Everyone Starts Somewhere – How to Prep for the Future After a Disaster

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: A guest contribution from Laure Marie Johnson to The Prepper Journal. Everyone has to start somewhere and the most quoted on this matter is of course Confucius (551 B.C. to 479 B.C.), also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu. As a Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure his teachings are preserved in the Analects. He obviously was a practical man, one who knew that nothing is ever accomplished unless it is broken down into practical steps AND that first step is taken. So, with that in minds, here are some first steps from Laure in a planned journey for those who are new to prepping.

As you know Preppers are people who prepare for an impending disaster. They gather the basic supplies needed to survive while that disaster is happening around them. With food, water, a first aid kit, and other necessities, most people should be able to make it through their current situation. However, what most preppers fail to do is prepare for life after the disaster. How can people prep for what comes after the impending doom has come to an end and left the world in shambles? Some specialty equipment and supplies are going to be necessary. You’ll need far more than the basics kept in most typical packs.

Purchase Welding Gear

 

I have almost always had a pair of welding gloves but I have never welded anything. I have then to handle things that are too hot for my delicate little fingers. A radiator cap after a boil-over – yes, safety dictates that we wait until it has cooled BUT releasing the steam slowly, and more quickly, shortens the length of time we are hobbled on the roadside and minimizes the danger of further cracks and leaks from over-pressurized lines and hoses. And yes, my vehicles have the more modern systems BUT even those plastic caps can result in burns. Cutting down some iron fencing recently, in 105 degree temperature, changing the blade on my saw was a job for welders gloves. Somewhat clumsy but better than the expensive specialized designer heat gloves that can almost do the same job and who I payed so much for I don’t want them stained. Living in the desert you can dispatch a scorpion with welders gloves safely.

And if you do weld when they are indispensable to make repairs after damage has been done or weld together some metal to make something useful again or unique to help in your circumstances. Things your should have on hand are welding gloves, safety glasses, not to mention the welder itself, if you have a power source or fuels. Just because there are troubling times doesn’t mean people shouldn’t use precautions when handling equipment. Gloves and glasses help keep you protected while they work.

Gather Gardening Supplies

The food kept in the average prepper’s pack will only last so long. If people are left in a world they need to rebuild, no new food will be available unless people have the ability to make it. Beginning Preppers should gather gardening supplies to have waiting so they can grow their own fruits and vegetables if necessary. A good bag of soil is important to ensure the food can grow. Some seed packets of various options are also vital. While they aren’t completely necessary, some gardening tools and gloves will make the process easier as well as reading the many articles here on The Prepper Journal on gardening and food growing and storage.

Buy Canning Jars

The food grown in a personal garden will never remain edible if people don’t use precautionary measures for keeping them safe to eat. Fruits and vegetables especially go bad quickly, and without a refrigeration system there wouldn’t be much of a chance to preserve them for any longer. Canning jars are ideal in this situation. Preppers should buy as many canning jars as they can to store for later use, as these jars act as a preservation method for food items. Mason jars with screw-like tops seal foods inside and keep them edible for months or longer. The jars can remain sealed until the contents are ready to be consumed at a later date.

Get Weather Prediction Tools

Most people wouldn’t think twice about the weather when there are more pressing matters on the mind. However, people nowadays rely on meteorologists on the weather channel or an app on their phone to tell them what the weather will be like each day. If a tornado is about to sweep through the city or a hurricane is on its way, people are still going to need to know this so they can prepare.

Without someone to tell them, people are going to need to have weather prediction tools available so they know when to expect major weather problems that could be even more deadly than the original disaster they just went through. Weather prediction is just one of the top survival skills people need to have. A barometer, thermometer, and anemometer, or a portable radar system should be included on a prepper’s packing list.

Have Monitors and Filtration Systems

Depending on the damage left behind, many homes and buildings could now have carbon monoxide pouring into the air. Water sources could be filled with bacteria. There may be damaged electrical wires producing sparks. People need to have proper monitors and filtration systems that can help them handle safety issues such as these that arise. A water filtration system is key to ensure survivors can filter out any contaminants and have a safe drinking source. Monitors that help detect carbon monoxide should also be kept on hand, as well as voltage testers that let people know if there is a strong electrical current nearby.

Pack Camouflage Clothing

(Editors Note: the hat is a FAIL!)

Most people realize they should have some changes of clothes packed and ready to go in case of an emergency. They often think about the need for comfortable clothes that they’ll be able to move in easier, but fail to acknowledge the colors and patterns they should be choosing. It’s best to have dark-colored or camouflage clothing that will make it easier to hide from others. Staying hidden at times may be the best way to stay safe in the situation. Brightly colored clothes should never be included in a prepper’s pack.

Get a Sewing Kit

Clothes don’t last forever, especially if people are wearing the same ones over and over again while living in the wilderness. A sewing kit could come in handy to repair holes and keep the clothes people do have in the best condition possible. Warmth is vital when living off the land, so having holy clothes with no way to repair or replace them could be troublesome.

Learn Some Valuable Skills

Surviving a disaster takes more than having the right equipment and supplies. People also need the skills necessary to survive. Knowing how to start a fire, how to administer basic medical care, which berries are poisonous, and how to hunt are just a few valuable skills people should work toward achieving. You never know when a certain skill could come in handy, so it’s best to become a jack of all trades and become well-versed in all areas of work. Without knowing when a disaster could strike, it’s important people start using all the time they can to make advancements in their learning.

Being fully prepared for a disaster is more than gathering granola bars and bottles of water. A truly disastrous event could change the world as we know it, making advanced supplies far more necessary to keep on hand and at the ready. With welding gear, gardening supplies, canning jars, weather prediction tools, monitors and filtration systems, camouflage clothes, a sewing kit, and some valuable life skills, preppers will be as prepared as possible to begin rebuilding life after the catastrophe.

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