As a society, we have become adept at avoiding personal responsibilities and relying on the government for support. This trend toward government dependence is alarming. Our culture has grown soft and complacent. Few take time to ensure their existence through self-reliance. Making preparations, often referred to as ‘prepping’, is nearly considered taboo and often holds negative connotations. However, like any insurance policy, it is imprudent to be unprepared.
When prepping, the first step is recognizing what events you are preparing for. While some may prep for major government-influenced events such as war or civil unrest, more practical preparations should be made for naturally occurring events such as extreme temperatures or drought. This can be accomplished simply and effectively by using a basic risk assessment matrix. Risk assessment matrices assign a coded score to every potential risk based on the likelihood of occurrence and the level of impact. Risks scoring the highest should be prioritized. Common sense should be applied to avoid unnecessary waste of both time and money. For example, prepping for a blizzard by stockpiling warm clothing or heater fuel in a torrid region is ill-advised. After identifying the highest priority for risk mitigation, start planning.
When you didn't prep because prepping is for the paranoid. pic.twitter.com/mO9SaVG5pq
— Jameson Lopp (@lopp) March 16, 2020
For individuals, this is fairly straightforward. Regardless of the specific event, preparations should be made to meet basic human needs and individual specific needs. If you have a family, the planning phase is paramount since multiple individuals’ logistics come into play. Depending on ages and possible locations, communication in an emergency should be meticulously planned to cover all angles. If preparing for events where communication systems are unavailable, alternative means, including meeting points and routes, should be discussed and drilled. Contingency plans should be a common theme during the planning phase since major events carry many unpredictable variables. The items necessary to carry out your plan will emerge during the planning phase. Even with an incomplete plan, it is never too early to begin gathering supplies.
While the upfront cost can appear offputting, the long-term benefits could be the difference between life and death. Like purchasing any insurance plan, you never need it until you do. This can be accomplished incrementally and does not have to represent a substantial upfront lump purchase. To start, cover your basic needs for the potential events you’ve identified. Generic lists for basic emergency kits are readily available and can provide you with the basics without overdoing it. Common sense is once again king. Once you have enough basic supplies to carry out your plan, even in a rudimentary sense, practice.
By practicing the plans you’ve laid out, issues will emerge. This is the focus of any drill and should not be taken negatively. Finding and addressing errors during training increases preparedness if facing the same challenge when it matters most. Take time to adjust your plans, communicate, and try again. Even if the event you are preparing for never happens, your time is not wasted and it will provide you with substantial peace of mind.
While the process of making preparations for major events can be daunting, start slow. Take time today to identify situations or events for which you are unprepared, and prepare for them. Don’t recreate the wheel. Seek out like-minded people and utilize their knowledge. The internet is full of lists containing necessary items for every emergency. Greywolf Survival is an example of this and can provide you with an array of preparation strategies. With ample access to information, failing to utilize it is blatant complacency for which there is little excuse. In writing this, the purpose is not to provide specifics for preparing for all emergencies you may face. Everyone is ultimately responsible for ensuring their continued existence. I encourage everyone to conduct their own research based on individual needs. Start today and invest in yourself. While many speak about prepping as a crazy practice, I would rather have a personal life raft ready than play in the Titanic’s band.
Social Media:
- Lopp, Jameson. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter), March 16, 2020. https://x.com/lopp/status/1239676109731647491.
Images:
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:December_26-28_2015_Garland_and_Rowlett,_TX_EF4_Tornado_Damage_captured_on_1-25-2016_by_Volkan_Yuksel_DSC06368.JPG
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