But how, you ask, can someone be a prepper without an underground bunker?
The answer, my friends, is simple. After thorough application of my powers of prophecy, I remain wholly unconvinced that a bunker-worthy apocalyptic event is eminent.
Full disclosure: Although they haven't been officially tested recently, my powers of prophecy are likely rated in the "poor" to "fair" range.
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You doubt my credentials?
What more proof do you need?
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[here's the video version of this post]
My plans are based on the following ideas:
1. Prudent stockpile, not massive hoard: The act of prepping obviously involves stockpiling supplies, materials and gear that might never be needed. Arguably, this is costly, inefficient and wasteful. Thus, where possible I think it's best to simply keep an extended supply of essential items that will be used anyway, use up the oldest stock first, and continually replenish.
2. Fewer backups: Many of the articles and videos I've come across speak about the importance of backups and redundancy. This seems wise, but some folks get carried away buying cool gear. Do you need 15 different water filters? For my purposes, three or four seems sufficient. Except for watches.
3. Logic over fear: Prepping involves careful consideration of scenarios that are rather unsettling, and I suspect that many preppers let the fear of those scenarios cloud their judgement. I've tried to let logic rather than fear guide my plans.
4. Together not separate: - I would reject the notion of closing the door to the bunker and shutting out the rest of the world. I firmly believe we are all stronger in a community, working together, and preparations should take that into account. Also, as noted, I don't have a bunker.
In short, my strategy is to have adequate supplies to live reasonably comfortably for a month or so during some type of disruptive event. The event could be a natural, environmental or industrial disaster, civil unrest, economic downturn, temporary job loss, health crisis, etc. If, during that time it becomes obvious that life will be different moving forward, then we have a bit of a cushion to adapt and prepare for the "new normal".
Comprehensive preparations will cover the following fundamental needs: food, security, water, power/heat/cooking, fuel/transportation, household supplies, health, maintenance and repairs, information/communications, knowledge/training, personal finance, and community. Many preppers also make plans for getting home from afar, and evacuating with short notice. Here's an overview of each topic.
Food
Having enough food to last through some type of disruption is obviously crucial, and the several different approaches fall into two major categories: from the store or from the land.
Whichever approach is taken, a methodical approach to calculating the needed quantities of each item would be prudent.
Our own strategy is to retain a 60-day supply of the canned and dried foods that we normally use. This is known as the "60-day working pantry" system. Items are replaced as we use them (oldest first) so that the supply stays fairly constant. I also hunt deer and have plenty of fishing equipment.
Security
At our home, we have all of the above except the installed gas service. In addition, we could use the oven and stove in our travel trailer for cooking. For the camp stove and portable heater, I keep about 20 one-pound LP canisters, plus a couple of 20-pound LP tanks (with an adapter). I also installed a couple of solar panels (100 watts each) which can be used to recharge devices or power small appliances (it is separate from the home electrical system). Our woods can provide a virtually endless supply of firewood
A key component of doing maintenance and repairs is having a good workspace, whether that's a shop, garage, basement or, as in my case, a workbench under a shade tree.
I am lacking very little in this area, thanks to generous hand-me-downs from my handyman dad, inheritances from my "jack-of-all-trades" uncle, and years of scouring yard sales, thrift stores and bargain outlets.
What's our next step? I need to purchase a few key supplies and spare parts (e.g. extra saw blades, spark plugs, oil/filters), and upgrade a couple of worn out tools. I'd also like to keep a small stash of lumber and PVC pipe. Lastly, I'm thinking that an inexpensive sewing machine would be handy.
In our case, we have several battery-powered am/fm radios, a battery-powered weather alert radio, and a pair of walkie-talkies.
What's our next step? I'm considering buying additional walkie-talkies that could be given to neighbors after a disruptive event so that we could all keep in touch.
Knowledge/Training
Tools, supplies and materials are useless without the knowledge of how to use them. Opportunities for learning new skills are abundant, including YouTube, on-line courses, Cooperative Extension, community colleges, and of course books and blog posts.
What's our next step? I would like to improve my first aid skills.
Personal Finance
Without a stable financial position, any disruption will be more difficult to weather. It's also obvious that obtaining supplies and equipment is a significant expense. Thus, preparations should consider personal finance strategies such as:
What's our next step? We plan to accelerate the repayment of our mortgage.
