The Evolution of Prepping
A question popped into my head the other day. Who were the first to start preparing for an uncertain future? In other words, who were the first preppers?
Two hundred years ago, no one used the term “prepping.” They didn’t need a term because EVERYONE WAS A PREPPER.
Think about it. People lived in a time where they had to take care of their own needs. Sure, they might be a local doctor for emergencies and a traveling salesperson or local store for some tough-to-make necessities. But, in general, everyone knew how to do things like…
- Grow their own food
- First aid remedies
- Sew clothing
- And many more of what we call “survival skills”
Off and on since the industrial revolution, prepping has come back into style. But its popularity usually doesn’t last long.
During the first two World Wars, the government encouraged people to grow their own food because there was concern about the food supply.
During the Cold War, some people built underground shelters to protect their families in case of a nuclear attack. Schools conducted emergency drills and just about every home had a stockpile of food and water… just in case.
But then things got better. Modern conveniences got more modern and more convenient. Americans again forgot how important it is to prepare. Today, most Americans don’t even have three days’ worth of non-perishable food on hand.
Now it’s time to address another question. Why has prepping gotten a bad name with many people?
Folks in the Old Testament thought Noah was crazy for building a huge boat in an area of the country that was mostly desert. But he turned out to be right. One would think preppers would get a better reception today than they do.
That’s not usually the case. Preppers are sometimes considered paranoid at best and insane at worst. And that’s scary, if you think about it.
If a significant amount of people think preparing for an uncertain future is crazy, imagine what will happen when the electrical grid goes down for a lengthy period of time.
Talk about crazy! That’s when insanity will rule. Millions of unprepared people will start scrambling for their survival.
The chaos that will ensue will mean only preppers will survive. And even they will have a big problem if they don’t figure out how to protect their stuff and themselves.
There are still plenty of people who still understand how important prepping is.
In fact, some of them have started up conventions to raise awareness and help people get ready for the unknown.
PrepperCon is one of those conventions. It’s an annual, two-day event. It was held earlier this month in Utah.
This national preparedness and survival expo showcases preparation fundamentals and advanced training, self-defense solutions, firearms, survival skills and food storage.
It also features first-aid, tech-gear, homesteading, alternative energies, archery and hunting supplies. Plus opportunities for networking with other preppers.
There are more than 80 instructional classes and stage presentations. Attendees can meet TV and film celebrity speakers, join panel discussions, experience disaster simulations and even see a prepper fashion show.
So, regardless of who the first preppers were and why some people look down on preppers, prepping is still alive and well.
And that’s a good thing when you’re facing an unknown future.
You left out a very important part of the history. During the Cold War, most Americans were convinced that NO ONE would survive a nuclear exchange. However, there were people who recognized that many would survive, at least initially. Most notably was Mel Tappon, who is credited with coining the term “Survival Movement”. It did not take long for the liberal press to label (belittle and mock) survivalists as red-neck, bigoted, anti-government wackos running around in the woods in camo’s. The ‘Movement’ as such, changed its name to “Self-Reliant Living”. As the Cold War became less threatening, many did lose interest. But as noted by several commentators above, there is a long history of humans preparing for possible disasters. (Look to Joseph, in the bible, stockpiling in the 7 years of plenty before the 7 years of famine). I have watched with interest as the ‘Survival Movement’ morphed into the ‘Self-reliant Living’ movement, into the ‘Prepper’s’ movement. Basically- the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Did any of you hear that we no longer will have
boy scouts??? I heard it on the news but didn’t say
why?? My Mother use to call it canning and I remember doing that for days. We can do just so much but, if they want to destroy, who can stop it.
No, they are now planning to include girls. So can they call themselves the “BOY SCOUTS”?
The first Prepper was Noah.
Thanks a lot for the post.Really thank you! Much obliged.hydro coin ico
When speaking with ‘the clueless’, I tend to focus on local weather events that have majorly inconvenienced ppl (well, those not prepared anyways) most recently. Some absorb it, most don’t. While we live semi-rural, it is becoming ‘citified’. The long-timers here are great resources and good friends to have, but ‘the clueless’ are quickly becoming the majority. Time to move even further out!
I have been thought hurricane, tornado, Ice storms had power out for weeks I do not think of myself as a prepper but I do like to be prepared just like my grandpa and his father and so on people can think me weird if they like I do this for my family, not the one who thinks the government going to come riding in on a white horse and save them.
I was born 88 years ago, a country girl born to country & very small town parents. Prepping has always been a way of life. We had water because my parents doug a well, cow for milk, garden for food., clothes home made. I learned to make clothes with needle & thread ( some of the finest still are). Don’t forget needle & thread in your survival kit. Needles remove splinters & thread can remove the core from boils.
Thanks for reminding us in your Messenger to take some of your 5 year food bars with us when we are away from our survival supplies. I didn’t realize how good they are for us & we need them with us.
I highly recommend and support “preppers”. It would be very wise for ALL people to get out of their comfort zones and consider the “what ifs!” In the U.S.A. there are Millions of good people who are living in a world where prepping is either inconvenient or something only “weird” people do. Perhaps we could make PrepperCon. a practice that is COOL Maybe a challenge could be issued to see who could come up with the best “gourmet” meals made with survival foods…OR?
My father has taught many classes on Survival & Preparedness. He works with the Boy Scouts of America, and teaches the importance of food storage (and rotation) at our church and has been a coordinator for the Red Cross for many years. He would tell you that 200 years ago, Preppers were called Pioneers, and they are the ones who helped guide this country into the prosperous nation that it has become. I certainly hope that the American people never have to worry about living underground, but unfortunately there are so many that think the time is coming, that it seems inevitable.
As a former Eagle Scout many, many years ago in the Boy Scouts of America, we had two words for “preppers”…. BE PREPARED!
Words to live by! Thanks, John.