EMERGENCY FOOD STORAGE AND SURVIVAL
Legal Notice
Copyright (c) 2020 Herb Williamson.
All rights are reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or duplicated using any form whether mechanical, electronic, or otherwise. No portion of this book may be transmitted, stored in a retrieval database, or otherwise made available in any manner whether public or private unless specific permission is granted by the publisher. Vector illustration credit: vecteezy.com
This book does not offer advice, but merely provides information. The author offers no advice whether medical, financial, legal, or otherwise, nor does the author encourage any person to pursue any specific course of action discussed in this book. This book is not a substitute for professional advice. The reader accepts complete and sole responsibility for the manner in which this book and its contents are used. The publisher and the author will not be held liable for any damages caused.
Emergency
Food Storage
and Survival
~
The Handbook You Need to Keep Your Family Safe (Food, Medical Supplies, Power, and More)
~
Herb Williamson
Contents
Introduction
Our lives are fragile. Things like job loss, death, illness, and more can happen at any time - often without warning - and throw our routine into chaos. Many people dont like thinking about these things very often and for good reason. Its stressful and scary. However, by avoiding them altogether, it makes the actual emergencies so much worse.
Even our society is not as invincible as many might believe. While we usually have access to everything we could possibly need or want, things can change very quickly. The economy can tank. Disease can spread. One week, were going about our business as usual and the next, were worried if well be able to hit the grocery store before the panic-buying strips the shelves.
How should people deal with a personal or large-scale emergency? The answer: deal with it before it even happens. Most people understand that having some kind of emergency monetary fund is important, even though it isnt always possible. However, prepping involves a lot more than just money. There are many scenarios where your money wont actually help you that much. By prepping beyond an emergency fund, you can head off the most serious concerns - like having enough food, water, and medical supplies - and focus on other things, like your mental wellbeing. In this book, were covering the basics of what you need to know about prepping, including what supplies you need to stockpile and general tips for success.
Some people think of preppers as paranoid or living in fear, but the reality is that preppers are just using common sense and acknowledging the reality that life is fragile. Bad things will happen whether we want them to or not. Preppers are often the people who are the least scared about disasters because theyre ready for them. Wouldnt you like to be ready for whatever comes your way?
Chapter 1: What Am I Prepping For?
If you arent a prepper, you might be wondering why you should start now. Even if prepping makes sense to you or youve been prepping already, its always good to remind yourself what scenarios could be on the horizon. Uncertainty and ignorance fuel panic and fear, while knowledge helps you plan and stay calm. In this chapter, well go over emergencies both likely and unlikely.
Job loss
Even people who arent survivalists need to think about the possibility of job loss. For most, this involves an emergency fund, but it can also include stockpiling essential non-perishables, medicine, and more. This way, if you lose your job and your source of income, you have something solid to fall back on while you search for new employment.
Personal loss
Life is fragile. Sometimes, the unbelievable can happen. When a loved one dies, everything changes. Normal tasks like going to work, school, and shopping can become very challenging. Nothing disrupts your life quite like grief. Depending on who has passed, your income can be affected as well as your emotional state. Having an emergency fund and staples like food allows you to take a breath and process your grief.
Natural disasters
Natural disasters like fires, flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes are not uncommon in many places in the world. To see the impact, all you have to do is look up images or videos of the aftermath. Even if your home is spared destruction, natural disasters can cut off electricity and the water supply. Getting to a store may not be the best choice (or even possible for a while), so having supplies at home helps keep you safe and as comfortable as possible in the circumstances.
Disease outbreaks
While other emergencies are more likely than disease outbreaks, they do happen. They dont even need to be global to disrupt your life; if theyre local, you will feel the effects. Quarantines and social distancing might be recommended or ordered. If you dont have supplies at home already, going out to stock up now can feel scary. Depending on your health and vulnerability, you could be at more risk than others. Having a stockpile of medical supplies, water, and food is very important.
Economic collapse
The economy ebbs and flows. If things get bad, money can go down in value, companies can lay off employees, and so on. As people get stressed, theyll start to buy up supplies, leading to shortages. If you prep in advance for this scenario, you wont have to deal with the panic buying. As with other disaster scenarios, you should have an emergency fund you can easily access as well as supplies.
War and civil conflict
Depending on where you live, war and civil conflict may seem very unlikely. In many places in the world, however, its a real fear. Many preppers like to prepare for a variety of violent scenarios, such as chemical and biological warfare. Martial law could also be enforced. In these times, other people could likely be the biggest danger. Youll need supplies to defend yourself and your home as well as water, food, and other essentials.
Two important rules for preppers:
1. Don't panic
The purpose of prepping is to avoid panicking when bad things happen. For many people, even just thinking about emergencies and planning can generate a lot of anxiety. When fear is running the show, it becomes much harder to stay organized and prep well. It can also paralyze you and you stop prepping altogether to avoid the feelings of anxiety. The key is to first acknowledge that youre anxious. Denying it will not make it go away; it usually makes it worse. Depending on the level of your anxiety and if it affects other areas of your life, you might want to learn more about anxiety, talk to a therapist, or research ways to lower anxiety on your own. By learning to reduce your anxiety now, youll be better equipped to deal with it once an emergency scenario becomes a reality. Staying cool and collected in those situations will keep you safe.
2. Take it step-by-step
Prepping can be overwhelming. When you look at the list of possible disaster scenarios, do you wonder how youll keep track of everything you need? The key to managing prepping anxiety is to take it step-by-step. If youre just beginning to prep, remember that most of the prepping supplies you need will cover all possible emergency scenarios. Next, plan on stockpiling enough for just two weeks. Factoring in health concerns, loss of income, and lack of access to a store, make a list of everything youll need for 14 days. Once you have that stockpile, think about what you would need for four weeks. Eventually, youll have months, and if you keep going, years.
