How to prioritize ?

[lalakai]

looking at what other's have commented on, helped me focus a bit more. First priority is establishing what my family needs to survive for three days in a worst case scenario. Second priority.....surviving a week. Third priority, laying the foundations for a prolonged situation.

I do like the aspect of always taking what opportunity throws your way, until it gets to the "pack rat" stage. Maybe a "miscellaneous" priority?? lol

[Sourdough]

If I were to prioritize it would be 1.) Shelter 2.) Water 3.) Security 4.) Food. You have to protect yourself from the elements first and foremost. When you are protected from the elements you can look for other things.

YES........I also would put shelter #1 for me, in Alaska. Year around, I can't go very far from the cabin without a quality tent and an adequate sleeping bag, even in the summer.

Number Two for me is firearm, because of the large predators I live with. (Call that security).

Number Three for me is heat source. Can be chemical hand warmer, or small stove, or wood fire, etc. (include here fourteen thousand ways to start fire, including highway flares).

Pure water is everywhere, so that is a non-issue. But......harder to procure in winter.

I have many........many.......many caches, did I mention many caches, I have a lot of caches. These caches have everything I need to survive. I have things set-up, so that I can leave the cabin naked, in the dark, in many feet of snow, below zero temperature, and survive. (Think cabin fire on New Years night)

[Morgan101]

If I were to prioritize it would be 1.) Shelter 2.) Water 3.) Security 4.) Food. You have to protect yourself from the elements first and foremost. When you are protected from the elements you can look for other things.

[CountryGuy]

nothing wrong with being an "opportunist prepper"... just being smart. Like you said, if you see a case sale on at the store, just cause you have several more months already at the house, it might be best to spend a $100 from your saving funds for a new(whatever) to have the benefit.

Also what is a priority for survival can be situational. If you find yourself soaking wet in 0F weather food and water shadow in need to shelter and heat

[Cedar]

I am an opportunist (yikes, I'm gonna type it) prepper.... (I label myself a homesteader however).
I do not really prioritize anything but I have been doing this enough years (22?), I know what I use more of, what is most important to my needs, and constantly keep my eyes open for good deals, or finds.

In all honesty, when I left my ex and pretty much had nothing but my daughter, my truck and my BOB, I started gathering preps the very next day to rebuild.

I think it is best not to.prioritize, as then you are not accidentally missing out on rounding out your preps. It is fine to say, "Today I am focusing on water storage and safety thereof." or ammo, or a couple cases,of food which you know is going on sale, but what I see people do, is save for that ammo, or whatever, and they never everything done to store, as they are only focusing on that one thing, get tunnel vision, and miss all the other opportunities.

Cedar

[grumpygremlin]

food and water are the first thing I would think about if I was starting new now.
you need food and water to survive any longer than 3 weeks and 3 days once the regular supplies cease.

[RICHFL]

OK to start: you need to make up your mind on what type(s) of disasters you will prepare for.

Two types short term (-30 days) and long term. (+30 days)

That will provide a guide as to how much extra food, water, camping gear you will need.

Shelter: Are you going to stay in your home or will you bug-out?

Both have there good and bad points:

- Home you have a lot of items all ready there. Just add additional food and water storage for up to 30 days. Get camping gear to cook and other things if the power goes out.

Why stay: good shelter and you feel secure. Why leave: Home destroyed, unusable, no security, etc.

- Bug-Out this is complex. You need to know where you want to go and WHY! Remember others will have the same ideas,

Why go: Have a plan with 3 + routes to the area. You can drive (Traffic), use other transport or walk.

Why not: You are limited on what you can take (Weight).

Training and Experience: Get training in first aid, (Red Cross)
using your tools, weapons, survival (Fire starting) etc.

Now if you watch the TV shows they always use friction to start a fire. (Practical Info carry a BIC Lighter it's faster and can be reused hundreds of times.)

Get experience by doing family camping so each and gain experience in a primitive setting. No you cannot camp out at the Holiday INN (My sister-in-law).

Get out, start small; until experience shows what works for you and what does not.


My experience covers over 50 years and as of last count 77 disasters; My family has survived. Our last disaster was Hurricane IRMA last summer. We were flooded and lost power for 5 days!

Get additional water and secure it. People waited in lines for hours to get 1 or 2 gallons of water. Plan ahead We used a (WATER BOB) which is a large 100 gal plastic bag that fits in a bath tub. Gave us fresh water for over a week.

