Anyone a "Prepper" and Willing to Share Practical Tips?

First rule of "Prepping," don't talk about "Prepping."

There are lots of prepping websites that are good and you can remain anonymous.

Not a prepper. However, I HAVE been resourceful enough to keep us all alive THUS far!

:)

(Wait, I DO know what we're having for dinner tonight! I even have the chicken in a marinade already and it's barely 3 o'clock! Does that count?)

The girl that laughs at preppers: come to the Gulf, my love. It's not a joke, it's an every year thing. And the stores WILL be emptied -- EMPTY -- so fast it'll make your head spin. Katrina was the last hurricane I sat through and we went 2 weeks without power, we only had water because we were on well water not city (my friends down the road had to scoop water from a bucket out of their pool to boil and bathe in for a couple weeks.....also after Hurricane Andrew in the 90s.....WEEKS after Andrew my dad would show up from work with coworkers and their families who wanted to take a bath).
Most of what I've prepped for were hurricanes and emergencies like that (when in north TX, we had things in place in case of tornadoes, but I've lived nearly my whole life in the Houston area or the New Orleans area, so hurricanes were our big issue, with occasional tornadoes). They are devastating, so I don't see anything funny about that at all. On a smaller note, we live 5 hours from Atlanta now, and one day last year (or the year before? the last 2 years run together): there was like 2 gallons of milk in Krogers. I was like "What the heck?" and the manager said there was a snow storm in Atlanta so the trucks that transport everything are stuck there and can't supply the stores. So even if there's a problem in another state, it can still affect you. Of course I didn't panic, it was only a couple days, but it gave me a little food for thought on possibilities, and the importance of relying on local sources when possible.

We aren't fruitloops waiting for the end of the world or zombies or whatever (ha) but I live 2 miles from a major river and 15 miles from the beach. Flooding and a possible hurricane (though neighbors say that doesn't happen here often because of barrier islands) are my concern. I have basic tools, first aid kits for each car, the house, and Jeremy's office, along with some other basics. We have a "go bag" for each family member in case we needed to evacuate (we've gone through evacuations, some mandatory, for Hurricane Frederick, Andrew, and....whatever was a couple years before Katrina, where the whole town left except my work crew because we were in the middle of a shutdown at a refinery and couldn't leave because it had to be manned). Everyone in my family has a id card laminated, printed off the Red Cross website, with all information including local contacts, contacts out of the area, medical info, etc, in their wallets. We printed off a checklist from the Red Cross, and another from ready.gov (the FEMA website) and made our own list using those as guides, for the possible dangers in our area. We already know where to go/meet if an evacuation was necessary. The family plan is important. And packing ahead of time or keeping things portable and in a set place so they won't be forgotten.
ETA: During Hurricane Katrina, I was single (my husband was my bf at the time, but I was 29 and no children to worry about). By the 1 year anniversary, I was married and pregnant with our first child. I was watching the anniversary of the storm on TV (much of it for the first time since we didn't have power during it all) and went into a panic attack, especially with my pregnancy hormones raging, when I saw the families with children. The dad who had an INFANT and no formula (NO WATER EITHER) for that infant, sitting on a roof in 98 degrees, 90% humidity set me off into a full scale crying session. I do prepare for emergencies, if not for me than for my children. Do I hoard, stockpile, or whatever? No. But am I prepared for things? Absolutely. That's our responsibility!

If more people "prepped" for basic emergencies we wouldn't have half of the problems we have every time there is a problem. Last year we were without power or water for three days. We were fine and were able to assist our less prepped neighbors.

Emergency Essentials catalog. Sufficient Self website.

OK so I wouldn't go on doomsay preppers we're ot that out there and if I was I sure as H*** wouldn't go on TV with it. But, please people consider your children and how you would safeguard them and feed them if power or water was out for an extended time period. Clearly, the weather is going a little crazy and more severe. As parents you need to be ready for anything.

If I had one thing I could take to a deserted island it would be my ---HUSBAND! Best prep is a great skill set.

I live in an arid climate in earthquake country near a nuclear power plant at the end of my counties water supply (one cracked water main and we have none), you better believe we prep, as do most people who live here to varying degrees. Water is the one thing you cannot do without. I also had an experience with getting our house repiped. We could not use our house water for cooking or drinking for one week. Talk about a wake up call. My oldest was a baby on formula and I realized that drinking is not the only thing that is critical, sanitation and bottle washing were imperative too. My emphasis is water storage. I have 3 55 gallon drums of water and a basic system to catch rain water off my roof, a filtration system and water tablets. I also get sick of cycling through my pantry items so bit the bullet and invested in some freeze dried goods so i'm not always having to fuss with it. I've also decided to narrow my focus away from "end of the world as we know it" scenarios, to scenarios we are likely to face (earthquake, nuclear power plant melt down, and tsunami). You should do the same for your area. I've covered the bases for a "bug in scenario". Admittedly have not touched a "bug out scenario" so thats on my list. I have put some effort into boosting moral in a post disaster scenario by having some comfort items (solar shows, M&M's, good tasting food stores, Tang to flavor the funky tasting water barrel water or tablet treated water). I have also come to the conclusion that you should have enough to share and if you have so much as to out survive everyone else, guarantee it will be taken from you through violence. So all things in moderation- including prepping.

Lol I'm not O.! (and I DO know what they are)
I'll never be O.. By nature I'm an anti p r e p p e r.
I think they're entertaining enough though!

Nope. Too broke for even power outrages. (ha. I like that autocorrect, so I'll leave it:) I'd like to be, but next weeks groceries aren't a sure thing right now.

