How to Start Prepping

By Brian Duff

How to start prepping is a question that many have asked, and many more will ask. It is an important question, because disaster can strike anywhere and at any time. Whether it is a natural or manmade disaster, everyone should be prepared for the worst. As Zig Ziglar stated, “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”


Step 1: What Do You Have to Protect?

The first step when deciding how to start prepping is to identify what you’re protecting. You may be protecting your family, friends, home, supplies, a combination of them all, or something else entirely. Whatever it is, that is now your mission.


Step 2: What Do You Have to Protect It From?

With step one decided upon, you now need to know what you’re protecting it from. Disasters, both manmade and natural, take on many different forms. Therefore, you will want to consider what problem you are most likely to encounter. If you live in the mountains, it’s doubtful you’ll experience a major hurricane. However, you may experience floods, blizzards, and wild fires.


Manmade Disasters

Don’t forget to also incorporate manmade disasters. Economic downturns, terrorism, and other such events, while not from Mother Nature, can be incredibly disastrous. One only needs to read the government’s report on EMPs to understand how terrible manmade events can be.


Don’t Get Tunnel Vision

While the big events, such as EMPs, are in some ways entertaining to plan for, they are not the norm. Normal events are the lesser but often impactful events. For example, losing your car to a 100-year flood has the same effect as losing it to a thief. Which one is more likely to happen?


Step 3: What Do You Have to Protect It With?

Now, you’ll need to identify what you must use to protect it. If you’re protecting your home from thieves, you can install an alarm, get a dog, etc. This will require you to assess your situation, and formulate possible scenarios with appropriate responses. As you do, you’ll determine if you have what is needed to respond to the threat.


Step 4: Create Your Plan

Once you have the first three steps figured out, you’ll be able to develop your plan. One obvious fact is that it’s important to make your plan before you need it. Planning after the fact does little good for you or your family.


Know What You’re Planning For

Prior to planning, you will need to have a general idea of what you are planning for. That’s where the first three steps come in. With that general idea in place, you have an understanding of your plan’s requirements.


Fill in Your Plan

With that understanding, you will need to gather any additional information that is relevant to your plan. Once that information is ready, you’ll be able to fill in the holes of your plan. Then gradually, your preparedness plan will take shape. As it does, you’ll address any other issues you identify along the way.


Step 5: Review Your Plan

When you think your plan is ready, review it. Look for areas that may not make sense, that may be confusing, or that may be ineffective. Revisit those areas that you identify and take a swipe at revising them.


Bring in Others

After a few reviews, your plan should be fairly solid and ready for others you trust to review too. Have them, review your plan and provide constructive feedback. Discussing and debating the plan and potential options together is a great way to improve it.


Have a Realistic Point of View

When reviewing the plan, make sure you do so from a realistic point of view. Far too often, we believe that something will happen in a specific way, regardless of the situation. The truth is, you need to expect the unexpected and prepare for the impossible.


Do Not Assume
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In other words, there should be no assumptions made about the capabilities of the risk you are facing. A bad guy can scale the wall you thought impossible. A fire can jump the break you cut and thought wide enough. Remember, Murphy is always waiting to jack you up! So, don’t assume your situation will always unfold the way you think it will.


Lastly, never forget, you’re  just one prep away.


If you have any other information, suggestions, or thoughts about how to start prepping, please leave a comment below.


Stay safe, secure and prepared.

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