The New Prepper Checklist- EP 146
The New Prepper Checklist- EP 146
This Podcast is Sponsored By -
Surf Shark - https://surfshark.deals/CASUALPREPPERS
Tac Pack - www.TacPack.com
Battlbox - www.TryBattlbox.com/CasualPreppers
Use code "CASUALPREPPERS" for a discount!
Below are the show notes -
Where to begin
PERSONAL THREAT ASSESSMENT
The best place to begin is with a personal Threat Assessment
A personal threat assessment or risk analysis will do several things -
Identify Threats
Calculate Risk
Rank and Sort Risk Events
Suggest Prevention and Mitigation Tactics for Events
This will help you prioritize as you begin the preparedness process
Where should you start? Where should you put more or less efforts? How should you mitigate the risks?
A basic threat assessment will help you rank risks by probability and severity
You can find some basic templates online to help you with this
Here are some of the categories to consider as you are writing down these risks
Personal Health
Do you have chronic diseases?
Are you on a daily med?
Are you overall healthy
Do you workout
Do you require any special medical treatments
Finances
Are you living paycheck to paycheck
Do you have an emergency fund
Do you have any cash on hand
Are you preparing for retirement
Is your credit good
Employment - is it stable?
Natural Disasters/Geography
What natural disasters are prevalent in your area
Which are most likely and which are possible or probable
Do you live near a nuclear plant
Do you live near a military facility
Transportation
Do you have a long commute?
Is your vehicle in good shape?
Are you regularly driving in inclement weather?
Do you have backup transportation options
Home & Home Security
Is crime an issue?
Do you have a security plan?
Do you have smoke alarms & extinguishers
Are you prepared for power outages
Cyber Security
What is your online presence like?
Are you vulnerable to cyber attacks?
Other Possible Issues
Larger scale events like
Civil Unrest
Pandemics
Economic Collapse
Asteroid Impact
WW3
EMP
Emergency Plan
An emergency plan is a great initial step into prepping
I’ve talked about it a million times, but its critical
After you have done the threat assessment, the emergency plan will help you plan for an emergency
You will use your threat assessment information
It will help you and your family to know what action items you each have in an emergency
I like the one from Red Cross, but there are lots online
Basic slow goals first (72hrs and 2 weeks)
Ready.gov and homeland security recommends everyone to have at least 72 hour kits. 72 hours of food water and supplies to keep you safe and comfortable.
Primarily food and water, and this is a very doable goal. It can be done in likely less than an hour, and you will still have an advantage over most.
Focus on family members each having 72 hour kits
Advantage to 72 hour kits is that they are mostly portable. Can be added to a bag (more on this later) or easily thrown into a vehicle if you need to leave. Why they need to be a focus.
Then your ultimate goal overall if you do any slightly more difficult goal this year, STORE 2 weeks worth of food water for you and your family AT HOME. It can be a lot. For my family that's 70 gallons of water. 100-140k calories. So yeah its a much bigger goal but HUGE in self sustainment
These are the two goals I would aim for in the beginning.
General Health-fitness-self defense
Fitness and health are so critical, but are often overlooked as you begin prepping
Being healthy and physically fit will help you be more prepared, but will also improve almost every other aspect of your everyday life
This doesn't mean that you need to be an obsessed CrossFit champ or a vegan food nutritionist youtube influencer
Basic fitness and some basic nutrition will go a long way
If a SHTF event occurs, and you are unable to walk a mile with a pack, it's gonna get rough
Being unhealthy is a daily risk and will make your prepping that much harder - medical bills can rack up, you can feel sick and tired all the time, can’t prep much when you feel like shit
Doing your best to get rid of some avoidable or preventable diseases will make you better prepared - obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension - sometimes they can’t be exercised away, but sometimes they can
Eating healthy foods, getting good sleep and getting regular exercise is critical
Your body needs to be ready to take on the stress of an emergency situation
Make a plan. Make it simple. Make it achievable
For working out, find something that you enjoy and if you can, find a buddy. Work on strength, mobility and stamina. Don't be hyper focused on being the strongest man in the apocalypse. All that muscle will probably just slow you down.
