I’m so overwhelmed and don’t know where to start
Posted by mythpoto@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 92 comments
I don’t have anything prepared yet. Not even a simple emergency kit. I’m panicked because I have nothing and I feel severe circumstances are heading our way in the US. I’m panicked thinking about food, water, a potential energy source, maintaining life long term, etc. I feel like I don’t have long to prep and am overwhelmed thinking of where to start.
Individual_Run8841@reddit
Consider carefully wich bad things are most likely going to happen…
-loss of income hours / maybe complete Job loss
-Unexpected high expenses / Car repairs etc.
-a Fire at your Home
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Home_Fire/FireFAQs.pdf
Working Smokedetector’s and Fire Extinguisher’s at hand could be good to have
Than consider wich natural Desaster are the most likely to happen in your Area ?
Look up wich one happens already in your area or somewhat nearby in the last 200 years?
Maybe a Flooding, Wildfire, Icestorm?
What are need to respond to them
-Loss of Job and income
Make sure to have a Emergency Fund or working forwards it to have all Monthly Expenses for at least 3 Monats better 6 Months covered…
-Loss of Utilities; Power, Water, Heating/cooling for whatever reason
-you can’t go shopping, maybe the Streets impassable or some kind of Civil Unrest wich may better to be avoided
Store enough Food for on Week, things you like and wich you can consume if Utilities are down
If you prefer hot food, a must in colder times, think about something like a small camping stove and some fuel for it
Store enough drinking Water for all Family Member and Pet‘s for at least a Week
If Water Utilities are down, because most of us can store only a limited amount of Water, the next good thing would be considering a Waterfilter, and the knowledge were to get Water nearby and how, You don’t won’t fall in the pond…
Have a FirstAid Kid that it is not expired, make sure to have your and your beloved ones personally needed Medikation stocked at hand
Maybe buy a First Aid Book like „Were there is no Doctor“ currently in the 50 Anniversary Edition Wich i believe is the 102 print run in English, of course it is in 85 other languages available
The pdf are free available on the website of the publisher https://hesperian.org
https://languages.hesperian.org
I stored this on my phone and tablet, (not in some cloud wich may or may not be accessible) also bought the German Version as Hardcopy because i consider this knowledge could become important in case of a longer ongoing emergency situation
Flashlight and Lantern’s s spare Batteries for a Week or extra Accu.
Maybe a Solarpanel to recharge them and smaller Devices like your phone.
Toiletries, enough Toiletpaper, Toothpaste, Babywipes for example as a kind of emergency shower and so on
Go in Steps,
don’t try to be prepping for Everything at once, go methodical about this, everything reasonably need for one Week,
than for two Week’s,
than slowly build your Stock of essential Thing you need, up to your desired Amount of time,
The more food and Water you stock, the more important become the rotation to make sure nothing goes bad, first in first out
On the bright side, building a deep pantry, allows you to buy food you and your beloved ones like often at sales.
For example if you like to eat three cans of tuna, maybe one’s every two weeks,wich comes down to 26x3=78 for One year. If you buy said 78 cans at a sales, wich will last you with your average consumption a year.
I try to restock something like that, only when the are available at some good sales
When shopping always look carefully for the best before date
For canned tuna it is up to four years, wich would theoretically allow to buy 302 cans, none of them would go bad if consumption rate stays normal.
(Wich means also, the Family will not groan, tuna again really? Food fatigue is a thing)
This means most likely also to beat the inflation rate at least a bit, because surly they will become more expensive
This could be done with all food, you and your family like, depending on your budget and storage space.
I personally believe this concept of a „deep pantry“ save most likely some money in the long run
Of course one must make sure to storing everything save from Bugs/Rodents, Moisture, high temperatures and also big Temperature Fluktuationen‘s
And the food wich expire first, must always be consumed first, to make sure nothing goes bad; „first in first out“
If you satisfied with your preparations you can think about wich of your Things is essential and consider to get a backup,
for example I personally consider Waterfilter’s and Stove’s the most important pieces of Prepping Equipment so I bought after a long wile (available money is always Limited) backups for these…
You got this
Greetings from Berlin
P.s.
A Mindgame, consider what happens if there is;
no power for a week,
no Water for a Week,
no Heating for a Week,
no Groceries shopping for a Week
For whatever reason
And the big one what if all above happens at the same time ?
Take also stock what kind of equipment household items you already own, wich could be used in different situation like for example what and how these things could be useful in these scenarios.
If you have a working flashlight, you don’t need a fancy new one, if you have a toolset, you don’t need a new multi tool.
Then consider what improvements should be made, what is really important and not at hand?
…
Do an inventory of your house.
If you had to stay in your house for 2 weeks without utilities could you do it?
Do you have enough food in the house?
Do you have enough water to clean yourself, dishes, to drink and to cook?
If it was winter, could you stay warm?
If it was summer, could you stay cool?
Can you cook food without utilities?
Do you have enough artificial light to move around safely?
Could you entertain yourself without your cell phone, TV, gaming systems?
So inventory your home and family and then think what ist beside the first aid kit you identified is more missing
i40oz@reddit
Get some non perishable food and water, stack up a bit each week, it will add up.
6849@reddit
For lazy preppers like me, I recommend keeping track of the household items you use most often and setting up Amazon subscriptions to receive them faster than you consume them. Each month, I get essentials like soap, cleaning spray, disinfecting wipes, and toilet paper. After a year, my pantry and garage rafters are stocked. People laughed at me for this—until COVID hit. I had enough toilet paper to last eight months and even gave some to my parents when they were running low.
