So you want to be a prepper
1. What do you want to be prepared for?
a. Weather event: snow storm, tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake
b. EMP—nuclear event
2. If you answered “A” then figure out what you would miss if unable to get thru normal sources, for two or three weeks, and stock up.
3. If you answered “B”, then take notes:
a. These are my recommendations, knowing that there are hundreds if not thousands of others. Do your own research, consider local resources and conditions, and do what’s best for you. Read ONE SECOND AFTER by William Forstchen.
b. Let’s prepare for an EMP. What’s that going to be like?
1. NO NOTHING FOR YEARS. Now use your imagination: no electricity, no modern transportation, no water, no medical, no communication information, no heat.
No nothing except what you yourself have.
2. So, what do I need? Let’s take each commodity one by one, then we’ll figure out what, how, how much, and so forth.
WATER: What’s your source? Government (City, County, State) There’ll be NONE!
So where can I get some? It has to be natural, like a river, creek, pond, lake.
What do I need to transport it? Now that I’ve got it home, I need a fire and a container to boil the water. It’s up to each person to figure out how. Well Water– the electric pump won’t work. So check with your well company, most can provide a hand over-ride pump. Spring Water—Thank God! You’ve got the very best water source known to man.
FIRE, HEAT, COOKING Wood or coal will be the only heat sources available. No electricity, gas, oil, or kerosene. Have a source, storage, and all the necessary hand tools. Fire Starter: Magnesium block, cotton balls with Vaseline, newspapers. It will become necessary to have an outdoor covered cooking place, along with pots and pans that can be used to cook over a fire with NOMEX (welder’s) gloves to handle hot pans. A wood stove inside your house will provide a heat source, cooking surface and water purification.
COMFORT ITEMS These are going to be trying times for everyone in your household. Some things to provide comfort are sleeping bags for everyone. Save all detergent containers. When almost empty, fill with water. These can be used for hand and face washing, cleaning cookware and eating utensils, clothes and such. Games, puzzles, books, Bibles and most importantly a diary.
FIRST AID AND MEDICATIONS Have more than one book on first aid. Learn what items to have on hand, such as bandages, sterile pads, tourniquets. You should also have a one-year supply of critical meds (heart/diabetic), as well as aspirin, ibuprofen, rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. All medications have a shelf life and will be completely unavailable.
TOOLS Only hand tools will work, so if you think that you’ll ever want to cut a board or drill a hole, then you had better have a hand saw, hand drill etc.
COMMUNICATION There will be NO broadcast or cable media. There may be some print, however, they’ll have no means of delivery. An AM-FM radio powered by a hand crank, may receive some broadcast news. The best way to communicate will be a solar powered ham or CB radio.
FOOD I’ve saved food for almost last, because it can be, although it shouldn’t be, the most confusing. Each person needs 2000 calories per day. How you get there is up to you. Purchased dried food that will store for up to 25 years. CLWR (compact lightweight rations) If you are unable to afford that, consider this: Go to a local restaurant, they purchase food items that come in gallon plastic containers. Ask them to save a dozen or more for you. Run them through your dishwasher. Fill them with food items and store in a cool, dry. dark place. What food items do you need? The acronym is BROWSSSS.
PER PERSON PER YEAR
BEANS-30#, RICE-100#, OATS-30# (flakes last longer), WHEAT-30#, SALT-20#, SUGAR-20#, SPICES-ANY DRY, SEEDS FOR PLANTING—1/4 ACRE PER PERSON (There’s about 8 lbs of food in a gallon container)
At our house we’ve also stored Vinegar, Sorghum syrup, maple syrup, macaroni, coffee, canned soup and veggies, peanuts, powdered jello, vanilla extract, soy sauce, and vodka.
CURRENCY—MONEY Paper money will be worthless. A pickup truck load of paper $100 bills won’t buy a loaf of bread. Zero value. Silver and gold will become the new most valued currency. For common goods and services, silver will be the most useful, denominations of dimes, quarters and half dollars will get the biggest return for goods and services needed. For example, let’s say that silver is valued at $1000 per ounce. A dime might get you a dozen eggs, a chicken and some firewood. Whereas, it would be extremely unlikely that anyone could make change, in this case, for a silver dollar. Drinking alcohol (whiskey/vodka/etc) will become a valuable trade item. A pint of whatever could buy those eggs, a chicken and some firewood. In like manner, whatever you have that someone else needs, will become a trade-barter valued possession.
SELF DEFENSE Tell no one that you are a prepper! When your neighbors run out of everything, then they are coming for yours. Hunting: let’s get this out of the way. Within the first 6-9 months, there will be nothing left to hunt; example, the Great Depression. Everything that could have been killed and butchered was gone by 1932. It took some species/populations until the 70s to recover. If you’ve got animals that you’re raising to butcher, be prepared to protect them.
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION: A collection of different size knives. Bow and arrow-lots of arrows, slingshot-BBs/marbles, 22 revolver, 22 pistol, 22 rifle (bolt action with scope), 22 magnum rifle (bolt action with scope), 32 revolver—bullets and rat shot, 357 revolver, 9mm pistol, 30 caliber rifle (bolt action with scope), AR 15 rifle with scope in 223/556, 410 shotgun, 12 gauge shotgun! Remember, those who don’t have… will take from those who do. A hand gun gets you to a rifle, and a rifle gets you to a bigger rifle.
BOOKS Get as many books as possible, read and study, do your own research.
We recommend Peggy Layton’s EMERGENCY FOOD STORAGE & SURVIVAL HANDBOOK.
