Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Emergency preparation can be very overwhelming, especially when you’re just getting started. There’s so much to learn, so many supplies to buy, and so many scenarios to think about that a lot of people give up before they really begin.
That’s why I put together this list of practical prepping tips. These emergency preparation tips will save you time, money, and aggravation—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned prepper. These aren’t theoretical ideas or expensive gear suggestions. These are real-world hacks that I’ve used (or learned the hard way) that actually make a difference.
Some of these tips are about getting better organized. Others are about staying safe, being efficient, or just making life a little easier during a crisis. You don’t have to do them all at once, but if you start implementing a few at a time, you’ll be shocked at how much more prepared—and confident—you feel.
Storage & Organization
Use Clear Storage Bins
I can't tell you how many hours I've wasted digging through bags, boxes, and totes looking for flashlights, radios, medical gear, etc. Then a few years back, someone suggested using clear plastic totes to store my survival supplies, and I felt like an idiot for not thinking of it sooner.
Now, I have my garage lined with shelves, and each shelf has clear plastic totes. The totes are labeled, but it's still very helpful to be able to glance at the contents without having to pull it out and open it.
For privacy, I have tapestries hanging in front of the shelves so you can't tell what's on them. Few strangers are ever in my garage, anyway, and those who have (like HVAC workers) have never commented on the tapestries or asked what's on my shelves.
Label Everything with Expiration Dates
This is a lesson I learned several years back. I had bought several bags of rice that had the expiration dates printed on the side, but years later when I looked for the dates again, they had faded so much that I couldn't read them. This is very common if you're keeping food for years at a time.
To prevent this, make your own labels and stick them on your food. If you're storing the food in new containers (like Mylar bags and/or 5-gallon buckets), you can use a marker and masking tape. However, masking tape can curl and lose adhesion after several years, especially in humid environments.
Some better options include freezer tape and waterproof sticker labels. Also, it's a good idea to put a label on the front and back of the container so it's that much easier to identify if things get moved around.
Use a Vacuum Sealer for Long-Term Storage
These aren't just for food! Vacuum sealers are great for storing meds, ammo, and medication for years, protecting them from moisture and air. Anything that can eventually go bad should be vacuum sealed.
To learn more, check out our guide, Vacuum Sealing: The Best Way to Preserve Anything.
Keep an Inventory Sheet
I know, keeping an inventory can be kind of a hassle. Every time you purchase more food or supplies, you have to update your inventory. However, it's worth the trouble!
Before you go shopping, you can check your inventory to see what you need more of, and you can also check to see what's close to expiring so you can use or eat it before it goes bad.
If you want to do this, here are 16 Inventory Lists Every Prepper Should Use.
Set Reminders to Rotate Stock
The first time I build a bug out bag, I filled with food and supplies, put it in the closet, and forgot all about it. A couple years later, I decided it was time to rotate out some of that food.
I opened a bag of trail mix, dumped some in my mouth, started chewing, and immediately spit it out. The raisins and M&Ms were okay, but the nuts were oily and had a weird, crayon-like flavor. I soon realized that half the food in my bug out bag had gone bad.
Ever since then, I've put reminders on my phone's calendar. Every six months, it reminds me to rotate the food in my bug out bags and the rotate all of my emergency water storage. I also double-check the expiration dates on my other supplies just to be safe.
Power & Lighting
Freeze Water Bottles in Empty Freezer Space
If the power goes out for longer than a day, everything in your freezer is going to thaw and go bad if you don't cook it right away. But you can buy yourself extra time by filling the empty space with water bottles.
The frozen water acts like ice packs, keeping the temperature lower for longer. A full freezer stays cold much longer than a half-empty one because all that extra ice slows down the thawing process. Plus, once the bottles start to melt, you’ll have a backup supply of clean drinking water.
Use Solar Garden Lights Indoors at Night
Since I have motion-sensor lights in my front yard, I never felt the need for solar yard lights, but then I read about using them indoors during blackouts, and now I have them lining the path to my front door.
When the power goes out, I just bring a few inside and set them in jars or cups around the house. They’re not very bright, but they provide enough light to read a book and walk around without stubbing your toes. And since they recharge every day, it’s like having free lighting during an emergency.
