Every family is different.  You can go online and find all kinds of articles on what to do to prepare for XYZ, or how to be a prepper and get some step by step plan, with specific lists of foods and supplies.  But we are not cookie cutters.  Our geographic locations are different.  I’m in planting zone 8B; what I could do with a garden is a lot different from someone in zone 5.  Our families needs are different – I’ve got kids with special needs.  I don’t think starvation would even be enough deterrent to get them both to eat oatmeal or wheat berries. I live in a heavily populated area in general, but specifically, my suburban neighborhood is heavily wooded, surrounded by both state wilderness preserve and privately owned undeveloped lands.  My neighborhood was carved out of a hill in the mid to late 80’s.  We have very little flat land for gardening, surrounded by mature trees, with very steep roads.  I have a moderately sized pantry, but no place to centrally store preps in a single space.  I’d LOVE a space like the ones pictured below.  Nope.  Not in my world.

Our knowledge levels are radically different.  I wasn’t raised knowing how to can food, raise livestock, or even garden.  I don’t have any “handy” skills for tinkering with an engine or fixing plumbing or installing my own rain catchment system.  We didn’t camp much; I don’t know how to set up a propane lantern with those little mantle things or cook on a camp stove.  I’ve got a lot to learn.

I do know how to cook.  And cook well I think.  I have lots of basic recipes in my head.  You could toss me in a preppers pantry full of rice and beans and spices and canned goods and as long as I had a stove (I need to learn to cook other ways!), I could turn out a relatively tasty, nutritious meal.  So at least I have that going for me!

First, I had to think about who I plan to support with my supplies if ever an emergency strikes and the SHTF.  Besides my husband and myself, we have a 12yo boy and a 7yo girl.  Both my kids have different special needs, sensory issues, and a lot of food accommodations for texture and tastes.  My mom lives with us about half time.  So at a minimum, I should be planning on supporting 5 persons.

Then I came up with a list of major categories of preparedness.  Some of these things are critical for very short term (i.e. 3 days of supplies ala the FEMA recommendations), some are more relevant to a longer term, but still something we will recover from, others are more geared to truly long term preps – what would we do in the even of the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWOWKI)?  I consider those homesteading skills more than emergency preparedness, but still added them to my list.

This is a major undertaking.  And every list item breaks down more and there is so much information.  It can be overwhelming.

1. Emergency Contacts & Plans
2. Self
3. Water
4. Food Supplies
5. Food Preparation off the grid
6. Medical Supplies
7. Medical Knowledge
8. Sanitation & Hygiene
9. Backup Power
10. Keeping Warm
11. Lighting
12. Self-Defense & Security
13. Financial Security
14. Emergency Communications
15. Create Survival Library
16. Homeschooling & Education
17. Skill Acquisition
    1. Gardening
    2. Composting
    3. Fishing
    4. Foraging
    5. Hunting
    6. Livestock
    7. Cheesemaking
    8. Food Preserving
    9. Homebrewing
    10. Soapmaking
    11. Candlemaking
    12. Herbal Healing & First Aid
    13. Sewing, Quilting
    14. Knitting, Crocheting
    15. Woodworking & Carpentry
    16. Handyman & DIY
    17. Outdoors Survival Skills – knots, shelters, walking sticks, etc
    18. Homemade Self & Home Care Products
18. Prepper Projects
19. Bugging Out