I'm often asked by younger folks/couples for advice on exactly how they can start on their own programs for food storage (FS), emergency preparedness (EP) and self-reliance (SR).
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Sometimes, it seems like they're looking for a "silver bullet" that will solve all of their challenges cheaply and easily.
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Indeed, there are many vendors, on eBay and elsewhere, that offer the promise of very quick, easy solutions to all of your emergency preparedness need.
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Just buy THEIR 72-Hour Kit, Bugout Bag, Go-Bag, Survival, Kit, or whatever you want to call it, and all your troubles are solved.
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Or, just buy THEIR boxes of stored/canned/freeze-dried/dehydrated storage foods, all of which are guaranteed to be the best quality food in tests. [Never mind how they can ALL be #1 rated...we'll let their lawyers work all that out, and it will likely take some years.]
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The bottom line for YOU, of course, is to take all such claims with HUGE grains of salt. Be skeptical, ask for actual proof of claims, etc.
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YOU must realize that NO EMERGENCY GEAR built for the masses COULD EVER PROVIDE a 100% effective emergency preparedness/food storage that will fit all needs.
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No, you cannot just buy such products, stick them in a quater, and forget about them.
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Tempting thought, isn't it?? But reality just doesn't work that way, at least in the real world.
Thus, the honest and often painful answer I must give those young folks is: IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON YOU, YOUR NEEDS/REQUIREMENTS, AND THE STRATEGY YOU CHOOSE TO PURSUE! For example, your FS/EP/SR program will depend on various esoteric or mundane factors, including the following:
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Your budget, and how much you are able to set aside for financial reserves and/or purchasing food storage, emergency gear, etc.;
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Your lifestyle/mobility/transience (e.g., are you in the military and move every 2-3 years?);
How much storage space do you have, and how it is set up (e.g., a huge basement vs. several smaller closets); -
The size, genders and ages of your family or group that you're storing for (e.g., toddlers will have different needs and abilities to assist than teenagers);
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Your regional climate (e.g., cold weather & blizzard preps for Minnesota & rural Vermont...heat waves preps in Phoenix or western Texas; arid climate vs. wet climate, etc.);
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If I may express a pet peeve...too many folks with otherwise-excellent FS/EP/SR programs come up WAY SHORT on planning for safe drinking & cooking water during an emergency.
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Sticking a couple of water barrels in the basement is good to do...but by itself really is not adequate...because you can't repeat CAN'T take water barrels with you in many emergency situations (e.g., remember how folks had to evacuate homes & belongings for Hurricane Katrina?).
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Besides the barrels, you must give consideration to portable water filtering or purification capabilities . For ideas, you can take a look at our our related eBay Guide for more details, a suggested water storage/production strategy, and suggested products.
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Where you live (urban, suburban or rural), which will drive your selection of food & gear;
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Your health, and your loved ones' health...will you need to stay close to medical facilities (e.g., kidney dialysis), or can you travel? Do you need to store particular medicines? Will disabilities limit your actions/choices?
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The most likely emergencies/disasters that could affect you...e.g., is your region prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or tornados? Do you live near forests prone to wildfires? Near major transportation routes that could bring trouble to you (e.g., chemical spills, HAZMAT, etc.)?
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Your strategy for coping...will you endure emergencies in-place or travel to a safer location (e.g., do you prepare to wait out a blizzard, and/or do you attempt to escape an urban center if law enforcement becomes iffy, such as during major riots)?
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And many other factors, which only YOU can determine!!
When I was younger, I also wanted someone to provide the single "master checklist" for emergency preparedness, food storage & self-reliance.
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I wanted that single, eternal, guaranteed-to-work "answer" and product that would protect myself and my loved ones from all dangers, all the time, anywhere and anytime.
Truthfully, "the answer" is going to be different for nearly every person, family and/or group.
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And, that answer is going to change over time--your needs and strategy as a twenty-something single person living in a city apartment are going to be much different than a married, thirty-something family person with several kids under ten years old, living in the suburbs.
You must define and prioritize your own needs...choose your own strategy...develop your own plan...select your own supplies and gear, and make your own trade-offs for supplies/gear vs. costs. No one will be doing it for you. Then, you have to implement it, and evolve it over time.
I'm not trying to discourage you...so don't just throw up your hands and spend your time & money going to Rolling Stones concerts.
The point is:
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Start by thinking..a lot...about what it is you want/need to accomplish.
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Do some research, collect some sample suggested checklists for EP/FS/SR.
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Talk to folks who have plowed this field before; subscribe to some newsletters or blogs (many free ones on the internet, such as this one!!)
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Then think some more.
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Study it out, write out a simple concept of what it is YOU want to prepare for/against, the strategy you want to adopt, and the tools/supplies you'll need. Establish your own priorities for what you need to do first and foremost...vs. what can be delayed a bit.
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THEN, start implementing accordingly.
EP/FS/SR, properly done, is a lifelong commitment to a process. You'll never quite be "done." You'll change your approach and your strategy several times over your life.
Now, don't let the above advice lull you into a months or years-long process of planning without doing; you'll find that you can do the vast majority of all this research and planning pretty well in a single weekend. Just realize that it is not a "fire & forget" system. You'll then have to spend an hour every month or two maintaining/caring for what you have, and implementing the next step in your personalized action plan.
But, I'm here to tell you that it is worth it, in terms of peace of mind and your ability to help see your family and community through a crisis or disaster of some type...and not just be one of the masses that has to passively wait to be rescued, fed, clothed, sheltered, etc. Be able to do for your own, and for others that really need your help.
Best of luck to you and yours,
Rocky Mtn Home Solutions
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