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Beginner survivalist looking for a place to begin
- Thread starter packerrat
- Start date
Congrats on deciding on investing in your future, I have included some questions that may help you
#1 take an inventory of your current skills, knowledge, and capabilities. Then you know your starting point and where you are strong, weak.
#2 Find a partner interested in the same concerns, buying food and supplies is a lot easier with a group splitting the bills.
#3 What are you preparing for? Will you have to leave your current area and go somewhere else? how will you get there? What is in between you and "there", etc
#4 if you are going to Shelter in place how will you get resources? Rules of 3 apply to everyone 3 minutes without oxygen and your dead, 3 days without water and your damn close to dead, 3 weeks (depending on your current bmi and fat/muscle) before you die of starvation.....WATER is a priority. How will you get clean water?
#5 do you have any medical issues that require special attention? food allergies? Etc
#6 How much room do you realistically have to store survival supplies? Sure making a bed frame out of can food and water bottles is cool but most wives/gf's frown upon that.
#7 How well can you/your close circle keep a secret? Opsec is crucial if you plan to store supplies when those around you have none.
#8 One is none and two is one....how do you plan to replace/repair items when they break?
#9 you get what you pay for in this area but check all labels for information before purchases.....Just because you have a years worth of food that only requires hot water to cook, you may die of a stroke from all the sodium. Your best bet for food storage is adopting the methods of your grandparents. canning, smoking, root cellars, etc.
#10 Do you intend to purchase a "ready made survival kit" or build your own? You will find building your own after answering #1 will be much more beneficial.
#1 take an inventory of your current skills, knowledge, and capabilities. Then you know your starting point and where you are strong, weak.
#2 Find a partner interested in the same concerns, buying food and supplies is a lot easier with a group splitting the bills.
#3 What are you preparing for? Will you have to leave your current area and go somewhere else? how will you get there? What is in between you and "there", etc
#4 if you are going to Shelter in place how will you get resources? Rules of 3 apply to everyone 3 minutes without oxygen and your dead, 3 days without water and your damn close to dead, 3 weeks (depending on your current bmi and fat/muscle) before you die of starvation.....WATER is a priority. How will you get clean water?
#5 do you have any medical issues that require special attention? food allergies? Etc
#6 How much room do you realistically have to store survival supplies? Sure making a bed frame out of can food and water bottles is cool but most wives/gf's frown upon that.
#7 How well can you/your close circle keep a secret? Opsec is crucial if you plan to store supplies when those around you have none.
#8 One is none and two is one....how do you plan to replace/repair items when they break?
#9 you get what you pay for in this area but check all labels for information before purchases.....Just because you have a years worth of food that only requires hot water to cook, you may die of a stroke from all the sodium. Your best bet for food storage is adopting the methods of your grandparents. canning, smoking, root cellars, etc.
#10 Do you intend to purchase a "ready made survival kit" or build your own? You will find building your own after answering #1 will be much more beneficial.
Urban Survival Guide by David Morris is an excellent resource. I bought mine at tru-prep and give it to friends. Breaks the ice when I want to discuss prepping. That and How to Survive the End of the World as we know it by Rawles
I look at survival prep as common sense.
i would start with securing your home. Simple things like longer 4 inch screws in every hinge and deadbolts added security locks. People would poop their pants if they realize how easy it is to kick a door in due to the 3/4 inch screws holding the hinges and lock plates in place. Will this added measure stop someone? No but it will buy you extra time to arm yourself. ask yourself how would i get into this house if i had evil intentions? then add whatever protective measures to fortify that weakness. As i said this stuff is common sense. Everything I own that is needed for lights, communication , cooking I have a back up system that's hand crank or powered by an alternate means. Emergency food and water supply. Never know when a tornado can take out power. Even as simple as keeping your vehicles full with gas in case you need it. Do you have a siphon hose in case you need to remove gas from a parked vehicle? Nothing as valuable as a 15 gallon gas can sitting in your drive way if you need it. Home defense, weapons ammo, baseball bats, whatever it is do you have enough and extra if needed. Do you have the supplies to bug out if necessary? Sometime just having a written plan or list of what you need is good idea. My wife and I have two storage ottomans in our walk-in closets. Those contain her bug out supplies and mine has my bug out supplies. I am not one of those guys thats fears a zombie attack, but I am prepared just in case. My wife actually knows which weapon is designated as hers and which is mine. I hope it never comes to point where I would have to shot people in my yard. The question is am I prepared to if necessary? I hope I never have to answer that question.
i would start with securing your home. Simple things like longer 4 inch screws in every hinge and deadbolts added security locks. People would poop their pants if they realize how easy it is to kick a door in due to the 3/4 inch screws holding the hinges and lock plates in place. Will this added measure stop someone? No but it will buy you extra time to arm yourself. ask yourself how would i get into this house if i had evil intentions? then add whatever protective measures to fortify that weakness. As i said this stuff is common sense. Everything I own that is needed for lights, communication , cooking I have a back up system that's hand crank or powered by an alternate means. Emergency food and water supply. Never know when a tornado can take out power. Even as simple as keeping your vehicles full with gas in case you need it. Do you have a siphon hose in case you need to remove gas from a parked vehicle? Nothing as valuable as a 15 gallon gas can sitting in your drive way if you need it. Home defense, weapons ammo, baseball bats, whatever it is do you have enough and extra if needed. Do you have the supplies to bug out if necessary? Sometime just having a written plan or list of what you need is good idea. My wife and I have two storage ottomans in our walk-in closets. Those contain her bug out supplies and mine has my bug out supplies. I am not one of those guys thats fears a zombie attack, but I am prepared just in case. My wife actually knows which weapon is designated as hers and which is mine. I hope it never comes to point where I would have to shot people in my yard. The question is am I prepared to if necessary? I hope I never have to answer that question.
