Where to Stay Up to Date on Important Information About Emergency Prepping?
I have been in the emergency prepping world for years. While I have a very informative food storage and emergency prepping blog myself, I also follow many other websites, read newsletters as additional resources, and read many blogs I trust. If you’re interested in where to stay up to date on important information about emergency prepping, then this is a great start! I can’t wait to tell you about some of the best emergency prepping resources available.
Websites and Blogs
Ready.gov
Ready.gov is a solid starting point. This website, run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is packed with official guidelines, checklists, and resources on how to prepare for various types of emergencies. It’s regularly updated with the latest information on natural disasters, terrorist threats, and more. What You Need To Survive A Disaster
It is one of many official government organizations with gov websites to visit. You want to get your information from secure websites to help protect your sensitive information located on your phone or PC.
You can go to specific government websites geared for the information you need, like the CDC that’s dedicated to public health emergencies. As preppers, we value our own health and the healthcare of those we love, like each member of your family.
Besides the National Weather Service, you can check out the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to learn about pending hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe storms so you can implement your plans for disaster preparedness. I like dealing with official websites so I can feel more confident in the information like emergency alerts.
The Prepared
The Prepared is a comprehensive blog dedicated to prepping. It offers in-depth reviews of gear, how-to guides, and the latest news in the world of emergency preparedness. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned prepper, this site has something for you. Each family should have an emergency kit at home, in their car, and at work. I have posts in my archive to help you, but this website can also walk you through the steps needed.
Survival Blog
Founded by James Wesley Rawles, Survival Blog is a long-standing and respected resource in the prepping community. It features articles on survival strategies, gear reviews, and daily news that might impact your preparedness plans.
YouTube Channels
Nate, the Canadian Prepper, shares his insights on prepping from a Canadian perspective, which is surprisingly relevant no matter where you live. His channel covers gear reviews and survival tips and often talks about current events that might necessitate prepping. People who are truly “in the know” can help you stay informed about compliance issues like evacuations, disaster control and prevention steps for your whole community, and how first responders can assist.
YouTube channels also conduct webinars of general interest, as well as how to deal with emergencies when you have family members with unique needs as you serve as caregivers. You can also learn up-to-date first-aid procedures and how to stock your first-aid kit for the most effective usage.
Prepper Website
This is one of my favorite websites: Prepper Website and Preppers Daily News
City Prepping
City Prepping is excellent for urban dwellers looking to prepare for emergencies. The channel offers practical advice on preparing in a city environment, covering everything from food storage to self-defense as you put together your disaster response action plans prior to any emergency situations.
The Urban Prepper
The Urban Prepper provides a more laid-back approach to prepping. His channel is filled with practical tips, gear reviews, and step-by-step guides, making it accessible for beginners to best prepare for their functional needs and protect their assets.
Podcasts
The Survival Podcast
Hosted by Jack Spirko, The Survival Podcast is one of the most popular prepping podcasts. It covers a wide range of topics, from permaculture to financial independence, focusing on self-reliance and preparedness.
The Prepper Broadcasting Network
This network features various shows focusing on different aspects of prepping. It’s a great way to get diverse perspectives and tips from multiple experts in the field.
Prepping 2.0
Prepping 2.0 with Glen Tate and Shelby Gallagher is another fantastic podcast that explores advanced prepping topics. The hosts discuss current events, how they impact prepping, and practical tips for better preparation.
Social Media Groups
Reddit (r/preppers)
Reddit’s r/preppers is a vibrant community where you can find discussions on every conceivable prepping topic. It’s a great place to ask questions, share tips, and stay updated on the latest trends in emergency prepping.
Facebook Groups
There are countless Facebook groups dedicated to emergency prepping. Groups like “Emergency Preppers Worldwide” and “Practical Preppers” are active communities where members share information, advice, and the latest news. They can help you gather the types of information to include in your emergency contact information sheet and what else you may need besides insurance policies and birth certificates in your grab-and-go kits.
