Last Updated on May 10, 2024 by Teri Rehkopf
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
An old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” As someone who is engaged in survival prepping, that saying might not seem to apply to you. After all, you’re digging into the topic to see how you can best prepare for any disaster and protect your family—and you should be applauded for that. You are reading S.M.A.R.T. Plans for Survival Preppers.
Plan properly, not in a state of desperation and panic. Prioritize needs.
Proper Planning is Necessary
However, there’s a big difference between proper planning and planning from desperation and panic. During the pandemic and many weather events, panic-induced preparations were common, which led to people hoarding supplies and other problems.
It also made individuals unable to think straight and prioritize their needs. They were stocked up on toilet paper without even considering first aid supplies, food, water, etc.
S.M.A.R.T Goals
That’s why you want to learn how to apply the S.M.A.R.T. goals to your survival-prepping efforts. This acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely.
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR MORE INFO.
Some people replace the word actionable with words like attainable or achievable. However, when it comes to survival prepping, anything is possible for you to achieve – you just have to have actionable steps that you and your loved ones can implement when and if the need arises.
You need plans for at least 10 different lifestyle changes that could occur, whether you are faced with a global scare, a local one, or even something that just hits you personally.
These could be based on things taking place in nature, such as a natural weather event, it could be health related, it could be a result of war or terrorism as well as civil chaos, or something else entirely.
Is this a SHFT event?
Specific Prepping Plans You’ll Need for Survival Situations
You expect to see hurricanes here, not tornados.
To be smart about your survival needs, you must plan for every area that may be compromised during a SHTF event. The acronym SHTF stands for “sh*t hits the fan.” It’s used when referring to a situation that goes from bad to worse. Sometimes, people don’t know what to plan for, primarily because they haven’t ever been through something serious that altered their way of life.
EVERLIT Complete 72 Hours Bug Out Bag offers high-quality, popular, and valuable content. It includes a Molle tactical backpack, a 3-in-1 Hand-Crank flashlight (radio and phone charger), survival gear, an emergency shelter, a thermal blanket, CAT tourniquets, and many more essential contents that keep you safer and prepared during the first critical 72 hours of any unpredictable emergency event.
Plan for 10 Lifestyle Events
You need plans for at least 10 different lifestyle changes that could occur, whether you are faced with a global scare, a local one, or even something that just hits you personally.
These could be based on things taking place in nature, such as a natural weather event. They could be health-related, they could be a result of war or terrorism, civil chaos, or something else entirely.
Food
The first thing that most people think about is making sure they have enough food to survive an event in which they may or may not be able to get to the store, or the store shelves may be empty due to supply chain issues.
Mylar Bags For Food Storage 5 Gallon—The 5-gallon capacity of these Mylar foil bags with oxygen absorbers allows you to store whatever you want, from coffee beans and rice to wheat or any raw material. They come with 30 packets of 2000CC Oxygen Absorbents.
TekUnlimited – Pack of 25 | 5 GALLON Mylar Bags with Zipper & 30 (2000cc) Oxygen Absorbers –10 mil Mylar Bags for Food Storage for Grains, Wheat, Rice, Dry Aging Bags for Meat – Long Term Food Storage
Shop Food Huggers Customer FavoritesNot only should your plans include stocking up on enough food to get you through the coming months and even years, but you also want to think ahead to what will happen if you cannot return to a place of being able to purchase what you need. Click on this link to a PDF of the FDA – Food and Water Safety Food Facts
Your plans have to include growing your own food, which will consist of fruits, vegetables, and possibly animal products, depending on your personal preferences and nutritional needs.
Water is Most Important!
Another essential item you will want to plan is how to have enough water for your family. Each family member needs water to drink, cook, and wash.
SurVivv Collapsible Water Container with Spigot, BPA Free, Food Safe Camping Water Storage Cube Jug for Outdoor Hiking Hurricane & Emergency Survival Kit, Portable Foldable Canteen (5.3 Gal – 2pk). Heavy-duty leak-free faucet. Fastest water flow. 1-pc molded construction. No seams to leak. Wide “neck area” of firm plastic to support faucet & container. 80% space saver. The newest material design makes it light & flexible to fold away, taking little space until needed, yet the strongest & most durable.
You may need water for your pets, your garden, and even some first aid issues. You want to plan for the amount of water that you can safely store ahead of time and for purifying natural water sources if and when you run out of existing stock.
This should also include a plan to collect rainwater, whether at home using a rain collection barrel or on the go in a bug-out situation, and a portable method to do the job.
Food and water are the most pressing issues when sitting in the comfort of your home, thinking about survival plans. But what might really be of maximum importance at the moment is bugging out or navigating to a safe location.
Check Where You are Going
Leaving your home or office at a moment’s notice and relocating requires a lot of planning ahead of time for any contingencies. Your route might be blocked or unpassable, or the location you’d planned to go to could be compromised. Get a paper map. Communications may be down. There is no internet for a map!
Rand McNally 2023 Large Scale Road Atlas This updated 2023 edition contains maps of every U.S. state and expanded coverage of Canada and Mexico, which are 35% larger than the standard Atlas version. Includes over 350 detailed city inset and national park maps and a comprehensive, unabridged index. Contact information for every state’s road construction and conditions is conveniently on map pages. Contains a mileage chart showing distances between 77 North American cities and national parks with a driving times map. Rigid spiral binding allows the book to lay open easily. A convenient page locator map on the inside cover makes finding the map you need quick and easy.
You also need to plan what bugging in or hunkering down in place will be like. Who will be staying with you at home? If you’ve talked openly about your preparations, you can expect people to show up in a state of desperate panic, looking for you to help them.
Secure Your Home
You also need to make plans for securing your home from intruders and weather events. For example, you might want a safe room or tornado shelter built on your property.
Your plans might include leveling up from small security measures (like a deadbolt) to more expensive ones over time – like security cameras, steel doors, shatterproof windows, and other things.
Self Defense
You need to plan for self-defense, which includes avoiding hostile enemies and situations where you’re forced to engage. It means preparing for which weapons you’ll have and use – and how you can protect yourself without them.
Communication and More
Other specific plans you need to make include what you have and how you’ll administer first aid, how you’ll care for your pets, how you’ll communicate between family members and friends – or even strangers who can assist you using a HAM radio, etc. – and how you’ll prepare for a financial crisis.
Florida’s Food Emergencies and Disaster Preparation
Download Emergency Supply List Kit PDF
Read more here S.M.A.R.T Plans for Survival Preppers, Part II, Measurable Prepping Is Crucial to Your Survival