Superb_Direction1423@reddit
You most be kidding about paper towels….😆🤣
ArcyRC@reddit
Something that helps me: remember you're not prepping for the rest of your life. You're prepping for an extended power outage or other loss of infrastructure. Grab some rice and beans and solar-charged lanterns which can also charge your phone (like Luminaid) and you're already going to be miles ahead of 99% of people.
Squirrels do it one acorn at a time. And from time to time they update their stash.
davidm2232@reddit
I feel like that's not 'prepping' though. Any responsible person is going to have enough supplies for a week or 2 without power. It's a pretty normal thing. To me, prepping is about being ready for doomsday.
thebeakman@reddit
NO ONE will be ready for doomsday. Period. Even with enough supplies in theory, you won't make it. Why? Most can't handle the stress, the depression, and the hopelessness. A huge percentage of medical issues can't be handled by amateurs. Those WITH sufficient preps will become the target of those who do not. Don't think you can take them on, not indefinitely. They'll keep coming in larger and larger groups, and more ruthlessly.
Can you make it through a civil war? Perhaps. But true TEOTWAWKI? Nope.
ArcyRC@reddit
I meant 'extended' in terms of months. Like some people after Hurricane Katrina or Superstorm Sandy or Texas ice storms.
Doomsday prepping is definitely about prepping for doomsday. "Prepping" is just prepping for all kinds of emergencies, or maybe just one type to start.
And prepping for one scenario is the first step toward prepping for two or more scenarios (including the different types of doomsdays)
edgiestnate@reddit
Do you have a specific brand or link of durable solar or crank combo lanterns with a battery? I can only find the cheap amazon brand.
No-Translator-4584@reddit
Tuesday not Doomsday.
Which around here is a snow storm that knocks out the power.
BeastBellyDweller@reddit
I lost power this morning for 58 minutes. My hoa facebook page tells me society is doomed.
Prestigious-Copy-494@reddit
I never see powdered milk on the lists but it's good to have that in the prepper supplies. It's surprisingly better tasting now.
infinitum3d@reddit
Fitness and Knowledge are free, weightless, always with you and can’t be stolen from your bag.
Focus on getting healthy/strong. Walk. Climb stairs. Build endurance. Stretch. Eat right. Quit soda pop and choose water.
Make yourself valuable to a society.
Learn CPR, first aid, and basic life support. Maybe take a lifeguard course.
Learn what wild edibles you can forage. Every region has them. Get a local Field Guide to Wild Edibles and see what is near you.
Get a bike. If you have to travel, a bike is far easier and faster than walking. Learn how to maintain it and repair it when something breaks.
Get a partner, friend, buddy who has a skill you don’t. Then learn a skill that they don’t have. One person alone can’t do everything.
Don’t stress.
You got this.
TheRealBunkerJohn@reddit
Check out the new prepper's resource guide (Pinned on the main sub page.) You also should be getting a welcome message with the same/additional resources.
When in doubt, start with ready.gov/kit and what they suggest.
zorionek0@reddit
I can’t recommend the ready.gov site enough!
infiltrateoppose@reddit
Yes - start with planning on a week long self-sufficient camping trip in your house.
faco_fuesday@reddit
So panic buy a full set of body armor when I can't run a mile or walk one with a 10 lb pack gotcha.
Down2EarthGirth@reddit
Yes, who needs a spare can opener when you have 2,000 rounds of .556 and a sbr.
faco_fuesday@reddit
Well I can obviously shoot the cans open so checkmate libruls
ImportantBad4948@reddit
Wear shoes you can walk in and carry a decent amount of cash. Then the basic kits on ready gov. A couple guns.
Huge_Wonder5911@reddit
Stop and take a nice deep breath. First rule in a disaster, try to control the things you can first, like your breathing, heart rate, etc. you can’t control the events and you need to keep a level head. Try to plan for most likely contingencies but you realize that you won’t be able to plan for everything. Example: western North Carolina would never be thinking hurricane… Start by organizing the things that will kill/harm you first. 1. Exposure/weather. Make finding appropriate shelter your immediate priority and have a plan. 2. Water source. Priority is drinking. You can always skip bathing for a bit, etc. (I recommend a few packs of baby wipes to substitute for a while). I recommend you get some to store at home 3: food. High calorie items first. Then go for nutrients. That big Costco jar of peanut M&M’s? Go for it… 4: light sources/heat sources and clothes/toiletries 5+ (depends on the circumstances) protection/first aid/communications Lastly: boredom items, etc, especially if you have kids
And get in/stay in shape: you can definitely control that. And the better your baseline function is, the longer you can last
Prep for one day first, then 72 hours, then one week, etc… And make friends
d00n3r@reddit
If this helps, with every grocery shopping trip, I grab an extra gallon or 3 of water, and a couple extra cans of food. This, along with batteries, flashlights, candles, and a first aid kit would go a long way. Food and water, a good place to start.
BooptyDo@reddit
THIS. This is how you start. I began by putting 1 item from 3 categories into my cart: 1. Non-perishable food 2. Health/Body care (soap, toothpaste, toilet paper) and 3. Hardware (batteries, light bulbs, charcoal, etc) I bought 2 under bed storage containers and began stocking up.
If money is an issue, and it often is, go to a food bank. They always give shelf stable stuff, and it's better than nothing.
Worth_Specific8887@reddit
Dried beans and rice are pretty cheap.
chris_rage_is_back@reddit
Prep for Tuesday, not doomsday... think of what you're missing if you were trapped in a storm and go from there. Easy things to stock up on are pasta, sauce, rice, water, soap, drink mix, and the basics. Then worry about water filtration and weapons
Porkbrains-@reddit
Turn off your TV and get off of your social media. You’ll be ok.
