FAQs
prepping answers

Yes, a preparedness kit may be the most important gift a family member or friend receives. By giving gifts that encourage preparedness, your loved ones are one step closer to surviving an emergency situation — that's when the value of your gift becomes most apparent. Preparedness kits vary. If you have a larger budget, you may consider giving a loved one: A fully stocked bug out bag Three months of food storage Camping gear However, your budget may be limited so you may consider gifts that are a bit less expensive but still capable of having a big impact in an emergency. This could include: An emergency radio An emergency car kit A dual-fuel emergency stove A first-aid kit Walking talkies Wool blankets Some things to consider when you buy a preparedness kit as a gift include whether your loved one lives in the city or in a rural area, how much time they spend commuting or if they work remotely, and how much they already know about preparedness. For example, for new drivers, an emergency car kit may be a great idea. This could include medical supplies, basic tools, emergency blanket, and other simple emergency tools. For a young family, you may consider a gift of cloth diapers, a set of walkie talkies, or a simple water filtration system. Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ideas for these gifts. To see some recommendation, read this blog about emergency preparedness gifts.

Yes, prepping can help to ensure that you and your loved ones are better equipped to handle emergencies or disasters. For example, prepping can help you: Increase self-reliance. By having essential supplies, skills, and plans in place, you can minimize reliance on external resources and increase your ability to weather emergencies. Find peace of mind. Knowing that you have taken steps to prepare for potential emergencies can provide a sense of security and peace of mind. It can alleviate anxiety and help you feel more confident in your ability to protect yourself and your family. Enable rapid response. Emergency situations can evolve quickly, and having preps in place enables you to respond quickly. You'll be able to address immediate needs without relying on overwhelmed emergency services or external assistance. Adapt to new situation. Prepping encompasses a wide range of scenarios, from natural disasters to personal emergencies. By having a general preparedness foundation, you can adapt your plans and supplies to different situations, ensuring you're ready for a variety of challenges. Provide community support. By being prepared, you may be in a position to help others during a crisis, fostering a sense of solidarity and community resilience. Remember, it's important to approach prepping with a balanced mindset. While it's wise to be prepared, it's equally important to avoid paranoia. Start by assessing your individual needs and risks. Then, gradually build up your preparedness supplies, skills, and plans over time. Focus on the essentials like food, water, shelter, first aid, and communication, and adapt your preparations based on your location, budget, and personal circumstances. Remember, emergencies can vary greatly, and no one can predict the exact nature or timing of a crisis. Prepping should be seen as a proactive measure to increase your readiness and resilience rather than a guarantee of safety. Learn more: Prepping 101.

SHTF supplies refer to essential items and resources that can help you prepare for a sh** hits the fan scenario. These supplies are intended to help you become more self-sufficient when traditional systems and services aren't available. Note: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. It doesn’t affect your purchase price. The specific items you may consider stockpiling fall into several categories: Food and water. Non-perishables such as canned goods, freeze-dried meals, and dry grains. Learn more about essential food and water in our guide to emergency food and water. Shelter and clothing. This includes tarps and other portable shelters. Medical supplies. You should go beyond a simple first-aid kit and include such things as laceration closures, tourniquets, and prescription medications. You'll also want a book on emergency medicine, such as The Survival Medicine Handbook. Self defense and security. This includes firearms and ammunition as well as non-lethal tools like pepper spray and batons. Communication. You'll definitely want two-way radios and a communication plan in place for emergencies so you can keep in touch with your entire group. Check out this blog post to learn how to create an emergency communication plan. Tools and equipment. This includes multi-tools, knives, and other utility tools; as well as lighting sources like flashlights, lanterns, and candles. Sanitation and hygiene. This is where toilet paper comes in, along with toiletries, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and waste disposal. Energy and power. Solar chargers and power banks can help you recharge small electronics or batteries for hand tools. Large generators could even power your entire home. Bartering and trade items. This refers to all valuable items that disappear during an emergency, things like precious metals, batteries, ammunition, and other items. Reference materials. Get books, then get more books. Nothing can replace the knowledge you acquire when things go bad. Check out these recommended prepping books. Community and social support. Build connections with like-minded people well ahead of any emergency. SHTF scenarios can vary and preparations should be tailored to the specific risks you're most likely to face. While being prepared for emergencies is important, it's also essential to strike a balance with enjoying life now as you prepare for the unknown. Check out this blog post to discover which non-food SHTF supplies you should consider having on hand.

