Stages of Preparedness

The stages of preparedness mark how far along the prepping journey a household has traveled, from the first week of reading about threats to running on renewable water, food and power. Knowing which stage of preparedness you are working toward tells you what to buy next, which survival skills to practice, and how long your reserves need to carry you.

Most people land further along than they expected. Extra food in the pantry, a case of bottled water and a flashlight that works already put you past the starting point. Progress is uneven too, and that is normal. You can be sufficiently prepared for a three day blackout and still be researching preparedness when it comes to feeding your family for a month.