It doesn't make a lot of sense to make a SHTF plan for TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it). Here's why it's important to live, not just survive.
When it comes to preparedness, you shouldn’t worry about the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI). Those preparing for the end of days would eventually have to recognize that any supplies they have in place would eventually run dry.
Conversely, it’s pretty smart to have the appropriate provisions in place to live comfortably outside your normal, day-to-day lifestyle if hurricanes or tornadoes frequently touch upon your region, or if there's a call for a SHTF plan anyway.
If Not TEOTWAWKI, Where Should SHTF Plans Start?
You can get a really good sense of a proper starting point by stopping and looking at your food and water supplies among other provisions.
At that point, think about whether you could close the front door, shut down the power and comfortably live for two weeks without leaving the home. When considering all of the potential risks across the country, two weeks provides a pretty reasonable ground floor wherever you might be. You wouldn’t want any less.
Common Sense, Not TEOTWAWKI
Those who are just getting started should let common sense be the guide, not TEOTWAWKI. Those without any degree of planning are setting up their families to suffer far more than necessary when an emergency comes to bear.
Those who planned well in excess of reasonable needs could’ve probably done better with their time, efforts and money. A level of preparedness that would support safety and comfort after the most typical and even the most serious of documented disasters wouldn’t resemble the preparation or lack thereof that sits at either extreme.
I shudder to think about the completely unprepared in light of the documented reality that disaster — whether isolated or wide-scale — affects hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.
Don't Let Preparing for Disaster Turn You Into One
As for the other side of the scale, I’d suggest preparation shouldn’t be all consuming. You shouldn’t overextend your finances for the sake of preparing a SHTF plan or let the risks out there affect your ability to enjoy day-today life. You shouldn’t prepare from a place of fear.
I saw a number of people suffering deeply after Hurricane Katrina who could’ve had it easier with appropriate forethought and respect for Mother Nature’s devastating abilities.
As for the opposite end, those who were convinced of approaching cataclysm before the Y2K scare probably ate a lot of rice for an awful long time after that New Year passed quietly.
All of us try to live balanced lives. Good preparation fits well within that scope.
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