Societal collapse is the fall of a complex human society. Also known as civilizational collapse, it's characterized by the loss of cultural identity, government downfall, and the rise of violence. Collapse can be caused by a combination of several factors, including a natural or man-made disaster, war, financial system failure, or food scarcity. Societal collapse isn't a new threat. The collapse of the Roman Empire was preceded by internal strife, external invasions, economic decline, political instability, and the erosion of Roman institutions. More recently, The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 came about after a combination of economic problems, political corruption, ethnic tensions, and a loss of faith in the central government. The effects of a societal collapse will vary based on the location, cultural factors, and available support. A societal collapse could include: Political and social instability Social unrest Competition for power and resources Economic decline and poverty Scarcity of basic services such as healthcare and utilities Food shortages Lack of clean water Diseases, and more Loss of culture and knowledge While societal collapse is devastating, it can open opportunities to adapt, rebuild, and improve. An extreme fictional example of societal collapse is the popular series, The Walking Dead. in which the characters battle for survival against zombies, rogue outlaws, and outside communities that don't play well with others. Learn more about preparing for emergencies.

Emergency preparedness refers to preventative measures taken to reduce the effects of disaster. Preparedness can include any actions you take to safeguard your property, family, animals, and life. Basic emergency preparedness includes: Building up your food storage Properly storing drinking water Stocking up on medical supplies Raising small livestock Growing a garden It also means obtaining the books you'll need on off-grid living, emergency medical care, foraging, and others. It's making a plan for the most likely disasters to occur in your area. For example, if you live in a forested area, ensure you keep up on fire mitigation and be ready to evacuate for wildfires. If you live in a city, consider having contacts in rural areas where you can take refuge if the water or electric is shut off for a period of time. If you have infants, make sure you have baby formula, baby food, and diapers in your storage. A big part of emergency preparedness comes down to being as self-sufficient as possible. Raise chickens and rabbits, grow a garden, and learn to preserve food. Your knowledge and skills are more valuable than anything when emergency strikes. Learn to filter water, start a fire without matches, forage for food, process animals, defend yourself and your family, etc.

Preppers focus on building a stockpile of essential foods that can sustain them during emergencies or times of scarcity. Non-perishable items are essential because of their extended shelf life and nutritional value. Canned goods are a staple in prepper pantries, encompassing a range of options like beans, vegetables, and fruits. Grains such as rice and pasta are carbohydrate-rich sources of nutrition, offering energy for survival. Dried fruits, nuts, and seeds supply healthy fats, protein, and a variety of nutrients. Long-lasting staples like flour and sugar are versatile for cooking and baking. Powdered milk can provide a source of dairy when refrigeration isn't available. Canned meats and fish offer valuable protein. Jerky, whether store-bought or homemade, is a lightweight protein source that requires no refrigeration. Hydration is vital, so preppers stock water or invest in water purification methods to ensure a clean supply. Electrolyte powders can aid in replenishing minerals lost through sweat. It's crucial to consider dietary restrictions and preferences when building a stockpile. Those with specific needs might include gluten-free grains, lactose-free options, or foods suitable for special diets or for toddlers and infants. Rotation is key to maintaining a functional stockpile. Items should be regularly used and replaced to prevent spoilage and ensure freshness. A well-rounded stockpile balances macronutrients, micronutrients, and variety to promote overall health during prolonged periods of reliance on stored foods. Vitamins and supplements can be valuable additions, compensating for potential nutrient gaps. Multivitamins or specific supplements like vitamin D can help maintain health during extended periods indoors or with limited sun exposure. Ultimately, a prepper's food stockpile should align with their individual circumstances, anticipated needs, and preferences. Beyond sustenance, it provides peace of mind, self-sufficiency, and readiness for unpredictable situations. See what we recommend stocking your one-year of food storage.