Community
There is no doubt about the importance of self-reliance, but having strong connections with others in your neighborhood and community may be the most important component of being prepared. Those connections can enhance your security, provide access to knowledge, skills and resources you are lacking, and give you a team of helpers for a difficult task. Building those connections could happen through a church, community watch group, neighborhood association, or simply an occasional neighborhood gathering. Personally we have found great value from participating in our local Community Watch.
Getting home if stranded
How would you get home if stranded, without transportation, miles from home? Many preppers carry "get home" supplies wherever they go (usually in a bag called a...wait for it..."get home bag"). In our case, we keep such supplies in each vehicle. I'll forego further detail as this topic is covered comprehensively and effectively elsewhere, such as on The Urban Prepper YouTube channel.
Evacuation with short notice
Clearly, making preps to cover all of these areas requires a significant investment of time, money and storage space. A good starting point is torent a backhoe to dig a hole for an underground bunker create a 72-hour disaster kit, and expand from there. Regardless of the nature of your preparations, organization is key. Supplies are useless if they are hard to find or difficult to access. I hope this post will help you get started, or perhaps just identify an area or two where you can make some adjustments to the plans you already have. If you see an area where you disagree, or some key point I've left out, please leave a comment or send me an email (timberwalkers@gmail.com), and thanks for reading.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Here is a list of resources that may be helpful.
1. Prudent stockpile, not massive hoard: The act of prepping obviously involves stockpiling supplies, materials and gear that might never be needed. Arguably, this is costly, inefficient and wasteful. Thus, where possible I think it's best to simply keep an extended supply of essential items that will be used anyway, use up the oldest stock first, and continually replenish.
2. Fewer backups: Many of the articles and videos I've come across speak about the importance of backups and redundancy. This seems wise, but some folks get carried away buying cool gear. Do you need 15 different water filters? For my purposes, three or four seems sufficient. Except for watches.
 |
L to R: My watch, plus 1st backup, 2nd backup, spare 1st backup,
spare 2nd backup, plus 2 extra just in case.
|
4. Together not separate: - I would reject the notion of closing the door to the bunker and shutting out the rest of the world. I firmly believe we are all stronger in a community, working together, and preparations should take that into account. Also, as noted, I don't have a bunker.
In short, my strategy is to have adequate supplies to live reasonably comfortably for a month or so during some type of disruptive event. The event could be a natural, environmental or industrial disaster, civil unrest, economic downturn, temporary job loss, health crisis, etc. If, during that time it becomes obvious that life will be different moving forward, then we have a bit of a cushion to adapt and prepare for the "new normal".
Comprehensive preparations will cover the following fundamental needs: food, security, water, power/heat/cooking, fuel/transportation, household supplies, health, maintenance and repairs, information/communications, knowledge/training, personal finance, and community. Many preppers also make plans for getting home from afar, and evacuating with short notice. Here's an overview of each topic.
Having enough food to last through some type of disruption is obviously crucial, and the several different approaches fall into two major categories: from the store or from the land.
- From the store:
- Canned foods, pasta, dried beans, etc. are inexpensive and widely available.
- Frozen foods are also inexpensive, but require electricity for storage
- Freeze dried foods have a long shelf life, but are expensive and perhaps less palatable.
- From the land:
- Gardening and livestock production (steep cost of entry and learning curve)
- Hunting & fishing (relatively steep learning curve and not accessible everywhere)
- Foraged food (free and accessible, but without training there is risk of illness or death)
Having the equipment and knowledge to do home food preservation provides additional flexibility, including preserving fresh food bought at the store or farmers market. Canning, freezing and dehydrating are relatively simple strategies with low equipment cost. Be wary of food preservation methods touted by random people in YouTube videos. Following current recommendations from a land-grant university or other reliable source is crucial, at risk of food spoilage, illness or death.
Whichever approach is taken, a methodical approach to calculating the needed quantities of each item would be prudent.
Our own strategy is to retain a 60-day supply of the canned and dried foods that we normally use. This is known as the "60-day working pantry" system. Items are replaced as we use them (oldest first) so that the supply stays fairly constant. I also hunt deer and have plenty of fishing equipment.
What's our next step? I have a long range goal of upping my gardening game.