Tim_Bersau@reddit
I wouldn't say that you have "plenty of time", but I think you have more time than you expect, especially if you start right now.
The saving grace is that the majority of Americans truly believe that salvation is coming. So things really aren't flying off the shelves right now like they honestly should be. There's a bit of chatter at the average person level over tariffs & the hypothetical increase of the all-important cost of eggs- but that's about it.
I was basically in the same boat; a month ago I had basically nothing but over the course of a few weeks I've gotten together a pretty formidable game plan, basically unopposed. At least compared to the craziness of the start of the pandemic which caught me completely off guard with how fast we went to limits on canned goods per-person.
Mysterious_Touch_454@reddit
Knife, firemaking tools, metal cup (for boiling drinks) and backpack.
MouseionHypatia777@reddit
Been there. Three days prep to start. We made it thru Hurricane Helene and Milton with just three days of stuff.
A case water 32 bottles Sams Club $5.98.
A double bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol Sam’s Club $6.98. An alcohol stove Amazon from about $11.00 to $35.00 depending on material it is made from (titanium best and most expensive). A metal camping cup again $5.00-$30.00.
That’s it. Basic, basic kit. Sat outside in the breeze and cleaned debris watching double-hitched semis haul debris away and Boiled water in cup and made coffee, soup, hot water for tea, etc. Locked up at night with no windows open (looters) and used cardboard from Amazon box to fan ourselves with.
Add on bit by bit and upgrade as you can afford it. We have a lot of prep stuff we never even took off the shelf. If you get freeze-dried meals I highly recommend mountain house we have tried all of the brands and these are the best. Buy one meal and eat it. Some meals are blah, some are yummy. Do not buy a bunch without eating one first. Try to center yourself and relax. Enjoy being.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
You're new, so welcome.
Like I always say, the most common "SHTF situation" revolves around an extended Power Outage. If you can prepare for that, you're prepared for 80% of SHTF situations.
I would recommend you check my post about preparing for a Power Outage and work on building a three week supply of shelf stable food.
Accurate-Mess-2592@reddit
You can live (although weak and miserable) without food for three weeks, but three days without water, you're dead. Water should be your number 1 prep.
phillip7456@reddit
no offense but is that in the desert, true? im barely drinking 500ml a day and forgotten some days to drink at all. here where i live i'll add we can live 3 weeks on little to no water and months without food, ;) so i believe its up to ones self to know when and what u usually drink or eat if a shtf moment comes u wont be going to the gym and eating 1/2 a cow for lunch
6849@reddit
Is 500ml a typo? How are you even functional on that? Maybe you're getting additional water through foods that are high in water content?
For one or maybe two days, I can see 500ml to not be impossible as I've done it, but by day three, you'd have to be chugging water to make up the difference.
Accurate-Mess-2592@reddit
Water is critical not just for physical performance but also mental judgement. After 36-48 hours without water you're not going to be able to function or make good decisions
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
You're correct. This is mentioned in the post I linked to.
GCI_Arch_Rating@reddit
As much stored as possible with the ability to filter or treat even more.
bbrosen@reddit
Small steps..next grocery purchase and those thereafter, buy extra 2 or 3 canned/jar goods that you already buy. Tuna, beans, vegetables. Buy extra batteries for devices you may have that use them..extra case of bottle water. Thats how you can start right now and not over whelm yourself.
next think about back up power/ lighting needs..decide what you are prepping for and slowly build your supplies. It wont take long and soon after it will become second nature what to get, how much and when...
6849@reddit
Take a deep breath. Start with the basics: get a week's worth of food and water (1 gallon/person/day). Freeze-dried food is a great option for long shelf life—easy and convenient. Don’t forget a portable gas stove and stockpile fuel canisters for cooking. Add a flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, and a way to stay warm. Include a portable solar panel (like SunJack) and a power bank for energy. Keep all important documents in one place for quick access.
jumpkickjones@reddit
Stop.
Breathe.
Pick one thing you think you'll need. Grab it on the next trip to the grocery store.
Then relax.
Pick another thing you think you'll need. Grab it on the subsequent trip.
Then relax.
Get an interesting self sufficiency book. If you want a recommendation- I like "Making the Best of Basics" from 1977. Has a little bit of everything.
Don't compare yourself to folks on the internet and what they've said they did. Huge gap between what folks say they've done and what they've actually done. No need to throw money at "stuff".
JenFMac@reddit
Deep breaths. A simple scenario to think of is “what would I need if I couldn’t leave the house for supplies for 2 weeks.” This will help focus your mind a bit. -What do we want to eat? How will we prepare it? (A propane camp stove would be a perfect and inexpensive first step). -Water: How many people in your home x 1 gallon of water per person x 14 days. -What medication or over the counter meds would we need? -What will we do to stay warm (or cool). And some simple preps you can do now- never let your vehicle gas tanks go below half a tank, keep up on laundry etc. You got this!
EverVigilant1@reddit
Well - first, calm down
Second: Before you go spending a lot of money, stop and think. What are you prepping for? Why are you doing this? What "severe circumstances are heading our way in the US"? Answer those questions for yourself, and you'll know what to do and what to get.
As for me, I am in the Midwest. We have hot summers with severe weather. We have cold winters with sometimes severe weather; and of late, arctic polar vortices that produce cold snaps in the -10 to -20 F range for a few days. We also have had the Covid era product shortages. We can't rely on public transportation, we need our cars. We also have had economic downturns. Civil unrest, not so much.
