8 Rookie Mistakes

Don’t Panic

Take a deep breath, sit down and make an emergency plan.  Decide what emergency you are preparing for and what supplies you will need.  Try and stay within a certain emergency time frame and work your way up to larger scale emergencies.  For example, begin planning for a 72 hour emergency and work your way up to a short term emergency and later, a larger scale or  long term emergency.  

Take your time and properly plan how you are going to open up your budget so that you can attain these emergency items.  Cutting out the extraneous spending in your budget can free up a lot of extra cash.  The money saved can be used toward your future preparedness items.  Make the choice of using the new found preparedness money or save it for a more expensive prep.  Either way, you will accumulate a little at a time and not break the budget.

Personal Experience – One mistake I remember (and am still paying for) was when my husband and I decided to get a short term food supply.  We hadn’t really researched what it takes to maintain your family’s health during a short term emergency so we impulsively went out and bought $200 in canned goods.  Needless to say that we are still living off of that canned good investment.  Looking back, we could have used that $200 in a more constuctive  manner.

Don’t always believe the experts.

Listen to what the experts say, but make the decision that is best for your family and your needs.  Some expert’s advice is driven by what makes them the most money or what other experts are saying at the time.  Make a list of what items you are looking for and research those items (include reading the customer reviews).

Personal Experience – An expert was telling everyone that they should have a certain brand of hiking boots.  Well, I went out and bought them because “the expert” said I should.  Because I didn’t research the boots (and the specs about the boot), after purchasing it; I made the realization that they were way too heavy for me.  Luckily, I was able to return the boots and get my money back.  After I researched and read customer reviews, I went out and invested in a different pair of hiking boots that were perfect for what I needed.

Don’t buy cheap preps.

Trying to save money here and there is great, but when you are investing in survival gear, you want to make sure the investment is worth the money spent.  Begin looking at your purchase as an investment for your future.  You want that product to last and do it’s desired function with minimal hassel.  And you want to be able to depend on that product to see you through an emergency.   On another note, whatever items or tools you buy, make sure you use it.  If you invest money and buy an item that you do not know how to use, it’s useless.

Personal Experience – I wanted to save a few bucks and bought a basic sleeping bag that didn’t have any bells or whistles.  Later on down the line, I realized the sleeping bag was way too bulky, weighed too much for a bug out situation and had no capacity to really keep someone warm.  I ended up investing in an ultralight backpack that keeps me toasty when I need it the most and is feather light.  Although I made a mistake with the first sleeping bag, I am using it as a back up, so the investment was not a complete loss.  Other items I have found that are worth spending extra money on are good toothbrushes, survival tools, water filtration systems and survival knives. 

Buy preps that are multi purpose.

You want to make the most out of your preparedness investment so do some extra research and find preparedness items that have multiple functions. 

Personal Experience – I have found a lot of items that have multi uses, so listing  them would be an entire article in itself.  However, here are few suggestions that would help serve a multitude of functions.  Rope, for instance is a great multi use prep.  It can be used for hanging or securing emergency shelters, used as a laundry line or for hauling.  Other multi-function items are a good knife, multi tool, and emergency foods, such as salt, baking soda, and vinegar. 

Buy foods you and your family normally eat.

 This is one of the biggest mistakes that preppers make.  You want to use the food that you store.  To get the most out of your food investment, develop good storage habits.  Further, it’s a good rule of thumb to purchase foods and items that will be used within their allotted time span, so check the expiration date! 

Personal Experience – I came across some cans of seafood medley at my local grocery store and thought how great it would be to use it in an emergency situation.  I was so excited about this canned seafood because it was high in protein and vitamins, so I ended up buying 4 cans of this stuff.  Needless to say that after opening 1 of the cans up for a dinner… my family (and myself included) pushed our plates aside and decided to eat cereal instead.  Needless to say, the seafood medley was horrible.  I donated the remaining cans of the seafood medley to a food bank.

Eat what you store.