Believe it or not, Instagram can be an excellent place for prepping tips. Follow accounts like @prepperswarehouse, @theprepared, and @urban_preparedness for daily inspiration and tips.
Books and E-Books
“The Prepper’s Blueprint” by Tess Pennington
This book is a comprehensive guide that covers everything from short-term emergency plans to long-term survival strategies. It’s well-organized and easy to follow, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced preppers.“The Prepper’s Blueprint”
“Emergency War Surgery” by the U.S. Department of the Army
This book is a must-have for those preparing for serious medical emergencies. It’s a detailed manual on how to handle trauma and surgery in austere conditions. “Emergency War Surgery”
“When All Hell Breaks Loose” by Cody Lundin
Cody Lundin’s book is a practical guide to surviving any disaster. It’s filled with valuable tips and has a conversational tone that makes it enjoyable. “When All Hell Breaks Loose”
Prepare Your Family for Survival: How to Be Ready for Any Emergency or Disaster Situation.
This book provides comprehensive guidance on emergency preparedness tailored for families. It covers essential topics such as water and food storage, 72-hour kits, first-aid kits, and evacuation plans. “Prepare Your Family for Survival“
Forums and Online Communities
Survivalist Boards
Survivalist Boards is a giant online forum where you can find discussions on a wide range of prepping topics. It’s a great place to connect with other preppers and share knowledge.
American Preppers Network
This is another excellent forum where you can engage with other preppers, share tips, and get the latest news on emergency preparedness.
Prepper Forums
Prepper Forums is a dedicated space for discussing all things prepping. From food storage to bug-out bags, this forum covers it all.
News Websites
The Prepper Journal is a news site covering current events and their impact on your prepping plans. It’s an excellent place to stay updated on the latest developments affecting your preparedness.
Zero Hedge
Zero Hedge is a financial news website that often covers topics related to economic collapse and other scenarios that preppers are concerned about. It’s a bit more doom-and-gloom, but it’s useful for staying informed.
Local Resources
Local Government Websites
Your local government’s website often has resources and updates on emergency preparedness specific to your area and weather zones. This can include information on local evacuation routes, shelters, and emergency plans.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
CERT programs offer training and resources to help you prepare for emergencies. They also provide opportunities to get involved in your community and stay informed about local emergency plans.
Local News Outlets
Don’t underestimate the importance of local news. Your local TV and radio stations can provide timely updates on weather events, local emergencies, and other important information.
Apps
FEMA App
The FEMA app provides timely alerts and information on preparing for different types of disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, and other disaster scenarios. It’s a must-have for anyone serious about staying prepared.
Red Cross Emergency App
This app offers real-time alerts, step-by-step guides on what to do in various emergencies, and information on finding Red Cross shelters.
Zello
Zello is a push-to-talk app that can be incredibly useful during an emergency. It allows you to communicate with others even if cell service is down, as long as you have an internet connection.
Matt
There is an off-road app called OnX.
It can build routes and download maps that can be followed even when the signal is lost. So if the signal isn’t working but the phone is it can still be a resource. It has 3D mapping as well so you see terrain somewhat.
Don’t forget local weather apps.
More Tips
- Why Location Matters in Emergency Prepping
- Prepping for When Flooding Strikes
- How to Create an Emergency Prepping Kit
Final Word
If you can, make sure you take advantage of these apps, websites, and resources so that you can be as prepared for emergency prepping as possible. I want to share my tips with my readers because I know they help many families out there. If you have a favorite resource that you’d like to add, put it in the comments. May God Bless this World, Linda
There is an off road app called OnX
It can build routes and download maps that can be followed even when signal is lost. So if the signal ain’t working but the phone is it can still be a resource.
It has 3D mapping as well so you see terrain somewhat.
Don’t forget local weather apps.
With any resource look at it with a critical eye. Many hype things up to sell products or get more money and attention through fear. Especially the government.
