I'm often asked by younger folks/couples for advice on exactly how they can start on their own programs for food storage (FS), emergency preparedness (EP) and self-reliance (SR). 

• Sometimes, it seems like they're looking for a "silver bullet" that will solve all of their challenges cheaply and easily.

Unfortunately, the honest and often painful answer is:  IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON YOU!  For example, your FS/EP/SR program will depend on various esoteric or mundane factors, including the following:

• Your budget, and how much you are able to set aside for financial reserves and/or food storage, emergency gear, etc.;
• Your lifestyle mobility/transience (e.g., are you in the military and move every 2-3 years?);
  How much storage space you have, and how it is set up (e.g., a huge basement vs. several smaller closets);
• The size, genders and ages of your family or the group that you're storing for (e.g., toddlers will have different needs and abilities to assist than teenagers);
• Your regional climate (e.g., cold weather & blizzard preps for Minnesota & rural Vermont...heat waves preps in Phoenix or western Texas; arid climate vs. wet climate, etc.);
• If I may express a pet peeve here...far too many folks with otherwise-excellent FS/EP/SR programs come up short on planning for safe drinking & cooking water during an emergency. 
• Just sticking a couple of water barrels in the basement really is not adequate...because you're not going to be taking those water barrels with you in an many emergency situations (e.g., remember how folks had to evacuate their homes & belongings after Hurricane Katrina?).
• So, give to consideration to some portable water filtering or purification capability...and see our related eBay Guide for more details, a suggested water storage/production strategy, and suggested products.
• Where you live (urban, suburban or rural), which will drive your selection of food & gear; 
• Your health, and your loved ones' health...will you need to stay close to medical facilities (e.g., kidney dialysis), or can you travel?  Do you need to store particular medicines? Will disabilities limit your actions/choices?
• The most likely emergencies that could affect you...e.g., is your region prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or tornados?  Do you live near forests prone to wildfires?  Near major transportation routes that could bring trouble to you (e.g., chemical spills, HAZMAT, etc.)?
• Your strategy for coping...will you endure emergencies in-place or travel to a safer location (e.g., do you prepare to wait out a blizzard, and/or do you attempt to escape an urban center if law enforcement becomes iffy, such as during major riots)?
• And many other factors, which only YOU can determine!!

When I was younger, I wanted someone to provide the "master checklist" for emergency preparedness, food storage & self-reliance.  I wanted that single, eternal, guaranteed-to-work "answer" that would protect myself and my loved ones from all dangers.

Truthfully, "the answer" is going to be different for nearly every person, family and/or group. 

• And, that answer is going to change over time--your needs and strategy as a twenty-something single person living in a city apartment are going to be much different than a married, thirty-something family person with several kids under ten years old, living in the suburbs. 

You must define identify your own needs...choose your own strategy...develop your own plan...select your own supplies and gear, and make your own trade-offs for supplies/gear vs. costs.  No one will be doing it for you.  Then, you have to implement it, and evolve it over time.

I'm not trying to discourage you...don't just throw up your hands and spend your time & money going to Rolling Stones concerts. 

The point is: 

• Start by thinking..a lot...about what it is you want/need to accomplish.
• Do some research, collect some sample suggested checklists for EP/FS/SR. 
• Talk to folks who have plowed this field before; subscribe to some newsletter or blogs (many free ones on the internet, such as this one!!)
• Then think some more. 
• Study it out, write out a simple concept of what it is YOU want to prepare for/against, the strategy you want to adopt, and the tools/supplies you'll need.  Establish your own priorities for what you need to do first and foremost...vs. what can be delayed a bit.
• THEN, start implementing accordingly. 

EP/FS/SR, properly done, is a lifelong commitment to a process.  You'll never quite be "done."  You'll change your approach and your strategy several times over your life.

Now, don't let the above advice lull you into a months or years-long process of planning without doing; you'll find that you can do the vast majority of all this research and planning pretty well in a single weekend.  Just realize that it is not a "fire & forget" system.  You'll then have to spend an hour every month or two maintaining/caring for what you have, and implementing the next step in your personalized action plan.

But, I'm here to tell you that it is worth it, in terms of peace of mind and your ability to help see your family and community through a crisis or disaster of some type...and not just be one of the masses that has to passively wait to be rescued, fed, clothed, sheltered, etc.  Be able to do for your own, and for others that really need your help.

Best of luck to you and yours,

Rocky Mtn Home Solutions