An Overview of Prepping in Alabama
Alabama is officially one of the deep south states. It’s bordered by Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, and the ocean. Alabama also has about 1,500 miles of waterways, not counting the ocean, which further accounts for the humid and semi-tropical climate.
Alabama State Laws on Prepping
The biggest laws prepping laws have to deal with specific activities, storage, safety, and zoning/building codes. There are laws on Fuel Storage, there are laws about livestock and where you can and cannot have chickens, and there are laws on what you can build and where on your property. When SHTF, its either going to be anarchy, or martial law. Either way, current laws can affect your bugging in by what you can do right now. To learn more and to see federal laws on prepping, see our article, Is it Illegal to Be a Prepper?
Please note that we are not attorneys and this should not be considered legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should talk to an attorney. This is meant to give a brief overview of State Laws that affect Preppers.
We also want to note that while we try to keep these laws up to date, they do change, so if you notice it is wrong or outdated, please contact us HERE.
Unique State on Prepping Laws:
Alabama has a wide variety of laws relating to prepping and emergency preparedness, likely due to the frequency and severity of hurricanes in the area. This Emergency Preparedness group of laws can be found in Section 31-9 Emergency Preparedness. Interesting things to note from this chapter of law is that the government has the power to compel a person to evacuate, so bugging in might not always be an option. If you live in Alabama, you’ll definitely want to have your bug out bag ready to go.
Rain Water Collection Laws:
There are no laws against collecting rain water in Alabama.
Gun Laws:
Alabama has fairly reasonable gun laws. Open carry is allowed, and it is fairly easy to obtain a CCW permit. Alabama also recognizes the CCW permits from every other state.
Alabama Homestead Laws:
According to the Alabama State Constitution, Article X, §205, if you’re in the country or county land, your homestead has to be 80 acres or less. If you’re in a city, village, or town, the property has to be valued at less than $2,000 to be a legal homestead.
Farm Laws:
Alabama Farmers Federation has put together a great resource to answer a lot of questions people may have about farming and farm laws in their document Alabama Ag Laws and You. The best part? It’s free!
Power Generation Laws:
The only law that stands out is actually the lack of any law or policy about net metering for people using solar power. The state doesn’t actually have any policies about net metering, even though every state is required to offer it to people that own solar panels.
Best Bug Out Areas in Alabama
Its important to have a bug out plan. We have looked at the state of Alabama and have identified a few good bug out locations. We recommend places that are high in resources, low in popularity, and are quick to be forgotten by the general public. You’re especially fortunate if you’re able to buy property in one of these, or a similar area. See our Bug Out Location Checklist to help with your planning, but see our list of suggestions to kickstart your bug out plan in Alabama.
National Forests
Alabama has 4 national forests- Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee National Forests. National forests have game and wild spaces, along with other natural resources which makes them great for survival.
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian mountains are proven grounds for hunting and survival. Davy Crocket and Daniel Boone seemed to like it well enough. A lot of it is private, so if you can get yourself a spread, you’ll be doing alright in a bug out situation.
Areas to Avoid When Bugging Out in Alabama
- Big College towns like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile.
- The coast, which is more susceptible to Hurricanes. Move inland.
Good Prepping Groups In Alabama
Preppers generally try to keep a low profile, but its good to have local allies when beginning your prepping journey in an area. Like minded individuals can help one another out and have each other’s back’s. Here are groups to consider getting involved with in Alabama.
Alabama CERT:
Many cities and towns in Indiana have a Community Emergency Response Team. These organizations are full of volunteers who not only prep for emergencies, but also want to be able to help their community in times of trouble. Even if you don’t join an organization, these are the people you want to know in your community. There are more than 25 such teams in Alabama.
Things to be Cautions Of
Weaknesses and Threats
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are a major threat to the state of Alabama. They are killers in and of themselves, so you’ll want to build and reinforce your property with that in mind. Additionally, if you or others in the state are evacuating, your property is at risk from people taking advantage of the situation.
Freeways and Interstates
The interstates and freeways are a potential threat. Indiana has several major freeways that run through the state, both north to south, and east to west. Both government forces, aggressors, and just wanderers are likely to use these roadways, so these are worth avoiding.
Weather
Alabama has a humid subtropical climate. The state has an average annual temperature of 64 °F. Temperatures will obviously be warmer in the southern portions of the state, and it’ll be cooler up north as you get into the Appalachian Mountains.
Strengths of Prepping in Alabama
Farming
There are a ton of farms in Alabama. Alabama has both a generous growing season and a high moisture level. Because of that, its not terribly difficult to grow a garden. Get to know your local farmers. They are a great resource and are more self sufficient and more prepared for a disaster than most of the general public.
See Prepping in another state
Prepping by State:
Alaska
Arizona
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