Security
It's not unreasonable to speculate that even a short-term disruption (especially of an economic nature) could lead to an increase in theft, burglary or even violent crime such as home invasion. Obtaining some type of defensive weapon might seem like the obvious solution. Even if you feel like that's a good option, there are many other components of security that should be considered such as:
- Gates/fences
- Early warning systems (e.g. dog, driveway alarm, cameras)
- Hardened entry points (e.g. replace screws on door jams and put security film on windows)
- Self-defense training
- Keeping doors and windows locked
- Maintaining awareness of surroundings (i.e. situational awareness)
- Getting to know your neighbors
- Community watch groups
- Avoiding high-risk situations and activities
- Theft deterrent landscaping
For obvious reasons, this is a topic where I will decline to discuss our specific strategies, other than to say we've taken some measures in most of these areas.
What's our next step? It occurs to me that I do not have phone numbers for several of my closest neighbors, which could certainly come in handy.
Water
If there is a failure in the municipal water system, there are several options for obtaining potable water for drinking, hygiene, cleaning and cooking.
- Keep a supply of bottled water on hand (either purchased, or filled from your own faucette).
- Collect water from a stream, spring, ditch or rainfall and then filter, boil and/or treat.
- Drill a well to provide your own supply.
- Fill a bathtub prior to an anticipated event (e.g. severe weather forecast)
In our case, we have our own well, but the pump is dependent on the electrical grid. Thus, we keep about 40 gallons of potable bottled water on hand. We also have a rain barrel that could provide water for flushing and bathing. Finally, we have various methods to purify water we might collect from a nearby stream (e.g. chlorine, filtration, boiling).
What's our next step? Ultimately I would like to have the option to run our well off of a generator, or even better power it from solar panels.
Power/Heat/Cooking
There are a variety of ways to address power needs when the electricity goes down. At the risk of cataloging the obvious, here are some options:
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LED lantern. Every home needs
one(or a few) of these.
|
- Candles
- Camp stove
- Flashlights
- Battery powered LED lanterns (must have!)
- Fireplace, woodstove, pellet stove, etc.
- Installed gas service (LP or natural gas) for cooking and hot water
- Portable propane heater
- Outdoor grill
- Batteries
- Gas-powered generator
- Portable solar system
There's also the option of powering the whole house with solar or wind if resources allow.
At our home, we have all of the above except the installed gas service. In addition, we could use the oven and stove in our travel trailer for cooking. For the camp stove and portable heater, I keep about 20 one-pound LP canisters, plus a couple of 20-pound LP tanks (with an adapter). I also installed a couple of solar panels (100 watts each) which can be used to recharge devices or power small appliances (it is separate from the home electrical system). Our woods can provide a virtually endless supply of firewood
What's our next step? I plan to [hire an electrician to] install a transfer switch so I can safely run the generator through the home electrical system.
Transportation/Fuel
The baseline strategy is to gas up the car whenever the fuel level drops near half a tank. A bicycle, motorcycle or moped could be handy for short trips if fuel supplies were limited. Also wise is keeping a few gallons in portable tanks to power mowers, trimmers, generators, etc., or even to cover short car trips. Where I live, most gas has ethanol added which decreases shelf-life, so stored gas needs to be used up regularly and replenished.
I personally keep about 15 gallons of gas in portable tanks, plus a few gallons of diesel for the tractor.
What's our next step? I'm considering adding about five more gallons of gasoline to my supply, and will look for ethanol-free gas next time I refill. I think it would also be very wise for me to buy a small off-road motorcycle to have a backup transportation option. I'm completely certain that my wife would be in total agreement.
Household Supplies
This is an area where my wife and I (and many others) got caught slightly flat-footed during the "shelter in place" period of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. These are certainly not as important as food and water, but they do make life more pleasant. I think it's a good idea to have a supply of soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent and other such items, sufficient to last for your chosen prepping time frame.
What's our next step? I plan to build up a 60 day supply of cleaning supplies, toiletries, hand sanitizer, trash bags and other items.
Health
What prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and first aid supplies will be needed for the chosen timeframe? Consider being prepared to treat common ailments such as colds, upset stomach, fever, allergies, etc., as well as minor injuries. Basic or even advanced first aid training could be invaluable. When obtaining needed medicines, be mindful of expiration dates and work out a rotation system so that items are not wasted.
