When I was young and we still lived in Missouri, my mom began her own and our family’s preparedness journey.  Whether stocking up on food items inexpensively through couponing, or learning skills that would benefit us if we ever didn’t have access to daily conveniences like grocery stores, or storing items in our van to make long road trips less tedious, I saw how having certain items and skills could bring security and comfort during the crazy moments in the midst of both daily and infrequent emergencies.   In the midst of the 2014 Ferguson riots, or the 2011 tornado that left us displaced from our home for six weeks, or even a lack of cell service while traveling that left the GPS on my parents’ phones unusable, having our pre-assembled bug-out bags and sufficient stored food and paper road maps made me feel safer.   I knew that there were some things we just didn’t have to worry about in the midst of the unplanned circumstances because of my mother’s forethought and pre-planning.  

My Preparedness Journey

The fall of 2021 was the first time that I was away from my family for a fairly extended period of time.  I lived in Omaha, Nebraska, and was involved in a music internship for four months.  During that time I had several experiences which showed me how having supplies on hand can be helpful. I also saw how NOT having some things on hand can be detrimental.  At one point I caught a cold, but owning my own essential oils and vitamins helped me recover much faster without needing to leave the home of the family with which I was staying to purchase OTC’s.  However, at one point snow was predicted in the forecast and I didn’t have anything with which to remove that snow and/or ice from my car.   As a result, I had to run out last minute to buy an ice scraper.  Thankfully, there weren’t long lines at the store, but it made me stop and think.  How could I avoid such situations in the future when the consequences might be more serious?  Having items on hand before I needed them, whether to avoid potentially fighting crowds for the same supplies or simply facing the inability to purchase what I would need, at least when possible, seemed to be the answer.  

Assembling/using my preps 

Determining what items I need

Throughout my current day-to-day life, there are still varied settings I find myself in.   Depending on the time of day or what day of the week it is, I need to have different items on my person.  For instance, when I’m at work I’m required to carry a pen on my person, but I also carry a pocket knife which is great for breaking down boxes without having to locate a box cutter.  During the winter I  wear heavy-duty wool socks to keep my feet from freezing as well as thick thermals underneath my uniform.  In the summer I have a cooling towel on hand.  Because my job requires me to break down boxes as well as spending some time outside, I need to be equipped to perform those jobs efficiently without worrying if I have the supplies on hand to complete my tasks well.  When I return  home I swap my pen out for pepper spray, since I’m allowed to carry it when I’m not at work.

Organizing my EDC

I try to keep the items I use the most on my person, especially if they’re small and fit into my pockets well.  Depending on my needs at any given time this could also include items like a mini can opener on my keychain, chapstick, a stick of gum, or even a mini tube of lotion.  Slightly larger items that I use slightly less often but still use all the time are in my backpack.  Some of these include a notebook and extra writing utensils, a few essential oils and my first aid kit, an umbrella and a brimmed hat, a multitool, a second pair of glasses, sunglasses, an extra battery bank for my phone, feminine supplies, and an extra hat and gloves for if I or someone else need them in the winter.  In the summer I replace the hat and gloves with a cooling towel.   Items I might need but use less often I keep in my car, like duct tape, an extra pair of tennis shoes and a bag with two extra changes of clothes, two blankets, and a device that will charge my car’s battery and pump up its tires should the need arise.  I also keep an ice scraper to clean my windshield on snowy days.  

Moving my EDC forward

I’m also always trying to assess new ways to move my preparedness forward.  There are some items I may no longer need in my preps, like eye drops for putting in contacts, or even sunscreen depending on the time of year.  However, I started carrying lozenges in case of a sore throat as well as a backup asthma inhaler.  My circumstances may change, causing my immediate and potential needs to change as well.  I consistently try to evaluate my EDC and assess if there are any items that need to be replaced, removed, or added to my everyday carry.  

Preparedness skills and using my equipment

Deciding what skills to learn

However, preparedness is more than just items, or “stuff”.  It is also skills and the ability to perform the necessary tasks in a crisis or emergency.  This includes knowing how to use your equipment to achieve your desired results, as well as doing certain tasks without your usual equipment if that equipment will not be available in a potential emergency. 

What skillsets make sense for me?

Some skills are more useful for some people than for others, but certain skills are useful for everyone to know.  Knowing how to use jumper cables is a skill that everyone will probably use at some point in their lives.  Being able to start a fire without a fire starter or even matches is a skill that not everyone will need but may make sense depending on the circumstances you find yourself in.  For me, knowing how to can fruits and vegetables is a good skill to master because my family grows a garden each year. Preparedness skills are so much more than just learning how to start a fire or learning to identify edible plants, though those are valuable skills to have.   Learning how to knit or crochet, garden in pots on your back porch, or how to re-inflate a tire are all excellent preparedness skills that anyone can learn and that will serve you well in various types of emergencies as well as in daily life.  

Finding the skills that interest me

Determining what new skills to learn or what to practice doing without your usual equipment also depends on what you’re interested in.  I’ve spent time learning to make sourdough bread since my body can digest it more easily than regular wheat bread, and I’m hoping to learn alternate methods to open a can.   These are both skills which have a practical use but also just interest me.  

Finding time to develop my skills

When I have five minutes or less per day…

Everyone’s schedule is different as is the amount of time each person can commit to developing preparedness skills.  If you work 20 + hours a week and are in school you may not be able to spend five hours a week moving your preparedness skills forward, but you can identify things that would be useful to learn and that you can practice in five minutes or less a day.  Knot tying, composting, and keeping a sourdough starter are just a few of the many skills you can learn and develop on a tight schedule. 

Ideas for a more flexible schedule

If you have a little more time with which to work there are endless areas in which you can further your preparedness knowledge.   Practicing a new baking or cooking skill like making bread or even making bone broth, taking a class in any area of preparedness that interests you, even if online, or getting outside and exercising are just a few examples of ways to continue moving your preparedness forward.  If you have a friend or a group of friends who are also interested in preparedness, you could develop your preparedness skill sets together either by keeping each other accountable or just working alongside one another as you learn and practice your newly acquired expertise.  

Summary and concluding thoughts

Everyone will need different items to be prepared and will have various reasons for that preparedness.  As a young adult, a few of my reasons for being prepared are being able to take care of myself when I’m away from family on road trips or just around town, being able to deal with inconveniences like sore throats or minor injuries while heading from place to place with a busy schedule, and having straightforward, simple ways to solve day-to-day mechanical or technical emergencies, such as a deflated tire or a dead phone.  During my childhood I observed how having essentials on hand helped my family, and it gave me a sense of confidence and assurance which has led me to press forward on my own preparedness journey.