In an article I wrote about storing food, I stated, “Storing food is a continual process of using, rotating and reloading.   If a short term food supply is bought, the food must be used and more food purchased to resupply the storage shelf.  Thinking of the food supply as a small store where the foods in the front has the shortest expiration date and the ones in the back have the longest.  The food storage area should be checked every six months to make sure that appropriate food items are rotated. ”

Personal Experience – I can’t tell you how many items I have had to throw away unopened food because I didn’t use it within it’s expiration date.  Using and rotating your food supply takes some getting used to.  Many think that the stored food is for emergencies only.  And it is, but it should also be there for you when you need it.  It’s your own personal convenience store.  When you use an item, buy a new one at the store and replace it on your shelf. 

Have back ups for your back ups.

This is a golden rule for preppers.  You never know when one of your preps will break or jam up on you.  Having extra items gives you peace of mind because you are not solely dependent on one item for survival. 

Personal Experience – When we were researching water filtration systems, we ended up buying a katadyn water filter (A solid investment in my opinion).  However, we began thinking about the use and effectiveness of the filter after mulitiple uses.  We decided that solely depending on one item to give up potable water was not wise.  We not only bought extra filters for our katadyn, but also invested in micro-pur tablets (chlorine dioxide  tablets), and chlorine granuals to make sure that all areas were covered. 

Get  your friends and family on board.

In an emergency situation, you will need help from others.  It would be unrealistic to think differently.  Talking with friends and family about being prepared is a great way to awaken the need for their personal preparedness efforts and help you find more “like minded” individuals.  Help guide them and give them advise on how to begin.

Personal Experience – We all have stories of people thinking we are “cooky” because we prepare for short or long term emergencies, and I am no different.  I have learned to take other’s opinion in stride, but I have talked with some family and friends who see the need to prepare and have started doing so.  My largest accomplishment thus far has been helping my sister become more prepared.  I have peace of mind knowing most of my immediate family is prepared – at least for a short term emergency. 

There will be some friends and family members who are not going to be on board no matter how much you try and talk to them.  There will be some who will be on board and will listen to what you have to say.  Hopefully, after you share your experiences and first time mistakes, they will listen and learn from you. 

What are some prepping mistakes you have made?

Because radiation is an everyday part of our lives, we cannot avoid it.  Our home appliances emit small amounts of radiation, as do our cellular phones.  Even though we may not like the idea of being exposed to radiation; we can, however, reduce our risks by controlling, to some extent, our exposure to it.  This calculator can assist you in finding out how much radiation you receive on a yearly basis from natural means and from un-natural means. 

Annual Radiation Calculator

Natural Ways to Reduce Radiation in The Body

According to the website, survival-spot, the author provides natural alternatives to assisting the body in ridding itself of radiation exposure rather than ingesting potassium-iodide.  Foods such as kelp, rosemary, spirulina, miso soup and niacin all assist the body in fighting radiation damage.  Making these foods a regular part of your diet, could help lower your chances of radiation damage to the body.

Other foods that may help in combating radiation sickness are foods that naturally detoxify the body.  Foods such as reishi mushrooms, green and black teas, garlic, nettles, dandelions, ginseng, lentils, collards and mustard greens.

Educate Yourself

Everyone is so concerned about radiation levels increasing due to the disaster in Japan.  Ironically, we absorb radiation everyday.  Knowing the proper levels of radiation we are exposed to each year can help us stay healthier.  Those that are concerned about limiting their exposure to radiation can eat foods that have detoxifying properties, as well as staying away or limiting exposure of appliances and machines that radiate radiation.

Getting Started

When preparing for a disaster, it is essential to have provisions in place to secure your needs.  That being said, beginning a food supply must begin with research.  Finding out how many calories a person needs per day in order to survive, and knowing how much food to store is essential when beginning to prepare.   Additionally, going to survival/prepping forums to read about what others are doing is another way of finding more research.  Preppers are very open to helping others who want to prepare.  We have all been at the beginning stage of preparing, and it can be overwhelming at first, but the overall goal is to get people prepared. 

