What are we prepping for?
Like many people, I do not believe the government or any organization can or should come to my rescue in a disaster. I lived thru the Loma Prieta earth quake in 1989 near the epicenter. This event helped me to understand what actually happens when power and communication plus some infrastructure is cut off.
The immediate result after a major earth quake, my experience
I learned not to keep items full of liquid in high cabinets.
The Grocery stores near my home were standing but not operable; the stores compensated with generators and door service. You went to the door and told them what you wanted, they sent someone in and you paid in cash. Most people were buying booze and baby stuff. We had no power for a week, but our landline phone never went down. Be aware that modern land lines are mostly internet based, many companies are abandoning the old wired phone systems. From this experience, It’s my opinion that after an ecological disaster you will be able to get what you need, infrastructure will be repaired quickly and supply lines restored.
What kind of people are Prepping?
Turns out, it’s just about all types of Americans at some level. Surveys and studies indicate that there is no specific demographic in the United States for disaster preparedness. Anybody of any race, age regardless of urban or rural environment, homeownership or renter may engaging some activity based on how much they can afford or desire to prepare. This might be as basic as flashlights and some extra food to a full on stocked bunker.
Food insecurity is a big problem in the United States, where 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity annually. Practical preparation can help with this because of food rotation and planning. If it no longer fits your preparedness reality or will spoil before you use it, donate it.
If there was to be a long term society break down how will I survive?
Am I knowledgeable enough to survive long term in complete societal break down?
Am I mentally capable of surviving without modern conveniences?
Am I physically capable for surviving long term?
What will be my quality of life in a bunker, the post apocalyptic environment?
MRE’s, dehydrated food, survival kits probably don’t fit into your survival needs and will spoil. I’m not completely against investing in this stuff because the future is uncertain. You will not be digging into compressed food bars, MRE’s or dehydrated food immediately after the supply chain breaks down, unless you have nothing else, which if you do practical preparedness is unlikely. The government recommends that you only consume MRE’s for 21 days. While they decently rounded meals they are processed food with high fat and sodium without enough roughage. If you store them more than 5 years their quality goes down. Plan what you will do with them when they are no longer wholesome.
Hoarding
Practical preparedness shouldn’t necessarily be confused with hoarding. Hoarding is a result of a mindset of ownership and undefined need that may not be rational and may be the result of an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Hopefully practical prepping creates mindful preparation even if you have some normal OCD traits. If you can decide what you need and what is over kill you are doing fine. If it spoils, you need to revaluate your needs.
Shelter in Place
Food: Visualize what you will actually eat for 1-6 months of “normal” life without a Freezer or Fridge.
Water: Keep a couple of gallons of water per person for at least three days. Water filtration may help manage storage and will help if you run out of drinking water.
Ammo, Guns: Nice to have, but not practical in most circumstances. My state allows conceal carry with a permit, which I have. I feel that I need a firearm when I am alone out in the desert and in my home. I want to protect myself from SA and threat to my life, with quick response. If the zombie hoard want to bust in and loot my stash, I do not think I want to defend it with firearms. If someone starts shooting up the Walmart I’m going the other way. Desiring to shoot unknown targets (strangers on your property, animals etc) is not healthy and will create terrible regrets. Unsafe storage of loaded weapons may be a tragedy in the making. I will only use a firearm on another human being as a extreme last resort.
Gasoline: Only lasts a couple of years. It will probably be available in some form until it spoils. Have enough to run your generator as needed for a couple of days.
Foraging: Nice to know what’s eatable. No need to go hungry when you could just stop spraying the dandelions.
Looters: People will steal when they need something that you have, or resources they can not afford or find. Of course, if people are considering eating the neighbors and you are still well fed, they may figure out you still have food. If it gets to that point, Good Luck!
Bugging out
You might keep items in the car permanently for any situation where help may not be available, a public shelter is not available or desirable
Snacks/food to last 72 hours
Basic pet supplies
Water
Change of clothes
Masks or respirators
Blankets
Roll of paper towels
First aid kit
Spare tire and tools
Regular tool kit
Yellow safety vest, flares and reflectors
Entrenching tool
Kitty litter
Car chains
A whistle
Extra eye glasses
Basic hygiene items
Grab and Go
Your pets and people
Your meds
Your firesafe bag with cash and important documents inside