Get batteries: We had one (1) radio station that stayed on 24/7 but to get the information about the storm including flooding we had to have someone listen and that means a lot of batteries.

[lalakai]

interesting that even a thread 9 years old can still bring up good topics. prioritizing your preparation will change from person to person, with many variable. Big thing is............starting.

[Freedom Defender]

Thanks to everyone for all the great replies. I'm setting out a plan right now as to what to buy when. It"s funny, people are asking me if I know something they don't. I say yes but wont tell them just to mess with their heads a bit. Thanks again !!!!!!!

[West Texas!]

You've recieved some good advice...my advice is to not get let yourself get overwhelmed with what you need...a little bit at a time and you'll be ahead of the game. You might want to figure out how much money you can budget for prep items monthly...and then figure out what you can buy within those parameters...bi-monthly, monthly..whatever. Planning out WHAT you need, and when you'll buy might help too...print out some calendars, and mark down what you need, and when you'll buy it...within the parameters of your budget....

Not everyone has a million dollars to go out and buy EVERYTHING they want/need all at once...it's a process and a lifestyle.

[Zombie Axe]

I'd say long term storage foods such as dehydrated meats and powdered milk. Stuff that does not require the fridge. With normal everyday food stuffs you can continue eating the foods you already love.

Also don't forget canned foods every time you go to the store pick up one or two extra...

Ammo is a good thing to have and you should always add some if you can... as well as get into reloading. I went to a gunshow this past weekend... I had enough for a nice higher end handgun or rifle... but I bought ammo as I have enough bullet launchers for now...

That being said, if something you are wanting to get and are afraid the new prez is gonna ban it... all I gotta say is tick tock... on the same note guns an ammo may not be the only things in short supply! Tick tock either way!!! :(

Also if you are thinking about living off of the land, someone else probably is too! With more predators and less prey, those shelves can grow empty just as quickly as a supermarket!

Just be honest with yourself and you will do fine...

[kenno]

You may think this is silly but it is cheap and relitively easy.
I got a bunch of blue plastic 50 gallon drums I set them around the house and filled em with water. I also used old fuel oil tanks and cords of firewood. That was a quick and dirty fix that could be removed easily.

[Big_Saw]

I'm personally not concerned about securing my windows except with the aforementioned plastic considering all military rounds from .223 up will easily penetrate walls and plywood. If I was going to fortify something it would be a basement or bunker. I don't have a basement and that is why I am building the "root cellar". The othe thing that I have considered is buying sandbags and sand and filling them. You could store them outside under a tarp until you needed them and then start fortifying your walls in the house with them. This would take probably hundreds of bag depending on how big the area you are fortfying. My .02

Yeah, plywoods really only good against delaying intrusion...if you want a bunker....you gotta build one....

[Rustyshakelford]

I'm personally not concerned about securing my windows except with the aforementioned plastic considering all military rounds from .223 up will easily penetrate walls and plywood. If I was going to fortify something it would be a basement or bunker. I don't have a basement and that is why I am building the "root cellar". The othe thing that I have considered is buying sandbags and sand and filling them. You could store them outside under a tarp until you needed them and then start fortifying your walls in the house with them. This would take probably hundreds of bag depending on how big the area you are fortfying. My .02

Good idea. No basements in West Texas.

[beebopcop]

Wow, thanks for all the replies ! The more I think about it I feel like I'm on the right track. Guns and ammo pretty well covered. Water good. Food, getting better. Securing my house ?? Not so good. I've got a lot of windows and doors. What would be thew best way to cover and secure these? Wood? Metal? Any thoughts? Oh, I've got a 89' well. How big of a generator would I need to power this? My pump is a submersible one. Don't know if this makes any difference. I could hand dig a well here I guess. Water is only about 5 feet down here.

I'm personally not concerned about securing my windows except with the aforementioned plastic considering all military rounds from .223 up will easily penetrate walls and plywood. If I was going to fortify something it would be a basement or bunker. I don't have a basement and that is why I am building the "root cellar". The othe thing that I have considered is buying sandbags and sand and filling them. You could store them outside under a tarp until you needed them and then start fortifying your walls in the house with them. This would take probably hundreds of bag depending on how big the area you are fortfying. My .02