S.M.A.R.T. Plans for Survival Preppers, Part I

(Last Updated On: April 1, 2023)

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Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

There’s an old saying that goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” As someone who is engaged in survival prepping, that saying might not seem as if it applies 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.

S.M.A.R.T Plans for Survival Preppers. 
Plan properly not from a state of desperation and panic. Prioritize needs.
S.M.A.R.T Plans for Survival Preppers.
Plan properly not from a state of desperation and panic. Prioritize needs.

Proper Planning is Necessary

However, there’s a big difference between planning properly and planning from a state of desperation and panic. What we saw during the pandemic as well as what we’ve seen during many weather events was a lot of panic induced preparations, which led to people hoarding supplies and other problems.

It also resulted in individuals not being able to think straight and prioritize their needs. They were stocked up on toilet paper, without even considering first aid supplies, food and 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 is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Timely.

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

Tornado in Miami. 
You expect to see hurricanes here, not tornados.
Tornado in Miami.
You expect to see hurricanes here, not tornados.

If you want to be smart about your survival needs, you need to 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 necessarily know what they need to plan for, primarily because they haven’t ever been through something serious where it altered their way of life.

EVERLIT Complete 72 Hours Earthquake Bug Out Bag Emergency Survival Kit for Family. Be Prepared for Hurricanes, Floods, Tsunami, Other Disasters.

Everlit Survival complete emergency bag offers the most high quality, popular and valuable content on the market. Includes: molle tactical backpack, 3 in 1 Hand-Crank flashlight (radio and phone charger), survival gear, emergency shelter, 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, it could be health related, it could be a result of war or terrorism as well as civil chaos, or something else entirely.

Food

The first thing that most people think about, naturally, is to make sure they have enough food in place to survive an event where 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 – 5 gallon capacity of mylar bags with oxygen absorbers allows you to store whatever you want from your coffee beans, and rice to wheat or any raw material in these Mylar foil bags, coming 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 Favorites

Not 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 are not able to return to a place of being able to purchase what you need. Link to the FDA – Food and Water Safety…

Your plans have to include growing your own food, which will include fruits, vegetables, and possibly animal products, depending on your personal preferences and nutritional needs.

Water is Most Important!

Another thing you will want to plan for, which is probably the most important item, is how you will have enough water on hand for your family. Each family member needs water to drink, cook with, and wash with.

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. 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, as well as your garden and maybe even for some first aid issues. Not only do you want to plan for the amount of water that you can safely store ahead of time, but you also need to plan for the purification of natural water sources if and when you run out of existing stock.

This should also include a plan to collect rainwater – whether you are at home using a rain collection barrel or on the go in a bug out situation and you’re in need of a portable method to get the job done.

Food and water are the most pressing issues when you’re sitting in the comfort of your own home thinking about survival plans. But what might really be of maximum importance in the moment is bugging out or navigating to a safe location.

Check Where You are Going

Having to leave at a moment’s notice from your home or office and relocate takes a lot of planning ahead of time for any contingencies that may occur. 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. No internet for a map!

Rand McNally 2023 Large Scale Road Atlas This updated 2023 edition contains maps of every U.S. state, plus expanded coverage of Canada and Mexico, that are 35% larger than the standard atlas version. Includes over 350 detailed city inset and national park maps and a comprehensive, unabridged index. Road construction and conditions contact information for every state are conveniently located on map pages. Contains mileage chart showing distances between 77 North American cities and national parks with driving times map. Tough spiral binding allows the book to lay open easily. A convenient page locator map on the inside cover makes it quick and easy to find the map you need.

You also need to plan for what bugging in or hunkering down in place will be like. Who will be staying with you in your home? If you’ve talked openly about preparations you’ve made, 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 also from weather events. You might want a safe rom or tornado shelter built on your property to keep you safe from harm.

Your plans might include leveling up from small security measures (like a dead bolt) 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, and this is a plan that includes avoiding hostile enemies as well as situations where you’re forced to engage. It means planning 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 communication 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.

Practical Preppers Store has The Mission Darkness™ Mojave Faraday Phone Bag – see EMP

Florida’s Food Emergencies and Disaster Preparation

Make a Plan (Ready.gov)

Build A Kit

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

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