Basics for Every Sensible Prepper AKA Where to Start?
If you have read my previous posts you should have a good idea of the common and most likely disasters or events that may effect you in some way. Now it's time to get this sometimes overwhelming ball rolling.
A good place to start is to think about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. These are the basic and general needs of humans that can help you think about your prepping in a more organized manner.
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| Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs.svg |
Start with the lowest levels of the primed and work your way up as you prep. Remember that it may take you months or years to get above the lower two levels.
Physiological are the very basic needs of human survival.
Breathing: Literally breathing...like if you think you need air tanks to swim to safety, the ability to recycle air in your bunker, H2S air tanks if you live near a sour gas well, specialized First Aid Training, or just the need for a good First Aid Kit.
Food: How long do you predict you may be out of modern day food sources? A day, week, month, or god forbid years. Start with just storing food enough for each family member for one month. This is the start after you have prepped a few other things come back to food and improve your stores. Storing food can be expensive will you need to start gardening and canning? Will you need to survive long term and will your current gardening and food harvesting techniques last?
Water: Short term storing water is great but ways to replenish your water may be needed. Again start with storing enough mineral water for each family member for a month. For the middle or long term start thinking about building rain collection system with simple filtration systems. This is good for urban bug-in and will help you supply water to a garden if you start one. If you have a rural property then tapping into the local stream or drilling a well may be options. If you can not afford drilling or there is not clean fresh water near by you may have the space to increase the size of your rain water collection system.
Sex: This is how humans survive at the most basic levels and is a stress reliever. Do you need birth control? Is getting pregnant during a disaster event advisable? Protect your family and remember that people that have lost all hope or acting out in stressful times may be looking to take sex where they can find it.
Sleep: Natural disasters can be very stressful and sleeping will allow your body to destress and repair any fatigue or injuries you or a family member have sustained. Plan sleeping/watch rotations if you feel you may be in danger. Aside from making sure your basic needs a met try to spend a lot of time resting and sleeping.
Homeostasis: Look here for more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeostasis but the basics is stay warm and give your body the proper nutrients to stay healthy.
Excretion: Sounds silly but keeping regular in stressful times may be hard. Some of your family members may not like the idea of going to the washroom in the same room they sleep or out in the forest with no toilet. Toilet paper maybe all that is needed to keep the kids happy as you travel to your cottage.
Slowly work your way up the pyramid giving proper thought to each section. Remember it's ok to skip something as long as you come back to it. The lower levels are important to the proper actioning of high level needs. It's hard to read a good book and learn new things if you are starving. Likewise it's hard to feed yourself if you have no hope of every reading your favourite book again.
Prepare for the bad but plan for the good. We prepare for a reason. We prepare to fix the wrongs and move on. We prepare to live a full life. Preparing to prepare is only the first step.
Have a great day,
Ian