So I prep for the following, in roughly this order
--severe weather impairing travel or making travel impossible and possibly producing temporary days-long power outages
--vehicle readiness: Car is ready to travel at least 100 miles without stopping at all times; at least 1/2 gas tank full; with a get home bag stocked with supplies; and extra fluids and survival tools
--economic hardship/job loss
--supply chain problems/product shortages
--civil unrest
I think every prepper should start with:
--secure shelter
--water: enough for each person and animal to make it 3 weeks without going to the store. Work up to storing as much as you can.
--nonperishable, shelf stable food: Again, 3 weeks for everyone. Work up to storing as much as you can. Start by buying a little extra at the store each time you go, and rotate through it.
--emergency blankets for warmth
--extra shoes, socks, and underwear
--firestarters: BIC lighters and tinder/kindling like dryer lint
--alternate heat source: Mr. Buddy propane heater or electric space heaters
SurprisedWildebeest@reddit
Start with water, then food. Those are literally the two things you can’t live without, in order.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
Take a deep breath. Let it out. Do something relaxing. Go outside and touch some grass. Stop doomscrolling on the Internet.
Once you're relaxed, start thinking about prepping. Don't come at it from the standpoint that you need to be prepped for nuclear armageddon tomorrow. Start small and work towards that as maybe an eventual goal. But if you are prepared for the things that are much more likely to happen, then getting prepared for the things that aren't likely to happen (but are still remotely possible) is a short step.
You really want to have a detached, logical mindset when doing this kind of thing.
Don't be scared. When you're scared, you're going to make mistakes, prioritizing things that shouldn't be, and not prioritizing things that you should.
OthalaFehu@reddit
Take a few deep breaths
Brain-Importance80s@reddit
If you have pets, don’t forget to prep for them too. It’s pretty basic but easily forgotten when there is so much else to think about.
DeFiClark@reddit
A very simple way to get started:
Food: keep your grocery lists for a month. Any long store foods you buy (rice, pasta etc.) pick up a double of one or two next time you go shopping. Look at long store alternatives for perishables (eg lemon juice for lemons) and put that on your next list. If you shop once a week you’ll have 52 items in your pantry. Then start pulling from the pantry as you run out and replace the item on your next list. This way you don’t end up with “emergency food” you don’t eat
Water: Plastic soda bottles, glass screw top bottles are reusable. If you don’t live where there’s earthquake risk, glass is great.
Then as others have suggested ready.gov and the newbie links
BossVision_ram@reddit
You should really start by watching the 5 stages of tacticool on YouTube. It’s an important video to put aside this feeling you’re overwhelmed and can buy the correct gear to get rid of all your concerns.
Just knock out the basics and understand what is possible and then go back to having a good day.
gtzbr478@reddit
It can be overwhelming, but it’s better to start late than not be prepared at all!
Think about the most likely issue short-term and make a list of what you’d need. Start there.
Go with your reality and means, one step at a time.
You got this 👊
Cute-Consequence-184@reddit
In general have 3 weeks food in your house.
Updated fire alarms with fresh batteries.
Updated CO detector with fresh batteries.
Have a way to cook during power outages. Again normal proper stuff. But even an outside grill will work in an emergency. Yes you can go several days without food in an emergency unless there are certain medical conditions but why would you want to?
Have a way to stay warm if it gets cold. Long johns, wool coats, wool socks, wool mittens, a good hat.
A wool blanket helps a lot over a sheet on the bed when it is very cold.
Have a way to filter water in a boil water advisory. It is also good to have at least a 2-4 days worth of drinking water on hand in an emergency in case it take you a while to set up a filter.
Have a way to get news in an emergency like a battery powered emergency radio. So you know there is a boil water advisory.
Have Headlamps for power outages, room lights are nice too.
phillip7456@reddit
dehumidifier( water collection) and then storage, buckets barrels etc, j style rocket heater stove, bic lighters, torch and candles, matches and flint starters, notice i put 3 -4 items in that do the same thing? and to add another add glycerine and condys crystals together but keep them in back to back coke or pepsi caps, quiet inverter based generator on taking a low dc voltage and increasing to ac power then when u run out of fuel to run the generator u can use your wood gasifier then when theres no more wood it can be still used riding a bike dc generator made from a fisher and paykel washing machine motor fed into the low dc side see thinking multiple levels ahead always. watch mosquito coast with harrison ford. lol u start with items that can be used and reused and repurposed over and over again. watch mike adams. look at no power options then add low power items and if money is enough then add a few powered items to make things easy for a while. like ive seen a pull cord bowl mixed / blender no power option. think of 12/18v cordless battery powering backup lighting in the house separate dc circuit power goes out click the battery at the front door flick switches in each room for dc leds lighting, big help in the dark. ormus making u might want to drink this instead of eating for a bit then think limitless movie. barry carter gardens. cheap seeds stash of things u eat, look up shivansh. water filtering 0.01micron. milwakee dc fan. some tools to fix things with.
TheLostExpedition@reddit
Calm down. That's step 1. Panicking gets you nowhere fast.
You should already have a dry rice and dry beans, also several gallons of water jugs set aside in a dark room.
Step 2, get a 2 weeks supply of food and a 1st aid kit. (Learn how to use the aid kit)
Step 3. Gather Medications: preventative medicine, iodine, salt, salts a big one.
Chestlookeratter@reddit
It's all political theater. Nothing is going to happen
petrus4@reddit
- Canned fish. Whatever kind you like. My favourite is mackerel.
- If you don't want to go all the way on the grain/legume idea, my minimal recommendations are wheat flour, coconut flour, whole oats, and rice. Coconut flour gives you substitutes for both milk and cream, and oats have just as much versatility as rice or pasta. Wheat flour gives you the entire constellation of baking, but you should minimally know how to make hardtack and roux, if nothing else. Almond flour are also recommended, as is experimenting with barley, quinoa, millet, chickpeas, legumes, adzuki beans, etc.
