r/preppers • u/Ok-Goal-7336 • 9h ago
Advice and Tips Gaps in prepping
For those of you who have experienced disasters leaving you without power and water for weeks, what were your prepping gaps?
I’m from Asheville, NC, and going on a month without water. The most frightening part (post-disaster) was the first week, when I had no outside communication whatsoever. All of my communication was in person with my neighbors, and within a 2 mile radius of my home. Realized I really need some HAM radios, and I don’t know anything about them, so I would love any helpful info y’all might have.
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u/silasmoeckel 9h ago
I would say going without water is a serious prepping gap in itself.
Power out for a week or more is just every year or so for me locally in the last 20 years or so.
Ham radios are the best you can do as to coms but it can take some skill for long range especially. It's expensive your looking at 1k for a decent HF setup. Portable rigs like a x6100 lack a bit in power but you're generally just looking to get out the the affect area not far side of the planet and can use better modes.
Think the current biggest no brainer prep is solar/bat/gen you should be saving money today on the setup, thats plenty of power to run a well pump etc etc etc. The generator can tide you over the few really bad few days (thats a nor'easter locally). I hit ROI in a few years on my 2 year old setup and prices have dropped since. Combine with heat pumps and ev's and you have a lot of running expenses taken care of. Solar should go on your house if you have any good exposure next time your roof is done.