BUT I'm resourceful as all get out.

Used to hike in meds back of beyond (seriously, like a 300 mile hike. 50 miles every 2-3 days)

I will recommend some things people often forget:
Tampons (both for blood as well as about 50 other uses, you CAN'T have too many tampons)
Soap (powdered is best, like laundry det.)
Hard Alcohol (for sterilizing) Everclear = most bang for weight
Salt (difference between life and death with stomach upset or heat or hard exercise)
Condoms (birth control, too... But these aren't for sex, they're for waterproofing. Particularly muzzle tips & meds.)
Current immunizations ESP tetanus

Hi! We are prepped but we aren't stockpilers, to survive we need to get out of here. So my best tip is to have all your stuff together. We can be out of here forever in ten minutes (my kids are big enough to help). Our gear is stacked in large Rubbermaids, the big cooler is at the back door always, and we have two large, waterproof med kits. Someone loads the bins, someone fills the cooler and grabs the bathroom stuff and someone throws clothes in a trash bag. We don't count on dad being home. We could skip the cooler and clothes if we had to. And we would be off... And no, we don't talk about it.

I think everyone should know how to start a fire, find/purify water, make some different types of simple shelters and make simple noose/fall traps and hunting weapons. Also know of basic wild plants that are ok to eat and simple ways to get food.
I don't stock pile, I educate myself.

Our house is more concerned in preparing for a long term time with out water or electricity...hurricane (everyone evacuates from the coast here and stores sell out in hours...seen it happen). Or a pandemic situation where it just isn't safe to leave the house.

We have cases of bottled water and tablets for cleaning water.. We keep extra canned goods, jars of peanut butter, canned meats, etc (Gotta watch the expiration dates).

There are companies that sell so many months or years worth of MREs and other packaged items...say six months worth for a family of four...it is worth looking into...it is packaged well and can be moved easily in the back of a mini van or truck if evacuation is required.

I keep extra medical supplies on hand...including face masks, antibiotic ointment, bandages, etc...

I figure better be prepared and not need it...than a couple of weeks without power and unable to keep my kids alive...

If you know any Mormon families they are the best at giving advise on storing food and supplies as their church supports and helps family's have a year worth of food stored.

Zombie apocalypse...no...ha ha...Natural disaster...Pandemic...no laughing matter!!

Oh I almost forgot...keep some cash on hand and your guns(with plenty of ammunition)...

People laugh at preppers but come to south Florida right before the next hurricane . . . you will see what it looks like when there is no bottled water left, little food, no gas, and empty ATM machines.

Even the government recommends a bit of "prepping" - though they don't call it that. Haven't people heard the "have a plan" PSA's? http://www.ready.gov

I'm in the middle zone on "prepping." I'm starting to stockpile food but only stuff we eat on a regular basis. I try to think of things that would be easy to prepare without electricity. You need a way to heat water.

I also think it's good to know how to purify water, or stockpile water, as needed.

That's the extent of my tips so far.

My big puzzle is how to haul your stuff around if you have to leave, or decide to leave.

ever watch "Doomsday Preppers"? I think it's on the National Geographic channel. lots of good tips on that show! If you're into the dehydrated food aspect, contact your local mormon church, they are very into that. we ordered quite a bit thru a mormon friend of ours. nice big sealed drums and the contents are good quality. we are also stocked up on ammo and feed for the critters.

Thank you for introducing me to the world of "preppers." Who knew?
Fascinating ...Probably a good idea not to talk about it (as suggested below), because people like me will just come and steal your stock piles if the time comes.

I am not sure what you mean by prepper.

We store a lot because we are Costco addicts. Nothing goes into the freezers before being vacuum sealed.

So far as short term we portion everything before we freeze so we don't cook anymore than can be stretched from dinner into two lunches. So we just use snaplock stuff.

Oh sweet mother, so you guys are those people that buy the one year worth of dried food from Costco. Now I know. Yeah, that makes me laugh every time I pass the display. :)

I'm Mormon, so talk of 'prepping' makes me laugh a little, considering it's something that my family has been doing for decades. Bins of wheat older than me in the basement, shelf after shelf of canned goods, powdered milk on a daily basis, etc. I never knew that people actually rushed to the store in times of emergencies (we went through a hurricane in Hawaii) because we never did.
I got a book for my wedding entitled 'Cookin with Home Storage' by Peggy Layton and Vicki Tate. It's a really good resource with tips for how and how much, how long, etc. Lots of old pioneer recipes (read: able to make with limited resources) for everything from Hard Tack and Sourdough Pancakes to Flea powder.
You've gotten a lot of really good advice and I don't have the time or inclination to write a novel about all the ways and things to 'prep', but that's my two cents :)

I don't think of myself as a prepper, but I do stock up on items just in case of economical break down or possible zombie attack, lol. I mostly stay prepared for bad storms.

I keep all of our camping gear in a box in the garage so I can grab it and go. I also keep canned goods, bottled water and I have quite a bit of camping foods (just add water). Living in Florida we stay prepared for hurricanes and have a generator if the power goes out. I like to be prepared in case we have to evacuate.

Depending on what could or would happen you would need different things. I think the most important would be guns and ammo to either get supplies or keep your supplies. I was surprised at how many people would say I have a gun so I will just take what I want, my husband was one of them. People get really crazy when things change so drastically, just look at what went on in New Orleans after Katrina.

Interesting....I never knew either. About the only thing pittsburghers 'prep' for are snowstorms. At the mere mention the groceries stores run out of bread, milk and toilet paper.