Personal Commitment
Five Things You Can Do Now
- Brainstorm and make a list of the crises you or your family could face.
- Use worksheet 2.1 to rate the likelihood of various crises.
- Decide what the three most likely crises you could face in the next five years might be.
- Check out several preparedness websites and blogs that interest you.
- Discuss your vision with your family and friends.
Preparing for a crisis is a major commitment. Although it can be a challenge, it can be simplified by acquiring knowledge and developing a methodical plan.
Acquire Knowledge and Create a Plan
Becoming prepared begins by building a solid foundation of knowledge.
Being ready for a major crisis takes substantial thought and effort. It also requires space and some expense. You may need to make significant changes in lifestyle. The process can be overwhelming, and you may hinder your progress if you try to tackle it all at once, but with a little organization and taking it one step at a time, you will succeed in creating a plan that works for you.
Start by building a solid foundation of knowledge. You will be making many decisions, and sufficient and accurate information will help you make good ones. Next, following the guidelines in this book, devise a systematic plan broken down into manageable steps. Since your decisions will be based on your needs, expect to implement them following your own timeline.
Develop a Personal Vision
How you prepare will depend on your circumstances. Take some time to think about which crises are most likely to happen to you.
The vision you develop will guide your preparations. As you learn more, you may alter your vision. But it is important to decide where you will focus. Your vision will give you a foundation for evaluating the recommendations in this handbook as well as in other sources, and it will help you with knowing how to allocate your time and resources.
Learn from Others
As you develop your vision, consider others’ ideas. There are many perspectives on preparedness and survival, and you can learn something from each of them.
Become acquainted with the varying philosophies of survival and preparedness specialists by visiting their websites and reading their articles and books. Consider and evaluate them as you form and articulate your own personal vision for preparedness.
Trust Your Thinking
It’s good to discuss your ideas with trusted friends and family members, but remember, it’s your future at risk, so don’t simply accept someone else’s point of view. Think it through. Do you agree with their point of view? If you don’t, why not?
Also, don’t ignore a possible crisis just because it makes you uncomfortable. It is up to you to create the most likely scenarios you believe you could face.
You don’t know exactly what crises you will face or when you might face them. Things no one has anticipated or predicted can turn your world upside down. Have a vision but be flexible with that vision.
Cultivate a Self-Reliant Mindset
Being prepared is a mindset. For the self-reliant person, it is a thoughtful and intentional way of living. In our current society, we spend a lot of money paying other people to do things we should probably do for ourselves. When you live in a self-reliant way, preparing for crises is not something additional or separate—it is just part of life and will naturally be a priority as you allocate your resources.
For example, you may want a heat source that makes you less dependent on utilities. You might consider purchasing an efficient woodburning stove now so that procuring firewood and starting up the stove on a cold day becomes second nature. And you may be surprised at the peace of mind it gives you.
Or, if you desire the wholesomeness and pleasure of eating homemade whole-wheat bread, it would be important to purchase a grain mill and a good bread mixer. Making bread will become routine, and not only will you enjoy delicious, nourishing bread, you will also pay for your grain mill and bread mixer with what you save.
Preparedness is part of the self-reliant mindset.
Likewise, if you like the goodness of homemade jams and preserves, you may want to plant a small berry patch or a few fruit trees. You will be amazed at the amount of fruit you get from just a few plants or trees and the satisfaction it gives you.
These examples reflect a way of living—simple, self-reliant routines folded into your life. As you contemplate becoming better equipped for crises, consider ways you can incorporate preparedness into your daily living.
Include Your Family
Most likely, one of the reasons you are preparing is because you care about your family and their physical well-being. Be sure to include your children in this effort. Self-reliance is a big part of being prepared for the unknown, and children can learn skills and plan for their own safety. When children learn to take responsibility and to problem-solve, they are on the road to becoming self-reliant.
