A good preppers list is going to vary immensely from place to place because the major year round concerns for a self-sufficient person who wants to be prepared is going to be far different if that person lives in Alaska versus Arizona, Florida versus Maine, or urban versus rural. Each location will have its own challenges while any given SHTF scenario or post SHTF event will also change necessary actions based on location, severity, and other issues.
This almost guarantees even the most prepared of individuals will end up forgetting important details or preparations without a solid list on hand to keep them on track. Creating a solid prepper list can be intimidating for beginners but with just a little bit of direction and discipline, it won’t take long to come up with a great list that not only gets beginners on the right track, but even experienced preppers would be proud of.
Focus on Mandatory Basics
The first thing is to understand the right mindset. A good prepper isn’t an overly paranoid individual living in a fantasy world where the sky is falling every other day. They are someone who hopes for the best, but realistically and practically prepares for the worst. This way if only minor bad things happen, no problem. On the other hand, if the worst happens, a prepper is prepared to weather it.
There are basics that should always be on a preppers list such as:
- Minimum 2 weeks of emergency food stash (scale up to more eventually)
- Minimum of 2 weeks worth of water (keeping in mind everyone in the house/apartment)
- Escape plan in case getting away fast is important
- Packed bug out bag
- Medical gear and first aid kits
- Wilderness survival gear
One important note: no one should double dip when it comes to preparing. The vehicle a person uses should have a bug out bag, medical gear, and wilderness survival gear. So should wherever that person lives. And if they have a cabin, a vacation rental, or intend to make it to a relative’s house in that situation – there should be some gear stored there, as well. Be prepared for whatever the situation.
There are a few things that always need to be on the list or under consideration: water, food, heat/shelter, tools/versatility, medical, and emergency.
Build into Local Needs/Challenges
Once the basics are handled and an individual has food, water, first aid, and all the basics covered, it’s time to look at local challenges especially in a worst case scenario. Where does the prepper live? Is there any situation where that person may have to go on foot into the wild? Travel long distances that way? What would that person need for that situation?
What challenges would the terrain hold? How would that person protect themselves? It’s one thing to store water in an apartment, but what about a multi-day or week journey through the wild? That requires much different stuff!
Anyone creating a preppers list will want to start by looking at the basics that need to be covered on every prepper’s planned list and expanded to local areas. In addition to this, anyone looking for guidance can find a variety of great prep lists online and take inspiration to put together the perfect list to mold around.