4.  Prepping Categories

 

‘Prepping’ is just being prepared for the immediate future and generally prepared for possible events in the unknown future.

 

Consider:

Day to day prepping – being better prepared for each day automatically puts you in the prepper category.  It is a good place to be.  Take day to day prepping seriously.

Prepping for Disaster awareness – what is most likely to happen in your area – impending disasters – when to take action

Prepping for Disaster readiness - planning and preparation for the family

Prepping for Disaster relief assistance - for your family and potentially others.  You want to be ready to help your immediate family, extended family, and neighbors, and even strangers.  It will never be your job to save the planet, or the town, or the neighborhood.  It may be that you will have opportunities to help those in need starting with your very own family.  Helping others is a way to step out of the role of victim.  Helping others will also help you.

Prepping for Disaster relief – personally learning things that will be helpful in a disaster.  Get some training on how to help in a disaster.  You don’t need to get a job as a first responder.  You need common sense.  If you see someone in need of help you may be able to safely render aid without jeopardizing yourself or a family member.  Everyone should know basic first aid.

Prepping for Disaster relief response – how you will respond immediately to disaster - what you can do personally and what you can expect from area assistance.  This is very important.  People automatically think ‘help is on the way’.  But in a disaster help moves like a snail.  By the time it gets to you, you may already have put the roof back on your house yourself!  Get a realistic idea of what help you can reasonably expect and in what time frame.  If millions of people are without electricity, then you will not likely be on the ‘restore power first’ list.  Hope for soon, but expect later.  If you are in a smaller neighborhood that is suddenly cut off from the rest of town through flooding or road debris then roads leading up to the neighborhood will have to be cleared before they even get to you.  Disaster relief agencies may finally come up with the clothing or food you need, but you may be very uncomfortable before they do. 

Prepping for Disaster hysteria – in a disaster people are totally out of their comfort zone.  This may bring out the best in most people, but it will definitely bring out the very worst in others.  Two days without electricity and running water and some people are ready to punch you in the face for no reason.  Others will take the opportunity to steal and vandalize.  This is sad, but it is a fact.  You must take extra precaution to keep your family safe, avoid conflict when possible, and be prepared to defend yourself and your family.

Prepping for Christian outreach – if you are a practicing Christian you may find opportunities to reach people who are otherwise unreachable.  Simple acts of kindness are good ways to start.  If you keep gospel tracts on hand, then pass them out with a few bites of food if you have the opportunity. Just keep your eyes open for a chance to reach out to someone.  Don’t be pushy.  Don’t offer a person who is wet and hungry a gospel tract in place of dry clothing, and food.

Prepping you Church for disaster response – talk to your church now about what they would do in an area disaster.  If you find your home and family safe the church may have need of your help in helping families who have not been so lucky.  If you are the family in need you will know where to go to get immediate help.