Examples are: I’ve been hearing bout a UN takeover since 83. We didn’t all stop having healthy children and the human race didn’t cease to exist from Zika virus. I don’t have brain cancer from my cellphone. My gas pickup is still going and in fact I drove it and fed cattle this morning and their farts didn’t kill me. No ones come door to door to take anything though I’d love to send some of my wife’s junk with them. My eyes haven’t burned out from acid rain and New York isn’t underwater from glacier melt and the hole in the ozone still hasn’t made everything a desert.
I’m gonna go set up a pool for the grandson err I mean a 18ft emergency water supply for the coming lol
Matt,
A thousand thumbs up for your comment. Cow farts aren’t a problem. Human ones can be. LOL!
Hi Harry, now I have the giggles, you know I love this! Linda
HI Matt, oh yeah, and don’t forget Y2K, LOL! I love your comment, truth always wins! The wife’s junk, oh my gosh, I can’t stop laughing. We all have junk! LOL! That grandson is going to have so much fun this summer, love this! It serves two purposes. Linda
Matt, thank for the tip on the OnX app and weather maps, I added the whole paragraph to my post, thank you! Linda
Linda, thank you so much for everything you post. I have used your information and advice for several years now. I wound up prepared for staying home for a month when my husband and I had Covid. I was ready when the tree went through our roof during Hurricane Idalia. We are now thinking of getting a whole house generator since we live in the country where our power goes off sometimes. We already have an 8500 kw portable generator, but it surely would be nice to have a generator that is easier to turn on when the power goes off.
Ok, bad storm again coming our way. Thank you again!!!!
Hi Patricia, oh my gosh, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend! What a blessing you were able to take of yourselves when that nasty virus hit for a whole month even! Good job! Living in Florida Hurricanes are fierce, I understand. I have a friend that lives in Ruskin, FL and she had some flooding from storms last year. I can’t imagine having a tree go through your roof, hopefully no one was hurt. The best investment would be a generator for you and your husband to be safe after another hurricane. Please stay safe and keep doing what you are doing, I will pray for you and your family during the storms! Hugs, Linda
You are so sweet to reply so quickly. We live in south Georgia and Hurricane Idalia came through Valdosta as a category 2. We have had the remnants of hurricanes many times as tropical storms since we are a good 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, but this time the storm did not die down. Valdosta was devastated. Power was out for several days all over the place. We were not hurt because we were in the hallway. The Hand of God was on us – one of the tree limbs landed on my side of the bed. Had I been there, it would have mutilated or killed me.
There are still blue tarps on houses nine months after the hurricane. We are very grateful – material things can be replaced but people cannot be. I do not know of any deaths in Valdosta from that storm.
We lived in a hotel room for almost five months and got back into our house in February. We are still getting everything in order. Life goes on. Much of your advice helped us get through successfully. Thank you again for your very helpful posts!!!
Hi Patricia, I had to Google Hurricane Idalia, I’m glad you told me you are in Georgia. There have been so many hurricanes I have trouble keeping track of all of them. God really did watch out for you! I can’t imagine living in a hotel room for 5 months, wow! The blue tarps I remember seeing some of those when we were on a vacation and the hotels had no water, no food and the pool was closed. We wanted to see the ocean. But the only place we could eat was at Hard Rock Cafe, that was many years ago. But I still remember all the devastation everywhere. It looked like a third world country. We were young and just rolled with it. The hurricane hit before we got there and we were forewarned of the hotel issues. I can’t remember which hurricane! Life does in fact go on! Stay safe, my friend. Linda
People in my area are probably wishing they had emergency go bags or something when the tornado took out 175 homes in one section of the city. The local school district identified 150 families that did not have a home that was livable. We were out of state for my brother’s funeral. (As a side note, if any of you has an intestinal virus and an adult living with you suggests you need to go to the hospital to be treated for dehydration…. please go. My brother didn’t.) We were all watching it on the news with nieces and nephews and my sister all saying “how close to your house is that.” It was scary from 1500 miles away. A friend was talking about her sister and brother-in-law and said they were living with her until their house can be rebuilt. Her sister sent her husband to the house with a list of things to get…. things like insurance papers, bank records and birth certificates that where all in a lock box in a specific place, she also said get any photo albums and pictures you can find. He went to the house with the best of intentions and was so overwhelmed by the destruction not only of their home but all their neighbors’ houses that he brought back the dirty clothes hamper. My friend said that overwhelmed was the best word to describe everyone in that area. I think the worst part was the looters, I don’t remember how many were arrested for looting after the tornadoes.
