You asked and here it is! A Getting Started Prepper Guide. One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting prepping is over complicating things and spending way too much time and money on things that aren’t a top priority. Now, it’s true that every family may have different priorities, so my caveat before I say anything is this: “Only you know what’s best for your family.” You need to decide what is most important and why. This can change depending on where you live and what your own situation may bring- for example people in Alaska need blankets and warmth, while people in Arizona would need resources to lower temperatures.
72 Hour Kit Basics
The best place to start with prepping is a 72 hour kit. There are lots of reasons you may need one. Say your power goes out or your water is shut off few days. Or you may need to evacuate your home immediately due to a flood or a wildfire near your house and you may only be able to grab a few things before you leave. On the other hand, you may be stranded inside your home without the ability to get assistance for days on end, and you may need access to the supplies in your 72 hour kit. Imagine it like you’re packing for a week-long camping trip. What are you bringing? Not a hair dryer. Not anything too fancy, just the basics.- Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (enough non perishable food for a several days)
- LifeStraw and/or Berkey (use code Abi to save 5%)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Cash
- Copies of important documents (birth certificate, drivers license, passport, social security card, etc.)
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in waterproof container
- First aid kit
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Tarp
- Tent large enough for you and your packs
- Sleeping bag
- Fire Starter
- Axe or hatchet
- Wilderness Knife
- Local maps
- Cell phone with charger and a battery (like this solar powered battery bank)
- Good shoes (these are mine)
- Good socks
- A change of clothes appropriate for your climate
- A jacket or coat appropriate for your climate
- Toilet paper
- Moist towelettes & soap
- Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
- Toothpaste
- Contact solution/glasses if needed
- Prescription medications
- Non-prescription medications (pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives)
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- HAM radio
- And how to use a ham radio
- Toilet paper
- Feminine hygiene needs - I suggest getting the Bloody Buddy cup (use code Abi to save 10%)
- Small games, like a deck of cards
- A good book (or 5)
- Paper and pencil
- Cloth diapers
- Wipes
- Formula & bottles
- Diaper rash cream
Do you have a pet? Get their needs too.
Assembling Your Kit
If you can fit all this into a backpack, that's ideal. Every person in your home should have their own backpack they can carry. You may never need to carry it anywhere, but it should be easy to grab and go if necessary. Get a backpack large enough to fit everything that's not brightly colored. You don’t want to call attention to the fact that you have food and supplies if you're caught in a bad situation! You can also buy pre-assembled 72 hour kits that already have most of these items in them.
- Hiking Backpack with Rain Cover
- 3 Day Expandable Backpack
- Emergency Backpack - Supports up to 4 people
- 72 Hour Kit - Supplies for up to 4
Homesteading Like a Gangster
Are you interested in learning more about self sufficiency and emergency preparedness? I created a super helpful BEGINNER guide to homesteading just for you! “Homesteading like a Gangster” covers several areas of homesteading in great detail, but keeps it simple and accessible for beginners. Subjects covered are:- Starting a garden
- Composting
- Raising Chickens
- Buying Meat in Bulk
- Brewing Kombucha
- Baking Sourdough Bread
- Canning Basics
My mission with this course was to help others feel like these subjects can be done by anyone, anywhere, with any amount of space and it doesn’t have to be scary to start. It’s a step-by-step guide that proves if I can do it - so can you! I'm having a huge sale on this course for the next 2 weeks! Check out the course here: Homesteading Like a Gangster and use code ABI2022 to get 50% off If you don’t want the entire guide, you can shop the individual sections here.