Congratulations on completing Week 1! With your personal preparedness plan in place, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start building the foundation of your emergency supplies. An emergency kit is your first line of defense in any crisis, ensuring you have the essentials when you need them most. Let’s get started on this crucial step in our journey.

Weekly Challenge:

• Week Two Focus: Assemble a Basic Emergency Kit.
• Task: Gather essential items such as water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, and any necessary personal items (like medications or important documents). Aim to cover at least 72 hours of basic needs.
• Remember: We aren’t trying to do it all at once but everyone should have 72 hours ready to go!
• Tip: Use a backpack or durable container to store your kit, making it easy to grab and go if needed. Check expiration dates on food and batteries to ensure your supplies are up to date.

We Want to challenge you a little more this week so look at what we tossed in.

Resource: Check out Ready, Set, Prepare for an outline style book to help you organize by DJ Cooper

Extra Item: Purchase $5.00 in Extra supplies for your prepper’s pantry this week.

Skill Acquisition: Look up how to create portable firestarters. Extra Credit: Test it!!!

What did I learn this week? I am making my own sourdough starter. I will keep you posted on this process as we progress.

Prepper Event Spotlight: Don't Forget to come hang out at—

Upcoming Event: 2025 Bushcraft Homestead & Preparedness Expo

•    Date: March 21 & 22, 2025
•    Location: London, Kentucky
•    Why You Should Attend: Networking, new skills, and insider tips! I'll also be attending and would love to connect.

Learn more

What's New with DJ - Author of the Apocalypse

Prepper and survival fiction is not only good entertainment but also helps the reader explore preparedness from a scenario perspective.

One of my fiction prepper survival fiction stories is part of the Ravaged Skies Series featuring the works from 15 bestselling authors writing prepper and survival fiction.

Until next week when we look at the next challenge. Join us on Facebook to chat about your challenges

Find the full list of challenges week by week on The Thrive Self-Reliance Initiative website

Thanks for reading

DJ Cooper