Prepping for Beginners: How to Start Prepping in 90 Days

Are you new to prepping and feeling overwhelmed by the thought of getting started? Prepping doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor. With a 90-day plan, you can gradually build your emergency preparedness supplies and knowledge, without breaking the bank or feeling too overwhelmed.

build your emergency preparedness supplies and knowledge

Here’s a simple guide on how to start prepping in 90 days:

Week 1-4: Start with the basics

  • Create a list of emergency supplies you need for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies.
  • Stock up on a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each person in your household.
  • Invest in a reliable emergency radio and a first-aid kit.

Week 5-8: Expand your supplies

  • Increase your food and water supplies to a 2-week supply.
  • Purchase a good quality tent or shelter for your family.
  • Invest in a good quality water filtration system.

Week 9-12: Enhance your prepping skills

  • Learn basic survival skills like starting a fire, building a shelter, and purifying water.
  • Join a local prepper group or online community to learn from other experienced preppers.
  • Practice using your emergency supplies, so you know how to use them when it really counts.

By following this 90-day prepping plan, you’ll have the essential supplies and knowledge to better protect yourself and your loved ones in case of an emergency. Remember, prepping is a journey, not a destination, so keep learning and building your supplies over time.

Don’t worry, you can become prepared for anything in just 90 days!

protect yourself and your loved ones in case of an emergency

Here’s some more tips to help you start prepping in 90 days:

Week 1-2: Research and Planning

Make a plan: Before you begin prepping, it’s important to have a plan in place. Determine the types of emergencies you may face in your area and create a plan for each scenario.

  • Research potential disasters and emergencies in your area
  • Identify your family’s specific needs and vulnerabilities
  • Create a budget and a prepping checklist

Week 3-4: Emergency Food and Water

Gather emergency supplies: Start with the basics such as a first aid kit, flashlights, and batteries. Then gradually add to your supplies over time, including survival food, water storage, and shelter options.

  • Stock up on non-perishable food items
  • Store water for emergencies

Week 5-6: First Aid Kit and Emergency Supplies

Build a bug out bag: A bug out bag is a portable kit that contains essential items to help you survive for 72 hours. Make sure your bug out bag includes basic supplies such as food, water, shelter, and clothing.

Gather emergency supplies: Start with the basics such as a first aid kit, flashlights, and batteries. Then gradually add to your supplies over time, including survival food, water storage, and shelter options.

  • Assemble a comprehensive first aid kit
  • Purchase and organize emergency supplies like flashlights, batteries, and communication devices

Week 7-8: Personal Protection and Security

  • Purchase self-defense tools
  • Evaluate home security measures

Week 9-10: Shelter and Hygiene

  • Stock up on hygiene essentials like soap and hand sanitizer
  • Plan for alternative shelter options if necessary

Week 11-12: Practice and Review

Learn survival skills: Knowing how to start a fire, filter water, and navigate without a GPS can be crucial in a disaster scenario. Take classes or watch online tutorials to learn these essential survival skills.

  • Practice emergency drills with your family
  • Review and update your prepping plan and checklist
you can become better prepared for whatever emergencies may come your way

By following these steps, you can start prepping in just 90 days. Remember, prepping is a process, and it’s important to take things one step at a time. Start small and gradually build up your supplies and skills over time. With dedication and persistence, you can become better prepared for whatever emergencies may come your way.

 

100 Items That Will Disappear First In The U. S. When The SHTF (updated)

We saw it with Sandy, and now you are seeing it with the severe winter storms this year. We saw it with Covid, the un-prepared hoards of people buying anything and everything off of the store shelves. (remember the toilet paper run of 2020)

Natural disasters happen. It’s Mother Nature. Do you think you could last a few days, weeks, or even months without the basics of food, water, gas and electricity?

What is your plan? Do you have food insurance built up? Water? Fuel? Etc…

100 items that will disappear

You can start small and build up your supplies over time. You may even have many of theses items already.

Below is a list of the 100 items most likely to disappear in a disaster scenario:

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.

stock up in preparation

14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair-care/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Work-boots, belts, Levi’s & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soup-base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. “Survival-in-a-Can”
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/Candy/Chocolate
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & Bandanas, cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/Chickens/Rabbits

Some Thoughts From a Sarajevo War Survivor:

Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war – death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. But you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a water well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold‘s.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity – it’s the easiest to
do without (unless you’re in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy – it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to “warm”, not to cook. It’s cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.
6. Bring some books – escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it’s great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you’ll figure most of that out on your own anyway – trust me, you’ll
have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you’re human can fade pretty fast. I can’t tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

Keep Supplies Safe During a Power Outage

Of course, the best time to prepare for a disaster is before it strikes – but, when you find yourself facing any sort of emergency before you’ve had time to prepare, you’ll want to do everything you can to protect your precious supplies – especially food and water.

Best solar generators for power outage.

Keep these tips in mind (or print them out and keep them on hand) in case you ever find yourself caught off guard.

Keeping Food Safe During a Power Outage

Of course, the biggest concern is food spoilage. You can minimize the amount of spoilage experienced by:

  1. Keep the doors to your freezer and refrigerator closed, and food will stay cold for about four hours.
  2. Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator to monitor temperatures. Food that reaches 40 degrees or higher can’t be refrozen and should be disposed of.

In addition to these tips, be sure to keep a minimum of three days of non-perishable food items on hand that don’t require running water or heating for consumption.

Keeping Water Safe During a Power Outage

In some areas, water may stop flowing to your home if the power is out. When this happens, you’ll have no choice but to rely on personal water supplies or water purification devices. It’s best to keep a supply of water on hand.

Not including washing, and cleaning, the average person needs at least one gallon of water per day to remain properly hydrated. The more water you can store, the better off you’ll be – but be sure to keep at least five gallons on hand for each adult and child in your household.

Keeping Other Survival Supplies Safe During a Power Outage

While most of your supplies are unlikely to suffer damage during a power supply, there’s always a chance that desperate neighbors come to your home for help. Protect yourself and your family by keeping the details of your supplies to a minimum. Your neighbors are far less likely to try and steal what they don’t know you have.