There’s an old saying that goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” As someone who is engaged in survival prepping skills, 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.
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 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.
Plan properly not from a state of desperation and panic. Prioritize needs.
Survive first. Live Later.
It also made individuals unable to think straight and prioritize their needs. They were stocked up on toilet paper without considering first aid supplies, food, water, etc.
This is where you can benefit from a Complete Survival Prepper Supply Kit seen below. Use this total kit to help survive earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, etc.
for Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Wildfires, and Other Disasters - Built for 1 Person for a 3 Day Period
- COLOR-CODED ORGANIZATION SYSTEM: Built for 1 Person for 3 days, Organized in Re-sealable Waterproof Packs
- FOOD + WATER + HYGIENE INCLUDED: 3600Calorie Food Bars with 5 Yr Shelf Life, Water Pouches (12), Water Purification Tablets (10), Full Hygiene Kit and More
- TOOLS TO THRIVE: 40+ expert-curated supplies, including Hand Crank Flashlight / Radio / Phone Charger, 107 Piece Extended Life First Aid Kit, Multi-Tool, Sleeping Bag, Tube Tent, 50-ft Nylon Rope, 5-in-1 Whistle, 2-Person Tube Tent, and much more
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.
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 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?
Survive first. Live later.
Specific Prepping Plans You’ll Need for Survival Situations
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.
I found another complete Emergency Survival Kit for Your Family, seen below, so you can be prepared for hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc.
Emergency Kit Survival Kit Backpack for Family, Preparedness for Hurricanes, Floods, Tsunami, Other Disasters
- ✅【72 Hours for 2 People, STORM II Emergency Survival Kit】STORM II EMERGENCY KIT was designed and hand-picked by survivalists, experts, and veterans.
- ✅【Water & Food Approved by U.S. Coast Guard, Water Filtration Tablets】 24 Packs of 125ML Emergency Drinking Water and 2 Packs of 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar are provided in the bag with 5-Years Shelf Life. Meets FEMA Guideline for a minimum 1000 calories/day/person. In addition, the water purification tablets can treat up to 25 quarts of water.
- ✅【First Aid Essential, CAT Tourniquet for Bleeding Control】200 Pieces of comprehensive medical supplies and CAT tourniquet for traumatic wounds.
- ✅【Premium Protection/ Survival Gear and Tools】 3 in 1 Hand-Crank flashlight (radio and phone charger), emergency shelter, thermal blankets, poncho, goggles, gloves, CAT tourniquets, camping knife, compass, glow sticks and many more.
- ✅【Heavy Duty Tactical Military-Spec Molle Backpack, Organized Design】 Easy to organize and store with four main compartments of the bag and many inner pockets. Made from 1000D polyester, the bag is tear and water-resistant and designed to survive in harsh environments: features adjustable waist strap and shoulder straps, tough zippers, and comfortable mesh padding. The front and side molle panels can attach your personal gear.
This bug-out bag includes a 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.
S.M.A.R.T – acronym for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely
Sounds Pretty Smart to Me!
Plan for 10 Lifestyle Events
You need plans for at least ten (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, health related, a result of war or terrorism as well as civil chaos, or something else entirely.
Read this – Seniors Learning About Survival Prepping
A good read at Ask a Prepper, one of my favorite sites. and I love the HBO show, too!- The Last Of Us: Mistakes That Might Get You Killed
Food
The first thing that most people think about 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.
Check out below for the long-term food storage TekUnlimited 5-gallon mylar bags with zipper and 30 (2000cc) oxygen absorbers. I use these 10 mil Mylar bags for food storage for grains, wheat, and rice, and dry aging bags for meat.
10 mil Mylar Bags for Food Storage for Grains, Dry Aging Bags for Meat-Long Term Food Storage (25 Pack)
MULTIPURPOSE USES:
Mylar bags for packaging have many storage options for various tools and accessories (nails, nuts, bolts, etc.) and an Oxy-Absorber in the bag to prevent the tools from getting rusty.
Isolation from contamination and moisture is a must for keeping fresh and safe. You will get these 5-gallon Mylar bags with a dual seal, which means a zipper seal and a heat seal feature, which can be sealed with a hot iron, so there’s zero chance of anything getting in or out.
More storage can be found at 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 cannot return to a place of being able to purchase what you need. For federal assistance, see the FDA – Food and Water Safety
Homesteading
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, the most important item, is how to have enough water for your family. Each family member needs water to drink, cook, and wash. See this portable foldable canteen SurVivv Collapsible Water Container with Spigot. It is a BPA-free, food-safe camping water storage cube.
for Outdoor Hiking and Emergency Survival Kit, Portable Foldable Canteen
- BPA FREE - FOOD GRADE - USA MATERIAL: Premium collapsible water container is made with food grade LDPE4 plastic. No BPA PVC or DEHP. Non-toxic. Environmentally friendly. Unlike PVC water containers, it is odorless, with no plastic smell or taste
- PREMIUM FEATURES: 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
- ULTIMATE STRENGTH RELIABILITY: SurVivv is trusted by avid outdoorsmen for its ultimate reliability. Can bear heavy loads and withstand 6’ falls. Years of use
You may need water for your pets, your garden, and maybe even for some first aid issues. Not only do you want to plan for the amount of water you can safely store ahead of time, but you also need to plan to purify 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 requiring a portable method to get the job done.
Related – Guide to Using Rainwater for Simple Living
Food and water are the most pressing issues when sitting in the comfort of your home, thinking about survival plans. But what might be of maximum importance at the moment is bugging out or navigating to a safe location.
Check Where You Are Going
Leaving at a moment’s notice from your home or office and relocating takes a lot of planning ahead of time for any contingencies. Your route might be blocked or unpassable, or your chosen location 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 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. Every state’s road construction and conditions contact information is conveniently located on map pages. It contains a 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 finding the map you need quick and easy.
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 desperate panic looking for you to help them.
Read more in Part 2: Measurable Prepping Is Crucial to Your Survival
Secure Your Home
Plan to secure your home from intruders and weather events. You might want a safe room or tornado shelter built on your property to protect you from harm.
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, etc.
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 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. See the Practical Preppers Store for The Mission Darkness™ Mojave Faraday Phone Bag – see EMP and more.
Here are a few federal links to help you in disasters:
Florida’s Food Emergencies and Disaster Preparation
Download Emergency Supply List Kit PDF
I’m the daughter of 2 original survivalists who moved from the north to sunny Florida. My mother, along with her parents, bought 30 mostly uncleared acres in 1938. The first home was made of pecky-cypress and built by a house-raising. My mother raised 10,000 chickens.
My divorced mother met and married my father in 1948. From pine trees on our property, he hand-built a log cabin. He also built a tarpaper-lined 65’x45′ pool with duck pond overflow. We had an artesian well for our water and powering our hand-built waterwheel for the pool. He built a substantial cantilevered roof workshop with a car pit in the massive cement floor.
Since my early teens, I have read a ton of books about survival, prepping, the bomb, an apocalypse, homestead living, and SHTF situations. As an adult, I continue to read sci-fi, survival prepping, and science. I practice a prepper lifestyle albeit a bit modified, read a lot, buy a lot, pack/store a lot of anything survival related.
Read my About Me post for more details on our self-sufficient living. I lived there until I went to college in 1968.
My SurvivalPrepperSupply.com blog strives to educate individuals on coping with natural and human-caused disasters using article posts about preparing for emergencies.
