An emergency, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is: “…an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action, or an urgent need for assistance or relief.” Throughout our lifetimes we may see many types of emergencies not just the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) types of emergencies such as nuclear war or economic collapse that we should be prepared for.
I have found that in my life choosing the prepper lifestyle has aided me in many such emergencies. Once, for instance, I found when I was laid off from work that my preparedness and stringently frugal rationing kept my family fed.
When I became ill and my doctor told me that I could no longer work my prepping and survival preparation kept my family afloat for the six months we had to wait until my Social Security benefits kicked in. I was never so glad to be a prepper in my life. I had food stores to last a while but I still needed other resources that I needed I hadn’t counted on. I live in an apartment in the center of a small town in Michigan. In a small town resources are limited but they are available. While waiting on Social Security I had to lean on my prepping skills and I learned even more valuable techniques on how to survive like the value of rationing, and more.
Due to my personal situation I had to sell my vehicles. Not every situation is the same, but I learned how to live without a mode of transportation. This is not something that was even on my radar the year before. So, being unprepared for loss of transportation is now something I prep for. Whether it be bicycle or something else and I train to be able to use my legs as well, counting on them as a last resort.
Money or lack thereof is also an emergency situation. Where can you find it if you need it? If you don’t have transportation there are bottle returns, barter or trade in pawn shops, and my personal favorite is searching for coins. I would look for coins at old pay telephones, laundromats, parking lots, and as a last resort drive drive-thru parking lots, after closing. I have found as much as $20 this way. I also save every chance I get. I don’t put my saved money in a bank. Instead, I use the empty dead space in my house such as baseboards, under stairs, and inside false outlets to store my saved money safely. I also have found that having some side jobs of some kind is a valuable asset. Some stream of income that can bring in money — even from cleaning houses, making a craft, et cetera. Even as little as $200 can make or break the bank at times. Side hustles are really an amazing prepper tool to keep money — that liminal resource — flowing.
For food if food stamps cannot always be counted on. The system is very strict and self-reliance is always a better way to go. Not everyone lives on acres of farmland and can grow their own food. Those of us in apartment complexes have limited space. So, food banks and churches, Salvation Army, and so on have to become resources. For many it’s a matter of sucking up pride. I had to have a source of food but for fresh fruits and vegetables for my family, this was a must. My children were not exactly children more like older teens but still required the health and nutrition required by fresh fruits and vegetables. So I had to suck up my pride and stand in the food pantry lines. In the end, it was good that I did so.
When an emergency that you don’t count on such as an illness hits your family you do what you have to do. I also foraged for food in the woods becoming adept at identifying edible plants and berries. Blackberries and raspberries are plentiful in the summer months in my regions and a dandelion salad is not something bad. Make sure to wash the greens first, of course.
One consideration that should be prepared for is if you lose the ability to prepare due to a house fire and losing everything. How do you rebuild? How much would your losses be? I have had many friends lose everything simply because of bad AC electrical wiring in their homes. Some of them had the funds to rebuild but had to live in hotels with their children for months. But others lived in recreational vehicles (RVs) on their properties. Needless to say, the emotional and mental toll was immense.
What else can you consider an emergency situation? Perhaps a flood, hurricane, or a tornado. Yes, those are the extreme situations but what about the everyday emergency situations of life? Job loss, health issues, homelessness, or fire. How prepared are you for these emergency situations? What can you do for these in your life and preparation to protect your family? Planning and having a strategy and strategic plan in place for everyday emergencies is a critical part of SHTF planning that preppers can easily overlook.
Taking care of any pets or animals also becomes a consideration. How do you properly care for them when there seems to be no means. I found that animal shelters became a huge help and resource. Many donate food and to those in emergency situations. Humane societies will give out pet food for those in need. Now I am preparing for my dogs which I didn’t have before. I keep extra dog food on hand and the local stores that have the vaccines on hand I purchase extra for those I can give my dogs when needed. I also keep emergency veterinary numbers in my prepper journal, which I carry with me at all times.
My prepper journal is my go-to book. It has all my information, my children’s information and all the most important life-saving information that I can put into it. Such as radiological information, blood transfusion information, important how tos, basically anything that could save my life at the tip of my fingers. It has maps on local water sources, recipes on how to make lye from ashes and other important needed items like soap and detergents. It contains medication lists that are updated as needed. It also has a combo lock on it so that way it is safe.
So one thing I also asked myself is what to do if I am not home and an emergency situation arises? I made step-by-step instructions for my children in a binder for every situation I could think of. From nuclear war, economic collapse, flood, fire, you name it it’s in the binder. My children are not as prepper savvy (being age 24 and 20) as I am but it gives me great comfort knowing that it’s there, they know it’s there and available for them. It also has a list of resources and locations of where everything is at their fingertips should they need it.
I included how tos for the dogs, survival techniques as well so they could be completely self-sufficient if in a SHTF situation and I were not be able to get back to them, they could be okay. If, for instance say, a nuclear war should happen in a worst-case scenario they would know exactly what to do and be confident. Granted, an apartment is not the ideal place to be when a nuclear bomb goes off. However, they would know how to protect themselves to some degree and we are far away from any real targeted areas hopefully to be in any real fallout path. One can only hope right. Not everyone can afford a bomb shelter in this day and age. Only my kids and I know the location of the binder due to the contents of the binder. I keep it updated with the most current knowledge possible.
A couple of positive points about going through an emergency is that it #1 gives you an opportunity to utilize your skills. Put them into practice. #2 it gives you a chance to cycle through your food stores so they don’t get old and you have a chance to replenish old ones. Granted, some have a 25-year life span, it’s still better to utilize the ones that don’t and have fresh on hand and use a first-in in first-out (FIFO) method whenever possible. It makes inventory easier and adds the ability to put some variety, and test what you like and don’t like in a SHTF situation. #3 Who really wants to eat stale food anyway?
I believe any situation that can disrupt your day-to-day well-being from a health crisis to nuclear war can become a SHTF situation. No one wants to go through life living like an emergency can happen at any moment but being prepared for any emergency makes life a lot easier and more comfortable. Preparing for such can make the difference between merely surviving it to thriving in it.
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