If you haven’t started prepping, you better get started soon because the world is facing a number of problems that could spell disaster for life as we know it. Now I’m not trying to scare people into buying into the whole Doomsday Preppers end of the world hype, but I do think we’re facing some serious trouble in the very near future.
From the growing social unrest movements that are increasingly starting to turn violent, to the global financial meltdown that’s wreaking havoc on the world, things seem to be getting worse at an alarming pace. The world as we know it seems to be teetering on the edge of a cliff, and in my opinion, there are way too many people hoping or trying to make it fall over.
But even if the world does fall into chaos, there are things that you can do that will help bring balance and stability back into your life. To start with, you need to start preparing to survive whatever lies ahead.
Preparedness is the key to ensuring your survival and it needs to be #1 on your list of priorities.
I hope you don’t think that it’s just wacky tinfoil hat wearing people who are preparing for the worse. Because these days, everyone seems to be ramping up their efforts, including the federal government.
Over the last year the federal government has steadily increased their preparedness stockpiles by buying up huge amounts of emergency food and medical supplies. At one point, the government was buying up so many food supplies that many of the major emergency food companies had to stop selling to the public, in order to keep up with the government’s demands.
And it’s not just food that they’re buying. From overhauling the National Emergency Alert System and running the first ever national test on November 9th, to running major multi-state multi-agency earthquake drills, it seems like the government is trying to prepare the public for something big. Even more worrisome, is the revelation that a growing number of government agencies have started to develop emergency continuity of operations plans that will help keep their departments running in the case of an all-out collapse. A number of these government agencies have also started to warn their employees to prepare for the worse.
So is something big coming?
I don’t think there’s anyone who can say with 100% certainty that disaster is going to strike on a specific time or date. But what we can be sure of, is the fact that bad things can and will happen. If history teaches us anything, it’s that we need to be prepared for the worse.
Being prepared really isn’t that complicated, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of money. What it does take is a willingness to do something about your situation. It’s time to start taking the decisive actions and prepare for whatever the future has in store.
Here are a couple of things that you can do to get started:
- Start storing water and have a have a long term water plan.
- Start stockpiling foods that have a long shelf life, items that have multiple uses, and items that can be bartered.
- Develop an evacuation plan in case you have to get the hell out of dodge
- Learn about Emergency Communications and how to stay on top of information if the grid goes down.
- Find out what resources are near your house, and map out where they are and how you would get them during a disaster.
- Learn the basics of self defense and how to protect yourself from an attacker.
Ok, I have just recently moved back to the states from Ireland and it seems we have arrived to quite a quagmire. We have very very little as we are starting completely from scratch and every dollar we have goes to day to day living can you give me some ideas do these things with little money and how to prepare small children and such. I love your site and I just want to be prepared as much as I can. Thank you!!
Edwina – If you are starting from scratch thrift stores, dollar stores, surplus stores, garage sales are all great places to pick up gear and supplies at a fraction of what the items would cost at larger chain stores or outfitters. As an example the “DollarTree” (not sure if they have them where you are at) is one of my favorite spots for grocery shopping for misc items. I can walk in there with $20 and have a cart full of canned and boxed foods that are LOCALLY produced and have long shelf lives. Not to mention all the household cleaners, supplies, toiletries, etc that they carry which are usefull whether the end is nigh or not.
many preps can be done on a very small budget. As stated earlier, buy simple foods with a long shelf life (pasta, rice, canned chicken, or even rice a roni). I like to shop for clearance items at sporting goods stores and use coupons also. be wary of items with “emergency” or “disaster” labels since they can end up being more expensive. Large candles at discount stores work nearly as well as emergency candles from an outfitter store.
As for getting younger kids ready, I highly suggest you start camping out or camping in. Make a fun time of it and get them involved. If you have no camping gear, just turn off all of the electrical devices in your house (and don’t use any appliances or lights). cook hotdogs or hamburgers on a charcoal grill, use flashlights and make a tent out of blankets in the living room. No TV, video games, computers and NO CELL PHONES. Use flashlights, tell stories and play games like hide and seek. I bet your kids love it, and they won’t freak out the next time the power goes out. As they get older and you pick up some camping gear take them out so they can learn how to build a fire and other camp/prep skills.
Mormons LDS sometimes have resources which non-mormons may have access to— such as the bishops storehouse.
mobile long term preparation is impossible.
keep your preparations secret.
If You’re really serious about long term survival after the crash, you’ll need to be able to grow your own food, not just stockpile some.
that’s why I developed what I call ‘naked hydroponics’; the simplest and cheapest way to grow all your own vegies.
Another note on small children–they feed off your anxiety, so it is important to go about preparing in a state of calm panic if you know what I mean. Let them know what you’re doing and a little why you’re preparing if you think they can handle it, but don’t overload them. Make it fun. Evacuation drills can be fun. Fire drills can be fun. Have some games/toys/etc. stashed to be “new” to them and keep their minds occupied in case of an emergency. Stock some foods they like to eat.
Let them help in the preparing if they’re capable. My kids know they have evacuation kits under their beds and what is in them because occasionally when we rotate supplies out of them the kids get to help. They know gardening basics because they get to help plant, weed, and harvest the garden every year. And don’t let your concern for the future affect your ability to enjoy your life with your family now. Every day is precious with little folks. :)
It seams the hard it gets the smaller my supplies get, I hope for fast and bad rather than slow and painful
Start living simple! Get rid of what you don’t need, and keep tabs on what you do need. Our addiction to entertainment will be our down fall.
Simple living and helping others
I haven’t seen the occupied movement turn violent. I’ve see the police turned violent.
Richard: Those idiot occupy people try to bait police so they can start screaming about being repressed etc. Wake up Man!
\
Agree with Richard. I respect police officers. A lot. But they are the ones who are getting violent at the OWS gatherings. The Occupy folks are totally dedicated to non-violence. I expect that if you have seen any violent Occupiers, they are provocateurs. But we all want to survive the shtf.
Polly you and I must be seeing different OWS gatherings.
One mans freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. It is all in your perception
I may not have enough of this and that, but i have a gun and some bolt cutters for those shtf shoppng trips…
Disasters are ongoing and it’s about time the govt updated it’s preparation plans.
Don’t add to the panic just prepare as well as you can and pre-buy rather than “stockpile” things you will never use. Learn basic stills like gardening,sewing, cooking from scratch and simple medical care. I was a young child in WW11 and our diet was simple but tasty. When it’s our time to leave this earth God will guide us.
In the end….the Best Cook gets eaten last!!!
We are stocking up on food, water, and other supplies but my question is this, most people have a mortgage or rent so how do you prepare for shelter if you lose your home. In most of the situations discussed here and on other sites, jobs and money will be in short supply so how does one prepare for shelter in this event? There is no way that we could pay off our mortgage in less than 20 years and if the gov’t is set on being in total control, who’s to say that one can keep a paid for home. I’ve read lots of articles and they all say get ready, get prepared. This is my main concern for being prepared, keeping a roof over my head.