Disasters, Depressions, and Doomsday – Oh My! Are You Prepared?

You were excited when you read this post title, weren't you? You thought I was about to get all wacko on you. Sorry to disappoint, but this post is really just about the importance of prudent preparation when you have a family to support.

My husband is a rugged, Man vs Wild type of guy who loves all things outdoors – camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and anything else that involves him exercising his masculinity. It’s kind of hot, really. (I mean, have you seen Bear Grylls?)

Going along with all of that, he loves learning about survival skills, emergency preparedness, living off the land, and things of that nature. He’s not a 'Doomsday Prepper' – he simply recognizes the value of self-sufficiency, especially in an unstable economy.

Don't worry - I occasionally give him a hard time about it (and call him Doomy McGloomerson), but the truth is I know my kids have a daddy who does all he can to protect them. And that's what's so attractive about it - he makes us feel safe and protected. 

I think most people write off the prepared folks as ‘cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs’ because it feels much safer than facing reality: disasters happen. You don’t have to be a hardcore ‘Doomsday Prepper’  (because, let’s face it, if you find yourself in the middle of a nuclear war, there’s not a lot you can do to keep from growing a third arm), but it certainly couldn’t hurt to prepare your family for an environmental or economic disaster.

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were faced with a sudden disaster? If you couldn’t get to the grocery store? Or the gas station? If you temporarily couldn’t access your bank account?

Do you have enough food and water stored up to last a while? It probably takes more than you think.

Here’s the thing: in an emergency situation, you absolutely cannot count on the government to provide for your family’s needs in a timely manner (two words: Hurricane Katrina). Self-reliance is the key.

I never want to find myself unable to provide basic needs for my children. How horrifying would it be to find yourself wondering where their next meal was going to come from?

It’s impossible to be prepared for every possible scenario that life could throw at us, but think of it this way: you buy health insurance to prepare for unexpected medical issues, you protect your assets through other types of insurance, you may contribute to an IRA or college fund to prepare for the future, so why not be prepared for something as basic as survival?

The hubby in his element - with his faithful sidekick

My poor hubby has a desk job, not his dream job of testing out gear for Cabela’s. This means he doesn’t get to go on outdoor adventures and act out his wildman instincts as often as he would like. But his birthday is coming up, and we're going camping. I’m looking forward to seeing him snuggle into his new sleeping bag, break in his new backpack, and act like a kid at Disneyland.

Does your family take any steps to preserve self-sufficiency? Share your tips!