On the flip side there were hundreds of volunteers that showed up every day to help. There was a church that sent people out in the area just beyond the tornado to pick up papers, pictures and anything else that the tornado might pick up. They had all the items on display at the church and anyone could come in and see if anything was found. There was a lot of, “that’s not mine, it belongs to my neighbor (friend, relative), I’ll let them know it was here. A disaster brings both the good and bad out in people.
We had our daughter that is in college 6 miles away come by the house and make sure there wasn’t any damage and to check on all the cats. We were very lucky with no damage.
We have stocked our tornado room with a case of bottled water, snacks and games. We have a TV in that room, a desktop computer and some sleeping bags and pillows in case we need to stay overnight.
Hi Angela, oh I’m so sorry to hear about your brother, I got the Norovirus in April, and if I hadn’t gone to the ER I would not be here today. Dehydration is bad and extremely dangerous. I get goosebumps thinking about you at a funeral for your brother and having to worry about your neighborhood damage. What a blessing to have people gather items and take what they could find to a church for their neighbors. The important documents, oh my gosh, what a shame. I can’t imagine being 1500 miles away and watching the news to see the damage that happened. Then the looters, good grief do they not have a conscience? I guess not. I love hearing you have tornado room, may God bless you and your family going forward. Hugs, Linda
Linda, a post on how to stay hydrated in heat and illness might be a good article to post. If we are in an emergency situation where it may not be safe to go to the hospital, we would need to know how to stay hydrated if we have a stomach virus or it is very hot and we are sweating a lot or even in the winter when we think we don’t need to drink as much because we don’t feel it.
The tornados were scary because we so far away and the maps kept show it heading directly to our neighborhood. Then it turned and headed north and missed us by 2 miles. My daughter’s inlaws lost their home to a tornado that took out most of the roofs and about 10% of the houses in that small town about 6 or 7 years ago. During the storms that day, a tornado was headed their way. Her mother-in-law said that she would be very mad if another tornado took their house now that she finally had the new house the way she liked it. People on the coast deal with hurricanes, the west coast deals with earthquakes and we in the midwest have blizzards and tornadoes.
Hi Topaz, wow, that’s a great idea. I just had the NoroVirus, my oxygen level got down to 66 (they told me at the hospital), I should have died. Luckily, I told my husband get me to the ER/ED right now. Getting dehydrated is extremely dangerous, I have an oxygen/lung issue going on but I could tell I was very dehydrated. You can get Septic Shock very quickly, I understand. My daughter got Septic Shock from being dehydrated, she also had a UTI. I am very concerned if the power goes out now because I’m not on oxygen 24/7, I need to get a generator for sure now. It’s the money that’s a challenge. I have a solar one but not sure it could handle it. You are so right the the east coast with hurricanes and tornadoes, tsunamis, maybe? The midwest has snow storms, ice storms and tornadoes. The west coast earthquakes, flooding, etc. We must be prepared for whatever hits our neighborhood. Luckily your daughters in laws were not hurt or killed. Houses can be replaced. Stay safe, Linda
I wrote a reply that had a lot of good information. I’ll see if I can hit the high lights. I come at it from the side of having worked hurricanes as a police officer. Was in 3 Cat 5s with a total of about 20 hurricanes. Not sure where that message went.
