This editor has said publicly that there is some sort of major upheaval coming. I don’t know what or when, but it’s coming. You need to be prepared for it. But what does being prepared look like? We’ll take a look at the answer(s) to that question in this article.
Depending on the scenario, and there is an upcoming article on that, your preps can and will vary. We’re going to take a look at the basics today. I have already covered the guns you should have here.
Shelter
If we look at the rule of threes, shelter is near the top of the list of things you need. In extreme conditions, you can die after as little as three hours of exposure. Shelter doesn’t always mean a roof over your head. It can mean a fire or shade from the sun. Depending on your SHTF plan, you may need to think about temporary shelter. If you plan on ‘bugging in’ it’s less of a concern, but if you’re bugging out, you need to have some sort of tent or tarp just in case.
As I said above, fire, or another source of heat, is considered shelter in a SHTF situation. If you’re staying put, make sure you have a way to heat your home and an ample supply of fuel for that heat source. I’d recommend some sort of wood stove for that. You can both heat your place and cook on it.
For those who are bugging out, there are several small, packable wood burning stoves like the one below from kampMate. That one folds flat and weighs 1.1lbs. I’d choose that, and the extra weight, over a butane camping stove just because wood is almost everywhere. In a SHTF scenario, you’re not going to be able to run down to the local Walmart to pick up some fuel canisters.
Water
Water is the elixir of life. Our bodies are composed of between 60 and 70% of the stuff. A typical person needs about 3 liters of water a day to survive. While 2/3 of the earth’s surface is covered by it, unfortunately, nearly all of the surface water is unfit to drink. So, in a situation where potable water is unavailable, we need a way to make it clean enough to drink and cook with. There are many options available to purify water, from small, handheld camping/hiking purifiers to large countertop units like those from Berkey.
Note I said purify and not filter. Filters do not remove all the contaminants from water, and even one giardia spore or plasmoid is enough to get you extremely sick. Giardia, or ‘beaver fever’ is no joke, and the treatment sucks. Ask me how I know. . .
Your specific choice in water purifier is dependent on your plan. Be sure you have enough spare filters whatever you do. They are a consumable item and need regular replacement.
You can also boil the water to destroy any biological contaminants. Boiling, however, does not remove heavy metals and other inorganic materials. If you go the boiling route, be sure to filter the water. You can make a filter from commonly found items that will remove any particulate matter and reduce the amount of inorganic dissolved solids from your water.
Food
There are a lot of options when it comes to SHTF foods. Dry foods, canned foods, freeze dried meals and MREs are all good options.
When I say ‘dry foods’, I mean stuff like rice, dried beans, pasta and the like. As long as you keep them in a rodent-proof container, these items will keep almost indefinitely. When stored in proper containers, rice and beans take up little space for the amount of food they provide. A diet of beans and rice will keep you going for a long time, even if you’ll be craving something different after a while.
Canned foods can provide a variety during SHTF, but have their drawbacks. They take up a lot of space and have a limited shelf life. If you do go this route, be sure to keep the cans stored in a cool dry place and use the oldest stuff first. There are designs out there for can storage racks that ensure the oldest gets used first.
I’m going to lump freeze-dried and MREs together. They both have similar characteristics, both have long shelf lives and both are on the costlier side for survival foods. Companies like My Patriot Supply, Ready Wise and Mountain House all offer survival food kits that consist of freeze-dried foods packaged in a plastic pail. While you can occasionally find a deal, a two week kit from My Patriot Supply is listing for $127 plus shipping at their site. Keep in mind, these types of food are freeze dried and require a goodly amount of water for preparation.
While it is technically illegal to sell actual military MREs, they are available on the civilian market alongside many civilian versions. Ameriqual, SoPakCo and Wornick, the three manufacturers of DOD MREs, all offer, indirectly, the same products they sell to the government to civilians. If you go this route, make damned sure you store them properly. While the listed shelf life for all of the MilSpec MREs is 7 years, that is under ideal conditions. An MRE stored at temps above 85 degrees goes bad in as little as 6 months.
Take the time now to learn how and what to forage in your area. Here on the East Coast, there is a surprising abundance of edible foods just there for the taking if you know what you’re looking for. Cattails, for instance, can provide you with something to eat all year round. I will caution you against foraging for mushrooms though. If you do not know exactly what mushrooms are good to eat and which will put you to sleep permanently, don’t waste the time and effort.
While we’re talking about food, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention salt. Put up a goodly amount of the stuff, preferably iodized, in an air and water tight container. Salt has a lot of uses besides seasoning your food, although that’s a good enough reason for me.
I would also recommend you have some honey on hand. It’s an excellent sweetener and will keep almost indefinitely if stored properly. It also has anti-microbial properties and can be used to treat wounds.
Medical
With medical care not being readily available, you’re going to need to have a supply of wound care, medications and such. Prescription meds are going to be an issue. Unfortunately, most doctors won’t prescribe more than a few weeks worth at a time. That said, there are only three US makers of antibiotics, and, well, they make the antibiotics for the aquarium trade too. I’ll let you do the math. . .
A good trauma kit is a must. Clot inducing bandages like those from QuikClot are a good addition, but they do expire, so make sure you have the freshest you can find. Find a first aid class and take it. Look for an upcoming article that discusses what you should have in a trauma kit and what else you should have in your medical supplies.
Personal Care
This is exactly what it sounds like. Soap, shampoo, cleaning supplies, TP, feminine products, anything that will make your life more bearable. Most products of that sort have long enough shelf lives, and store well.
Like I said, this article only covers the basics, but it’s a good starting point. And hopefully a reminder that you do need to be prepared.