Fundamentals of Prepping

There are many different types of preppers out there. Some are preppers because they are forced to be, they live in remote parts of the country, a great distance from the local stores and supermarkets; and if a rough winter hits, they could be stranded with no contact with the outside world for weeks at a time. There are the preppers that just have a couple days worth of supplies and medical equipment in case of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Then, there are the preppers who are storing years worth of food, water filtration equipment, and general supplies, so that if the fragile infastructure of the United States all of a sudden collapses, they can be self sustained.

Personally, I am trying to become the latter option. I like to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. I am not a doomsayer, nor do I go around quoting scripture about the end of the world. I merely have a hobby that would allow me to live anywhere, at any time, and not just survive; but thrive.

If you are just beginning to start prepping, for whatever your reasons, I would begin by storing food. If you buy all you would need at one time, that can be VERY costly. If you are on a budget, as most people are these days, I recommend just buying three or four extra cans of your choice of food every time you go to the grocery store. Many of the canned foods are just 99 cents, then tuck them away. In a few months, you'll look at all those cans and be amazed at what you've accomplished.

Do the same with water. You can buy a 26 pack of bottled water for about 5 dollars. Buy one case every time you go to the grocery store. 

After you get what you think is a good supply (you can never have too much in my opinion! and if it sits there for long enough, just use it and replace it!) of food and water, next I would go for batteries. Primarily the rechargeable kind (AA, AAA, C, D, CR123). And make sure you have some candles and LED flashlights.

Then move on to creating your own home medical kit. Just like with everything else, you can buy one piece at a time. Here is a guide on making your own How to make a Home First Aid Kit. Supplies for your first aid kit can be purchased anywhere, here is one good site: First Aid Kit Essentials

After that, I would recommend making a "Bug Out Bag". I have given the outlines of my own BOB in an earlier post How to make a Bug Out Bag. A BOB will give you the ability to at a moments notice, have everything you need to survive for three days in one bag. If your house is on fire and you have to get out, grab it. If there is a hurricane coming, and you have to evacuate, grab it. In my opinion it is essential.


One of the most important things to have, is a way to filter water. The average person drinks one gallon of water a day, and can only survive for THREE DAYS without water. If all of a sudden, the water stops flowing through the pipes, what would you do? (Remember, if the power fails, and your home is above sea level, or above the level where your water processing station is, you will not get water until power is restored.) I recommend getting one of these. Bucket Berkey Water Filter. They can filter up to 5,000 gallons of water. (A ton better than having to boil any water you want to drink first!) Or you can make your own, as shown here: How to make a Bucket Filter. 

And make sure to have emergency supplies of all required medicines. Such as if you are a diabetic, have extra vials of insulin.


Those are just some of the basics of prepping, but some of the most important. Remember, only a few decades ago, every person in the world did this. Because they had to survive the winter. Without our international trade army of trucks, planes, and boats transporting food and supplies 24/7, the average grocery store has 2-3 days of food on hand for the local population; and likely that it would be stripped in the first couple days or hours of a major event. So be prepared! Don't have your head in the sand, be proactive.


Not with a bang, but a whimper.
-NCPrepper10

How to Make a Bug Out Bag

A Bug Out Bag (BOB) or 72-Hour Kit is a bag full of supplies that is designed to keep you alive for three days under conditions to where all you have to rely on is yourself and the equipment you have with you. I built my Bug Out Bag in three different tiers.

Tier One: A housefire, small natural disaster, etc. To where all you may need is temporary survival equipment, until help can be found.

Tier Two: A major disaster, but the roads are blocked. You must only go on with what you can carry.


Tier Three: A complete break-down of social order, you must leave your home or current location in a vehicle for a safer and more desolate area and bring everything you could possibly need, with the knowledge you may never be coming home.


I have a Bug Out Bag(BOB), a Bug Out Vest(BOV), and a Bug Out Tote(BOT). In Tier One I would carry only my BOB. In Tier Two I would carry my BOB and BOT. In Tier Three I would carry all of them.


Depending on what you wish to prepare for and where you are located, your contents may vary on what you choose to pack. I like to prepare for the worst, but hope for the best; that way I am never surprised if something happens or in need of something I do not have.

Make sure to keep your pack as light as possible, you want to be able to move fast.


My Bug Out Bag List: UPDATED:1/25/12(My Bag is a Proper USMC MARPAT Field Pack, but I would recommend a very high quality 'normal' looking bag, so as you dont stick out as a target. An ALICE pack is a good choice as well.)

Eton Crank Radio/Flashlight
Fenix HP11 Head-Light (with red lens cover)
Gerber Infinity Ultra LED Flashlight
BIC Lighter x2
Aquamira Water Filter Straw
100 Feet 550 Paracord
Katadyn Vario Water Filtration System
30 Potable Aqua Tablets
Stainless Steel Wire
Coffee Filters (for protecting my water purifier against particulates)
Ziploc Bags x3
Trash bags x3
Sweedish Firesteel
Compass
Gorrilla Tape Mini-roll
Gerber LMFII Knife
Gerber Multi-tool
Socks x2
Snack Bars x4
MRE x3
Collapsable Water Bottle
Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Poncho
Bivy Sack
Shemgah
First Aid Kit (Tylenol, C.A.T., Alcohol Prep Pads, Caffeine Pills, Gauze, Israeli Battle Dressing, etc)
SAS Survival Guide Pocket Edition
Matches
Mylar 'Emergency' Blanket (Can be used as a tarp or heat reflector too)
100ML Camelbak Bladder 
Water flavoring packets (TANG, etc)
Topographical Map of my region, with plotted routes to my BOL
Carabiner x2
Light Waterproof Jacket
Flash Drive with all my critical info (Deeds, Bank info, Insurance info, Medical Records, etc.)
Bottled Water x2
Smith & Wesson .40 Auto + 3 Spare Magazines
Henry Survival Rifle (May or may not be added depending on situation)
Goal Zero Guide 10 Adventure Kit Solar Charging System
Emergency Contact List (A laminated page filled with all the phone numbers I may need to contact) 
MARPAT Boonie Hat



I will go into details on my Bug Out Vest and Bug Out Tote along with my armament loadouts on the next post!

keep your powder dry,
-NCPrepper10 out

Best Prepping Books I've Found..

I've been prepping for a few years now, so I am always on the lookout for good reading material that relates to self reliant living. I'm going to post some of the most helpful books that I've found, they are all currently available on Amazon.com, enjoy!

Keep your powder dry,
-NCPrepper10

How to Survive The End Of The World As We Know It: by James Wesley Rawles 

SAS Survival Handbook: by John Wiseman 

Where there is No Doctor: by David Werner 

Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family: by Arthur Bradley

Outdoor Medical Emergency Handbook: First Aid for Travelers, Backpackers, Adventurers: by Dr. Spike Briggs, Dr. Campbell Mackenzie 

Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook 

Making the Best of Basics: by James Talmage Stevens 

US Air Force Survival Handbook 

The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and preparing Edible Wild Plants: by Samuel Thayer 

Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergencies 

Strategic Reloaction - North American Guide to Safe Places: by Joel M. Skousen 

 

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello Fellow Preppers!

I created this blog to help out other fellow preppers that might just be getting into prepping, or perhaps you've been prepping for years, but its all about sharing knowledge and helping your fellow man for the hard times to come. Soon I am going to be adding Equipment Lists, How-to Guides, Links to good prepping sites and references, books, How to make your own Bug-Out-Bag, Food Storage, etc. I hope this can help those looking for information as I have in the past years! If we are to get through this, we cannot do it alone!

-NCPrepper10