With eating healthy, be realistic and make it a lifestyle, not a diet
Get rid of those bad habits - smoking, chewing, vaping, daily 294 ounce sodas
Consider vitamins and supplements
We will also add in self defense here
Self defense is a critical part of staying safe everyday as well as in high stress, emergency situations
Find a place to learn the basics, and repeat the training as often as you can, taking one self defense class and calling it good isn’t going to be super helpful
Look into self defense weapons as well
Water
Crucial to life. Cant go long at all without it. 3 days maybe.
Its bulky and takes up a lot of room to store
Avg person uses 101 gallons per day
Goal of 1 gallon per person per day roughly 15 gallons per person per day for 2 week supply
55 gallon drums are great, keeps light and growth out, easy to store and use
Have readily accessible water, and also ways to treat and filter it just incase and if you require more you will be ready to prepare it.
Filters, purifier drops, pots and means to cook or boil incase loss of power and gas.
Food
This is usually the first thing people go for when they start prepping
But, usually it's the 25 year shelf life food
I’d start with that 2 week supply of regular, non perishable pantry food
Canned goods, freezer food, the stuff you eat weekly
Rotate that out as you consume it
If you don’t have a larger freezer, work to purchase one
This is usually a great start
Then work yourself up to the 25 year shelf life food
Finances
Likely one of the main disruptions people are likely to face. Whether it be job loss, pandemic shut down, loss of banks and access to ATMs, cards rendered useless, money isn't available.
over 50% of Americans can’t handle an unexpected $500 emergency - WITHOUT need for credit card - shockingly sad
I've known many people, where when they didn't get your weekly check because holiday or issues, they cant afford gas to work.
If you are that person, besides food and water THIS needs to be your main goal to create an EMERGENCY FUND
If it can be in readily available cash, this is best, not in dogecoin
Emergency funds typically should be smaller usable bills, accessible and coverage for ATLEAST 3 months - ideally 6 months
Useful for everyday life issues not just a prepper SHTF scenario
Some think ah well if SHTF happens my financial woes are over and I dont have to worry about money, debt and bills - wrong
Peace with financial planning and security that sets up a person in being self reliant
Also you got to buy that food and water ahead of time to store not just day to day
Also don't spend what you don't have to get nonessential items. If you are in a pinch and just get food and water on credit, this would be the ONLY exception. Otherwise don't go into debt to prep with all the gear you want or buy super expensive food storage. Be wise.
DOCUMENTS - Do you have a will, life insurance, beneficiaries, home insurance, retirement plan, savings etc. All part of prepping for REAL WORLD scenarios, backup drives, photos, deeds etc - get it all prepared, stored with backups in other locations
Cooking/food prep supplies
Sometimes in an emergency situation, your normal methods of cooking aren't available
Work to have several alternate methods to cook food and heat water
Having a regular propane BBQ grill is a great start with some extra propane on hand at all times
A smaller camp stove is great as well with the smaller propane bottles
Even having a way to start a fire in your backyard and cook over a campfire
Also make sure to have some extra seasonings, oil and other cooking supplies prepared
Lighting
Power grid is fragile, lights will go out
Consider quality lighting devices for safety and comfort
Focus on 3 types, hand held, headlamp, and home lighting options
Make sure you have means to recharge them
Have them easily accessible
Consider building a black out box, near you and your family to get to in the dark that has lighting
Flashlights, candles, survival candles, lighter, batteries, maybe even a charged battery backup
Energy
Having power in a situation where there is none available from regular sources can be lifesaving
If the power goes out in the dead of winter, and you can’t heat your house, you could be in trouble
Also you could lose all of your refrigerated or frozen food
Just keeping devices charged is a huge benefit as well
Work to get some ways to power, charge and run devices you need
A generator is a key prep, but may not be feasible right away
Small battery backup banks are usually priced low enough that its worth putting at the top of your list
You can get small devices that will hold a charge and can power or recharge your phones, tablets and radios
Find one that uses solar as well and your are even that much better
Fire and heat
Work on means to stay warm, cook, sterilize and decontaminate water
Lighters are cheap and useful, buy a few cheap and quality
Waterproof matches
Fuel and kindling
Wood burning stoves
Mr. Buddy - propane
Solo stove, Biolite camp stove,
Comms
Communication is key for survival and preparedness
The first step in this is the emergency plan
Your emergency plan will also spell out much of how you will communicate during a crisis
Your first line of comms is usually your cell phones
Obviously have those available at all times and keep them charged.