I am neither vegan myself, nor seeking to convert anyone, but I still believe that vegan cuisine should be thoroughly investigated by preppers, because most of its' ingredients are very long term shelf stable. You'd also be surprised by how good some of it is. I'll happily put fake bacon on the same barbecue as the real thing.
- Canned fruit; peaches, pears, fruit salad.
- Bulk olive oil. A single 3 liter can will probably keep a single person going for a while, but IMHO you should always have olive oil available.
As a general principle, first learn to enjoy foods that have very low perishability, (dry grains, legumes, canned stuff as mentioned) and then make sure you constantly have a maximum of two weeks' worth available, at any given point in time. Do the same for toilet paper, and whatever other household goods you need.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
What you're feeling is not uncommon. Sometimes when folks realize there is a need to prep, they feel (or understand) that they are vulnerable, and quickly become overwhelmed.
It helped me to start organizing my thoughts. I have a spreadsheet with different tabs that started as a wish list, now it's an inventory (and still a wish list). As an example, I have tabs for water, food, first aid, home security/self defense, pet prep, estate planning/will, communications, insurance, alt power, evacuation kit, go bags... and quite a few more. I have a tab that I use just to record and organize helpful prepping websites/videos and books, and one with materials I print and put in a binder. Those wishlists helped me look over what I wanted/needed and prioritize. Yes, trying to develop all that right now be overkill for a beginner, but get your thoughts and concerns down somewhere. Maybe even a tab (or list or whatever makes sense to you) for risk assessment where you just list out your concerns.
Only you can decide what your priorities are, and they should be based on your biggest risks... which are different for everyone depending on age, health and location. I'm a numbers gal and I believe my biggest risks (statistically) are car accident, home fire or flood (internal), home invasion, illness/injury, loss of income, bad air quality (we get a lot of wildfires in my area, and air quality is an issue.) That's followed by need to evacuate and earthquake. Other possibilities are less likely... but even so a a lot of prep items overlap. For example, while I think war or civil unrest affecting my immediate safety personally is low, prepping for home invasion, first aid, air quality and power outages covers a lot of how you'd prep for SHTF anyway... you still need home defense, food, water, alt power, alt cooking/heating, ect.
Just figure what your biggest concerns are and start from there. But if you take any of my advice... keep an inventory as you go! You may think you'll remember if you bought those flashlights, how many batteries you have and about how many calories... and how many pounds/servings of each type of food you have... and where everything is stored.. but after a few months of buying as you can, let alone years, you won't.
TheGOODSh-tCo@reddit
Make a list and prioritize. Add what you can afford to weekly groceries and supplies slowly. It’s a slow climb.
RedYamOnthego@reddit
Start with a big piece of paper, a pencil, and a case of water. Can't go wrong with that!
Next, list the three most likely emergency scenarios that could happen in the next six months. Don't overthink it! Just write it down.
Next, write down three preps you could do for each scenario this week. Do them.
Next week, buy a notebook or binder, and dedicate several empty pages to scenarios. Write down a "table of contents" listing all the possible scenarios you could have for your area.
Go back to your three most likely scenarios. Read what the government suggests you do about each. In the US, state and county extension agents often have fabulous advice for your area. Start listing things you need for those scenarios.
Buy some soup in cans or retort pouches, some crackers, and more water if you need it.
Set three study goals for next week, and slowly go from there.
BTW, the first three problems that come to my mind are an earthquake with a week-long power outage, avian flu in humans, and world-wide economic problems. There are more I could think of, but I can only really prep for one thing at a time. I'll probably work on making & freezing bone broth next week, and healthy meals to keep us in tip-top shape.
Certain-Lingonberry8@reddit
If you look around, people have Xmas lights up, and going about their lives. All's well. I went into prep mode after the recent hurricanes. This is what I got, feel better. $400 or so
Food: cous cous, quinoa, rice noodles, canned beans/ veggies/. soups( these are stupid $$, but sale BOGet one occurred) packaged veggie stock. Knorr dehydrated foods. Coffee( French press) tea./ Dark chocolate. Salt, sugar, pepper.
Water: bottles, always collected rainwater for plants ( hasn't rained here in months) now watching desalination techniques. Lack of water had me switch away from rice. /Get boxed premade veggie stock.
Fire: starters. ( cotton balls/ Vaseline) butane little cans/ propane tank. Collect kindling/ wood
Cook: KELLY KETTLE!! Back pack stove, Coleman grill.
Warmth: foil space blankets, heated battery blanket, down blanket. Hot water bottle,Had tent/ sleeping bags. Solar shower , cold weather gear.
Power: solar chargers two. One with radio and crank. Solar lights, candles. No generator for us. Seemed overkill my electric bill is 30$ now.
Meds: kit, new glasses, year of contacts, masks.
Community: my neighbors/ family prepped too. Some not so much.
Defense? We are fit and healthy. If things go Mad Max? We light everything up, burn it all, and go surfing until we can't! ( Not a joke!
We feel better anyway. One month prepper here!
Sales! Those soups are expensive. Sodium!! I'm hoping I never eat them.
spacemanspliff__@reddit
When I get overwhelmed I like to take a step back and think in terms of "x days". As in: say you have to stay at home and can't make use of any utilities (water, electricity, gas, Internet): how many days can you manage? I'd advise to start with an aim for 7 days.
Once you're sure you can manage 7 days you can move that number up, or start thinking about more specific prep scenario's, if you wish. But even at 7 days you'll be much better prepared than most people.
blackmirrorlight@reddit
Start small with something fun like your EDC and daily rucksack, and coping with power blackouts, and then gradually expand over years. There’s no use in panicking.
kozak3@reddit
Start now and do small steps. Little by little you will get to the place that you will consider safe enough. I live with constant power outages and bombs falling for few years now, you will be impressed how resilient you can be
9n223@reddit
Well, let's start with the basics. Food, water and shelter.
