You need a Plan to work from

[NorthernRaider]

You need a Plan to work from
© 2011Northern Raider

Many people drawn to prepping and survivalism may be able to muddle through for a while but eventually you will need to develop a working plan to follow that will help you get more prepared and with the right kit, facilities and in the right place.

(1)First you need to consider your LOCATION! Are you going to

STAY WHERE YOU ARE and adapt your present home
STAY WHERE YOU ARE whilst developing a Bug out Location
RELOCATE ASAP to a more suitable location
PLAN ON RELOCATING in the future
Or perhaps choice a mix of the choices above, it is your choice but either way you need to have a working plan with options.

(2)What are you preparing for?
Terrorism
Natural Disaster
Social Collapse
Recession
Ethnic Unrest
Extremist Government
Power Cuts
War

You may be planning on surviving a specific threat and base your plans around that threat. Let’s say just for example you plan to survive in your present home from a risk from a massive terrorist attack. You focus all your attention and resources on protecting yourself but before a terror attack occurs a natural disaster hits your country. Many of your anti terror preps may be wasted because you find the disaster overtakes you and you don’t have the resources available to deal with it if they are to specifically designed only to deal with one type of threat.

You really want to focus your preps in a general manner but with a focus on a specific threat you foresee affecting your family. But make your plans more generic and flexible so you can rapidly adapt to as many threats and risks as possible. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket or all your survival supplies in one location.

(3)Resources, the logistical aspects of prepping can be very complicated but roughly speaking you need to consider the following.
What do you want,
What do you need,
What have you already got,
What can you adapt
Where are you going to keep it
Where can you get it from
How long do you want it to las?
How long will it actually last
Where will you get more fro?
Can your make some more
Does it do what you need it to d?
Can you get something better suited to do the job?
Can you afford it and can you afford NOT to have it?
Will it do the job you want it to?
How can I make it work better for you?
Is it in the right location(s)
Is it safe and secure?
Is it legal?
Can you get to it in a hurry?
Who else knows you have it.

(4)So what do you need?

A safe place to live so HOME / RETREAT is normally the first item, be it a house or apartment in the town or the countryside, can you make it safer, more secure and more self reliant / or do you need to move home?

Once you have gotten as far as you can in the property choice department you need to consider.

Food supplies (and food production if you deem necessary)

Water supplies, purity, filtering, storage and security

Medical supplies including prescription medicines

Heaters, Cookers and Lights plus fuel supplies to provide heat and light and hot water, you need a heating and lighting system that is independent of the mains utilities and supplies / stores of fuels kept safely and securely to power the cookers, heaters and lights.

Clothing, you need suitable clothing of suitable quality and durability to keep you warm and protected from the worst weather your region can throw at you.

Tools and Materials to help you repair maintain and keep secure your home after the disaster strikes. You will need everything from flashlights to shovels, pry-bars to weapons to help sustain your family. You may also require tools and materials to allow you to start producing your own food supplies if the crisis is prolonged.

Transport, you may find that you need to maintain some sort of transport to enable you to bring in more food, fuel or supplies, and also be able to use it to escape in if your homes security becomes unsustainable. You will also need fuel for your transport be it petrol for your car or hay for your horse, and a goodly selection of spares as well from fuses, bulbs, belts and tyres, to reins, tack and harnesses.

Communications, you most certainly need a few multi power sourced AM / FM/SW radios to listen for news broadcasts from the authorities or other survivors.

Books and Manuals on various subjects from improvised medicine to DIY repairs to growing your own food.

Start now and make yourself a plan of action even a few notes made now could help you later.