Also have a way to charge them if they die
Other lines of comms you can start to work on are - 2 ways, CB, HAM
Also, after cell phones, I believe the next most important comm is your emergency radio
Have one that has 3 way charging available - solar, battery and crank
One of the easiest things you can do is apps on your phone
Early communication when an event is coming is one of the most important things
Sign up with your local emergency management offices app if they have one
FEMA, Red Cross and others have apps that you can have alert you when bad storms, other natural disasters, pandemics or other major events are hitting your area
Hygiene/Sanitation/Health
Quick way to get sick, dental issues, lack of medical care
Feminine hygiene products
Toilet paper
Plastic bags
5 gallon buckets
Cat liter, wood chips
Laundry soaps, Coby's family has been storing used containers filled with water, stuff is very concentrated and can go a long way to clean
Clorox
Toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, body wash
Consider all you use now daily, and add it to your 2 week supply unopened
FAK
Daily meds - RX backup FIRST if your life depends on it - ask for 90 days
Useful OTC meds like Tylenol, allergy, ibuprofen, stomach meds, constipation meds
DIY kits are best then you know what you have and better quality like Band-Aids that stick, gauze wraps, ointments, ace bandages
Possibly suture kit if you know or willing to learn or know someone that could help you if you have the supplies
Entertainment
An often overlooked action item with new preppers is entertainment for short or long term emergencies
A lot of time during an emergency will be spent waiting or hunkering down
You need to keep your spirits up and your minds occupied as to not lose your shit
Especially if you have children
If the power is out for a long period, and you cant keep devices charged, you’ll need alternate methods of keeping entertained
Look for books, board or card games, sports balls, musical instruments and anything else you like
Clothing/Weather preps
You may have to go through winter or blazing hot summer with no heaters or AC
May have to travel out in it
Do you have proper clothing for you and your family to do this
Hats
Gloves
Light clothing to wick away moisture
Layering for winter
Proper footwear - especially if you have to leave and live in it and hike in it
Blankets and tents - can pitch one indoors and all stay warm in one central room
Plastic or Visqueen, block out all drafts
Why we never seem to throw out blankets - can be walls, bedding, storm blankets for windows, privacy
EDC
In my opinion, this has been one of my most useful and used preparedness items
EDC means EVERY DAY CARRY
This is gear you have with you every single day that may or may not be used
Typical EDC items are - knives, watches, phones, FAK’s, Flashlight, fire starting gear, water, food, usb charger, water filter, mask, gloves, tactical pen, paper, wallet, keys, multitool
This can be carried on you, or in a pack
I do a little of both
I have a larger EDC pack in my vehicle at all times
That way I can throw it on in an emergency or I have the items close by when they are needed
But I always have a knife, wallet and phone on me
Kits - EDC, BOB, GHB, VEHICLE
Now that you have all the bug in or home a local preps that will most likely come into play, consider your worst case scenario plans
If you are at work, need to get home, do you have a reliable vehicle to get you home, possible around road blocks?
No engine lights or errors
Good quality tires
Oil changed
Half full tank at least always
Maybe it is a bug out vehicle or both
Consider one for more rugged off-road use to a safer location - and most important can it get you there
Do you have a vehicle/ghb kit which consists of items to help incase you are stranded in that vehicle or cant carry the EDC items on you at work
Knife
Footwear
Gas can
Vehicle tools
Food and water
Clothing
Battery backup
jumpers
BOB
Your bag/kit to allow you to survive 72 hours on your own
Build one for you and each of your family members
Water, filters, food
Clothing change
Gear -knife, fire starter, comms, shelter, lighting
Maps
Cordage - shelter building and repair items
INCH
More sophisticated all inclusive bag to live away from home for an indefinite amount of time
This is a big durable bag with a lot of items to stay away for a longer time
Lots of work as you want to only pack the most useful needed gear
A lot is similar to BOB but more details as you may be weeks out your own
