How to Become A Prepper - Part 4

Planning and being ready for a crisis


At this point you should have downloaded and at least scanned the documents I listed at the beginning of this letter. And you should have your probability and priority lists cross-referenced to the various scenarios. You should have also started your other specialized research based on what you found you needed to acquire in skills, knowledge, abilities, tools and or supplies. You should also have a basic budget ready to go to start acquiring what you need to purchase.

Step One is to start acquiring what you need in tools, supplies and skills, followed by beginning your Emergency Grab-n-Go Binder.

An Emergency Grab-n-Go Binder is critical. This binder should hold all important information about yourself and each of your family members, including any pets and regular family visitors or friends that could possibly be caught in this crisis while visiting you. No, you can’t account for all, I am talking the ones that routinely visit or spend the night. Think “In case of emergency contact … General ID & contact info … Medications … Allergies … Insurance Info” and the like.

The documents listed at the beginning of this letter will get you started and there are additional specialized sheets listed in the appendix that will assist with most of the scenario particulars you may need.

This binder will hold your emergency food storage information, maybe even shopping lists and recipes, along with lists of tools and other supplies. In case of a bug-out or evacuation you should have a pre-formatted sheet and marker with thumb tack, that you can post in a good spot in or outside your home to tell someone where you have gone and who is with you. Use only IF YOU feel the crisis requires notifying anyone of where y’all have gone.

This Grab-n-Go Binder will become vital as you add to it.

Now is the time to create your 72-hour Go-Packs. Or Go Kit or bug-out bag or survival pack. This will hold the bare minimum of needed items to survive on the go. You should plan on one for the home or emergency shelter, vehicle, each family member and your pet. Each bag should be geared to the specific needs of your crisis probabilities and priorities. Individual bags will be lighter in weight as they are for one individual only. Each bag should also contain a first aid kit. The house, emergency shelter and vehicle bags and first aid kits will be more robust, as they should account for at least two if not more individuals, depending on the size of your family.

There are downloadable lists for these bags and first aid kits in the appendix. Basically they will contain what one or more individuals will minimally need for 72 hours of “Holly crap I am on my own for the next 3 days with what I got with me!!!” situation.

The 72-hour bag, first aid kits and Emergency Binder can and should be accomplished at the same time.

Questions to always ask

With any crisis involving humans, several things will need to be considered and planned for no matter what. These are the top questions that you will need to ask, answer and assess very quickly. These are the big ones to have a contingency plan for:

• Food
• Water
• Clothing
• Illness or Injury needs
• Basic Tools
• Defense
• Shelter
• Bug-out or Stay Put

This is NOT a priority list as each crisis is unique and may shift the priorities around. Never the less, in a crisis, all 8 questions need to be addressed as soon as possible. These are however, the basic bare minimum things you will need to get thru just about any predicament.

These top eight questions will determine what you need to do, what is within your power to prevent or endure; utilizing what knowledge, skills, tools and supplies you have on hand AT THAT MOMENT. If you think you will be a little “fuddle-brained” during the immediate moments after a crisis occurs, I strongly suggest you make these questions as the first page of your Grab-n-Go Binder, keep a copy in each 72-Hour bag and a copy in your wallet, briefcase and or purse.

Your contingency plans should account for BOTH a re-location and staying put. This is another reason why you prepare more than one 72 Hour Go Bag.

If you have a plan and are prepared for just about anything, while in any location, for any length of time then you have a greater chance of coming out of it with minimal tribulation. It may still be a trial, but it won’t be a true tribulation where you have nothing, to do anything with, to help yourself.