Food - buy a few extra cans every time you go grocery shopping. Also, check restaurant suppliers online and buy bulk from them. It'll be a lot cheaper.
Water - buy a couple of cases a week. Within a months time, you'll have 8 cases, and that will last one person a month or so depending on how many bottles there are. Also, get a couple of sawyer minis.
Shelter- Sadley, we can't all have bunkers. So your house or apartment will have to do unless you have friends or family not far away that you can bug out to. Find ways to defend your humble abode.
Knock these things down one by one, and you'll be ok for a lot of different circumstances. Also just a friendly reminder, prepare for doomsday but live for Tuesday. Theres no need to get yourself worked up. An emotional mind will be the end of you.
LowkeyAcolyte@reddit
Take a deep breath.
I like to make lists, as that's what helps me. I would advise that you start making lists of short term, medium term and long term prepping goals.
For example:
Short term: Go to your local shooting range tomorrow and sign up for classes.
Medium term: Take an list of what you use in a day, then a week, and get a real understanding of how much you need to buy in order to store a month's worth of food.
Long term: Buy yourself a few acres of land and a farmhouse, or secure a visa out of the country.
gustavotherecliner@reddit
No need to panic. While the best time to start prepping was last tuesday, now is the second best time.
You don't need to get everything at once, just one thing after the other. The first basic things are some first aid kits and a fire extinguisher. When you go shopping, get just one thing extra. One can of food extra.
TheClumsyTree@reddit
I love that the folks in this thread are so reassuring! I echo them - you’re already taking the first step, you can start small, read first and make lists and then decide what to get.
Food, clothes, medicine. Water, fire, air (masks).
Buy food you will use and rotate that food forward as you do your usual weekly shopping thereafter.
Get exercise because you are only as capable as your body lets you be, and because it is good for your mental health.
Assess your area’s natural disaster risks, and explore evacuation routes (main routes and alternative routes).
Reddit would not let me paste my full tasks and tips in comment so here is a link to my tasks and tips Google Doc:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-5uuXWzAkkiq10uUYKILqxYhzAChk1BrcBkTWhrO_VQ/edit
RipArtistic8799@reddit
I just put in a simple querry into chat gpt and it spit out a decent list. I am starting to prep again after not doing it for a while. I started by buying a few food grade buckets. I asked Chat GPt for an idea of how to get started and it recommended such things as rice, beans, corn meal, dehydrated coffee, pasta, etc. I dont know if this is the best advice, but it will get you started at least.
TheClumsyTree@reddit
I am not OP but thanks for reminding me about chat GPT. I have my own prepping list and it felt good to check it against what the robots think. I had most their suggestions covered but made two new notes!
cryssHappy@reddit
One step at a time. Write down the 5 things you want the most and pick one of them to get done in the next 2 days. Get the next one down over the weekend. Set aside any cash you bring home at the end of the day (yes, I know, nearly never happens now) to use as a slush fund. Check your power company for solar specials, insulation, new water heater, etc. Get a month of food & water supply so you can breath. Then get another, it gets easier.
HurDurPwnage@reddit
Welcome. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the fear and panic of the world. Many of the fine folks here have great advice, the only thing I might add is to work on your skills and knowledge in your free time. Find a fun way to practice skills. I used to try and braid cordage out of grass while I was bored at work, it always helped pass the time. You’re a lot more likely to continue working on something that you find fun. The more you know, the less you need. Preps can be lost or you can be separated from them, you’ll always have skills and knowledge with you.
firdaddy@reddit
It's like eating an elephant; one bite at a time. You'll start reading and learning, and soon enough you won't be as overwhelmed. One thing ive learned is you cannot plan for every eventuality, and you'll always be wanting for something. Just do your best to fit your lifestyle and plan.
mabden@reddit
Water storage and/or dependable water source. Rain barrels.
Heat/fire making capablity and burnable materials. Propane tanks always filled.
Food - canned and dry goods, spices, recipes. Root cellar for longer-term storage of root vegetables. Learn how to grow food, especially herbs.
Renewable energy source. Solar- active and passive (passive for cooking) geothermal, wind.
Medical supplies - from basic first aid to more extensive treatments. Medications. Medical books. Herbal medicine.
Self-defense - firearms and/or primitive. Dogs are an effective early warning system, great companion, and first level defense.
Camping gear and knowledge - the Boy Scouts Handbook is an excellent resource. Foul weather and rugged terrain gear.
Make sure your vehicle(s) are well maintained with extra gas cans. Bicycles are a good alternative/supplement.
A plan for bug in and bug out with paper road maps and multiple escape routes.
For bug in, know how to hide/camouflage/disguise supplies, home, vehicle, self.
For long-term bug in, games, like cards, chess, checkers, scrabble etc. Pencils and paper.
dnhs47@reddit
Chill. Take a deep breath. Nothing’s happening as fast as the doom-brokers claim, if it happens at all. There’s lots of dramatic talk right now, but we’ll have to what really plays out.
Prep some extra food, things you already eat that don’t require refrigeration - cans, pasta, etc. A little extra on each shopping trip so it doesn’t bankrupt you the first week.
Prep some batteries and battery-powered lights, lanterns, and headlamps.
Prep a way to warm food if the power’s out. A BBQ is a great starting point; buy an extra tank.