What people need to know is that “with an approaching hurricane, when winds reach sustained 40mph, there are NO police, fire, or EMS services.” We have to save the equipment for after the storm. If you have a medical condition, you need to get somewhere well before the storm because you WILL DIE if you can’t take care of yourself medically. Nobody is coming.
After Ian passed we found out the road to our island washed out as did the causeway to Sanibel and Captiva. The Feds tried to get us to leave. Imagine leaving perfectly good homes to thieves for a year? Instead, most everyone was armed and took care of business.
There was no real help for about 2 weeks. Next time will be longer because of all the disasters this year.
There were signs…”you loot, we shoot. Crabs have to eat, too.” Many people our here were well able to stay as long as necessary.
Lots of people didn’t learn. Please keep trying.
Here are 2 good sites…you are often featured on both https://www.prepperwebsite.com/
https://preppersdailynews.com/
Hi CAddison, your fist comment came through, oh my gosh, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of this great information. Those of us only see what is on the news, we don’t hear or see what the first responders like you see. I do remember hearing on the news where some police officers were trying to get people to leave when a hurricane was going to hit. They wouldn’t leave and the police reminded them we cannot help once it hits. YOU will be on your own. You are risking your lives by staying in other words. I’m sure they realized the looting would start, and they wanted to protect their homes. It sure seems like we are having more and more weather related disasters. I agree please keep trying to be prepared for the worst scenario. I will remember that once the hurricane hits 40 MPH, you are on your own. THANK YOU, people need to hear this! I’m sending hugs to you, Linda
https://www.prepperwebsite.com
https://preppersdailynews.com
These are pretty good compendiums. And, often YOU are featured on them.
Hurricanes- I’ve been IN 3 Cat 5s. Worked out in Hurricane Andrew when the cement building where another Sgt. and I had our field forces sheltered began to collapse. For civilians, there is no hope of driving in that wind. Probably been in or worked in about 20.
Here is something VERY important to know…”with an approaching hurricane when winds hit sustained 40 mph, there are NO emergency services.”
When the 40mph hit, our dispatchers told us to seek safe shelter (we already had it picked out). After that point it doesn’t matter what the emergency, we are not coming. No police, Fire, or EMS. We have to secure our equipment and personnel for after the storm. 1/2 of us are actually working during the storm, but we are sheltered so we can hit the streets when it is safe. The rest are home.
Those with medical conditions need to get to a hospital before. THEY WILL DIE.
On the island where I live, we found out after Ian passed, that the ONLY road to the island had washed out. Sanibel and Captiva were similarly washed out. We were stuck out here. The Federal govn’t wanted all of us off the islands. We refused to go. Can you imagine leaving all our perfectly good (and some wrecked ) homes to the thieves for a year? They can’t make you leave. We were all armed. “you loot, we shoot, crabs have to eat, too.”
Many of us were prepared. We did just fine. We never left the island for a month. Some had to get out because they had nothing. We who stayed guarded neighborhoods. In a big emergency it takes WEEKS to get help to people.
Most learned nothing. Not my problem.
Can’t fix, broken, stupid, or crazy people.
Keep trying, please!
HI CAddison, oh my gosh, 3 CAT5s, I have to thank you for all this valuable information for those of us who are not first responders. I picture myself taking care of myself, that’s who I am. I just added those two prepper sites to my post, they are great ones, thank you for the reminder. I LOVE your comment, it brings the TRUTH to all of us. We must be prepared to take care of ourselves. We must have a plan. THANK YOU, best comment ever! Linda
meant to say “you LOOT, we shoot.”
Hi CAddison, I will fix it. Linda
I love all of these resources. Of course, your blog has always been my number 1 stop for 5 years now. You’ve made me feel more prepared than
Hi Jessica, oh thank you my sweet friend! My goal has always been to help others get prepared for the unexpected. Linda