These simple steps will help you prepare for any emergency

(NaturalNews) So, you've been paying more attention to the news and to world events, and you, like millions of other Americans, see geopolitical storm clouds brewing on the horizon. But what can you do about it?

In the great scheme of things, there is nothing that you can personally do to stop what might be coming down the road. Whether it is the prospect of global economic collapse, a massive cyber attack, or maybe just a major weather event, you have decided that you want to prepare yourself and your family for those and other possible contingencies. Trouble is, you're not quite sure how to get started.

That's understandable. It's a big decision that you've just made, and it will require some thought, dedication and patience on your part as you begin the process of "prepping" for "stuff hits the fan" emergencies.

Here are some easy steps to get you started off right:

-- Don't rely on Uncle Sam: Look, there are a number of federal (and state) agencies set up to assist the general public during emergencies. And there are a lot of good people -- rank-and-file folks, just like you -- who work for these agencies and really want to help when times turn bad. But the problem is that there is too much bureaucracy inherent in each of these agencies. That's why, after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, it took days, weeks and months for the federal disaster response agencies to, well, respond at their full capacity.

As for state agencies, they tend to be understaffed, under-supplied and under-funded, at best.

This means you'll have to fend for yourself, and you don't really know for how long, so you're doing the right thing by getting ready now -- because after a disaster strikes is too late.

-- Do some research: Think about your own situation -- your health, your needs, the environment in which you live, your personal financial condition, etc. Prepare for yourself, not for your neighbor or even other friends. Your situation may be unique and you should consider that above all else.

-- Contacts: Put together an emergency contact list, and this can include anyone -- your family and your friends, sure, but also fire, police, ambulance and other emergency numbers. You don't want to be digging for these when stuff hits.

-- Water, water and more water: This valuable commodity becomes even more so in an emergency, so you should try to stockpile as much of it as you can and prepare to purify what you cannot stock. Reading up on water purification is a good thing to do in the meantime, obviously. Start here: Google.com.

-- Food: Of course, you will need to stockpile some food, too, and there are plenty of companies out that that sell it -- many brands with shelf lives of 15-plus years. There's one thing you may want to consider, though: Think about stocking up on food that does not require water to prepare. Water will be precious and in short supply as it is. If you need it to cook as well, then your supply will simply dry up faster. There are food alternatives out there -- say, military "meals ready to eat" -- that don't require much water, if any, to consume.

-- Prepare your body: Develop a fitness plan and exercise regularly, to get yourself in as good a shape, physically, as you can. Life without modern comforts and conveniences is hard, but if you're in better shape, you'll have the physicality and endurance to deal with any challenges.

-- Prep in packs: Talk to your friends and neighbors and begin prepping as a group. Ideas will flow much easier, preparations will take place more quickly by sharing resources, and you will have formed a core group of people whom you can live with and trust in any situation.

-- Bug-out bags: This is a collection of items -- food, water, medicines, first-aid equipment, knives, personal weapons, etc. -- that you can grab quickly and leave your present location with if there is a threat or other need to do so. For a good primer on what to include in yours, click here.

Finally, you should also know some of the most common prepper mistakes; click here for that primer.

Sources:

http://www.backdoorsurvival.com

http://survivallife.com

https://www.google.com

http://absoluterights.com