What is a "Prepper"?

Or maybe I should ask, "What do you think when someone is called a Prepper?"

I find it interesting that many people think of a person preparing for "The End Of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI)."  I think this negative connotation has been brought about by the images presented by the media.

Think about something.  The person who makes the maximum contribution allowed to their 401(k) plan, has a little in a savings account, a little more in mutual funds and maybe even other diverse investments will tell you they are planning for their retirement.  Aren't they prepping? Aren't they preparing for the day when their income from employment (self or otherwise) disappears?

What about the advice we are giving from our government?  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends everyone have a 3 day supply of food and potable water, along with a radio, flashlights and batteries for them.  Wouldn't the person making sure they have that and all in working order, be considered a "Prepper"? Maybe a "Prepper Light".  :-)

When you go to the grocery store aren't you "prepping" in that you're laying in enough supplies until the next trip?  For most folks this is done on a payday cycle.  Wouldn't that be "micro-prepping"?

I believe a lot of the negative connotation surrounding being a prepper these days is brought about by shows such as "Doomsday Preppers" and news stories of folks who are stockpiling food and ammo for a catastrophic event.  Despite what the shows and reports may portray, these people are not wishing for the end of civilization.  But they're prepared if it happens.

Ask the folks recently impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  Many are still living in survival mode.  My sister was without power for 10 days.  She was fortunate in that she was able to stay with my step-mother during much of that time.  She did lose a lot of food because of the loss of refrigeration.    Others lost more, up to and including their homes. When a hurricane flattens your house, there's not too much you can do to prepare for or prevent that.  But when your house make it through the storm with little or no damage and you're losing food and having to stay elsewhere for lack of electricity, I bet a generator seems like a good idea.  When you're sitting in line for gas for hours, I bet you wished you had heeded the warning and filled up before the storm hit (and maybe filled a couple 5 gallon gas cans too). When you're looking for food & water in a store that's been stripped of items, I bet you wish you had bought a little extra every week and made a small stockpile.

No one can prepare for everything.  But a person can be prepared to take care of themself and their family, taking into account the types of disasters they might encounter where they live. It can be done a little at a time, without breaking the family budget.  Think about it, think about where you live and what you might encounter and plan accordingly.

To twist an old soft drink jingle, Wouldn't you like to be a prepper too? :-)