Welcome to your go-to guide for prepping terms! Whether you’re a seasoned survivalist or just starting out, knowing the lingo will help you navigate the world of prepping like a pro. Here’s a breakdown of key terms every prepper should know:
2A
Short for the Second Amendment, this refers to the constitutional right in the United States to keep and bear arms. Many preppers consider this a critical aspect of personal security and self-defense.
550 Cord
Also known as paracord type III, this nylon cordage is lightweight yet incredibly strong, with a tensile strength of 550 pounds. It’s a versatile tool used for everything from tying down gear to creating makeshift shelters.
72-Hour Kit
A pre-packed collection of essential gear, food, and water meant to sustain you for three days during an emergency. This kit is designed for situations where you may need to evacuate or survive independently for a short period.
ALICE Pack
A military-style backpack system built for durability and heavy loads. Common among preppers, it’s often used for bug-out bags because of its modular design and rugged construction.
ATV
All-terrain vehicles are versatile and capable of traversing difficult terrain, making them an excellent option for preppers needing to transport supplies or evacuate to remote locations.
Blackout Kit
A collection of items like flashlights, candles, batteries, and backup power sources to prepare for power outages. It ensures you can safely navigate and maintain some level of comfort during a blackout.
Black Swan Event
A Black Swan Event refers to a highly unpredictable and rare event that has significant consequences. These events are difficult to foresee but can cause widespread disruption, making them a key consideration for preppers who aim to be ready for the unexpected.
Boiling Point
Boiling Point describes the critical moment in a crisis when conditions escalate rapidly, requiring immediate action. Preppers use this term to highlight the importance of staying vigilant and ready to act as situations worsen.
Bugging In
This refers to staying in your home and fortifying it during an emergency rather than evacuating. Preppers choose this option when their home is the safest or most practical place to weather the situation.
Bugging Out
Bugging out means evacuating your current location to reach a safer area when staying put isn’t viable. It often involves executing a well-thought-out bug-out plan and bringing a pre-packed bug-out bag.
Bug Out Bag (BOB)
A bug-out bag is a portable kit containing essential items for survival, such as food, water, tools, and first aid supplies. It’s designed to be grabbed quickly in an emergency evacuation scenario.
Bug Out Location (BOL)
A bug-out location is a predetermined safe spot, like a rural cabin or a family member’s house, where you plan to go in an emergency. These locations are often stocked with supplies and prepared for long-term stays.
Bug Out Plan
A detailed plan outlining how you will evacuate during an emergency. It includes routes, destinations, and necessary supplies to ensure a safe and efficient evacuation.
Bug Out Vehicle (BOV)
A bug-out vehicle is any means of transportation prepared for emergency evacuation. It can range from a daily driver to a fully-equipped 4×4 stocked with essential supplies.
Bushcraft
Bushcraft is the art of surviving in the wilderness using skills like fire-building, foraging, navigation, and shelter construction. These skills are essential for long-term survival in outdoor environments.
Cache
A cache refers to a hidden or secure stash of food, tools, or other supplies. Preppers use caches to ensure they have resources available if their primary stockpile becomes inaccessible.
CBRN
Stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear hazards. Preppers learn how to recognize and protect against these threats, which can include anything from chemical spills to nuclear fallout.
CME
A coronal mass ejection is a burst of solar wind and magnetic fields from the sun. It can disrupt electronics and power grids on Earth, making it a concern for preppers who rely on modern technology.
Collapse Fatigue
Collapse Fatigue is the mental exhaustion or burnout experienced from constant vigilance and worry about societal or economic collapse. It serves as a reminder for preppers to balance preparedness with mental health and self-care.
Combat Load
The set of gear and supplies a person carries during an emergency or survival situation. It’s optimized for weight and functionality, ensuring the individual can move efficiently while staying equipped.
Comms
Short for communications, comms refers to systems like ham radios and walkie-talkies. These tools are critical for maintaining contact during emergencies when traditional communication systems fail.
Doomsday Prepper
A doomsday prepper is someone who prepares extensively for catastrophic events, often stocking supplies and developing skills to survive long-term disruptions to society.
