space but offer just as much variety of diet. Include a basecamp link
First Aid and power supplies
Don’t forget being prepared means you will ideally have a first aid kit including any medications you regularly take, power supplies – torches, candles and matches, and solar chargers etc. Read our Emergency Power Sources blog for the latter.
Bug Out Bags
While the above points have focused on being prepared at home, having a Bug Out Bag – a bag that has more or less everything you need to help you survive away from home for several days’ – may also make sense. In times of an emergency, such as a flood, you can literally grab your bag and go.
You can create your own Bug Out Bag (read our blog: Bug Out Bags) or buy one which should have more or less everything you need.
Don’t delay – do it today
If you are new to prepping, remember that preppers come in all shapes and sizes and there is no single answer to getting everything right. Don’t let yourself be swamped by the massive amount of information out there but focus on the realistic needs and circumstances of you and your family.
Storage of the basic essentials – such as water and food – might not take up more valuable space than you first imagined. There’s no reason for delaying making a start. Don’t delay – do it today.
Further reading: Beginners Guide To Prepping and Survival Equipment Kit: What Do I Need?
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