When beginning to get preparations in place, concentrate of the basic needs of survival: water, food, shelter, clothing and move on from there.  Below are some basic suggestions on items that would be ideal to have in the home:

Water

It is suggested to have 1 gallon of water per person/per day.  Having a 3 day supply of water on hand is a great place to start.  However, many preppers like to be as thorough as possible in their prepping.  Therefore, Ready Nutrition suggests to play it safe and double the amount of water needed.  The extra water can be used for other purposes.  Additional water storage for longer term use can be reviewed here.  Extra water that is stored can also be used if family members such as children or the elderly become dehydrated and need more water.  Additionally, having an alternative source for water such as a water filter, frozen water in the freezer, and 5 gallon water containers is suggested.  In a disaster situation, a person does not want to run out of water.  Lakes and streams can also be a way to find water, but the water needs to be treated.  In the case that someone is not near any running streams or lakes, there are places in nature where one can find alternative water sources.

Food

Comparative shopping at the large volume supermarkets typically has better deals than at the smaller stores. Finding local ads from the large supermarket store websites can save on gas money as well as on shopping time. Even the Dollar stores carry canned goods and food products that would be good for short term/long term food supplies. Look for sales at the stores and buy as much of the item as your budget will allow.

Using a food storage calculator will help determine how much food is necessary.  There are some considerations to keep in mind before purchasing the food items:

• Expiration Dates – It’s best to find items that have expiration dates that are 1-2 years away from expiring, unless that item is used frequently in the home, and can be rotated frequently.
• Items on Sale – Go for the deals.  Typically, there are deals that are advertised in the newspaper.  There are stores that have 10 items for $10, or 2 for 1 offers.  You do not have to break the bank to get food items.  Just get a little each time you visit the store.  In season vegetables are typically cheaper.  Larger cans of goods generally have better deals.
• The amount of people in the household.
• A wide variety of food will help reduce food fatigue.
• The serving amount in the food.
• Vitamin content in the food.
• Any special health considerations for family members.

Medical Supplies

Medical emergencies can occur at the drop of a hat, and having the necessary supplies can mean the difference between life and death.  When an emergency situation arises, one must act calming and decisively.  In the case of a severe injury where there is a lot of blood loss, there must be supplies that can stop bleeding, cut the pain threshold and calm the patient if necessary.  Find websites online that deal with first aid care and go through each injury to see what medical instruments and items are needed.  Moreover, check in your community and see if the Fire Department, American Red Cross or Medical Centers offer classes to assist in medical emergencies.  Make a list for supplies that can be added to the disaster medical supplies.  

Here are a few e-books that were found on this subject:

• First Aid Full Manual
• Emergency War Surgery
• First Aid for Dental Emergencies

72 Hour Bags

In the case that a person has to evacuate, having a prepared 72 hour kit or bug out bag will expedite the process of leaving as well as keeping things running as smoothly as possible.  A 72 hour bag should have all items necessary to survive for 3 days.  When preparing a bag keep the main surviving points is mind (water, food, shelter, clothing).  Having a separate bug out bag for the vehicle will also come in handy in the event that someone has to leave their home immediately. 

Tools 

Tools are a valuable commodity when it comes to survival.  Their usefulness for hunting, digging, cutting, communicating and for navigational purposes are all essential items to have on hand.   

• Knives ( to cut large machete type and a smaller Gerber hunter)
• Multi-tool 
• Camping shovels
• Candles
• Hammer or hatchet
• Collapsible fishing pole with hooks, line, bobbers, etc.
• Flares
• Maps, compass or GPS devices  ( Having extra compasses ensures that navigation is accurate).
• Rope (paracord),
• Knife sharpening stone,
• Flash light with extra batteries

Written Survival Sources

In a high stress situation that some are not used to, forgetfulness plays a part from dealing with all the changes that are occurring.  Having some manuals to look upon for survival information, or for spiritual information to lift the morale is a good idea and does not take up much space in a pack.