SHTF is an acronym for "shit hits the fan." It's an expression used to describe any situation that may lead to a breakdown of social order, infrastructure, and societal collapse. When people talk about SHTF, they're referring to a situation that's chaotic and potentially dangerous — a situation that requires they take immediate action to protect their own personal safety. In an SHTF situation, many of the unprepared may behave irrationally or violently. That's why people begin prepping well ahead of any SHTF event. They want to be prepared to be completely self-sufficient, to hunker down and take care of themselves and their families without venturing into unpredictable and possibly dangerous settings. Events that could trigger an SHTF situation include: A major natural or man-made disaster Severe economic crisis such as hyperinflation or global recession Pandemics or epidemics Political or social unrest Cyberattacks or infrastructure failures Being aware of what's happening socially and politically across the globe can help inform which SHTF scenarios are most likely, and which precautions should be put in place ahead of time. However, prepping doesn't have to be a full-time job. At Practical Prepping, we strive to live a lifestyle that balances our preparedness efforts with enjoying life today in its fullest. Not sure what to stock up on for an SHTF event? Check out these recommended supplies.

Reasonable, or realistic prepping is preparing for emergencies while living in the present. Living, as in enjoying life, spending time with family and friends, and taking time to enjoy your own hobbies or develop talents. It's having a practical plan for possible disasters and preparing for the scenarios most likely to happen in your area. This can include gathering resources, building up your food storage, learning to grow and preserve your own food, and creating a network of like-minded people. Resources that are reasonable to gather include: Short- and long-term food storage Emergency stoves Camping gear Garden seeds Chickens and other small livestock Drinking water Ammunition Personal hygiene items Books on preparedness topics It's reasonable to collect any other items that could be used in an emergency, whether you're facing a job loss or entering a zombie apocalypse. Being realistic with preparedness means you're not going into debt to build a bomb shelter, and that your children are sleeping on mattresses instead of platforms of canned food. This prepping website is specifically about living a preparedness lifestyle so that when the unexpected happens, you move forward without a hitch. You know the drill. You have the skills to be completely self sufficient. Learn how we refined our preparedness plan when we were snowed into a mountain cabin for more than a week.

Bugging in means hunkering down, or staying in your current location (typically your home) during a crisis or emergency situation rather than evacuating to a different location. This approach involves advanced planning by preparing your home to be self-sufficient and secure for an extended period while you wait out emergencies. When you strategize around bugging in, focus on making your home safe and sustainable by stockpiling essential supplies, fortifying your living space, and taking steps to ensure your safety and well-being. The goal is to have the resources and plans in place to survive without having to leave your home. This can be beneficial in situations where leaving may be risky, the crisis is expected to be short-lived, or evacuation routes are unsafe or congested. When planning for a bugging-in scenario, include take the following steps: Stockpile supplies. Gather food and water, medical supplies, hygiene items, and other essentials to last for an extended period without access to stores or services. Secure your home. Reinforce doors and windows, set up alarms, and implement security measures to deter potential threats. Plan for specific emergencies. Develop plans for various scenarios, such as power outages, medical emergencies, or intruders, and rehearsing those plans with family members. Build a communication plan. Set up communication methods to stay informed about the situation outside your home, such as battery-operated radios or other devices. Plan for alternate utilities and energy. Acquire alternative energy sources like generators, solar panels, or batteries to power essential devices and equipment. Discover waste management alternatives. Prepare for waste disposal and sanitation needs without regular municipal services. Be ready to provide medical care. Build out a a well-stocked first aid kit and any necessary medications on hand — and make sure you have a book like The Survival Medicine Handbook for reference. Yes, this one is an affiliate link. If you buy the book through this link, we may earn a small commission. Thanks in advance! It's important to note that bugging in might not be suitable for every situation. Get some tips on when you should be bugging in or bugging out in this blog post.

Bug out originated sometime in the early 20th century but became popular in the military during World War II. It referred to evacuating a location due to immediate danger. The military already used the word “bug” to describe mechanical defects or a glitches in machines or mechanics. When glitches happened, soldiers would say the machine had been “bugged.” From that evolved the term “bug out” to indicate the need for immediate action, evacuation, or retreat. It’s now used to describe individuals or groups rapidly evacuating during emergencies. It emphasizes the need for quick thinking and decisive action when faced with threats or life-threatening conditions. Learn more about bugging out in this guide.

