When SHTF, or things go bad, or disaster strikes, you need to be prepared. You can’t get prepared after the emergency has hit. Any resources available will be gone quick, if you’re able to get to them at all. You can’t count on that. On the flip side, if you’ve thought through the possibilities and prepared for them, you’ll be prepared for possibility to become reality. A lot of people don’t think of prepping while things are good, but those who do are ready. Here are the basics of what you need to prep for when SHTF.
Cash Emergency Fund
For a large majority of the SHTF scenarios we prepare for, cash will still be a viable resource. If you look at the 2021 polar vortex that hit Texas, power went out, and cash was the only way people could buy things. People generally believe in currency. Having cash on hand means it’s immediately accessible. You don’t need a bank or a card, or anything else. Cash just works. If you have any other emergencies, such as car troubles, an injury, or anything else, it is just always good to have an emergency fund.
Water Storage
A person can go a long time without food, but you can only go a few days without water. It’s important that you get yourself a good water storage. If you’re just starting out, that’ll probably look like a case or two of water bottles. As you are able, buy yourself some good water storage containers, fill them up, and then cycle them out every 6 months to a year. If you stored them correctly, water doesn’t go bad. We recommend cycling them out regularly just in case, and also it tastes better this way.
Food Storage Prepping
You need a good food storage. Many people get intimidated by this. You can start by just buying a little more of shelf stable foods you’re buying when you’re grocery shopping anyway. Here’s a link on how to get your first month’s food storage for less than $100 if you’re looking to get a start on your basics. That same article will walk you though getting your first 6 months worth of food. And if you’re looking for a more advanced guide to your food storage, you can see our whole food storage library HERE.
Bug Out Bag
When SHTF, you may need to be prepared to bug out, or other words, get out of town. For this you’ll need to have a bugout bag, or 72 hour kit prepared. What should go into this? Everything you need to survive for 72 hours. This includes aspects of everything on this list, plus you’d want to consider clothing, medications, and anything else you may need. Or you can just buy a premade kit. It’ll meet most of your needs.
Water Filtration
There are a lot of options and styles for water filtration. The most basic is the life straw. It’s a straw with a filter built in. You suck water through, and its filtered. The only drawback is you can’t store filtered water this way. It’s extremely simple and compact though, which makes it a great option for a bugout situation, especially if you’re in an area with plentiful ground water.
For a water filter with storable water capability, I recommend the Platypus. I first used a Platypus on a boy scout backpacking trip. If 15 teenage boys aren’t able to break a scout masters water filter, or get sick drinking the water, it deserves its place in the hall of fame. This is an extremely popular option. It’s really simple. You fill up the dirty marked bag and it flows into the clean bag. Then you’ve got what you need when the time comes. This is an especially great option for groups.
Defense Prepping
If you have a good food and water storage, and no weapon, and your neighbor is hungry with a weapon, you won’t have your food and water long. We believe that a disaster or a SHTF scenario can bring out the best in people, but it can also bring out the worst in people. For this reason, we recommend everyone is prepared to defend themselves. We’ve written a lot about different guns, but the best weapon to have in a crisis is the one you’re comfortable with. Are you intimidated about buying or owning a gun? No problem. There are a lot of effective alternative weapons on Amazon that can be shipped to your door so you’ll be ready for a SHTF scenario. You can read more about all sorts of defensive options in our ever growing Tactical Library.
Heat
Cold can kill you fast, especially if you lose gas and or electricity. With few exceptions, no matter where you live, a polar vortex can find you. You need a good heat source for your SHTF prepping. Even if you have a wood burning stove, we strongly recommend that you get a propane heater. We’ve done a good amount of research on fuel storage, and propane lasts the longest and is one of the most efficient options. It’s also a good fuel option for cooking. We love the Mr Buddy propane heater. Its a great option for if the power goes out, and has built in safety features. Its also great for bug out situations, or even just for camping and ice fishing. It runs on the small propane bottles, but you can use an adapter to connect it to a large propane tank if you want. It’ll provide up to 100 hours of heat when connected to a full size tank of propane.
Electricity
There are a ton of electrical options, from generators, to power banks, to wind, and more. Heck, you can even use you car as a generator with the right setup. The simplest option that provides you with a good amount of electricity, and takes little to no knowledge is the Jackery Portable Power station. It uses lithium ion batteries and has a built in inverter, outlet, USB ports, and a screen to give you a status update for your power levels. You can also get a solar panel that plugs into it as well. It’s a clean, simple system that gets the job done.
Conclusion
Things in your life will go wrong. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes in rains, sometimes it snows, and sometimes SHTF. Prepping for SHTF doesn’t end with the list above. Prepping is a lifelong effort. We live in a comfortable world. I can pickup my phone, not even have to talk to another human, and doordash will bring a steak to my door. I can eat that steak in a heated or air conditioned house while watching a sporting event on the other side of the country. Our grandparents didn’t grow up like this. Once you’ve prepped to survive SHTF, you can start looking to prep to be comfortable when SHTF.
Keep Learning
Prepping is an ongoing venture. Because of this, we recommend that you subscribe to our bimonthly newsletter to keep prepping, emergency preparedness, and self reliance on your mind. We promise, we’re not spammy, which is why we only email you twice per month. We hope you think about being prepared more than twice per month, but our newsletter is a valuable resource to help you learn new things, and just to keep prepping on your mind. Right now you can also sign up for free. You can also follow our Facebook Page for regular articles and resources.