What's our next step? We are in reasonably good shape in this area, but I'll be beefing up stocks of a few health items such as over-the-counter medications.
Maintenance/Repairs
What tools, supplies, spare parts and materials would be needed if local stores and services were unavailable? Consider being prepared to do basic repairs and maintenance to plumbing and electrical systems, automobiles and other equipment. There might be a need to do a temporary home repair or some gardening or landscape maintenance. A key component of doing maintenance and repairs is having a good workspace, whether that's a shop, garage, basement or, as in my case, a workbench under a shade tree.
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A couple of sturdy benches under a
shade tree makes a handy work area.
|
I am lacking very little in this area, thanks to generous hand-me-downs from my handyman dad, inheritances from my "jack-of-all-trades" uncle, and years of scouring yard sales, thrift stores and bargain outlets.
What's our next step? I need to purchase a few key supplies and spare parts (e.g. extra saw blades, spark plugs, oil/filters), and upgrade a couple of worn out tools. I'd also like to keep a small stash of lumber and PVC pipe. Lastly, I'm thinking that an inexpensive sewing machine would be handy.
Information/Communications
Scenarios to address would include loss of phone, cell and/or internet service. A battery powered am/fm radio and weather alert radio would be the baseline strategy. Adding a shortwave radio would be even better, giving access to current information even if a regional scale event rendered local media and communications inoperable. A ham radio (with proper training and licensing) can provide two-way communication over long distances. Inexpensive two-way radios (i.e. "walkie-talkies") would be useful for staying in touch with family members who might be in different parts of the neighborhood. In our case, we have several battery-powered am/fm radios, a battery-powered weather alert radio, and a pair of walkie-talkies.
What's our next step? I'm considering buying additional walkie-talkies that could be given to neighbors after a disruptive event so that we could all keep in touch.
Knowledge/Training
Tools, supplies and materials are useless without the knowledge of how to use them. Opportunities for learning new skills are abundant, including YouTube, on-line courses, Cooperative Extension, community colleges, and of course books and blog posts.
What's our next step? I would like to improve my first aid skills.
Personal Finance
Without a stable financial position, any disruption will be more difficult to weather. It's also obvious that obtaining supplies and equipment is a significant expense. Thus, preparations should consider personal finance strategies such as:
- Building some liquid savings
- Minimizing or eliminating debt
- Managing household expenses
What's our next step? We plan to accelerate the repayment of our mortgage.
Community
There is no doubt about the importance of self-reliance, but having strong connections with others in your neighborhood and community may be the most important component of being prepared. Those connections can enhance your security, provide access to knowledge, skills and resources you are lacking, and give you a team of helpers for a difficult task. Building those connections could happen through a church, community watch group, neighborhood association, or simply an occasional neighborhood gathering. Personally we have found great value from participating in our local Community Watch.
Getting home if stranded
How would you get home if stranded, without transportation, miles from home? Many preppers carry "get home" supplies wherever they go (usually in a bag called a...wait for it..."get home bag"). In our case, we keep such supplies in each vehicle. I'll forego further detail as this topic is covered comprehensively and effectively elsewhere, such as on The Urban Prepper YouTube channel.
Evacuation with short notice
The idea is to have supplies pre-packed in case immediate evacuation is required due to an eminent threat. In the case of wildfire, chemical spill or other scenarios, there may be little time to decide what to pack. Most preppers recommend a ready-to-go "bug out bag" packed with essential items for survival and comfort. Again, The Urban Prepper covers this topic exceptionally well.
Clearly, making preps to cover all of these areas requires a significant investment of time, money and storage space. A good starting point is to
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Here is a list of resources that may be helpful.
- http://ready.gov - References on planning and preparing for disasters and emergencies from Department of Homeland Security.
- Dave Ramsey - A 7-step approach to strengthening your financial position that makes a lot of sense to me, and seems to be broadly (albeit not universally) applicable. He has plenty of things to sell, but his podcasts are free.
- Goals for setting up a workshop (Wranglerstar YouTube video)
- Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez - This book, which I read almost 20 years ago, transformed my thinking about money.
- The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy, by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko - Another transformative read for me.
- Food Preservation website by Utah State University Extension - Get accurate, up-to-date information on canning, freezing, dehydrating, etc.
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