When it comes to preparing we like to think we have it all figured out. Bug out bag…check. Food storage…check. Water storage and filters…check. But what do we do when it comes to our family and loved ones who what nothing to do with prepping and think we are wasting our time?

This has been a hot topic lately for Academy Members and members of the Facebook group, so first I would like to say thanks to everyone for giving Lisa and I the idea to talk and write about building a preparedness binder for the non-preppers in your life, and some possible ways to help get them more interested in preparedness.

Building a Preparedness Binder

First let me explain what I mean when I say building a preparedness binder for the non-prepared. This is different than the typical preparedness binder we have all heard about. If you don’t know what these are Mom With a Prep has a great article about what an emergency binder is.

Honestly we haven’t given this much thought because Lisa and I are almost empty nesters, but putting a binder together for family members who don’t yet see the importance of preparing is actually a great idea. This means putting things together to make it as easy as possible for them if they find themselves in an emergency situation and you’re not around.

Lisa and I are both on board with prepping, but you might be in a situation where you are the lone prepper in the house. I would be willing to bet that there are more of you than there are of us.

What would you do if you were away at work and something happened at home and there was no way for you to get there when your family needed help?

Or worse yet, what if there was no way to communicate with your family at all?

Here are a few ideas that Lisa and I talked about in the podcast this week. If you have anything that you do to help the helpless family members in your life let us know in the comments below.

SPP110 Helping the Helpless

Make it as easy as Possible

In the podcast Lisa and I said this should be like writing a “prepping Book for Dummies” although you might not want to actually call them dummies. We need to connect all the dots for them, and we need to make sure we don’t take anything for granted.

I call this “the curse of knowledge” because just because something seems simple and obvious to us, it might not to someone who has never learned about it. They might not be able to get from point A to point C in your instructions if you bypass point B.

Where is Everything Located?

If you don’t know where the flashlight is, don’t expect them to know. I need to take my own advice on this one because I am horrible about putting things back where they go.

Make sure and include where everything is in your instructions, and make sure they are actually there if and when they need them.  This is also another reason it’s a good idea to have emergency kits put together. If you have a lights out kit put together with flashlights, batteries, glow sticks etc it makes finding everything much easier.

What do They Depend on you for?

Before you even start the actual binder get a piece of paper and brainstorm about what they depend on you for. For example; instead of getting a phone call from them saying…

“hey dad (or mom) it’s raining really hard and the light just went out, what do I do?”

Instead of saying “go here and grab that, then get this from here and don’t forget to get that too.