Add Wind-Up Tools (Radios, Flashlights)
Back when I first started prepping, I stocked up on lots of batteries. Way too many, in fact. While it's great to have plenty of batteries (especially lithium batteries), they can be expensive, so the fewer batteries you have to use, the better.
If you're building an emergency kit, make sure you pack with with gear that doesn't need batteries such as wind-up clocks, radios, and flashlights. In fact, you should definitely put a no-battery emergency radio in your bug out bag. A few cranks and it will provide a light or working radio. Some of them also have solar panels and USB ports for extra charging options.
Training & Readiness
Practice a “Survival Stress Test”
One weekend a few years ago, I decided to flip the breaker to my house for the night. No lights, no screens, no microwave, nothing. I also turned off the main water shut-off valve. I just wanted to see how well I could manage without utilities.
It was pretty eye-opening. I quickly learned which areas needed more lighting, which flashlights were dead, and how hard it is to do everyday tasks in the dark with no running water.
Now I do this every few months. I call it a survival stress test. It’s a great way to test your emergency lighting, practice cooking without electricity, and see how your family handles it. Better to work out the kinks now than during a real emergency when the utilities go away for good.
Run Practice Drills with Family
These are similar to survival stress tests, but instead of staying at home with no utilities, you imagine you're in a specific type of disaster scenario. For example, you could imagine that you need to bug out as quickly as possible. Everybody grabs their things, loads the car, and you head to your bug out location and see how long it takes.
You can also run other types of drills like home security scenarios or fire drills. Try practicing what you’d do if someone tried to break in at night. Who grabs what? Where do you go? How do you secure the house? Or simulate a house fire: how fast can everyone get out, and where do you meet?
Practice runs like these help identify weak spots in your plan and give your family the confidence to act quickly if the real thing ever happens.
Water & Food
Use Pool Shock for Water Purification
If you want the ability to purify tons of water for years and years without storing tons of bleach and water purifiers, pool shock is a game-changer. It’s far cheaper and longer-lasting than liquid bleach, and just a small amount can treat thousands of gallons of water. But—and this is really important—you have to use the right kind and mix it properly, or you could make yourself sick.
Look for pool shock that has a calcium hypochlorite level of 65% or higher with no added algaecides, anti-fungals, or colorants. I use DryTec Super Shock. You can find it at most hardware and pool stores.
To use it, you don’t add the powder directly to your drinking water. First, you have to make a chlorine stock solution. Here's how:
- Mix 1 heaping teaspoon (about 0.25 oz) of pool shock with 2 gallons of water. This makes a strong bleach-like liquid.
- Then, to disinfect water, add 1 part of this solution to 100 parts water (so, about 2.5 tablespoons per gallon of drinking water).
- Let it sit for 30 minutes before drinking. You should smell a faint chlorine scent. If not, add a bit more and wait again.
Store the pool shock in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, and keep it away from kids and pets. It’s a powerful chemical, so be careful with it. But when used properly, it’s a great hack for safe, long-term water treatment.
Pre-Make Meals in Jars or Mylar Bags
A great way to save time and trouble in an emergency to create just-add-water meals in canning jars or Mylar bags ahead of time. It’s cheaper than buying freeze-dried meals, and you can customize the ingredients. Plus, they’re perfect for bug-out bags, camping, or just when you’re too tired to cook during an emergency.
A typical meal might include instant rice, dehydrated veggies, some seasoning, and a scoop of powdered protein or beans. Just add hot water, seal it for 10–15 minutes, and you’ve got a warm, filling meal. Be sure to label them with the contents and cooking instructions, then vacuum seal or add an oxygen absorber before storing them in a bin or backpack.
Here's How to Make Meals in Jars for a Rainy Day, and here are 101 Meals in a Jar Recipes.
Planning & Documents
Create a Family Emergency Binder
If you ever have to evacuate fast—due to a flood, wildfire, or civil unrest—you won’t have time to dig through filing cabinets. That’s why I keep a family emergency binder with all my essential documents, and I highly recommend you do the same.
This binder should be waterproof and easy to spot (just laminate the pages). Inside, include copies of IDs, passports, insurance policies, medical records, prescriptions, emergency contacts, and any legal documents like wills or property deeds.
I also keep a small USB drive in there with digital versions of everything, just in case. Just make sure to keep the binder in a safe until you need it, and make sure the USB drive is encrypted.