Personally Speaking
Knowing how to work and stick with something is part of the preparedness skill set. Like many parents, we tried to teach our kids how to work. When they were young, I valued giving them a wholesome breakfast. When they were older and I returned to work outside our home, we felt it was important to continue that practice. The problem was, I no longer had the time. So each fall as we organized for the new school year, we gave that responsibility to one of our kids. Jack supervised, and within a couple of weeks, breakfast was running smoothly. Each day of the week had its own menu, and the kids became proficient at cooking oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and French toast. At the time, I didn’t realize that this daily responsibility was not only helping them feel at home in the kitchen; it was also giving them confidence and a self-reliant work ethic.
It was natural for our kids to start earning their own money as they got older. Their primary job, of course, was being a student. But they learned to balance school, studying, extracurricular activities, and social life with their jobs. They learned the value of work and continued to develop self-reliance.
I know several families who have a family business their children are a big part of and where those children learn invaluable skills. I have seen successful honeybee operations, lawn-maintenance companies, piano studios, Etsy shops, shaved-ice stands, chicken and rabbit farming, and 4-H livestock-raising projects. Our children built a window-washing company they passed down from sibling to sibling to help pay for college.
Anticipate Consequences
Begin narrowing down the list of crises to the potential crises you might face. Consider the possibilities and examine various perceived threats. Which are most threatening? How would they affect you and your family? What can you do now to lessen their impact?
Do you envision a disaster where your home is at risk? Will you have to leave your home quickly, or will you be able to stay and shelter there? How will you know if or when it is time to leave? What information will you trust?
Chapter 1 contained a general rundown of possible disasters and crises. You probably already started evaluating which you should prepare for. In this chapter, you will continue to make it personal and anticipate which crises you are more likely to face. Use worksheet 2.1, “Rating Your Likelihood of Experiencing a Crisis or Disaster,” to evaluate and rate the likelihood of certain crises or disasters in your circumstances. Rank them on a scale of one to five, then begin thinking about the preparations you’ll need to make. Your responses to this worksheet will help guide your planning in chapter 4. Worksheets can also be found as downloadable PDF files on our website, CrisisPreparedness.com.
Personally Speaking
As you consider what preparations you need to make, contemplate unexpected events. For example, in the Northwest, where I grew up, hurricanes were unheard of, but on October 12, 1962, our family experienced the fury of a hurricane, technically a typhoon, as it unexpectedly raged up the Oregon and Washington coasts with sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour and gusts over 150 miles per hour. Known as the Columbus Day Storm, it veered inland and wiped out the power grid, causing outages that lasted weeks. It blew down over fifteen billion board feet of lumber, knocked out radio and TV transmissions, collapsed barns, damaged over 55,000 homes in Oregon alone, and killed 46 people. Luckily, my parents were resourceful, and we survived with minimal inconvenience. But I will never forget the alarm and uncertainty I felt as we watched the big maple trees in our backyard being fiercely blown about at the height of the storm.
Not twenty years later, from the vantage point of their fishing boat on the Columbia River, my parents watched in awe as Mount St. Helens erupted and plumes of ash filled the sky. They lived southwest of the mountain and were spared the destruction because the prevailing winds carried the ash and debris east, where others, unfortunately, felt the devastation. Fifty-seven people died in the catastrophe. The power of nature reminds us that we need to be ready for anything.
Personal Crises
Perhaps your vision includes being better prepared for individual hardships such as injury, illness, or unemployment. What is the likelihood of these things happening? How can you make such events less traumatic? You may want to view preparedness as another form of insurance for when your family goes through rough times.
Natural Disasters
Do you foresee any natural disasters? Which are most likely to occur where you live? Do you anticipate a winter storm, hurricane, tornado, or earthquake? How long will the disaster last? Will timely help be likely? Who will you be able to count on for support?
Do you need to fortify your home, build a storm cellar, or put in an emergency power source for heat, light, and refrigeration? If your area is subject to prolonged drought, should you consider alternative water sources?
Man-Caused Crises
How do you see any man-caused crises unfolding? How widespread will they be? Do you anticipate monetary instability, price controls, shortages, or rationing? What about civil disturbances, mob rioting, or even a complete breakdown of law and order? Do you see continuing terrorist attacks causing more turmoil?
