One question I hear a lot is “I’m new to prepping. Where do I start?” Similar is, “I have so much to do to be fully prepared, I don’t know what to do next!” Here is a strategic planning tool I use to plan my preparations.
- I start by breaking down my planning into basic survival focus areas: Shelter, Water, Food, Personal Defense, Communications, and Wellness.
- For each focus, I then mentally evaluate my level of preparedness and where I want to be. I try to articulate where I want to be in terms of brief statements of objective.
- Based on my objectives, I then list the most promising action steps I can take in terms of gear, plans, skills, etc. I articulate these action steps as major tasks.
- I evaluate the tasks I’ve set for myself and try to assign a date to complete each task. Sometimes the tasks are ongoing, but sometimes they can be completed. If so, I decide for myself when it would be reasonable to complete that task, given the other things going on in my life.
- Finally, I select just 3-5 of the tasks I’ve assigned and put them on my WIN list (“what’s important now”). These are the 3-5 tasks (ideally spread over several focus areas) that would have the greatest impact if they were all I was able to complete from my entire list. They need to be achievable (in terms of effort, cost, etc.) and make a significant improvement in my level of preparedness. They are the answer to the question, “What do I do next?”
Here’s a sample SGR Planning Guide I might have used at one time. It would represent a time when I had already begun to prepare myself, already had acquired gear and laid in supplies for 1-3 months, and already had begun learning skills that could prove useful in an emergency.
Shelter
The first basic survival concern is shelter: maintaining our core body temperature and protecting ourselves from the elements.
Objectives
- Clothing appropriate to location and season
- Appropriate footwear
- Appropriate headgear
- Sleep systems
- Home
- Temporary/emergency shelter (e.g. tent, ability to construct lean-to)
- Specified bugout destination(s)
Major Tasks
- Acquire a bivouac bag and sleeping pad to go with sleeping bag
- Acquire a new pair of boots and store existing pair with bugout bag
- Change out old sunscreen in bugout bag, get home bag, car kit
- Add tarp to car kit
- Make blackout curtains for kitchen/dining area
Target Date
Have all shelter items completed by end of year
Water
Water is important for cooking, hygiene, and especially for drinking. Having access to water and the ability to treat water is highly important.
Objectives
- Stockpile minimum water needed for 3 people for 3 months (270 gallons)
- Have at least two ways of treating water at all times
- Have appropriate water containers with each kit
- Have two alternate sources of water in case city services are interrupted.
Major Tasks
- Acquire a second WaterBOB
- Purchase enough AquaMira for bugout bag, Nalgene water bottle kit, and car kit.
- Acquire 8 more Aquatainers, fill them, and add them to my stockpile
- Refresh the water in existing Aquatainers
- Locate a wellhead nearby in the community. Inspect it to verify condition.
Target Date
Make the purchases at a rate of $30/month until all is acquired. Locate the wellhead within 30 days.
Food
Food is not only necessary for energy and life, it also plays a role in maintaining morale.
Objectives
- Stockpile enough food for 3 people for 3 months
- Identify 3 new edible wild plants that grow in the area during at least 2 seasons. Find some. Try some.
- Acquire starter gear and supplies to begin pressure canning.
Major Tasks
- Purchase an additional 30-day bucket of freeze-dried food (actually good for more like 2 weeks)
- Purchase 4-8 additional cans of food each week. Emphasize meats and vegetables.
- Build or purchase another rack for the garage for rotating canned goods.
- Pull old vitamins from bugout bag to start using. Replace them with fresh vitamins.
- Research edible wild plants in the area. Try to see what is relatively common.
- Learn about pressure canning. Research what equipment is reliable and durable. Purchase the equipment.
- Prepare some meals that can be canned, and can at least a couple of weeks worth of meals.
Target Date
Be set up for canning within 2 weeks. Refresh vitamins by end of month. Learn about, locate, and try one new wild edible each month. Have new can rack in garage and new bucket of freeze-dried food by end of year.
Personal Defense
Among the things one should consider preparing for are looters and criminals seeking to take advantage of any breakdown in the rule of law. I recommend you arm yourself with at least one handgun, shotgun, .22 rifle, and long arm. One might consider Opsec part of defense as well.
Objectives
- Acquire an inexpensive but reliable high-power bolt-action rifle and scope capable of accuracy to 400 yards.
- Evaluate existing armory for any parts needing periodic replacement.
- Acquire minimum amount of ammunition needed for up to one year.
- Make sure everyone in the household is familiar with operating each of our firearms.
Major Tasks
- Find a good used Savage 10 or Remington 700 or similar in .308 for $250-300. Buy it.
- Research reliable scopes. Select something inexpensive but reliable. Buy it.
- Research commonly replaced parts for each of my firearms. Find an inexpensive source of new or surplus parts.
- Set aside or spend $30 each month for parts and ammunition.
- Take the family out shooting in the desert twice this year.
Target Date
Since I already have a good foundation in this category and already have the funds for the rifle and scope, I’ll start with the $30/month right away and aim for getting everything else done by the end of the year.
Communications
It’s helpful to be able to receive news from the outside world if the power is out or it’s not safe to go out. Communication can include commercial radio, amateur radio, smoke signals, chalk marks, flares, whistles, etc.
Objectives
- Maintain functional amateur radio equipment and remain familiar in its use
- Be able to recharge electronic devices including cellphones
- Keep contact list up to date
Major Tasks
- Participate in area emergency nets at least twice a month for both handheld transceivers and HF rig.
- Install NVIS antenna at home.
- Test solar charger every quarter.
- Update contact list
Target Date
Update contact list by end of next week. Test solar charger first week in November. Have NVIS setup by end of year.
Wellness
This is the realm of first aid kits, medicines, health issues, and physical fitness.
Objectives
- Maintain physical fitness
- Ensure adequate supply of medical supplies for my skill level
- Have a 3-month supply of any medicines used in the family
Major Tasks
- Exercise at least 30 minutes at least 4 days each week
- Make a list of any medicines used (prescription and non-prescription). Note dosages. Check expiration dates and supply. Refresh or supplement stocks as needed. Don’t overlook first aid kits, bugout bag, car kits.
- Renew first-aid certification
Target Date
Complete medicine study and resupply by end of next month. Take part in first-aid training offered by CERT later this month.
WIN List
From the major tasks I identified above, here are the ones I’m putting on my WIN list (“what’s important now”). These are tasks that will make the most impact in my level of preparedness and are achievable within the next few months, given all the other demands on my time and money. This is the list of what I’ll do next:
- Learn about pressure canning. Research what equipment is reliable and durable. Purchase the equipment.
- Set aside or spend $30 each month for parts and ammunition for my existing firearms.
- Install an NVIS antenna at home for my HF amateur radio.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes at least 4 days each week.
My past experience tells me I’ll get to quite a few of the other tasks as well, but now I have some very helpful focus on what I should be doing over the next couple of months. I like to keep each planning guide for reference as I prepare a new one at least once a year. It’s been helpful for me to see a steady track record of progress, and to look for patterns as to what sorts of things derail my plans and what’s realistic for the next year.
What will you do next?
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