•  Survival Manuals
• First Aid Manuals
• Survival e-books
• Native American Handbooks
• Boy Scouts Handbooks

Understanding how to survive in different scenarios requires one to constantly be learning in order to be as prepared as possible.  Prepping is a passion for some.  For others it is simply to keep their family as safe as possible.  Whatever the reasoning is behind why you have decided to prep, you will be better off in the long run.

read Part 1 of this series and learn why preparing for emergencies is so important.

Those that are new to prepping should start with planning for a given disaster and then begin acquiring items for their basic needs.  The logic behind prepping is the same for those preparing for a short term disaster or a long term disaster.  That logic is: To be self sufficient and have the ability to care for yourself and your family independently during an unforeseen disaster.  Creating a disaster check list will add another layer of disaster planning, and expedite the process of getting ready for a disaster, if one comes your way.

Know What You Are Preparing For 

Disasters can strike quickly and without warning.  Knowing what type of disasters could effect the area you live in will help you plan more thoroughly for the disaster.  Deciding on the type of disaster to prepare for will also determine the type of survival gear that is needed.  For example, if a person lives in an area prone to flash flooding and torrential downpours from thunderstorms, the items they choose would be different than survival items chosen for earthquake preparedness.  Typically, the best way to prepare for a disaster is to plan for the worst case scenario so that all areas are covered.  Many think this ideology is a bit excessive, but being completely prepared and self sufficient for a given disaster is the reasoning behind prepping.  It is a state of mind for many.

Types of Preppers

There are different types of preppers – the short term and the long term preppers.  Short term preppers are those that want to be prepared for anywhere between 1 week-3 months.  Many government websites such as The American Red Cross and FEMA suggest every family have a short term food supply in the case that food routes are interrupted due to severe storms, or unforeseen circumstances. 

For longer term needs preppers generally are planning for disasters that have a longer term effect, thus they plan for longer self sufficiency in the event the disaster does occur.  Long term preppers have a short term supply to compliment their long term supply.  A longer term food supply usually includes dehydrated foods, MRE’s, seeds, hand crank wheat grinders, and equipment to be used in an non-technological environment.  For a more detailed list on short term food supplies and longer term food supplies, click here.

Disasters do not happen to other people - they can happen to you, and they can happen to me.  As long as you are prepared for a given scenario, then you already have tools in place when you need it most.  According to some, prepping has become some sort of a social movement.  Preparing for a disaster and being self sufficient has occurred for centuries.  It is nothing new.  It is simply families trying to make the hard times easier.

For information on necessary and essential items needed to prepare for emergencies, go to Prepping: A Beginner’s Guide - Pt. 2

Food Storage Calculator - How much food does a family need?  This nifty calculator can let you know.

Water Intake Calculator - Find out how much water an individual needs based on their specific weight.

Cooking

Cooking Conversion Calculator - Converges different measurements for cooking.

 Printable Version of Cooking Conversion Chart

Environmental

Carbon Foot Print Calculator

Gardening/Mirco Farm

Seed Calculator - Find out how many seeds will be needed for a given amount of land.

Plants Per Acre Calculator – Find out how many plants will be needed per acre. 

Acres Into Square Feet Convergence Calculator - Acres into square feet conversion calculator for area conversions with additional tables and formulas.

Square Feet Into Acres Convergence Calculator - Square feet into acres conversion calculator.

Horse Feed Calculators - Find out how much hay your horse will need for a year.

Precious Metals

Precious Metal Calculator – Evaluates the current online price of all carat golds, silver, platinum, and palladium.  Uses current online prices for a variety of currencies.

Radiation

Radiation Calculator – We are exposed to radiation on a daily basis.  Find out what daily activities we do and items that we have in our homes that emit radiation.

