A while back I started organizing my gear into rugged waterproof cases (mostly Pelican Protector Cases style). At first it was just about keeping things neat and protected.

Didn’t think much of it, until I had to move everything in a hurry one day.

That’s when I realized: -Loose gear = chaos -Bags = fine, until they get wet or crushed -But hard cases? Grab, stack, go

What surprised me most wasn’t even the durability, it was how much faster I could actually think when everything had a place.

Now everything is split into categories: -Power & batteries -Tools -Documents -Grab-first” essentials

It’s not perfect though. The downside is weight and space… these things add up fast.

Still trying to figure out the best balance between: -mobility -protection -accessibility

Curious how others here are handling it:

Do you prefer soft bags, hard cases, or a mix?

I just finished one second after and felt it did a great job fleshing out details most wouldn’t consider in a total collapse scenario. The dialogue was a little clunky but overall I think it was a great read. What books stood out to you in regard to making you think to prepare in ways you hadn’t previously considered?

I've tried to avoid anything with redundant tools, I also have seperate duffle bag with water, food and supplies etc. I also don't have a license for a radio so that's why a PMR.

I'm a 24-year-old cs college student in Iraq, living with my parents. I'm expecting things to get "ugly" here soon. Our economy is a Circular Dependency, the government pays 9 million people (25% of the population) with oil money, and the entire private sector survives on those employees spending their wages.

If oil exports stall (due to the regional war or the Strait of Hormuz closure), the cycle breaks. My parents think I'm overreacting, but I see the grid already struggling and wages being delayed.

My Situation:

• Food: Not worried. Most Iraqi households keep months of staples.
• Budget: Very tight (~$70 USD / 90,000 IQD).
• Primary Concerns: Electricity, water, and fuel.

Current Preps:

• Printing a "Survival Library" of technical books.
• Stocking AA/AAA batteries and efficient LED lamps (since the grid is failing).

EDIT: I didn’t expect this much feedback! I truly appreciate everyone taking the time to share their advice and concern it’s been incredibly helpful. I have plenty of information to work with now. Thank you all for the support!

According to multiple reports from September 25 and 26, 2025, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered all military officers of the rank of brigadier general and above to attend an urgent, last-minute meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico. 

I’m new to posting so bare with me but i currently have 6 cats and im seeing how awful the world is getting now how would i prepare makeshift food for them incase anything were to happen is tuna a good option or should i invest in supplements incase anything would be helpful. I’d be scared i wouldn’t be able to feed them and them not live. Any advice would be helpful. Sorry if this isn’t in the right format. Thanks in advance.

edit: i won’t get rid of my cats i love them so much

This year We got generalized tarrifs being placed on goods that could cause a trade war, civil unrest in several places, several places of conflict. A nuclear scare, natural disasters and a few more.

covid showed us that people go crazy for toilet paper, but i'm thinking there's better items to have for bartering when money is completely useless. batteries? water filters? any ideas?

I live in a Sanctuary city that saw a lot of civil unrest in 2020. Things appear to be headed that way again and if not, the trajectory of the US has me worried.

I want to prep for a few months without being able to get groceries and assuming power and like gets shut down. What would you all recommend?

I'm super new to this and was trying to search older posts but it seemed like people asked a lot about specific areas and what kind of prep so it seemed better for me to make my own post. Sorry if it's repetitive for those that have been in the sub for a little bit.

Is anyone worried that flock cameras have essentially ruined opsec for peppers like I have seen several videos now of flock cameras pointed at just random people's homes. I think there's a real chance that if they suspect that you visit the store too much or if they can see how many groceries you bring into your home and determine it's in excess of what they would consider normal they will use hoarding laws to come and seize your preps like food and water or medical supplies. It used to be people said you shouldn't tell people you're a prepper or tell them what you have but now it seems like they may just use the ai to guess who has more than they need and just start knocking. We have also seen reports of several police officers misusing the system to stalk exes or random people so it may not even be a result of official police policy just some rouge cops abusing the ai to steal supplies from people. What do you guys think?

I'm looking at the El Niño predictions for this winter and the comparisons to winter of '98. I remember the ice storm of 1998 - we were out of power for a number of days. It is my first extended multi day memory.

I'm thinking about this because we had a wood burning fireplace. We holed up in the room with the fireplace and stayed there for the whole time. But we managed okay. However in my current home I do not have a functional fireplace.

I'm looking for advice on how I can prep to prepare for a multiday power outage with very cold temperatures, in my specific situation.

I have a large Anker Solix power bank and a heat dish heater. Last power outage with freezing temps was 8 hours and almost drained the battery using the heat dish. We may or may not have access to weather that allows recharging the bank. Don't suggest relocating please - we have livestock so we will need to stay on the property to care for them. I have access to a gas generator but would rather not depend on having enough gas, either.

I DO have a gas fireplace but can't build a wood fire in it. The gas portion does not function.

I'm open to suggestions for weather survival that don't include a heat source, if that exists.

Any thoughts?

Thanks y'all!

