With all the trouble in the world today with the COVID-19 virsus spreading across the globe, I have been asked by several people if it is too late to get started with ‘preparedness’?

The answer to this is always a resounding ‘No!‘

It is never too late to get started.

Whether dealing with localised flooding, or making life changes because of a global pandemic, your basic philosophy on life will have to change, but it need not be a painful experience.

By taking a logical approach to plan the future you want you will find getting started need not be that daunting.

Is it too late to get started?

Back to basics

You’re need to get started going back to basics.

What are your basic needs for you and your family?

It is extremely important that you look long and hard at this point. You need to separate your ‘wants’ from your ‘needs’. They are very different things. The panic buying we are currently seeing is being done by people who are frightened. They don’t know what they need, so they are purchasing large amounts of what they think they want.

They are not thinking about their needs. They are concentrating on their wants and as a result, they are denying other members of society, often the most vulnerable, of essentials.

You’re going to need a pen and notepad as you’ll be making a lot of lists.

Let’s start with tree fundamentals for survival.

1. Water
2. Food
3. Shelter

Water

Most of us simply turn on a tap. In the U.K. it is quite rare for us to experience a sustained drought like those seen in countries such as Australia, or in states such as Arizona or California. Tap water is a quick, convenient and generally safe liquid to drink.

However, what happens if the mains water supply is disrupted? This could be due to a local pumping station losing power, or even something as simple as a digger fracturing a mains water pipe. So it is not a far fetched scenario that we could lose mains supplied water.

If that happened to your home, what would you do?

I’m guessing your first port of call in the short term would be to buy lots of bottled water from your local supermarket, or expect the water company to supply safe water. However, what if that supply reduced to a level where severe constraints were placed on it? What if (no pun intended) it dried up completely? How could you get water for your family?

Food

Supermarkets tend to be our first port of call for food these days. However, in recent weeks empty shelves are being reported across the country after peoples’ panic buying following the COVID-19 pandemic. Would you know how to find safe food elsewhere?

Shelter

Those people that are homeless often become experts in finding shelter. They know where those secret hideaways can be found. How secure is your home? You may immediately thing about doors, windows as well as locks and alarms. However, I was thinking more about how financially secure is your home? If you weren’t paid for six months, would you mortgage provider or landlords be circling by then with an eviction notice?

These are the basic things we actually ‘need’. Anything else, like the latest stylish jacket is squarely in the ‘wants’ category.

Get Started

First things first. It is list time. Grab your A4 notepad and draw a vertical line down the middle of three sheets of the paper. Title each one; Water, Food or Shelter.

In the left hand column list all of the things that are threats to normality continuing that you can think of. What could interrupt your water supply? What might cause a shortage in the food supply? That type of thing.

In the right hand column, you need to list all the things could provide you with an alternative source for Water, Food or Shelter (depending which page you are using). In the right hand column, if you can think of something you can do to reduce the effect of the threats in the left hand column.

Now. Go and get started.