Just because the kids are going back to school, doesn’t mean preppers are off the hook! Whether you consider yourself a prepper or not this is a good time to review some skills, stalk-up on supplies, and get prepared.
WHAT IS A PREPPER?
Before we start PREP school, I know some people are still confused who Preppers actually are. Wikipedia describes preppers as:
Preppers or Survivalists are individuals or groups who are actively preparing for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures that may help them survive a catastrophe.I like to think of preppers as life-long Boy Scouts. The Boy Scout motto has always been to “Be Prepared” and that is exactly what preppers are trying to do.
WHO ARE PREPPERS?
There are a lot of inaccurate views and misconceptions out there, especially from the media. They sometimes define preppers as paranoid selfish hoarders, who collect guns and ammo, and live in underground bunkers waiting for the world to end. That description may describe a few, but the majority of preppers are just regular people trying to prepare for whatever life may throw at them.
Preppers take the time to understand history, look at risks, and pay attention to their surroundings. They then take action to obtain the supplies and skills they need to prepare for scenarios that they might possibly be faced with.
Preppers can include anyone who:
- has a spare tire in case they have a flat.
- has a 1st aid kit and knows how to use it.
- learns how to grow and prepare their own food.
- has extra batteries and flashlights in case their power goes out.
- has an evacuation plan for emergencies.
- gets some extra food and water for times they can’t get to the store (or in my case, HATE to go)!
EVERYONE to some extent should be a prepper! When people aren’t prepared, they put the people around them at risk. Capt. Bill from The Prepper Journal made a great point when he said:
"People who are not so prepared merely place added risks on the people around them once they become desperate. This phenomenon was observed in the aftermath of Katrina where desperate people took advantage of anyone around them! Even inside the (‘safety’) of FEMA camps that were established for the survivors of Katrina, gangs took over inside the camps and engaged in all forms of criminal activities, including assault, extortion and rape."
6 SUBJECTS PREPPERS SHOULD BE LEARNING
A Prepper is always learning, and even more importantly, putting that information to good use! With school starting back-up I encourage you to take a chance and go back to school too.
Pick a favorite subject, or one you don’t know much about, and make a goal to learn more about it! Here are some suggestions to help get you started:
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
- Emergency Kits & Bug Out Bags
- Disaster Preparedness
- Communication/Ham Radio
- Emergency & Supply Lists
- Shelter
SURVIVAL SKILLS
- Home & Self-Defense
- Gardening & Homesteading
- Powerless & Off Grid Cooking
- Financial Preparedness
FOOD & WATER STORAGE
- Recipe & Menu Planning
- Buying Food Storage
- Canning & Preserving Food Storage
- Storing & Organizing Food Storage
- Cooking with Food Storage
MEDICAL & DENTAL
- 1st Aid Kits & Medical Supplies
- Fitness & Health
- Emergency Medical Skills
- Emergency Dental Skills
SANITATION
- Baby Care – Diapers, Wipes, etc.
- Women, Men, & Kids Hygiene
- Homemade Hygiene & Cleaning Supplies
- Toilets, Showers, Dishes, and more…
HUNTING & FISHING
- Using Rifles, Bows, & Rods
- Cleaning & Field Dressing Animals
- Processing Animals
Did I miss a subject you’re interested in? Let me know!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO LEARN?
I know I’ve been slightly scatter-brained this Summer (I blame the kids on that :), but let me know what subject (from the list above) you want to learn at Prepper School!
See that SURVEY on the TOP LEFT? Yes, that one! FILL IT OUT ;) – Feel free to leave a comment below too!
The subject with the MOST VOTES WINS ( & I promise I’ll stay focused and help you learn more about it)! I want you to succeed in whatever preps you’re making! I may not have all the answers, but I can definitely find out for you!
It’s never too late to go back to school, so let’s go back together!
[signoff]
Jamie, great article! I’ll add anyone with an insurance policy of any kind falls into the preparedness category :) Love the life-long Boy Scout meme!
With bow season just around the corner, anything topic dealing with hunting is fine with me :D
Keep doing the stuff!
Todd
That’s the one I’m secretly hoping for! I think I’ve written about a dozen posts in my mind ;) Just not sure what type audience I’m working with. The last couple pics I posted of dead deer on facebook, you would of thought I just committed mass murder by the comments :)
I’ve often wondered how folks think their food gets to their plate????
BTW, I was interviewed by Joyce Pierce the other day and your name came up. She thinks very highly of you, Jamie. We just don’t know how you’re doing the stuff with four kids! :D
You better let me know when she airs your interview! I definitely want to listen! She is so lucky! I’m like your #1 fan :)
As far as getting stuff done, I’m not doing much of anything right now except threatening kids to pick up toys, and stop breaking stuff. It’s not working out too well!
Great article boiling it down to the basics. I’m a native Floridian, and I like to say we Floridians are preppers whether we know it or not thanks to hurricanes, especially after 2004. I used to get weird looks when I mentioned “preparing” or “being prepared.” Now, some of those people who gave those weird looks are quietly asking me how to get started. I have passed this article (link) along on my FB page. GOOD. STUFF.
Thanks for sharing the article with others! We all prepare in different ways like you said, or at least we should be! I love how you mentioned people quietly asking you questions, the same thing is happening to me. The more our society becomes dependent on grocery stores and government, the more people will realize they might need to have a back-up plan.
As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, I can tell you that what you quoted in your article was very true. If I could sum up the circumstances in a couple of words, they would be “Total Anarchy!” Lawlessness ruled and desperation drove many into situations that are too horrific to even remember. I stumbled into the prepping world (we have prepped for emergency preparedness for evacuation purposes for hurricanes) quite by accident, as I attended a Homesteading class in my area thinking I would learn better ways of gardening in compact spaces. Wrong! Well, right in a way, but I learned so much more! Since then my whole lifestyle has begun to change, much for the better! Thank you for taking your time to keep us “newbies”, as well as us all, informed. I enjoy it very much, plus a do feel as if I am back in the classroom!
Thanks for sharing your experience, I can’t even imagine what that must have been like, but something I hope to avoid at all cost. I would hate to have to be forced into a similar situation if there is anything I can do to prevent it!
I started with just learning a few things, but it really can be a lifestyle change! It really does feel like going back to school, there is so much to learn! It’s much more fun learning together, excited to have you along!
I have to say I’m interested in learning more about all of it, but I’m most interested in processing animals for meat. I know how to do a rabbit and a bird, but no clue on any of the big animals like deer.
Great, I think I can add in a few posts about processing deer for you, especially with deer season coming up! I don’t know much about rabbits, maybe you can teach me a few tricks!
I’m slowly trying to learn bits and pieces of each of those, though it’s hard work that I know will take me years to master even on a basic level!
Is that the house from Mrs. Doubtfire?? Like to learn more about everything! Thanks. :)
I would like to learn how to make a bow and arrow from trees.
Too funny you mention that. We actually just made one!
I would like to learn quite a few things, canning, dehydrating, smoking, making potatoes, and rice flour. How to grow things not native to my area, or even this country, etc… The best method of gardening, such as vertical, hydroponics, etc… There is so much to know. A lot of it will be relearning, as my family did these things when I was young. Now they are all in their 70’s &80’s, so I need to be able to pass it on to mine, since we don’t live back there, where they are, and some things were done by the males. Well I have to know how to pass that along as well, because out here, I’m the oldest in the family. If I don’t teach them how will they know?