Will essential services such as transportation, communications, police and fire protection, and utilities be disrupted? Will food production and distribution be interrupted? Will the lack of medical services and proper sanitation lead to health crises and epidemics? Will looting and violence become widespread? If these crises are what you anticipate, you will want to learn what you can do to improve your chances of surviving them.
How Long Should I Prepare For?
Preparing for a year can see you through crop failure, prolonged unemployment,
or civil disruptions and give you time
to adjust to new circumstances.
Preparing for a Year
Crises come in different magnitudes and durations. Naturally, if you prepare for the worst case, you’ll be prepared for anything less; thus, it’s wise to prepare for at least a year where possible. In many parts of the world, if the growing season is disrupted and the food crop can’t be harvested, it’s at least a year before substantial replacement food can be grown.
Additionally, a year of preparation can see you through prolonged unemployment or civil disruptions and give you time to adjust to new circumstances. It also gives you the potential luxury of sharing with others. Thus, most of the recommendations in this book are based on preparing for one year.
Preparing for a Shorter Amount of Time
That said, preparing for a year is a huge undertaking! You will need to decide if that does, in fact, match up with your vision. Your preparation will depend on your situation and your resources. Consider preparing for the duration of a specific crisis. It might be a month, a week, or just three days. Start with what you can manage, then work up to longer periods. In most instances, the advice in this book can be adapted to fit shorter periods.
How Much Will It Cost?
Costs can vary significantly according to perceived needs and desires. Much will depend on what you already have. Maybe you’re starting from nothing. If you feel comfortable with just the basics, the cost should not be too overwhelming. On the other hand, an upscale retreat in the mountains with state-of-the-art, off-grid technology could run into the millions.
There are many ways to minimize costs. I include budget tips throughout the book wherever possible. Also, keep in mind that many preparedness items are useful in other situations.
Common Sense Thriftiness
Again, think of preparedness as insurance or a type of investment. If you regularly save or invest a portion of your income, consider doing so in the form of tangible preparedness items.
Make the most of the money you have. Budget for preparedness. Be proactive about your choices. Compare products and find the best values. For example, a family of four will need about 1,500 pounds of wheat for a basic year’s supply based on the 7-Plus Basic Plan described in chapter 16. That can cost as little as $800 or as much as $2,000 and more, depending on how it is packaged and where you purchase it.
In the end, you must decide how important it is to be prepared for possible crises. If you are committed, you will prepare.
Look for savings in store ads, special promotions, liquidations, and closeouts. Also, remember that purchasing quality items often pays off.
Be wary of all-inclusive preparedness modules. Although they may seem convenient, they will not be tailored to your specific needs. Plus, they are expensive and may include inferior products. If you want to make an educated decision about food-storage packages, read “All-Inclusive Menu Plans” in chapter 14.
Replace Convenience and Processed Foods with Basic Foods
When it comes to stockpiling, basic foods cost less than typical supermarket convenience foods. By replacing convenience and processed foods with more basic foods, you will save money you can use to build up your preparedness reserves.
Chapter 15 helps you plan menus using foods you can store, and chapter 16 shows you how to stockpile basic foods. Chapter 18 lists and describes basic storage foods.
If cutting expenses is not enough, consider how you can increase your income. Do you have marketable skills you can use to earn a second income? Take a hard look at your possessions. Do you have luxury items that go largely unused? Would it serve you better if you sold them or traded down?
Simplify
One thing you can do to free up resources for preparedness and survival is to simplify your standard of living. It may seem contradictory to suggest getting rid of your stuff and at the same time advocate stocking up. But you will be doing it with an intentional mindset.
Take a serious look at your spending habits. Cut out unnecessary possessions and replace them with potentially lifesaving supplies and tools.
A Worksheet to Help You
Worksheet 2.1 will help you to rate your likelihood of experiencing various disasters. For a downloadable PDF file, go to CrisisPreparedness.com.
©Patricia Spigarelli-Aston. For a downloadable PDF file, go to CrisisPreparedness.com.