7 Things Every Prepper Should Do Now

September is a good reminder that preparedness isn't something you do once and forget about.

The men who have been doing this for years already know the drill: check the gear, fix what is broken, replace what has been used, and get ahead of the weather.

You don't need another pile of gadgets.

You need the basics ready to work when you need them.

Get Ready for Winter Now

Winter has a way of exposing every weakness in your preparedness.

Take a hard look at your heat situation before you actually need it. If the power went out tonight, how would you keep the house warm?

Check your backup heat source. Make sure the fuel is available. Inspect chimneys, vents, generators, and other equipment you've been relying on.

And if you heat with wood, September is the time to make sure you have enough on hand. Don't wait for the first cold snap to discover that your firewood supply is short.

This is also a good month to inspect winter clothing. Look at your boots, gloves, coats, wool socks, and long underwear.

The goal isn't to buy the latest tactical gear.

The goal is to stay warm.

Don't Ignore Your Vehicle

Your vehicle is part of your emergency-preparedness system.

Before winter arrives, check the battery. Cold temperatures can turn a marginal battery into a dead battery overnight.

If you use snow tires, find out when they need to go on and get ahead of the rush. If you carry tire chains, take them out of storage now.

Untangle them.

Inspect them.

Make sure you have the necessary tools and gloves.

Better yet, practice putting them on before you're standing beside the highway in freezing rain.

That's what preparedness looks like: discovering the problem while you're sitting in your garage instead of beside the road.

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Rebuild Your Vehicle Emergency Kit

Take everything out of your vehicle emergency kit and actually inspect it.

Replace old food. Check your water. Look at your first-aid supplies. Inspect batteries and tools.

For cold-weather travel, consider adding:

• Wool blankets

• Warm socks

• Gloves

• A winter hat

• Hand warmers

• Extra outerwear

• A flashlight or headlamp

• Emergency food and water

• Basic tools

• First-aid supplies

If you're traveling through remote country, think beyond getting a flat tire.

What happens if you're stuck for several hours?

What happens if you're forced to spend the night in the vehicle?

A little preparation can turn a miserable situation into an inconvenience.

Go Camping While the Weather Is Good

September and October can be some of the best months of the year to spend time outdoors.

Take advantage of it.

Camping isn't just recreation. It's inexpensive training.

Cook without the kitchen.

Sleep without your normal bed.

Practice starting a fire.

Use your camping stove.

Navigate with a map and compass.

Figure out which equipment you thought you needed but never actually use.

If you have children or grandchildren, bring them along.

It's much easier to teach somebody outdoor skills when everyone is having fun than when they're cold, hungry, and scared.

And remember: check the weather before heading out. A camping trip isn't worth gambling with a dangerous storm.

Get Ready for Hunting Season

If you're a hunter, September is the time to get your equipment squared away.

Inspect your rifle and optics. Check batteries. Make sure your equipment is functioning properly and that you're familiar with it before opening day.

This is also a good time to clean out the freezer.

Use older meat and make room for this year's harvest.

Check your vacuum sealer and other food-processing equipment. Make sure you have bags, supplies, and everything else you'll need when the freezer starts filling up.

Preparedness isn't just about storing food.

It's about knowing how to turn what you have into food your family can actually use.

Build a Practical Emergency Cache

One useful September project is putting together a small emergency cache.

Keep it legal, secure, and tailored to your actual circumstances.

Think about the problems you're trying to solve.

If you had to travel on foot, what would you wish you had available along the way?

Food and water are obvious.

So are navigation and basic medical supplies.

A practical kit might include shelf-stable food, water-purification equipment, a map, compass, fire-starting supplies, spare socks, basic first aid, and other items appropriate to your situation.

The important point is not to copy somebody else's cache.

Your circumstances are different.

A retired couple living in a rural area doesn't have the same requirements as a family in the suburbs. Someone who routinely travels long distances has different concerns from someone who rarely leaves the county.

Build for the life you actually live.

Don't Let Life Distract You

September gets busy.

Summer is ending. Kids are back in school. Work picks up. Hunting season approaches. There are always a dozen things competing for your attention.

That's exactly why a monthly preparedness routine works.

You don't have to spend every weekend preparing for the apocalypse.

Set aside a day or two each month.

Fix something.

Stock something.

Learn something.

Practice something.

Then move on with your life.

That's the advantage of being prepared: you don't have to live in fear of what might happen.

You handle the boring work ahead of time so that when something does go wrong, you have options.

September is a good month to start.

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