The first five layers and The rule of threes
Let me preface this article by saying the layered prep philosophy is not a unique concept and that you can see many takes on layering your preps elsewhere. I definitely reccomend you check other sources and develop a discipline that works for you. This just happens to be my view on the matter.
The concept here is that we build our preps from "the inside, out". Beginning with immediate threats to our person and radiating out based on level of threat and it's immediacy. The obvious first layer is you and your physical survival. I'm talking let's keep you sucking air. Then it will develop into more complex contingency planning involving everything from self defense to debt elimination. Obviously due to the scope of each layer, its contents, and their applications this article will be a brief overview with more specific and in-depth studies to come soon.
Our obvious needs from a physical standpoint can be broken into a very basic "Rule of threes". That is, we can survive three minutes without air, three hours exposed to most elements, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Yes, that is a very general outlook that doesn't exactly factor in the totality of the circumstances. But its good enough to start a basic preparations discipline as we will always default to our most basic of needs.
Considering our new rule the first layer must always address these most basic needs and our tools or stocks to fill them that must be readily accessible. Enter our first layer - EDC or every day carry. This is the gear and stocks we keep either on person or close at hand wherever we go. My on person EDC includes a folding knife, small multi-tool, cell phone, keys with OC spray, and a concealed firearm kept on my person. These tools enable me to perform most day to day tasks without slowing down and can help in basic survival and woodsman tasks. My on person EDC is supplemented by a small "go bag" or "carry bag" which carries additional tools, some Clif bars, water bottle, and small items like a firesteel and compass. This bag isn't always on me but is kept at my for work or in my vehicle (which also houses a larger kit) when around town. We will soon be going into detail of EDC with a full length article so forgive me if this is too general. You'll get your gear fix soon enough!
The next layer is the Bug Out Bag, or as I prefer, the 72 hour kit. This kit should be capable of supporting a hasty retreat to a safer location or a short "quarantine" if travel becomes unreasonable or unsafe. Some people have many different names for this layer such as fight bag, war bag, onboard armory, etc. and as many different ways to assemble this kit. Some Bug Out Bags are scarcely more than my own EDC while some broach upon INCH status (I'm Never Coming Home) and are almost impossible to remain mobile with. I prefer a kit that is fairly easy to carry on foot in case of hasty retreat and addresses basic physical, medical, security, and identification needs. While some focus on the big three, bullets, beans, and band aids, I believe we should include I.d., educational, and financial documents as well as some basic camping supplies.
I will also add that a version of this kit should be kept in your vehicle with the fourth layer detailed later.
While again, I don't plan to go into too much detail of contents here, I do want to impress upon you the idea of this kit. Its an 'all out everything you need to exist without the world for three whole days' kit. So it should include enough water (or purifiers and maps to water sources), food, and medicine for that time. Its a good idea to throw some cash money and quarters in there as well in case electronics are down but stores are open. Also, a $20 bill is a good "look the other way" tool. We will examine the bail out bag/72 hour kit in depth fairly soon in a full-length article.
The idea with the first two layers (and fourth) is that at any time I can use EDC items to fight back to my Go Bag and/or vehicle and the items in my go bag/vehicle to make it back home. This is all made much easier if an EMP hasn't made modern cars incapable of movement.
So you've made it home. What if evacuation isn't a possibility, or the best option, and three days just isn't enough? History will show us that if government is still in place, aid is usually organized inside of a 30 day window post-event. So we plan our third layer as a one month "Bug-in" or "stay-cation" kit. This prep usually has the least debate associated with it as it almost always centers itself around food, water, and medicine. The idea of not evacuating is certainly not new and in most cases is probably the best option, that is, unless you have a stocked retreat (Bug out location) that is within easy traveling distance. Being that in your first two layers you have addressed a quick evacuation you can focus on what you might need to keep your home in order for 30 days. This should include long-term storage foods like canned goods and tools to prepare them, water, medications, and communications equipment (emergency band radio, FRS, cell phone, CB, etc.). Then depending on your living conditions you may want to include some materials to harden your home against storm damage and break ins (4x4 wedged between the door handle and a nail in the floor is a great inexpensive, thug-proof prep), and if money allows, a generator to keep appliances like your refrigerator (very important for diabetics) and television running. I have helped assemble this type of kit several times and with some smart shopping will not break $200 (minus the generator) for a family of four. In fact, the most expensive items are usually medications and a radio. Almost everything else comes from big box stores where buying in such bulk is fairly inexpensive.
This third layer is often overlooked as its not as appealing as "tacti-cool" toys like maxpedition bags and CCW gear. However its usually the simplest to build if you have a little closet space and is often the easiest to convince your spouse to support. The argument of having a 30 day supply of food on hand at any given time is usually a no brainer. You're going to be buying the food anyways, why not buy it now? And to boot, use it! Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast says it best, "eat what you store and store what you eat". Simply, buy foods your family actually consumes. If you don't use condensed or powdered milk, don't buy it. Tuna helper with a can of albacore white an every Thursday night staple? Put it on the list. Then once you have in stock what you want, rotate stocks based on expiration dates. Some people even use the Bug in kit to jump start the fifth layer - financial readiness. As having the foods you use on hand makes it easier to hold off purchasing new stocks until the items are on sale = expense reduction.
Now, I should detail the fourth layer here as most of us commute away from the home to work and use a vehicle to do so. However, the vehicle kit is really just a car specific 72 hour and roadside repair kit. I'm sure we will cover it at length in the future, but as I am currently overhauling my own vehicle kit I think its best to hold off for right now so I can give you all a detailed synopsis of the process. For now, just consider a small tool kit, a spare tire and jack, and maybe a jumpbox or cables as a minimum coupled with a 72 hour kit kept in the vehicle.
The fifth layer is the most difficult subject, finances. As you may have noticed already, preps can be quite costly, but that's not the only reason finances factor in here. Think of the honest to goodness most immediate threat to your lifestyle and well being. Its probably financial especially when we consider that if we don't produce our own food, clothing, medicine, and shelter we must rely on monetary income. So now let's break down some serious financial threats - what about job loss, unexpected medical expenses, vehicle breakdowns. These things are fairly common and can destroy us financially. I am no legal expert or financial advisor but can you see where things like debt elimination and expense reduction can be considered common sense preps? I can't tell you how to approach this from a technical standpoint as each persons financial status is quite unique. But I can say from a frustratingly basic and rhetorical sense that the simple mathematical 'raise income, reduce debt/expenses' is the only way to become financially free. Since I'm no CPA I can't give you professional grade advice but I do plan to write some articles dealing with my own fight to get out of debt and create more income. If this is an immediate issue for you I urge you to check out Dave Ramsey and his financial peace educational products right now!
Are you overwhelmed yet? Don't be. There are plenty of resources on the internet and in print to help you on your journey. And of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more out there you might need to truly be prepared. But note that we will be here to help guide you and soon to provide much more detailed information and get you started on the "baby steps".
In the meantime, slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Do just one thing at a time and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll progress.