How to Assess Gaps In Your Prepping

Print this or copy it to your notes—time to find what’s still missing:

Prepping isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and awareness. You don’t want to discover your water filter’s broken when the tap runs dry.

It’s important to audit your preps; gear, skills and anything else. To make sure you’re as prepared as you can be.

Gap-Finding Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Do I have enough water and ways to filter/store it?
• Is my food storage varied and realistic for my family?
• What would we do for light, heat, and cooking?
• Are my skills keeping up with my gear?
• What happens if someone gets injured or sick?
• Can I communicate or get information if the grid goes down?
• What’s my backup for backup plans?
• Is my emergency disaster plan up-to-date?

Supplies Check

• Do I have 30 days of water (2 gals/person/day) and a backup filtration method?
• Do I have 30 days of food (easy to cook, shelf-stable, familiar)?
• Is my cooking method usable without electricity (with off-grid methods)?
• Do I have reliable off-grid lighting (flashlights, headlamps, candles, solar lights)?
• Do I have a heat source for cold weather or emergencies?
• Is my first aid kit fully stocked and up-to-date?
• Have I tested my gear (stove, radio, generator, etc.) in the last month?

Skills & Knowledge

• Do I know how to purify water without electricity?
• Can I cook a full meal using my backup method?
• Do I know how to treat basic injuries or illnesses?
• Have I practiced a blackout drill or no-power challenge?

Everyday Need

• Do I have enough toilet paper, soap, hygiene products for 30 days?
• Do I have any comfort/morale items (books, games, snacks, coffee)?
• Have I stocked pet food or baby supplies, if applicable?
• Do I have enough batteries, power banks, or charging options?

Information & Communication

• Do I have a working emergency radio (battery or crank)?
• Can I contact others or get info if cell towers go down?
• Do I have a printed copy of emergency contacts and plans?

Backups for Your Backup

• Do I have alternatives if Plan A fails? (e.g. multiple ways to cook or light your home)
• Have I identified a local bug-out location or family meeting point?
• Are all important documents stored safely and backed up?

When we start asking, “what if” questions like these, we can start working through the gaps in our preps.

One of the absolute best ways to find gaps in your preps is to run mock drills.

• Do a bug out drill.
• Do a lights out drill.
• Complete a fire drill.
• Go cook a meal with your off-grid methods.
• Spend a day drinking just from your water storage.

Find the gaps in your preps now before needing them during a real emergency or natural disaster.