Pre-Write Evacuation Checklists
When you're in a real emergency and the adrenaline is pumping, it's easy to forget something important—like your medications, your phone charger, or even your wallet. That’s why you should create some evacuation checklists before disaster strikes.
I’ve got different checklists for different scenarios: wildfire, hurricane, bug out, etc. Each one lists what to grab, what to do before leaving (like turning off utilities), and where we’re heading. That way when we leave, I know I haven't forgotten anything.
I keep printed copies in our family emergency binder and digital copies on my phone, just in case. You don't want to be running around your house, trying to remember everything when you’ve only got 10 minutes to leave. With a checklist, you can stay calm, move fast, and make sure nothing important gets left behind.
Download Offline Maps and Survival Manuals
In a serious emergency, you may not be able to use the internet. Cell towers might be down, power might be out, and GPS apps won’t help if they can’t load maps. That’s why I’ve downloaded offline maps and survival manuals directly to my phone.
For maps, I use Gaia GPS, which lets you download entire regions so you can navigate without a signal. I’ve got local maps, state maps, and even routes to multiple bug out locations saved offline.
For manuals, I keep PDFs of things like edible plant guides, first aid manuals, and wilderness survival handbooks. It doesn’t take up much space, and you can access life-saving info anytime.
If you're relying on a digital device, make sure you also have a backup battery bank or solar charger. Better yet, print out the most critical pages and keep a hard copy in your emergency binder.
Gear & Supplies
Buy Supplies After Holidays
For as long as I can remember, my mom shops the day after holidays and stocks up for the following year. By doing this, she spends half as much as she normally would. One year it hit me: Why not do the same for survival supplies?
After Christmas, you can grab batteries, candles, flashlights, and even long-burning decorative lights for cheap. After Halloween, you’ll find tons of survival-friendly stuff like glow sticks, matches, plastic sheeting, and even MRE-style snacks. And right after summer ends, stores are practically giving away propane canisters, camping gear, bug spray, and water containers.
I always keep a list of supplies I need, then I check local stores and online clearance sections when the holiday sales hit. It’s a great way to build your stockpile without spending a lot of money.
Stock Up on Multi-Use Items
Rather than have 100 items that can each do 1 thing, it's better to have 10 items that can each to 10 things. It saves space, and it's convenient. For example, I clean my entire house with just 3 things: baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap.
There are plenty of other everyday items that have multiple uses: aluminum foil, coffee filters, dental floss, duct tape, pantyhose, etc. For more ideas, check out this article: 2500 Survival Uses for Everyday Items.
Keep a Cash Stash in Small Bills
In a grid-down situation or even a simple power outage, credit cards and digital payments might be useless. That’s why I always keep some cash in a secure, fireproof box—and I make sure it’s mostly small bills. Think $1s, $5s, and $10s.
If the power’s out and you need to buy fuel, food, or supplies, you don’t want to hand over a $100 bill for a $15 item and hope they can make change. I keep about $500 on hand, and I never touch it unless it’s a true emergency.
This can make a huge difference when things go sideways and the ATM lines are a mile long or not even working.
Note: After I had already scheduled this post and made the images, I thought of a couple more tips everyone should now, so here are two bonus tips:
Color Code Your Supplies
One of the best organizing tricks I’ve picked up recently is color coding the supplies inside my bug out bag (I got this idea from City Prepping). Instead of digging around for a lighter or water filter, I can grab the exact pouch I need in seconds—no stress, no second-guessing.
For example, my fire-starting supplies are in an orange pouch, hygiene supplies go in yellow, medical gear goes in red, water purification is blue, etc. I use small zippered bags, dry bags, or and heavy-duty Ziplok with colored duct tape. This system works great in low light and especially under stress when you don't want to waste time searching.
Stash Mini Kits Everywhere
You never know where you’ll be when an emergency hits, so I like to stash mini survival kits in all the places I spend time. I’m talking about small, pocket-sized kits. Nothing fancy, just the basics.
I have an altoid kit in my glove box, a pill bottle kit in my EDC bag, and a get home bag at work. Each includes things like a lighter, painkillers, cash, water purification tablets, and a mini multi-tool. You can customize each kit depending on where it’s stored and what you might need.
You May Also Like:
The post 18 Emergency Preparation Tips Every Prepper Should Know appeared first on Urban Survival Site.
from Urban Survival Site
No comments:
Post a Comment