PREPPING - WHAT IS IT?
Prepping involves preparing for emergencies by focusing on self-reliance with durable, functional gear and skills, emphasizing water, food, first aid (including trauma), shelter, and communication, often using a "bug-out" bag (BOB) or "go-bag" concept for rapid evacuation, and centers on risk assessment and mental readiness alongside physical supplies to handle potential disruptions to normal services. It blends standard emergency preparedness with a more robust, "mission-ready" approach, ensuring gear is tested, portable, and addresses immediate survival needs.
Tactical Preparedness for Australian Emergencies
A Practical Guide to Staying Ready When Things Go Wrong.
Australia is no stranger to emergencies. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, heatwaves, power outages, and long response times in regional areas mean self-reliance isn’t paranoia — it’s common sense. Tactical preparedness isn’t about playing soldier; it’s about thinking ahead, moving efficiently, and protecting life when systems fail.
This guide focuses on a tactical approach to emergency preparedness — deliberate, organized, adaptable, and grounded in the realities of Australia.
1. Tactical Mindset: Calm, Capable, and Prepared
The most important piece of any emergency plan isn’t gear — it’s mindset.
A tactical mindset means:
Situational awareness: understanding your environment and risks
Pre-decision making planning actions before stress hits
Adaptability: adjusting when plans fail
Prioritisation: life > shelter > water > food > comfort
In Australian emergencies, panic kills time. Calm, rehearsed actions save it.
Ask yourself:
What emergencies are most likely where I live?
What fails first: power, roads, communications?
How long could I realistically be on my own?
2. Know Your Threats (Australia-Specific)
Preparedness should match reality, not fantasy.
Common Australian Emergency Scenarios:
Bushfires (fast-moving, smoke, embers, evacuation chaos)
Floods (road closures, isolation, contaminated water)
Cyclones & storms (wind damage, long power outages)
Heatwaves (grid strain, dehydration risk)
Remote breakdowns (outback or regional travel)
Each threat requires different tactics — one kit does not fit all.
3. Tactical Emergency Kits (Bug-Out & Stay-Put)
A. The Tactical Go-Bag (Bug-Out Bag)
This is for forced evacuation — fast, light, and functional.
Key principles:
Neutral colours (no bright tactical cosplay)
Hands-free carry
Durable and weather-resistant
Core items:
Water (minimum 2–3L) + purification tablets/filter
Compact first aid kit (including burns care)
Headlamp (hands-free > torch)
Fire-resistant gloves (critical in bushfires)
P2 smoke masks or respirator
Multitool
Power bank + charging cables
Physical map (phones fail)
Copies of IDs (waterproofed)
High-energy food (no cooking required)
This bag should be grab-and-go in under 30 seconds.
B. Tactical Stay-Put Kit (Home or Shelter-in-Place)
Sometimes leaving is worse than staying.
Key focus areas:
Water storage (at least 3–5 days)
Backup lighting
Fire suppression (extinguishers, hoses)
Medical redundancy
Communications
Recommended items:
Battery or solar-powered radio
Long-life food
N95/P2 masks for smoke
Fire blankets
Heavy-duty footwear ready by the door
Cash (ATMs go down)
4. Movement & Evacuation Tactics
Evacuation is where most people fail — not from lack of gear, but lack of planning.
Tactical evacuation planning:
Multiple routes (not just Google Maps)
Trigger points (leave early, not late)
Vehicle readiness (fuel above half, emergency kit inside)
Load discipline (what matters vs what doesn’t)
In bushfires especially:
Leaving early is safer than defending late
Visibility drops fast — know roads by memory
Never assume authorities will reach you in time
5. Communications & Information Control
During emergencies:
Mobile networks overload
Misinformation spreads fast
Official updates lag reality
Tactical comms basics:
Battery radio for ABC emergency broadcasts
Pre-agreed family contact plan
Offline maps downloaded
Written emergency contacts
Information is a survival tool — treat it like one.
6. First Aid & Medical Readiness
Ambulances may not reach you.
At minimum, learn:
Bleeding control
Burn management
Heat illness response
Basic CPR
Carry:
Compression bandages
Burn gel/dressings
Gloves
Personal medications (with backups)
Training matters more than kit. Even a short first aid course massively increases survivability.
7. Fitness, Skills, and Rehearsal
Tactical preparedness isn’t stored in a cupboard.
Maintain:
Basic fitness (walking with a loaded pack)
Fire extinguisher use
Map reading
Stress decision-making
Run drills:
Night-time power outage
10-minute evacuation
Smoke-filled visibility simulation (safely)
Smooth is fast. Practice removes panic.
8. Community Is a Force Multiplier
Lone wolves fail faster.
Know your neighbours
Share skills and resources
Check on vulnerable people
Coordinate evacuation info
In real Australian disasters, community action saves lives before authorities arrive.
Final Thoughts
Tactical emergency preparedness isn’t about fear — it’s about respecting reality.
Australia’s environment is harsh, distances are long, and help isn’t always immediate. A calm mindset, solid planning, and practical gear can turn a crisis into a controlled problem.
Prepared beats lucky.
Calm beats chaos.
Planning beats panic.
Stay ready.
