In today’s high risk economic environment those people who step forward and recognize the importance of preparedness in advance, should take steps to include all contingencies. It’s not only important to acquire the correct equipment and supplies but also to gain the necessary knowledge and skills necessary to survive through a major economic crisis, civil unrest or a natural disaster.

You must learn important skills that will help you survive and overcome potential problems that will undoubtedly occur. Then practice what you have learned to the point of becoming proficient. Be able to carry out your new skills immediately, should it become necessary. A quick example: starting a fire without matches or a lighter.

Certain circumstances and or mistakes made during preparation could become costly for you and your loved ones if over looked or ignored. When planning your own preparedness plan, insure you implement the following items that are usually ignored during the planning stages. Remember, survival is all up to you and how you can manage when the shit really hits the fan (SRHTF).

Error # 1: The first mistake made by preppers is centering all resources and time towards the preparation of a single event or crisis.

It’s important to understand that one event could lead into several “other” events. What I’m saying is that several events could occur that are not related to the event that you originally prepared for. Being able to survive in any given situation is the number one goal for a true prepper.

With world events as they are today it is very possible several real threats could surface at once. This could include an economic crisis such as hyperinflation, social unrest, war even natural disasters like earthquakes or space invaders like asteroid or comet strikes as they can come with little or no warning. Remember that your emergency supplies shouldn’t be crisis specific. Focus on the basics that would be necessary no matter what crisis unfolds.

Error # 2: It’s common for both individuals and families to pool all their supplies together in one basket so to speak.

Large caches or stockpiles holding food and supplies for a year or more have been formed and put into one place by many. In some cases fortresses have been built around these large caches. These hold-outs were planned with the preconceived notion that regardless of what happens; you, your family and or friends would have the absolute ability to shelter or hold-up in a single place indefinitely. One drawback to this mindset is with disasters anything can happen. Your plan to stay in one place may not be prudent or even possible in every event. Remember there is only so much one can carry, if you and /or your group need to be on the run or change locations.

What you will be in need of is supplies; fact is you can never have too much; however planning ahead for any contingency is the key to survival. Next it’s important to divide up your cache of supplies to different locations around your area. Also include a plan for a different living location just in case circumstances warrant it. Learn how to survive outside, away from your home.

Error # 3: Collecting anything and everything not knowing what’s really important.

Understand what supplies are really necessary along with the tools and materials to go with it. This will become important during a crisis and also save you money on needless items that really weren’t needed to begin with. Searching the internet is one good way to figure out what supplies are necessary and what’s not.

Another tip, before going out and buying any item(s) take a good look around your home it is possible you have something you need hiding around already. If not, you might have something around that could very well substitute the item(s) you’re looking for, with little or no changes.

Error # 4: Blab, Blab, Blab…

Talking too much to the wrong people about your survival plans can destroy your well-intentioned survival plan from the start. Or at least create serious consequences for you during an real disaster. It’s OK to want to help others by sharing your knowledge and skills. But in doing so, you’re setting up a big red bull’s eye for yourself as you will now become the “shell answer man” to all things survival. Worse, these people will also start bringing friends and more friends to you. You will become overwhelmed, and in the time of a real crisis, they will all expect you to be their savior. Don’t get mixed up with the wrong crowd.

Preppers themselves are a tight-knit small community. Get involved with these folks, they’re willing to share information with like-minded people and could possibly offer you not only advise, but other forms of support. The other important thing to understand is other preppers you might interact with are not a threat to you during a disaster. It’s those people who are either clueless, or those “want to be preppers” who are half in, half out (or more out) that pose the bigger threat to your individual survival plans.

Basically these types of people are prepared but not really prepared. Other threats of concern during times of crisis are directly from other members of the community you live in. They very well could stumble upon your whereabouts during a crisis, and try going after your food and supplies once they have all run out. This is a serious risk that must be averted if possible and a major reason for self-defense measures to be implemented, when the word is out you have supplies.

Error # 5: You’re complacent; you believe you know everything already.

While technology has its benefits for humankind, it has also made people down right lazy because of it. Example, you go to YouTube and watch a video on starting a fire without matches, after viewing it you believe, this seems so simple, I can do that. Then you give it no further thought convincing yourself you know how to make that fire already, even without practicing it.

Learning a skill is important but so is applying that new skill in a real life situation. To do this it’s vital you actually practice (several times) until with confidence, you get that skill right. Never put yourself into a position where your faced having to do something you think you know, but never actually tried. It could mean life or death, during a crisis situation. Once proficient in the new skill(s), it’s time to gather up any necessary tools and materials needed to allow you to carry out your new skill(s) upon demand.

Error # 6: Too much dependency upon tools, equipment and supplies.

OK let’s face it, at some point equipment failures will happen, supplies and materials will run out. Does this mean your days are over? As a prepper it should not. A well thought-out survival plan will include a backup plan for contingencies such as these, make sure you have one. An example; you run out of drinking water, what’s next? Well your back up plan should include water purification and filtration in the event water runs out as eventually it will. Have knowledge and the tools necessary to work around problems such as these.

Backup plans are just that, in the event a primary source is depleted or destroyed you move to plan B. Should you ignore this error in planning, chances are high something will break or be depleted, then you’re going to be flat-out of luck.

Error # 7: Forgetting to closely monitor your supplies.

Monitoring the expiration dates on canned foods is a must. Rotating your food supplies so you don’t eat foods outdated is vital. Closely inspecting any packaged grains, rice, flour for weevils that might have bored into the packaging is important. Remove such contaminated packages at once. Inspecting your water bottles to insure the plastic containers are not starting to become brittle to the touch is also a must. Check expiration dates on all medication and replace as needed.

Physically inspect all your supplies regularly. Don’t rely on assumption. The goal is to have all your supplies always in date. Once disaster strikes, if your supplies are out of date, your survival and the survival of your family will be greatly compromised. Be Prepared!

Article Source: Amazines