Alternative power generation is typically more expensive, hundreds or thousands of dollars, so don’t rush into that until you get the other things squared away.
fair-strawberry6709@reddit
Prepping can be very overwhelming!! It’s ok to start small. You don’t need to go out and buy everything
The state of Utah has a list for 52 preps that you pick one a week - just google “utah preparedness in 52 weeks.” They also have a great checklist called “Disaster supply kit.”
FEMA also has a basic checklist for a 72 hour kit and that’s a good place to start, as well.
Another way to ease in is to just double up on some groceries. If you’re buying a bag of rice, buy two. Buying cans of soup? Add in some extra. Whatever you do, focus on food you know you are actually going to eat! If you hate canned corn, don’t buy it!
Excellent_Condition@reddit
Take a deep breath. You're not in an emergency right now and have time to prepare. I have formal training in emergency management planning for large organizations, and apply the same practices to my personal preps.
One of the first things a lot of people do when first prepping is buy a lot of unnecessary shit they will never use or need, while omitting useful but less flashy things. This can include more or less anything listed as "survival" or "tactical" that doesn't need to be (backpacks, ruck sacks, knifes, etc), unnecessary firearms they aren't going to get the training to use, survival food/MREs they will never eat, etc. This is an emotional response, and one I'd recommended avoiding.
Instead, I'd suggest doing a hazard and vulnerability assessment before you buy anything. There is a great worksheet here. What a hazard and vulnerability assessment does is help you figure out what things present the biggest risk to you. Then you can figure out ways to mitigate them.
I'd also suggest taking the all-hazard approach. You look at what you need to continuing operating on a daily/weekly basis. This includes food, water, shelter, meds, etc. You are going to have those needs regardless of what kind of emergency you face.
You then come up with a plan to provide for those needs, generally by stocking up on supplies, taking training, buying home/car insurance, etc.
Food and water will be one of your biggest needs, and I'd suggest taking the deep pantry approach to food. Buy more of the shelf stable food you currently eat, write the expiration date on the top with a large marker, and put the soonest dates in the front. When you replace food, put the new food in the back so you're always eating the oldest food first. This prevents you buying a bunch of tuna and PB or whatever that you never eat, and that you won't want to eat in an emergency.
Finally, you go back to your worksheet and look at the hazards that present the biggest risk to you, and figure to what to add to your general preps to mitigate those specific risks.
It's natural to be concerned or respond reactively to emotions, but by taking this measured approach, you end up avoiding many of the useless and inefficient decisions that most people make when you are starting.
If an emergency happens, I'd much rather have my large storage bin with things like tasty food, water, hot sauce, a butane stove, and flashlights than a "tactical assault survival paracord backpack" with a bunch of impractical knives and emotional support firearms.
tastemycookies@reddit
Don’t just think about food and supplies. How physically fit are you? Think about how long you can hike or jog before you become tired. How is your medical training? If non existent think about getting your EMT and volunteering at your local ambulance. Are you a creative cook? If you own a gun can you hit a target?
traveledhermit@reddit
My advice is to follow this sub for at least a few weeks before you make any big purchases. The same basic questions get asked all the time and you’ll figure out the priorities and best approach for your situation pretty quickly. In the meantime, just start buying 1-2 extras of everything you normally buy.
Not_Bernie_Madoff@reddit
At at t small at the grocery store. Case of water here, extra pasta there, some canned goods you actually eat. The key is to stock stuff you eat.
Amazon is good for bulk items at a good discount for like soap, deodorant, ETC. and a lot of other stuff but I hit them up regularly for deals.
Ymareth@reddit
Hey, you are doing great thinking and starting to plan for the future. That is the most important step.
Personally I'm a big believer in lists. It helps me to sort through chaos and bring order and structure. If you want ready made lists you've already got tips for those from the ready.gov site. If you want to make you own, start by listing things that could happen that you want to prepare for. Sort them in how likely they are to occur.
Let's say a prolonged power outage is what you figure is most likely to happen. What will you need to get to make such a situation less of a hassle given your circumstances? If you feel unsure what might be needed you can Google and see what advise is there about such situations from reliable sources. You'll need lights, battery powered or candles. If battery powered you'll need the correct batteries for them. You'll also need a safe way to burn those candles if that is the option that you choose. And a lighter and/or matches. If your heating is dependent on electricity, you'll have to have another way to stay warm. You can do that by putting up a tent, or build a tent by covering your dining table with blankets or curtains. You'll need carpets and blankets on the floor for insulation as well under that table or tent. Try it out, can it be done with what you have now, or will you need to pick up extra? Can you get water, or will you need to keep a supply? Will you need to heat food, or will the outage be short enough something simple like cereals and milk from powdered milk will suffice? Maybe you should make sure to have paper plates so you'll not have to hassle with the dishes. Will your toilet work, or will you need to make plans for alternatives? One simple way for a short period of time is to put double bags in the toilet. Maybe you can use one bathroom for number 1 and another for number 2 so to say, and put the bags for the solids?
Or is it the other way around? You'll need extra cooling and not heating? It all depends on where you live and what your circumstances are.
Go through your most likely scenarios like this and figure out what you'll need to have lights, warmth/cooling, water, food and hygiene.
Then, you'll need to quantity. How long will a power outage likely be? Are we talking about a day or a week? That will determine how many candles you'll get and what other preps you'll need. You can likely shop thrift stores for many things you'll need.
Don't forget where you'll store these items you figure till need. Some keep them in separate boxes. Some keep them with the rest of their things, just always keep that extra available. Make a plan for what works for you.
The good thing about this approach is tha it takes a big problem and divides it down into manageable chunks. Let's say you realize you'll always need to keep a minimum of 12 candles and 8 blankets. Then you'll know exactly what you'll need and can focus on that.