EDC
Everyday Carry refers to a small set of items preppers keep on them daily, such as a pocketknife, flashlight, or lighter. These tools are selected for their utility in everyday and emergency situations.
ELE
An Extinction Level Event is a catastrophic disaster capable of wiping out most life on Earth. Preppers prepare for scenarios like asteroid impacts, supervolcanoes, or nuclear war.
EMP
An Electromagnetic Pulse is a burst of energy that can disable electronic devices and infrastructure. It can be caused by natural phenomena like solar flares or man-made weapons.
Escape Route
An Escape Route is a planned and practiced path to evacuate a dangerous area quickly. Preppers map these routes in advance to ensure safety during emergencies, factoring in potential obstacles and alternate paths.
Faraday Cage/Bag
A Faraday cage or bag is a protective enclosure that shields electronics from electromagnetic radiation. It’s used to protect critical devices from EMP damage.
FIFO
First In, First Out is a system for organizing and using food stores. By consuming older items first and replacing them with newer ones, preppers ensure their supplies remain fresh.
Food Insurance / Food Storage
Food insurance refers to the long-term food storage preppers maintain to ensure their families can eat during emergencies. It’s a critical part of self-reliance.
Foraging
Foraging is the skill of gathering wild food and resources such as edible plants, nuts, and firewood. This practice is crucial in survival scenarios where traditional food sources are unavailable.
Force Multiplier
A force multiplier is any tool, skill, or tactic that significantly enhances your ability to achieve a goal. Examples include firearms, advanced training, or community teamwork.
Genny
A generator, or “genny,” is a key tool for producing electricity off-grid. It’s a vital part of many preppers’ plans for maintaining power during outages.
GHB
A Get Home Bag is a smaller bag designed to help you get home safely in the event of an emergency while you’re away. It typically contains water, snacks, and essential tools.
Go Bag
Another name for a bug-out bag, a go bag is packed with items necessary for survival and quick evacuation.
GOOD
Get Out of Dodge means evacuating a dangerous area as quickly as possible. Preppers often have plans in place for executing this in emergencies.
Golden Horde
A term for unprepared people who become desperate and may pose a threat to preppers’ supplies during a disaster. It underscores the importance of security and OPSEC.
Grid
Refers to the electrical grid, the system that provides power to homes and businesses. Preppers prepare for “grid down” scenarios where this infrastructure fails.
Grid Down
A situation where the electrical grid is non-functional, leading to blackouts. This can range from temporary outages to catastrophic collapses of power systems.
Grey Man
The grey man strategy involves blending into a crowd and not drawing attention to yourself. It’s a tactic used by preppers to avoid becoming a target in chaotic situations.
Ham Radio
Ham radios allow for long-distance communication without relying on the grid. They are essential tools for maintaining contact during disasters and emergencies.
Hardening
Hardening involves reinforcing your home or property to make it more secure against potential threats. This can include physical barriers, alarms, and other security measures.
Heirloom Seeds
Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds that produce plants capable of reproducing seeds true to the parent plant. These seeds are vital for sustainable gardening and food independence.
IFAK
An Individual First Aid Kit is a compact kit containing essential medical supplies. It’s designed for personal use and is a staple in prepping gear.
INCH
“I’m Never Coming Home” describes a scenario where a prepper evacuates with the intent of permanently leaving their current location. This plan involves extensive preparation for long-term survival. This term is also used to describe a bag (Inch Bag) that has everything they need to stay out on their own.
JIC
Just in Case refers to the mindset of being prepared for the unexpected. It’s a guiding principle for many preppers.
MAG
A Mutual Aid Group is a network of preppers who collaborate and support each other in times of need. They often share resources and skills.
MOLLE
Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment is a system that allows preppers to customize their gear by attaching pouches and accessories to backpacks or vests.
MRE
Meals Ready to Eat are vacuum-sealed, long-shelf-life foods originally designed for military use. They’re convenient, nutritious, and require no cooking.
Mutual Assistance Agreement (MAA)
An agreement among MAG members that outlines how they will support one another during emergencies. It ensures clarity and cooperation within the group.
