You've read enough in this paper to know much we take for granted, like credit or EBT cards, power, food, fuel and water, can be disrupted by events from weather (Texas), through hackers (Colonial Pipeline and JBS meat), to nuclear EMP. You know there is risk job loss, car troubles and accidents, nasty weather and lightning strikes, wildfire, blackouts, national and personal financial stresses, hacked credit cards, as well as crime and civil unrest ignored by police because criminals are released “for Covid.”
How to start prepping?
Some events are more likely than others. Flat tires, car accidents and breakdowns, bad weather, and job loss happen repeatedly-I've had multiple flat tires. Socialist destruction and national financial collapse are relatively rare-countries suffer these once or twice a century although Harris/Biden and Peru are both falling into Venezuela's trap.
Begin with personal risks, starting with small preps that address survival plus specific preps for issues likely to strike you and your family. The big stuff follows, as cash permits.
Life's Needs
Keep in mind what is needed to survive, and preps that can address each. All preps that use equipment require that equipment be tested.
Oxygen and Bloodflow
Our first need is oxygen. Disrupted airflow to our lungs, or circulation from lung to tissue, kills in minutes. Preps include first-aid and CPR training, plus an EPI-pen if severely allergic.
Temperature
Brains work between 96F and 100F, outside this range brain function fails. To maintain body temperature in this range despite weather varying from -20F to 110F, preps include alternate heat sources with power and fuel, plus food, water, clothing, shelter and bedding.
Medicine
Many people depend on modern drugs; survival without some can be limited and withdrawal from others painful. Infected wounds and disease can kill us in days to weeks.
Preps include understanding why we take each drug, learning how to safely withdraw from those not critical to life, hoarding critical drugs, learning wound care and sanitation, getting immunizations updated, and stocking medical and sanitation supplies (including bandages, antibiotics, OTC drugs, etc.)
Water & Electrolytes
We are mostly water, we lose water to urine and sweat; lost water must be replaced. Lack of water kills in a few days. Body water is saltwater with specific amounts of sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride; these salts can be lost during illness or sweat. Salt deficiency or imbalance causes problems including possible death.
Preps include stored water and purifiers, electrolyte solutions, tablets and powdered mixes plus food, water and salt.
Food
Maintaining body temperature, thinking, growing, breathing and physical activity all require food energy. Starvation kills in a month or two. Preps include short, intermediate and long-term food storage, camp stoves and learning to cook basic foods.
Toxins
Some situations expose people to poisons, like carbon monoxide or radiation. Preps include inspecting furnaces, cleaning chimneys, smoke and monoxide detectors, and wearing protective equipment when using poisons.
Security
Without police, some people grab what they can carry-often without need. Preps include organizing for common defense, plus defensive training, weapons and ammo.
Light
Nights are scary when weather is stormy or rioters in the streets. Light also helps security. Preps include flashlights, kerosene lamps and backup power.
Finances
Many people are fiscally strained. Food and other preps do no good if evicted to live on the street. Further, events from flat tires to hurricanes leave us with bills. Preps include getting personal finances under control, building an emergency fund, budgeting, and getting out of debt.
Transportation
Many commute long distances or visit relatives. Cars can be disabled in many ways, with running out of gas and tire troubles being common. Preps include keeping tanks at least half full, spare tires, maintenance, tools, and often-used parts like rotors and plugs.
Power
Accessing and protecting your data, communications, and refrigeration, all rely on electric power. While not critical to life, these can be very useful. Preps require backup power.
Conclusion
Begin small, with general purpose preps considering these needs, focusing first on finances. Expand those preps, and begin preps for specific scenarios, as cash and storage space allow.
WuFlu
In Pakistan, unvaccinated are not just to be prevented from accessing large venues or travel without “vaccine passports,” but are to be punished by blocking SIM cards to disable their cell phones.
Fremont County shows increased “variants of concern” as testing for such variants is becoming more common.
Counts
June 14, 2021, 7 a.m. 176,014,759 infected (3,805,327 dead). U.S. 33,462,286 (599,769 dead); India > 29.5 million, Brazil > 17.1 million. In U.S., California > 3.80 million, and Texas > 2.97 million. Colorado 551,091 cases (6844 dead). Fremont County 6505 (state) with 79 “variants of concern,” county shows 6,397, 3,171 community cases-3,226 in prisons, 4 active hospitalizations, 62 dead, 12,484 vaccines administered. Neighbors Chaffee 1,747, Custer 219, El Paso 72,095, Park 826 Pueblo 19,406, and Teller 1,883.