Dipping a toe in the world of survival?
Wonderful. Commendable, in fact. More people should be like you. Not to blow sunshine up your skirt, but there are close to 7 billion people on the planet, and the majority of those never click a button like you just did. Never really search out survival related information. And probably never ask questions like "How do I start preparing?"
But since you did, let's back up a couple steps and ask ourselves 2 other questions. "Why are we preparing at all?" And "What exactly are we preparing for?"
Why Are We "Preparing" At All?
There comes a time when each of us realizes that we aren't bulletproof. In fact far from it. Our lives have become so intertwined with the system, that we've reached a point where there's hardly any distinction between the two. We get up every day because of an alarm clock, we shower and eat with food and water from they system, we head to work either via the freeway system or the metro system, where we put in our 8 hours, and are paid via direct deposit inot our banks. If we ever have a probelm, we call the plumber, the landlord, the cops, our boss a congressman, or SOMEBODY who can make everything all better.
We have gradually become an ultra specialized society, packaging more and more parts of our lives away into nice little compartments that somebody else deals with.
Think about it. Since the time of Adam & Eve, we've become a species that dradually does less andless for ourselves. Nowdays we have people that do everything for us. Our food is grown, havested, slaughtered, prepared and packaged by other poeple. Other people build our houses, buy and sell our houses, make our cars and computers, fix our cars and computers, deliver our babies, sew the clothes we wear, keep us safe, kee us healthy, keep us in contact with the rest of the world, and everything else.
Is The System Evil?
No, of course not. We created it over thousands of years to help us survive. But it's important to remember that it's by-product is the opium of security, which over time leads to dependance.
Yes, these days, we have become incredibly dependant on a system full of luxuries and comforts. The luxuries and comforts of knowing that there's always someone you can call to take care of things for you.
But there wasn't always a system. And that time will come again.
Survivalists are people who have realized this truth, and are actively preparing for the time when the system can't make everything all better. They have realized that there will come a time when they don't have a grocery store, a king-sized bed, or a hot shower. When there aren't firemen, paramedics, or policemen to do the dirty work.
Why do survivalists "prepare?" Because they have realized that there will come a time when there won't be a system.
So What Exactly Should I Be Preparing For?
You should prepare to be self sufficient during breaks in the system. Most often, this occurs in short-term stints, lasting from a few days to a week. Clearly however, there are situations where the system is down for longer. When hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005, an entire city was displaced from their homes, jobs, and resources for years. And on the extreme end of the continuum, lie examples where entire civilazations permanently collapse (remember Pompeii?)
The best place to start, is by preparing against the most likely emergency situations that you and your family may have to face. You should begin creating a disaster plan that addresses situations from most to least likely, including:
Once you have the beginnings of a working disaster plan, the next steps to focus on, are equipping your family with the survival gear and skills necessary to handle those situations.