Weapon and Ammunition Calculator

Winchester Ballistics Calculator

Remington Ballistics Calculator

Nuclear Weapons Effects Calculator

Nuclear Detonation in a City - Put in the longitude and latitude coordinates of a city and see what the effects of the weapon will be and how far the fall out will spread

Global Incident Map – Maps out terrorist and other suspicious activity

You may be ready to hunker down and go into survival mode.  But what will happen if something happens to you?  Are your children and dependents as prepared as you are?   Having everyone involved in the preparedness stage is a good way to begin educating the family on their responsibilities in case an emergency arises.  That way, in an emergency state things are calmer, safer and action is ready to be taken.  Anytime a child is asking a question on safety or preparedness - that is the best time to sit down and talk to them. 

Don’t G.O.O.D (Get Out Of Dodge) Without This

A well, organized survivalist should not only have emergency plans and food provisions in place, but also a well organized preparedness manual for the family or group that has all the information needed in case something goes awry.  Think of having a personalized information system at your beck and call.  Prepare for the worst.  There may come a time when the only access to information will be what is in your home.  I began thinking a few days ago, that if something happened to  my husband or I, how would my kids know what to do?  What information would they need to thrive?  I realized that they need a structured information manual listing responsibilities and important information.  This is not only good for kids, but also a very good resource to turn to for adults that has all the information organized and ready at your disposal.

An Emergency Manual can be created to your taste and your liking.  All you need is some time and a few things to get started:

• Three Ring Binder (the larger the better)
• Dividers
• Printer Paper
• Highlighter Pen (optional)
• Printed Out Information
• Pens

Gather Information for the Manual

• Medical Information On All Family Members – Complete emergency medical information including immunization records, blood type, previous injuries, food or medical allergies can be very useful in case of an emergency.  You do not want to waste time running around looking for this information.  Have an “Additional Notes” section at the back of the section for later use.
• Contact Information For Next of Kin – Make sure the family knows who is next of kin and how to get in contact with them.
• Emergency Plans - It’s good to have an emergency plan in place and written down that anyone can turn to for direction.  Emergencies come at the drop of a hat and can cause confusion for those that do not have a well defined emergency plan, back up plan or evac plan.  All plans and details should be included in this section.  Additionally, emergency routes to be taken should be placed in this section as well as maps that would be used. 
•  Complete Inventory List of Supplies - A supply/inventory list is a crucial item that everyone should have on hand.   Itemized food, water rations, medical supplies, seeds, home canning equipment, books, etc should be included.   
• What To Do In The Case Of A Medical Emergency – Think of low priority injuries such as sprained ankles, colds, poison ivy, etc and move on to high priority injuries such as broken bones, heart attack or stroke.  This section is for you  that have on hand and use as a quick referral.  All family members must know where to find this information.  I have a first aid book with illustrations for this section.  Anything the family can look at to get direction. 
• Survival Information- finding food, preserving food, purifying water, food storage, gardening, etc.  Any information that you have found of use, put in down in this section.  It is the basic How-To-Live section.
• Family Notes Section – This section should be used to organize and store important family information such as personal documents, financial information, insurance information, informative notes and listing responsibilities for each family member.  How will they help out?  Why is it important for them to contribute? 
• Inspirational Messages To Keep The Faith – This is an important section to refer to when things start getting harder and children start asking lots of hard questions.  This also teaches them the importance of positive thinking and holding onto their faiths.  Reassurance is very important when it comes to cheering children up.  Find bible verses, songs, poems or write them a letter letting them know why they are so special and how much you mean to them.
• Happy Section – Include of few favorite family stories (birth, funny moments, Holiday stories), a small family scrap book, favorite song lyrics, etc.  This takes the entire family back to a simpler, less chaotic time.  Not to mention a good way to spend some family time together cherishing old memories.
• Favorite Recipes - This is an instant moral booster.  Having their favorite recipes on hand will cheer them up.  If they are old enough, they can make these foods themselves to keep their minds off of negative thoughts.
• Miscellaneous – This is always a fallback section to use for organizing information for later use.