Once you have a plan how to tackle the most likely scenario, look at the next most likely. Probably there will be some overlap for what you'll need to do to manage that. That is good, you'll find you're half way there already!
I hope this is an idea that will help you and make you feel less overwhelmed and more like you've got this. One step at a time you'll figure out. The Serenity Prayer is a good reminder if it feels like too much.
NorthernPrepz@reddit
Take it easy and slow. Breathe. Ppl have felt that way for decades and nothing truly society ending has happened. Start slow, ppl have posted lots of good links, don’t make poor financial decisions to prep.
Prestigious_Yak8551@reddit
I wasnt sure where to start, so I did the following. Every time I went to the store to get my normal things, I bought three of everything. Then I found I wasnt going to the store as much and had a good supply. Now its expended into the "deep pantry method". Not really interested in preparing for anything more than that. It will get me through the most likely of issues in the future.
Traditional-Leader54@reddit
Start by making sure you have everything you need to live in your home for 3 days without leaving or taking delivery of anything and having no heat, running water, natural gas or electricity. That should include: 3 gallons of drinking water, 9 simple to prepare meals (think canned soups, stews, tuna fish and crackers, cereal, ramen noodles, spaghetti and jarred sauce etc), light source - flashlight, blanket for heat, way to heat up water, basic first aid kit, a radio and something to charge a cell phone.
Layer you can expand that out to 3 weeks, 3 months etc. while also figure in hour what you would need to get you by and also learn what options are available.
TheAncientMadness@reddit
don't buy anyhing full price. this pursuit will make you go broke. wait for sales. use loca greocery deals, costco, r/preppersales
Beelzeburb@reddit
Underrated comment. Even gear can be bought 2nd hand if they go that far.
Curious-George532@reddit
The first thing you need to do is look at where you are. What things are prone to happen in your area? Power outages? Tornadoes? Floods? Hurricanes?, etc. What do you need to have on hand for that? For instance, if its power outages, extra flashlights, batteries, maybe some candles, and something to cook with. If it's cold there you are, maybe some blankets, propane buddy heater or a kerosene heater.
Start preparing for things that are likely to happen in your area. Obviously shelf stable food, like canned food or things you can easily cook with water, which you will need a lot of. Hygiene and otc meds are important as well as prescription meds.
Start there, and build it out from there. Look around your home and see what you have verses what you don't, and prioritize what is most important to have on hand, and pick it up little by little.
Beelzeburb@reddit
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your pantry.
Start there and remember. Prepping won’t prevent suffering. It’ll make the suffering as comfortable as possible.
Faxmesome_halibut@reddit
You’ll need a serviceable firearm first
JesusJuanCarlo@reddit
What I did when I started was buying a few extra cans of food and a bag of rice every time I went to the grocery store. Eventually, I got a Sam's Club membership and would just buy an extra case of canned food or whatever. Down the line, I got into canning my own food.
Buy an ar15 or a glock 19 if you don't have a gun and learn to shoot. Maybe take a class from a respected trainer. All the food and medical supplies aren't worth shit if you can't protect yourself.
Learn first aid and get extra gauze, alcohol, meds, etc. You probably won't ever need to do a needle decompression or other advanced aid, but it's not bad to learn that stuff if you're so inclined.
The key is to start small and learn a few new skills. Prepping is just as much, if not more, about learning how to handle different situations and be self-reliant as it is on putting back things to help you survive.
fusilmedellin@reddit
Odds are if shtf hard enough you're probably not gonna make it anyway. I mean you in particular, not people in general. Even if you weren't so far behind the curve. You can try and catch up now, but you're likely to just become a mid to low tier loot drop.
Or you might end up as a warlord of your own fiefdom. Who the heck knows anymore. These are wild times we're living in.
tempest1523@reddit
Don’t panic. You prepare so you aren’t overwhelmed when problems occur, not to be overwhelmed before they happen. Make small increases in your preparedness meeting some goals that’s within your budget and don’t worry after that. You don’t have an unlimited budget so you can’t instantly be the most prepared person out ever be finished. Everyone is at a different stage, prepare and when things pop off it will be what it will be.
Poppins101@reddit
Good on you for the first big step, in that you realize you want to be as ready as you can for an emergency. Yes, it can be overwhelming.
If you look about your abode you have a strong start on preparedness. You have shelter. In your cupboard you have food. You have water. You may have a small amount of it, but you do have food, TP, personal hygiene and cleaning products.
Long term preps do take time and funds.
You know best your budget and you know best your neighborhood and community.
Take advantage of the free resources to begin working on the scenarios for your immediate area.
Your local Red Cross or Community Emergency Response Teams and FEMA can help you focus on the “what” you are preparing for.
Be it winter storms, industrial accidents, flooding, tornadoes or earthquakes.
Write out all your concerns, then go back over them and make your goals on meeting your needs.
Shelter, food, water, lights, sanitation.
If you daily use a day pack, purse or lap top bag you can make a tiny kit. With a few shelf stable power or granola bars, small water bottle, flash light or headlamp, power bank to charge your cell phone, a multi tool, thumb drive with your vital docs.
boobookitty2@reddit
Just fucking breathe.
Go get a 24 pack of water to satisfy your need to spend money.
This weekend gather what you have and go to the woods. Come back and tell your story.
Skills are everything, preps are amazing.
Vintage_volt@reddit
Start small, focusing on what you would need, say, for the next week. Then, gradually build from there.
SnooGadgets1338@reddit
Start now! The more you spend pondering the later it will get. Act now. Buy water and canned food from your local dollar stores. Buy matches, lighters and candles. Go to a Thrift store and buy heavy wool clothes that will help keep you warm.