I have never understood why some people consider preppers or survivalists to be a threat to the status quo. Do they worry that we won't spend our disposable income in their businesses ? Most preppers are simply being self sufficient to the degree that during an expected emergency, such as an earthquake, a hurricane or an ice storm, they won't need local or federal government help within just a few days ! Being reasonably prepared and reasonably self sufficient means that your family won't be a draw to local systems, thus diverting help from the people who might really need help when its stretched to its thinnest point.
When I encourage all of you to be more self sufficient, I am doing so to encourage that direction. I don't expect you to do your own brain surgery, raise sheep and salvage their thyroid glands to make your own dessicated thyroid, or take a chemistry class with the intention of trying to develop recombinant DNA origin insulin in the frij, right next to the jello. Although we discuss things like emergency childbirth, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, none of us are an island. It is not realistic to do everything for yourself in the long term.
It is appropriate to gather an Emergency Medical Kit for your home. It is intelligent to gather an Family Evacuation Medical Kit. I would actually prefer one you gather yourself as it's less expensive and if you have amassed the supplies yourself you are more likely to remember what you have in it. Emergency food that is palatable and long lasting is necessary for your home, and for family evacuation. A specialized bag locked in a safe or locking cabinet with family documents, or spare original documents is also a good idea. Having a plan for the evacuation of your family and for your animals is simply common sense. In a wildfire, how quickly could you, your family, your pets and the items mentioned above evacuate your home ?
Most families can do these things quite effectively and fairly inexpensively.
I do not expect you to gather all the clothing, food, toys, and Christmas presents you will need for the rest of your lives. I don't think you need to outfit a dental chair and hire a private dentist, (or worse, stock a dental chair with a copy of the book, Where there is no Dentist) Unless you have some unusual special needs with regard to tornadoes and you are basementless, then I don't know that you should invest in a bunker, small or otherwise, because it might divert limited needed assets from things you need more.
I do think that we should be preparing our children for real life and for employment. I think that instruction for them in preparedness is a part of a good education, and that good parents educate their children, not simply abrogating the responsibility to a public educational system that does everything else but educate. I think that you should learn whatever you can about your vehicles, and that you should have some capability with regard to repairs which comprise normal maintenance. I think that within the confines of your present life, you should grow whatever food you can, even if all it is, are sprouts on the kitchen window, or tomatoes in a pot on an apartment terrace. I think a nice professional haircut is a wonderful thing, but I also think that if you can trim your kids hair following the lines set by a professional hairdresser, and save half the money you would have spent on haircuts each year, then you and your family will be able to eat better than you would have otherwise.
I believe that every adult should know how a handgun and a rifle works. This way, you will be the first to know when someone is handling one improperly, and if need be, you can expel the magazine, check the chamber, and render the weapon ammoless. Whether you choose to own one or not, is your business, but healthy adults without mental health issues should know how they work.
If you live in a rural area, then unless you are being treated for cancer this year, or you are elderly, then you need to have a plan whereby you and yours can evacuate from where you live. The same is true for your animals, if in fact you have a hobby farm or livestock. (See farm evacuation .) See also farm disaster planning.