Simply put, it's better to bug in whenever it's safe to do so — especially if you've put effort in ahead of time to prepare your home with essential supplies. However, it may not always be the best choice, depending on the emergency, proximity to danger, and other factors. Learn more about when to bug out and when to stay put in this article: Bugging in vs. bugging out. When it's safe to stay put, there are a lot of advantages. These can include: Familiarity with surroundings. When you stay in your home, you're familiar with the layout, resources, and potential hazards of your environment. This familiarity can give you an advantage when it comes to navigation, security, and utilizing available supplies. Stockpiled resources. If you've acquired sufficient supplies, you'll be better equipped to weather a crisis without having to rely on external resources. Safe shelter. Evacuating can expose you to risks on the road, such as accidents, weather conditions, and potentially dangerous encounters. Bugging in reduces your exposure to these risks. Avoid congestion or road blocks. During certain emergencies, evacuation routes can become congested and chaotic, potentially putting you in even more danger. Bugging in eliminates the need to navigate through these congested areas. Security and defense. You can fortify your home and create defensive measures ahead of time that might deter potential threats, such as looters or intruders. Bugging out might expose you to unknown dangers in unfamiliar locations. Family and community support. If you have a strong support network of family, neighbors, or friends nearby, bugging in can allow you to rely on each other's skills and resources. Medical considerations. If you or your family members have medical conditions that require consistent care, staying in a familiar environment might be better for managing these conditions. All this said, there are scenarios where you don't want to bug in. Bugging out may be better if: You're facing immediate danger. You may need to bug out if your location is in the direct path of a fast-moving disaster, such as a wildfire or a flood. You don't have resources: If you haven't adequately prepared your home with essential supplies, bugging out might be the only viable option to ensure your survival. There's an emergency that involves toxic chemicals. If the crisis has rendered your home environment unsafe due to contamination or hazardous materials, leaving might be necessary. You can't support long-term sustainability. If the crisis is expected to be prolonged and your home lacks the resources for long-term survival (e.g., you live in an apartment on the 13th floor), bugging out to a more sustainable location might be a better choice. Ultimately, the decision to bug in or bug out should be based on careful assessment of the specific emergency, your resources, your location, and the safety of you and your loved ones. Learn more in this guide to bugging out.

While homesteading, hobby farming, and farmsteads all involve agricultural activities, they differ in their primary objectives, scale, and focus. Homesteading prioritizes self-sufficiency, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle; hobby farming emphasizes personal enjoyment and fulfillment through agricultural pursuits; and farmsteads center on commercial agricultural production with a focus on efficiency and profit. Each of these concepts offers a unique approach to living and working on the land, catering to a range of motivations and goals. Let’s look closer. Homestead A homestead prioritizes self-sufficiency, sustainable living, and a deeper connection to the land. While the size of a homestead can vary, the emphasis is on producing a significant portion of their own food, energy, and resources. Homesteaders engage in activities like gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, and natural building. The goal is to reduce dependence on external systems and enhance resilience. Hobby Farm A hobby farm is typically smaller than a traditional farm and emphasizes leisure and enjoyment. While hobby farmers engage in agricultural activities, such as growing crops and raising animals, their primary motivation is personal fulfillment rather than commercial production. Unlike homesteaders, hobby farmers may not prioritize self-sufficiency or sustainable living as their primary objectives. Instead, they may cultivate a variety of interests, from gardening and animal care to crafting and rural aesthetics. While hobby farms can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle and offer educational opportunities, they often involve less intensive practices than homesteading or commercial farming. Farmstead A farmstead focuses on farming. Unlike a homestead, which emphasizes self-sufficiency and sustainability, a farmstead places a stronger emphasis on commercial production for profit. Farmsteads tend to be larger and more specialized than homesteads, with dedicated areas for crop cultivation, animal husbandry, and potentially processing facilities. While some farmsteads may incorporate elements of self-sufficiency and sustainable practices, their primary objective is efficient and profitable agricultural production. Learn more about homesteading and how it relates to preparedness.

