Building a Resilient Life, One Layer at a Time
Life has a way of throwing the unexpected at us, whether it’s a snowstorm that knocks out power for days, a sudden job loss, or something as dramatic as a pandemic or civil unrest. The worst thing you can do is panic. That’s the whole point to preparedness: to thoughtfully, prayerfully, purposefully prepare for the curve balls of life, step by step.
Preparedness can be an overwhelming topic. It looks like you have to be prepared for everything and that’s daunting.
Take a deep breath
Just as we don’t build a house starting with the roof, we shouldn’t approach preparedness by leaping to the most extreme scenarios. Instead we build preparedness layer by layer. So I’ve divided preparedness into four foundational phases. Each phase builds upon the previous. You can go as fast or as slow as you want. Spend money has you are able, just work on skills when you don’t have money.
Preparedness brings peace of mind. If it causes you to panic, you’re doing it wrong. So let’s walk through each phase, with some thoughts on how to approach
each phase wisely and purposefully, starting with the first and easiest step:
Phase 1: The First 3 Days
Surviving Immediate Disruption
This is where we begin. The lights go out. The water stops running. The roads are closed. The credit card machine at the gas station is down. You need to hunker down and ride it out.
At a minimum, every household should have a three-day plan and a kit — set of supplies to see you through that plan. You kit should include:
- Water: You’ll want 3 gallons per person for this phase.
Read more: Storing water - Food: Enough shelf-stable food (that doesn’t require refrigeration or complex cooking) to last three days.
- Light & Heat: Candles, lanterns, flashlights with extra batteries. If you live in a cold climate, think about non-electric heating options like propane heaters or sleeping bags rated for winter temps.
- Communication & Information: A battery-powered or crank radio, and a fully charged backup battery for your phone.
- Basic First Aid & Medications
This phase is a good place to start because it’s very manageable and it costs very little. You probably already have most of the supplies you need already on hand. You can assemble a 3-day kit over a weekend and store it in a plastic bin.
Most disasters, thankfully, are short-lived. Starting with the three-day plan gives you the assurance that you are ready for most disasters and builds confidence to tackle more involved phases of preparedness.
Phase 2: The First 3 Months
Weathering a Longer Crisis
This is where things get more serious. The power hasn’t come back. Grocery stores are empty. Or you or your spouse has lost income. You’re not just trying to stay alive—you’re trying to live as normally as possible in abnormal conditions.
In this phase, you want to think in terms of lifestyle continuity. That means you’ll want:
- Food for 90 days: Focus on what you already eat. Build your pantry with shelf-stable versions of your family’s staples. Pasta, rice, canned beans, peanut butter, oatmeal, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, etc. Don’t forget salt, spices, baking powder, and oils.
Read more: Five easy steps to food storage - Cooking Without Power: Propane stove, solar oven, charcoal grill. Know how to use them safely.
Read more: Learn off-grid cooking
- Water Storage or Filtration: In a prolonged event, 3 gallons per person won’t cut it. Store water in barrels or invest in a high-quality gravity-fed water filter.
Read more: Choosing a water filter - Household Supplies: Toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, trash bags, feminine hygiene. You don’t want to have to “MacGyver” these things in a month two, so stock up.
- Cash on Hand: If ATMs or card systems go down, you’ll want small bills for gas, eggs, or a tank of propane.
This is also where skills matter: cooking from scratch, mending clothes, using tools. If a three-month disruption hits, you’re no longer just surviving—you’re adapting.
Phase 3: One Year
A Prepared Life
One year of preparedness isn’t about digging a bunker and disappearing off the map. It’s about building self-reliance into your daily life so that, whatever the future holds, you’re ready.
This level of preparedness includes:
- A Full Year of Food Storage: Focus on staples like wheat, rice, beans, sugar, powdered milk, and canned or home-preserved foods. This should include both calorie-dense basics and variety for nutrition and morale.
Read more: Long-term vs. Short-term food storage - Long-Term Food Planning: Think gardening, seed saving, dehydrating, and canning. A garden may not feed your family in Year One—but learning to grow food is part of long-term resilience.
Read more: Food storage or food plan?
- Redundancy in Systems: Water, heat, light, and sanitation. If Plan A fails, do you have a Plan B? Do you know how to repair or maintain the equipment you rely on?
- Medical Preparedness: This goes beyond the Band-Aids: learn basic herbal remedies, have a supply of prescription medication, and know how to treat common injuries or illnesses when a doctor isn’t nearby.|
Read more: Stocking up on medications - Financial Resilience: A year’s worth of savings is a tall order, but even a few months of expenses in an emergency fund or precious metals can make all the difference in the world.
Read more: Mastering money
At this stage, preparedness is part of your lifestyle. You rotate food. You know how to repair things. You cook from storage. You have backup plans for heating, water, and communication. And perhaps most importantly: you’re not afraid. You are confident and resilient. You know the peace that comes from preparedness.
Phase 4: Community Preparedness
Because No One Thrives Alone
This is the phase most people forget—but it’s perhaps the most critical. If you have a year’s worth of food and your neighbor has none, you’ll soon have both a burden and a moral dilemma.
Preparedness is most sustainable—and most Christian—when it’s shared.
Here’s how to think about it:
- Talk With Family: Do your adult children, siblings, or extended relatives have a plan? Could they shelter with you if needed? Could you combine resources?
Read more: Talk to your neighbors about preparedness - Know Your Neighbors: Not everyone will be on board with preparedness right away, but even informal connections matter. Who has a chainsaw? Who raises chickens? Who’s a nurse? You’re building a community safety net.
Read more: How to create a neighborhood plan
- Skills Swap: Maybe you’re great at gardening, and your neighbor is handy with engines. Prepare by building relationships and exchanging knowledge.
- Church and Civic Groups: Faith communities and civic clubs are natural hubs of preparedness.What is your congregation or civic organization doing to help members be prepared? Can your church or group create a food pantry, communication tree, or mutual aid plan? Are they connecting with other churches or civic groups to work cooperatively during an emergency?
We were never meant to go it alone. The pioneers had barn, quilting bees, and shared harvests. In a prolonged emergency, your greatest asset might not be a stocked basement. It might be the neighbor who brings you eggs and helps fix your generator.
Final Thoughts
Just a few generations ago, this mindset of being prepared and self-reliant was what everyone lived by. And that’s how it should be today. Preparedness isn’t just for crazy “preppers.” It’s for all of us: parents and grandparents, newlyweds and single people. It’s for anyone who wants to live a life of prudence, stewardship, and peace of mind.
Start where you are. Don’t be overwhelmed. The journey to resilience is built one gallon, one can, one conversation at a time.
And remember: Preparedness isn’t about stockpiling stuff. It’s about building capacity—within yourself, your home, and your community.
Now go fill a water jug, inventory your pantry, and check on a neighbor.