Off-Grid
Off-grid refers to a lifestyle or tools that operate independently of public utilities. It’s a cornerstone of self-sufficiency for many preppers.
OPSEC
Operational Security involves protecting sensitive information, such as the location of your supplies or bug-out plans. It’s critical for maintaining safety and security.
Pollyanna
A Pollyanna is someone who overly relies on optimism and ignores the possibility of disasters. In the prepping community, they serve as a cautionary example.
Prepper
A prepper is someone who actively prepares for emergencies or SHTF situations by stockpiling supplies and developing survival skills.
Prepper Pantry
A prepper pantry is a carefully organized stockpile of shelf-stable food and essential supplies. It’s designed for long-term storage and easy access during emergencies.
Preps
Preps refer to the supplies, tools, and gear that preppers accumulate to stay prepared for emergencies.
PSK
A Personal Survival Kit is a compact collection of essential survival items designed to help you in harsh conditions or emergencies.
Redundancy
Redundancy is the practice of having multiple backups for essential supplies, tools, or systems. This ensures that if one resource fails, another is available, enhancing overall preparedness.
Rule of 3
The Rule of 3 is a survival guideline: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. It helps prioritize actions in survival situations.
Sheeple
Sheeple is a term for people who blindly trust authorities and remain unprepared for crises. It’s often used as a warning to take preparedness seriously.
Shelter-in-Place
This means staying in your current location and creating a safe, sustainable environment during an emergency, such as a natural disaster or chemical spill.
SHTF
“Sh*t Hits the Fan” describes a situation where societal norms break down due to disaster or emergency. It’s a common term in the prepping community.
Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness involves observing and understanding your environment to anticipate and respond to potential threats. It is a critical skill for preppers in identifying danger and making informed decisions during crises.
Survivalist
A survivalist is similar to a prepper but focuses more on learning and practicing survival skills rather than stockpiling supplies.
Tactical Advantage
Tactical Advantage refers to the strategic use of resources, positioning, or skills to gain superiority in a survival situation. Preppers focus on creating these advantages to ensure safety and efficiency.
TEOTWAWKI
The End of the World as We Know It refers to catastrophic events that lead to the collapse of society. Preppers plan extensively for such scenarios.
Triage
Triage is the process of prioritizing medical care based on the severity of injuries. It’s essential in survival and emergency medical situations.
Triple Threat
Triple Threat describes a scenario involving three simultaneous crises, such as natural disasters, economic collapse, and infrastructure failure. Preppers prioritize diverse strategies to mitigate the compounded risks of such events.
Two is One, One is None
This prepping principle emphasizes redundancy: always have a backup for critical tools and supplies to ensure reliability.
Victory Garden
Victory Gardens are home or community gardens historically grown during wartime to address food shortages. Today, they represent a sustainable solution for preppers aiming to grow their own food.
Water Brick
Water bricks are stackable, durable containers designed for storing and transporting water. They are highly practical for preppers focusing on water security.
Water Storage
Water storage refers to the practice of collecting and keeping water in containers for future use. Preppers focus on methods like storing in barrels, tanks, or water bricks to ensure a clean and reliable supply during emergencies. Proper water storage includes regular rotation and treatment to prevent contamination and maintain quality over time.
Water Purification
Water Purification encompasses methods like boiling, filtering, and chemical treatments to make water safe for drinking. It is a cornerstone of survival, ensuring access to clean and safe hydration.
Wild Edibles
Wild edibles are plants, fruits, and roots found in nature that are safe for human consumption. Learning to identify them is a valuable survival skill.
WROL
Without Rule of Law describes a state of anarchy where law enforcement and government cease to function, leading to chaos.
YOYO
You’re On Your Own refers to situations where external help is unavailable, requiring total self-reliance.
Zombie
A playful term for desperate, unprepared people who may turn to theft or violence during a disaster. They highlight the importance of preparedness and security.
Zombie Apocalypse
A lighthearted term often used to describe extreme, chaotic, and unpredictable disaster scenarios. It’s also a popular metaphor for worst-case preparedness planning.
