Doomsday preppers

[Anonymous]

What are your top tips for general public to do some light prep for any inevitables?

[Anonymous]

Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

[Anonymous]

^^

If you're going to be mobile, you'll want a map and compass. Can't depend on internet to be working.

To that end, you might want a faraday bag. Keep it with the iodine.

Binoculars would be useful, too.

[Anonymous]

^^

And here's the government's kit list: https://www.ready.gov/kit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I get the shotgun, but what's the thinking behind the pistol? If society collapses, I think I'd rather have a rifle. I'm not sure the ability to conceal a weapon has much value during an apocalypse.

[Anonymous]

^^^

Oh yeah, you're gonna want to have a supply of tampons and pads and any personal items like that you might need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I get the shotgun, but what's the thinking behind the pistol? If society collapses, I think I'd rather have a rifle. I'm not sure the ability to conceal a weapon has much value during an apocalypse.

A rifle won't do you much good in close-quarter combat. A shotgun will. So will a pistol. I have nothing against a rifle, but I'm hopeful to not announce my presence from a distance. OTOH if I'm sheltering in place, I might want one to keep marrauders at bay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I get the shotgun, but what's the thinking behind the pistol? If society collapses, I think I'd rather have a rifle. I'm not sure the ability to conceal a weapon has much value during an apocalypse.

You could always do an SBR or AR pistol instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I get the shotgun, but what's the thinking behind the pistol? If society collapses, I think I'd rather have a rifle. I'm not sure the ability to conceal a weapon has much value during an apocalypse.

A rifle won't do you much good in close-quarter combat. A shotgun will. So will a pistol. I have nothing against a rifle, but I'm hopeful to not announce my presence from a distance. OTOH if I'm sheltering in place, I might want one to keep marrauders at bay.

Hard disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I get the shotgun, but what's the thinking behind the pistol? If society collapses, I think I'd rather have a rifle. I'm not sure the ability to conceal a weapon has much value during an apocalypse.

A rifle won't do you much good in close-quarter combat. A shotgun will. So will a pistol. I have nothing against a rifle, but I'm hopeful to not announce my presence from a distance. OTOH if I'm sheltering in place, I might want one to keep marrauders at bay.

Hard disagree.

Well, I suppose Rittenhouse is a case in point for that.

To OP's original question, I guess I wonder what you're prepping FOR.

A natural disaster where you might just need to survive for a week or so is different than, you know, The Walking Dead or The Day After.

[Anonymous]

And if nukes start falling, you definitely want that iodine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if nukes start falling, you definitely want that iodine.

No I think you just want to die in that case. Who wants to survive in that world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I like the above list and aim to meet it, but my doomsday scenario is from growing up in post-Soviet collapse (born 1987) and prepping for very long-term downturns. So the following are what I'd add to the above:

-A library of physical books - how to make, fix, do anything under the sun: home repairs, sewing, beer making, working with plants and soil, books about health. For years, I like to stop by the thrift shop and browse for any "how-to" books (including how to run a small business, advertise, etc, etc).

-Another kind of book I like to keep are historical cook books, like American cooking before any modern supply chains: recipes from Confederate soldiers, recipes from Union soldiers, recipes from westward expansion.

-I also love to keep a seed collection at all times. I replace this every year or three (make sure to practice good storage).

-Make a hobby of learning practical old-timey prepper skills. Currently I'm learning food preservation and loving making ferments.

-Buy useful tools even if you aren't going to use them now. Try to take the time how to use them, but at the very least have instructional books to match.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Light prep? Depends on whether you're hunkering down or bugging out, but:

-- Have at least 72 hours of freeze-dried food on hand. Pay attention to expiration dates and store it where rodents can't get to it (ideally in a plastic bin).
-- Have a supply of different sorts of batteries you might need. Pay attention to their expiration dates.
-- Have a 72-hour supply of potable water. Consider getting something that can treat stream water as well.
-- Source of fire, i.e. matches, lighter or fero rods.
-- Iodine.
-- First aid kit.
-- Firearm (ideally one shotgun and one pistol, with enough ammunition to last a week or so).
-- Camping stove and fuel. Camping utensils.
-- Jackery or similar lithium battery.
-- Radio, either battery powered or something you can crank.
-- Tent and sleeping bags in a bugout bag.
-- Also in the bag: Camping towel that wrings out easily, quick-dry underwear and socks, a lightweight parka or rain coat,
-- At least one utilitarian knife.

I like the above list and aim to meet it, but my doomsday scenario is from growing up in post-Soviet collapse (born 1987) and prepping for very long-term downturns. So the following are what I'd add to the above:

-A library of physical books - how to make, fix, do anything under the sun: home repairs, sewing, beer making, working with plants and soil, books about health. For years, I like to stop by the thrift shop and browse for any "how-to" books (including how to run a small business, advertise, etc, etc).

-Another kind of book I like to keep are historical cook books, like American cooking before any modern supply chains: recipes from Confederate soldiers, recipes from Union soldiers, recipes from westward expansion.

-I also love to keep a seed collection at all times. I replace this every year or three (make sure to practice good storage).

-Make a hobby of learning practical old-timey prepper skills. Currently I'm learning food preservation and loving making ferments.

-Buy useful tools even if you aren't going to use them now. Try to take the time how to use them, but at the very least have instructional books to match.

PP here adding to the above,

Other things I like to keep are really fresh tasty spices that can make prepper foods like like lentils and beans tasty and with variety. (Burlap and Barrel is my source, it's pricey but I don't like prepping to be depressing because I do think it's a long-term issue and finding comfort in cooking and warm food will always be a big deal.)

Also for basic staples, I like to buy fancy beans, lentils, split peas, etc. Paying extra for better beans, it's not a depressing food but a regular part of my diet that I know how to use and the kids are comfortable with, so prepper food is also something that we know and like. (Rancho Gordo is the place for this).

[Anonymous]

Other supplies that I like to keep:

A variety of light sources. Lehman's has a good selection, even cheap contraptions that turn any mason jar + vegetable oil into a lamp.

A variety of water filters and fire starters. I just buy many of these, figuring better to have extras that if some get lost or are inaccessible, there are backups. Get on the mailing lists and buy the sales a few times a year. (Recommending the brands Texas Bushcraft and Überleben for fire starters. Weirdly, REI had none in stock recently so I bought from the manufacturers.)

I do buy silver as a prepper currency but don't really expect to use it. Most people don't value this, and I don't know what the money situation will be. But I'd be happy to exchange shiny stuff with someone who was trustworthy and do keep this around for these folks.

Another thing I'd ask is to discourage panic buying. Buy online, do not contribute to empty shelves in the neighborhood store. That will create a toxic spiral.