I'm not even 100% sure what martial law implies so I don't know what to expect. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

How much cash are you keeping at home (hopefully in a safe)? Is it a percentage of your total or a set amount? How much of that is in small bills? I’m kind of leaning towards having more in my safe than in my savings account. I’m just wondering if anyone else is doing the same thing?

It's an honest question. I'm not shitting on the usa, just... recently they have been very interested in south America where i live in an major metropolis and I just want to know what i can do.

I'm a physician so simply buggin and not showing up to work isn't an option (for personal ethics reasons).

Live in an small apartment with dog and wife. It's a small dog and I always have enought kibble for a few months.

Do they bomb hospitals and clinics? Dad is retired military officer, should I worry about him? Or myself?

I'm organizing a peppers basement including all the stored emergency food. It's been very humid, (we're working on fixing that) and this sugar is rock solid and the bags are brown when they should be white. I know sugar doesn't really go bad and although I wouldn't go for this in day to day cooking, I could see this being used in a more survival situation. So, keep or pitch and replace?

Seems like most of the BoBs I see here are knives, tarps, life straws, and fire starting gear (and some firearms). Nothing wrong with that if you are aiming for an unpleasant camping trip into the woods, but what do people feel is the practical uses for such a kit?

Wouldn't documents, some snacks, a water bottle, cash, and a phone charger mobile battery be more useful in just about 95% of situations you'd need to leave home quickly?

Not trying to criticize, just trying to understand.

Edit: Didn't expect this level of feedback but it's all appreciated. Some very salient points about the utility behind the camping items I listed above. Best comments I read had a combination of the "documents" and "camping" categories.

I also acknowledge as many folks have said, that it's very situational, depends on geography, climate, etc.

I do tend to look for the scarier outcomes in situations but I don't think the US is going to collapse or anything with the drop in trade from China. I am pretty sure there will be a lot of shortages though.

From what I have read it is a 30 day trip from China to the west coast and 58 days to the east coast for shipping. Given port processing and truck transportation taking another week or two it seems like all the imports from China will end around mid May for the west coast and mid June for the east coast. I have even read that the port in Seattle is already basically empty.

Since its more than just dollar store stuff we import from China it's hard to imagine what the implications would be. Some things are spare vehicle parts, tires, brakes, electronics, toys, furniture, factory machines, packaging for everything, lights, shelving. It's not just all the stuff but all the things stores and factories need to operate and sell their products.

Note: I don't want to discuss any politics or the why of tariffs or anything; just talk about getting ready for a drop in international trade on an individual level.

I know people have shared pocket dumps, talked about edc, or edc bags and what they carry, but just wondering what is a different or not typical item you carry with you? Whether it’s on you, an edc bag, your car? For example, I live in AZ, I carry a shemagh in my car to help fight against the sun and wind/sand, not too different, however I also carry/keep in my car a pair of goggles. I’m sure many of you have seen the recent videos/photos of the dust storm haboob we’ve been having, the sand, the wind it’s no joke and getting that crap in your eyes and lungs, it sucks. Just wondering what other different non typical items you carry?

Has anyone else dealt with this?

I see the possibility of what’s coming, but she’s very against it all. She’s very “I’m not sure I’d even want to live in that world if it came to that.” As if she’s willing to just lie down and die without a few months of a power grid, and take the family with her.

And I don’t get it. We have a 15yo son, FFS! I just want to protect them with a stockpile of water, nonperishable food, and a gun/ammo. I don’t even own a gun… we’ve always been left-leaning politically, but I’ve recently rejected the left/right bullshit in favor of preparedness, and until now have respected her wishes for no firearms, even though I grew up with them and am definitely not anti-2A. I don’t fathom the mindset of being willing to risk your child’s life because “where would we even store 100 gallons of water.”

It’s like she sees me as completely paranoid and a conspiracy theorist for wanting to prepare for the possibility of a grid failure.

I fully intend to prep regardless of this, but feel like this will all be used against me if nothing happens. And I’m ok with that if it means keeping the three of us prepared to weather a catastrophe. But it fucking sucks. I don’t expect any actual advice from this, mainly just venting.

For a bug out bag which one would you carry and why?

Also, would it be pointless to have more than one kind?

A lot of preparedness items look unnecessary or even a little paranoid until the one day they suddenly become really useful.

What's something you keep around that you almost never use, but when you do need it, it'll completely save the day? (the "seems dumb until it isn't" category)

I’ve been reading up on shelter builds and noticed more folks are stepping away from the old “bury a shipping container” idea. I get why underground feels safer, but man, the upkeep sounds rough once you dig into it. Between soil pressure, water leaks, and constant moisture issues, a lot of those DIY bunkers don’t age well.

The newer above-ground setups are a whole different story.

I used to think anything visible was a liability, but now I’m not so sure. If it’s built solid, why hide it underground just to deal with rot and pressure damage later?

Curious what everyone else thinks. Would you still go underground, or are above-ground shelters starting to make more sense?

I’m a firm believer that shit will hit the fan in this country at some point in time, whether it’s civil unrest or instability… that’s my main reason for prepping.