I have one plastic bag that is full of other, crumpled plastic bags.

Sub-zero degree sleeping bag in the trunk of my car, plus a jug of water and some MRE-type food packs with water-activated food warmers. I grew up in a very rural area and got stuck on the side of the road in a blizzard for too long; I came out ok but it was terrifying. Now I live in a densely populated area that doesn’t get blizzards but I still prep.

I used to let my toilet paper run nearly down to zero before I bought another pack. The pandemic lockdown months changed that. I used paper towels and liberated a couple rolls from work back in the day. Now I keep more on hand before triggering next buy. Never again.

I’m a good example of “we prep for our fears”. I also do backcountry backpacking and everyone in that hobby does to some degree. I go out with a nurse sometimes and her first aid kit is nearly three pounds while mine is a couple bandaids and rubbing alcohol swaps.

A bit different than others, but every time I ride my bike, I have the equipment to patch a tire with me.

We prep based on whats happened or likely to happen.

The most common thing where I live is a power outage. Usually only lasts a half day. Once it was out for 3 days. We have a generator and the gas station isn’t too far away.

As for a water outage. Usually, we get a letter stating when the water will be out but not always. We have buckets to fill. A couple of times I’ve gone to the store and brought home a couple of water cooler jugs.

We always keep extra food on hand.

I mostly prep for digital disasters. Data loss, identity theft, internet outage.

Used to live in an earthquake zone right in front of the ocean, so tsunamis were always a risk.

So I kept a bug off bag with water, clothes, blanket, cereal bars, lights and a battery pack ready to go by my bike.

I did use it once and skipped all over the traffic going to the shelter. Fortunately the water didn’t rise enough to be a threat, but I thanks to the peace of mind the bag brought, I didn’t even stress during the evacuation

Tomorrow.

I would say fire, flood and no tap water for three days.

Those are the most probable things that people are not ready for and should be. If you leave in a city near a river, chances are high that the general population (you included) underestimate vastly the risk of flooding. I learnt it this year with the heavy rains in my area.

My parents made their house self-sufficient. They have a water pump, filters, and a photovoltaic on the roof that can power the whole house and an EV. They’re planning on using the car‘s battery for the house once it’s too weak to drive. They also installed a wooden stovetop which heats the whole ground floor. As for food, my dad‘s a hunter and inherited way too much ammo for a single lifetime when my grandad passed.

Well, I live 5 meters under sea level. The most realistic disaster to happen to me would involve a giant crushing wave of water, and there’s not much you can do to get out of that.

But since I like backpack hiking, and buying in bulk is cheap, I have something like a month of food, some lifestraws, some water, extra cooking gear, etc.

I have a generator and several heaters, as I live in Canada and own a contracting business. I also have neighbours who prep and have urban chickens, and since I have guns and they do not and am also much stronger than them they are my doomsday back up plan.

Terfs

I have a trans pride flag and a baseball bat next to my front door

Well, it’s more than one thing but I don’t consider myself as a prepper.

• I have a few months’ worth of food both frozen and canned/dried/long lasting.
• I have enough of flour to bake a bread for a year.
• I have enough toilet paper, toothpaste, shower gel, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. to use it for 6ish months.
• I grow my own veggies. Between October and May I don’t buy any veggies and for the whole year I don’t buy spring onion, radishes and herbs.
• I know how to fix things.
• I know how to cook.
• I have several flashlights and radios with a crank (no battery needed).
• I’m about to install solar panels, wind turbine and rain water collector.

On solo outdoors-y trips I pack twice as much food and water as I need, a rescue whistle and I inform a trusted relative before and after a remote trip who can get in touch with emergency services if I don’t call back by the morning after.

At home I honestly would be screwed by an earthquake or major catastrophe… at least I have an up-to-date fire extinguisher and first aid kit in a readily accessible area.

Like… where do you draw the line?

I’ve got water, a purchased “bug out bag”, camping gear, extra clothes and water in the car, batteries, ham radio, and a crowbar.

I’m not a prepper but I consider myself somewhat prepared

Just all of my entertainment is stored locally, either on my NAS, or in the form of physical media (books, blu-rays, physical games), so I’m prepared for a long term internet outage. I can also run everything in the house from battery backups and a generator for about three days or possibly up to a week if I immediately turn off everything that’s nonessential. Longer, if I’m in a position to get additional fuel for the generator.

I also live in an area that’s prone to earthquakes so I have a total of two weeks worth of nonperishable food and water split between the bedroom, office, and main living area of the house. Along with first-aid kits, Tylenol, ibuprofen, emergency blankets, and spare cold weather clothes.

I’m generally pretty well prepared for the major emergencies that can happen in my region of the world. Those being prolonged internet/cell outages, power outages, and earthquakes.