 The Benefit

Being fully prepared can take time and money to invest in goods.  Having an emergency preparedness manual is the next step to fully preparing your family for an emergency.  The time it takes to prepare a manual is not long or very inexpensive.  At this very moment you are already investing your time into reading what you should do to prepare.  Starting your manual is as easy as clicking the print button to print this article.  Keep this manual outline on hand while preparing your family’s manual.  The benefit is everyone will be fully prepared and have a complete  knowledge base on what is necessary to thrive as a family.  If the SHTF you have an entire manual with information that you found and feel is relevant to your family. 

Comparative shopping at the large volume supermarkets typically has better deals than at the smaller stores.  Finding local ads from the large supermarket store websites can save on gas money as well as on shopping time.  Even the Dollar stores carry canned goods and food products that would be good for short term/long term food supplies.  Look for sales at the stores and buy as much of the item as your budget will allow.

There are a few things to consider besides the price of the cans.  While at the store, take a few moments to consider:

• Expiration Dates
• Find Items On Sale
• “In Season” Vegetables Are Typically Cheaper
• See If Larger Canned Food Items Have Better Deals

Find a shelving unit and begin shelving your supplies in any unused space in your home (coat closet, bedroom closet, basements, etc).  There are other supplies one would need such as medical supplies, radios, stoves, sleeping bags, warm clothing, etc.  This blog will concentrate on what to store and how to to store the foods that you will need.

I love this video that the Deschamps Family made.  They used a bathroom for their food storage.  This is really making good use of space.  It’s obvious in the video they have a longer term food supply, but you can see that you start out buying staple foods and add on.

Grocery List for Survival Supplies

Short Term Supply

It is good to have a well rounded short term supply to compliment your long term food stuffs.  A properly stocked pantry will help supplement your long term food stuffs.  Short Term Supplies and Long Term Supplies go hand in hand in order for your preparations to last longer.

• Water
• Canned Goods (meat, veggies, soup)
• Vitamins
• Food Condiments, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Mustard, Ketchup, BBQ Sauce, etc.
• Drink Mixes/Tea/Coffee
• Flour, Sugar, Salt, baking powder
• Spices
• Oil
• Pre-packaged foods – beans, dried peas, rice, noodles, oats, grains
• Ramen Noodles
• Self Canned Goods – Self canned goods adds variety to diet.  Find vegetables that have high nutreint such as pumpkin, etc.
• First Aid Supply – Iodine, Pain Medication (Asprin, Tylenol, etc), Bandanges, Antibiotic Ointment
• Antibacterial Wipes or Hand Disinfectant
• MRE’s
• Ramen Noodles
• Infant Formula – call me crazy, but this has a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients and could help for immune boosts.
• Powdered Milk
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste).
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Kerosene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries for Flashlights, etc.
• Weapons – Just in Case

Long Term Supplies

Higher levels of food are needed to last 3+ years.  Keep buying some of the Short Term Items To Compliment the Long Term

• Water
• Larger Amounts of Short Term Supplies
• Vitamins
• Longer Term First Aid Supply
• MRE’s – susceptible for temperature and storage problems.  good for more short term problems.
• Canned Goods – find some on sale and make sure of the expiration date.  Most last 1-3 years.
• Drink Mixes/Teas/Coffee
• Oil
• #10 cans – Freeze Dried foods can last for  20-30 year shelf life.  Buckets of mylar packaging material.
• Seeds of all kinds – Heirloom and Non-GMO seeds are better. Some to grow, and some to be used for sprouts (pumpkin, alfalfa, broccoli, lentil).
• Mylared Packaged Goods or Super pails of Goods - grains, rice, beans, oats, legumes, flour, corn meal, powdered milk, sugar, salt, baking powder.
• Spices
• Large Storage Containers
• Tools – Axes Shovels, Wrenches, Hammers, Multi Use Pliers, Farming Tools
• Wood – pre chopped
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper, Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Deodorant, Toothpaste)
• Clothing (Lots of Warm Clothing, and Items to Layer Under)
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Keronsene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries
• Weapons – Just in Case