Introduction – Prepping 101

Prepping is becoming more and more popular these days, and for good reason. No one knows when disaster will strike, and it’s always better to be prepared than caught off guard. In this article, we will explore the basics of prepping and survivalism. We’ll discuss what prepping is all about, the different levels of preparedness, and how you can get started on your own prepping journey. So don’t wait – read on to learn everything you need to know about prepping!

What is prepping?

Prepping is the practice of making active preparations for when a possible catastrophic disaster strikes or an emergency. This can include stockpiling food and supplies, learning wilderness survival skills, and having a disaster preparedness plan in place for what to do if emergency strikes. Prepping is about being self-sufficient and independent, and being able to take care of yourself and your loved ones in case of an emergency.

Why should I prep?

There are many reasons why you might want to start prepping. Maybe you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. Or maybe you’re concerned about man-made disasters, such as civil unrest or economic collapse. Whatever your reason for wanting to prep, it’s important to be aware of the risks and have a plan in place in case something does happen.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”

Benjamin Franklin

What are the different levels of preparedness?

There are different levels of preparedness, depending on how much you want to prepare for an emergency. Some people choose to only prep on a basic level, such as having a few days’ worth of food and water stored away. Others choose to go all out, and may even build themselves a survivalist retreat complete with supplies and weapons. No matter what level you choose, it’s important to have some kind of plan in place so that you know what to do if emergency hits.

How do I get started prepping?

If you’re new to prepping, it’s important to start small and gradually increase your level of emergency preparedness. Begin by stockpiling some non-perishable food or dehydrated foods and water, and then move on to learning survival skills such as first aid and fire-starting. You can also join a prepper community so that you can learn from others and share information, support, and friendship. Whatever you do, don’t wait until it’s too late to start prepping – the time to act is now!

What things should I include in my emergency stockpile?

In addition to water, you’ll also want to have food, a first aid kit, and a way to purify more water if needed. You may also want to include items such as clothing, tools, and weapons. It’s important to tailor your stockpile to your specific needs, so take note of some essentials and work out what you think you should prioritise.

An example list of prepping basics might be:

• Store bought food (non perishable)
• Stored water
• First aid kit
• Toilet paper
• Survival gear
• Pepper spray
• Warm clothing
• Basic tools and weapons
• Medical supplies

There are many other supplies you could add here as well, depending on how much you want to prep.

How do I prepare a water supply?

One of the most important things to have in your emergency stockpile is water. You should have at least two weeks worth of water stored away at an absolute minimum, and more if possible. But how do you prepare a water supply? Here are some tips:

• Store water in clean, food-grade containers.
• Be sure to rotate your water supply every six months so that it stays fresh.
• If you live in an area which may frequently lose power, consider investing in a generator so that you can pump water from your well or other source.
• Purify any new water sources before adding them to your stockpile. This can be done by boiling the water, using bleach, or investing in a portable water filter.

How do I prepare a food supply?

An important part of your emergency stockpile is food. Non-perishable items such as canned goods, dried beans, dried fruit, Meat Jerky, and rice are a good choice, as long as you’ve thought about long-term food storage. You should also have some way to cook these items, so be sure to include a camp stove or other cooking method in your plans. It’s also a good idea to have some snacks on hand for energy, such as granola bars or trail mix. You could also consider repackaging store-bought food so it lasts longer, or cooking your own food, so long as you store food appropriately so it can last.

What are some survival skills I should learn?

In addition to having a stockpile of emergency supplies, it’s also important to know how to use them. Some survival skills you may want to learn include first aid, fire-starting, and shelter-building. You can find many resources on these topics online, or you can take a survival course from a local organization such as the scouts, cadets, emergency response organisations, civil or military reserves.

My top list of survival skills includes;

• First Aid
• Self Defense – Armed and Unarmed
• Learning Caching and stockpiling technique and best practice
• Creating ‘Bug out Bags‘
• Creating and stocking a home bunker
• Communication techniques – permissive and non permissive (covert) techniques – as you cannot safely rely on mobile phone networks or internet access
• CBRND safety (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defence)
• Fire Starting
• Shelter Building and basic construction skills
• Navigation – including map reading and basic astronomy.
• Water sourcing and purification
• Hunting and foraging
• Gardening and Farming (permissive environment food production)

SERE: Survive, Escape, Resist, Evade

SERE stands for ‘Survive, Escape, Resist, Evade’, and was taught to me during my military career. During SERE class C training we were taught many survival and prepping skills to successfully survive and evade the enemy in non permissive (war like) operations. These skills are directly applicable to survivalism and prepping.

“SERE Level C encompasses full-spectrum training including academics and resistance training labs. The SERE-C training provides a unique opportunity to teach Soldiers adaptive leadership skills to be employed in complex operational environments. The result of the SERE experience is more agile and adaptive leaders, less vulnerable targets for our enemies to exploit, and an invaluable skill set that gives our Soldiers the ability to survive and return with honor.”

US ARMY

Conclusion – Prepping 101

Prepping is about being self reliant and independent, and being able to take care of yourself and your family members in case of an emergency, a natural disaster or any other disaster situations. Many people begin prepping on a low level and then progress to increasing levels of disaster preparedness. Along the way, they find that there is a community of like-minded individuals with information, support, and friendship to share.

No matter what level of preparedness you choose, remember that prepping is a journey, not a destination. There is always something new to learn, tasks to do, and gear to purchase. The most important thing is to get started today so that you can be prepared for whatever tomorrow may bring.

So don’t wait for disaster to strike – start your prepping journey today, safe in the knowledge that if the shit did hit the fan, you are ready.

What are your thoughts on prepping? Have you started to prep for an emergency? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check back soon for more Prepping 101 articles. Until next time, happy prepping!