Food security is influenced by various factors. By growing your own food you increase self-sufficiency and reduce the impact of external factors. The factors that lead to food security: Availability. This is the physical presence of food in a given area. If you’re growing your own food, it’s available to you. On a commercial scale, availability can be disrupted by weather, trade policies, transportation infrastructure, disasters, and conflicts. Access. You have access to the food you grow. However, if you rely solely on external food growers, access can be disrupted by unemployment, food prices, and conflicting government programs. Utilization. This refers to the ability to use the food in a way that promotes health and nutrition. When you have a home garden, you decide how it’s grown, handled, and used. This can be disrupted on a larger scale when toxic pesticides are used, genetically modified foods are grown, or there’s improper handling that results in foodborne illnesses. Stability. This is all about having access to food over time. When you grow and preserve your own food, you create a stable food supply. Larger-scale stability can be disrupted by malfunctioning distribution systems, political instability, and affordability of food. Learn which garden crops are most important when it comes to food security.

Whether you're a homesteader or you're just beginning to think about growing your own food, there are several benefits of gardening. Let's talk about the top three: Self-Sufficiency Cultivating a home garden empowers you to produce your own food and become more self sufficient — and when you develop self-sufficiency, you reduce dependence on external sources. A home garden can help you increase your own food security and promote a sense of control over what you and your family consumes. Emergency preparedness or prepping Home gardening plays a crucial role in emergency preparedness. In times of natural disasters, economic instability, or other unexpected events, access to food can become limited. A well-maintained garden can serve as a vital backup food source, providing a variety of nutrients and reducing the need to rely solely on non-perishable, processed foods. Gardening also encourages individuals to learn about plant varieties, growing techniques, and preservation methods, enhancing your overall self-sufficiency in challenging situations. Sustainability Gardening fosters the skills of sustainability and resilience. Home gardeners learn essential skills, such as soil preparation, seed saving, and composting, which are vital for long-term sustainability. Growing a diverse range of crops enhances your garden's resilience to disease outbreaks and climate fluctuations. Gardening also promotes a deeper connection to the environment, further supporting sustainable living. Incorporating gardening into your daily life not only yields fresh and nutritious produce, it also imparts essential knowledge about food production and sustainability. This knowledge can help equip you with the tools needed to navigate uncertainties, strengthen your self-reliance, and contribute to a more resilient community.

Homesteading refers to a lifestyle and practice centered around self-sufficiency, sustainability, and a strong connection to the land. It’s about adopting a more hands-on approach to daily needs by producing your own food, energy, and resources. Homesteading encompasses a wide range of activities, including gardening, animal production, food preservation, alternative energy, and DIY skills. People choose to homestead for a variety of personal, practical, and philosophical reasons. The homesteading lifestyle offers a unique blend of self-sufficiency, connection to the land, and a return to more traditional ways of living. Some are driven by concerns about an unstable supply chain, corruption, food security, and a desire for a simpler way of life. Learn more about homesteading.

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So many experiences, including: Trainings in shelter building, starting fires, hunting, etc. Primitive camping and backpacking. Years as a scoutmaster. Electrical outages. A dry well with no easy access to public utilities. Being snowed in for days on end with a house full of guests. Fire evacuations. Living on acreage with no close neighbors. Jeep'n in wilderness areas with no access to emergency help. Mountain living with few "official" resources.

We're homesteaders, living on a mountain property. We raise a few small animals and have to be very self-sufficient where we're located. Because of our landscape and distance from common utilities, we've had to learn to manage: Without electricity for periods of time. Without running water on occasion. Gardening and preserving our own food. Protecting our animals from large and small predators. Protecting ourselves from large predators. These challenges have brought on the necessity to explore a variety of off-grid and survival solutions. Some are great (which we want to share) while others don't quite meet expectations.

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Being preppers, for us, is about more than building our own off-grid paradise. It's about creating a life of self sufficiency, becoming fully self reliant, and sharing that journey with others. We've had mentors throughout our lives who've helped us reach the point we're at today. We've also learned a lot of lessons the hard way — trial and error. We've built up our knowledge, our property, and our SHTF team, and we regularly get questions from people we know personally about preparedness. We realized that if our own friends need help, others do too, so we built this "prepper website" for people who are ready to start that journey to self sufficiency and embrace whatever comes their way with determination of a toddler reaching for a box of cookies.