There are a lot of terms that you may see when reading various preparedness forums or blogs or even listening to podcasts. As someone new to preparedness, it might be hard to understand what all of these terms mean in light of the information overload you may feel. For others, a refresher is always good! Here are some of the most common prepping phrases you may come across online.
Common Prepping Phrases
SHTF (Sh*t Hits The Fan): This term describes a scenario where things go completely wrong, leading to significant disruption and chaos. It could refer to a wide range of events such as natural disasters, economic collapse, civil unrest, other emergencies where normal life is severely disrupted, or to some people even total societal collapse.
TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World as We Know It): This phrase is used to describe a situation where a catastrophic event leads to a fundamental and irreversible change in the way society operates. It implies a long-term or permanent shift in daily life, often associated with apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic conditions. This is “the big one”.
Prepping for Tuesday: This term is a more practical and less dramatic approach to preparedness. It refers to preparing for more common and likely events that can disrupt daily life, such as power outages, job loss, or minor natural disasters. The idea is to be ready for manageable and foreseeable emergencies rather than extreme doomsday scenarios. This is the category the vast majority of preppers fall into, although as we know it’s not often the most vocal ones.
BOB (Bug-Out Bag): A bag packed with essential items to survive for at least 72 hours, meant to be grabbed quickly in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation.
BOL (Bug-Out Location): A safe place, typically remote, where preppers plan to retreat in case of a major disaster or crisis.
INCH Bag (I’m Never Coming Home Bag): A more extensive version of a bug-out bag, designed for long-term survival when returning home is not an option.
EDC (Everyday Carry): The essential items one carries on a daily basis, which may include tools, first aid supplies, and self-defense items, to handle everyday emergencies.
SIP (Shelter in Place): A strategy where one stays put and secures their current location rather than evacuating, typically used during events like pandemics, chemical spills, or severe weather.
WROL (Without Rule of Law): A scenario where normal law and order have broken down, often associated with civil unrest or major disasters. Usually associated with SHTF and TEOTWAWKI.
GHB (Get Home Bag): A bag containing items needed to get home safely if caught away from home during an emergency.
MRE (Meals Ready to Eat): Packaged meals that are easy to store and prepare, often used by the military and preppers for long-term food storage.
FIFO (First In, First Out): A method for rotating supplies to ensure that the oldest items are used first, maintaining the freshness and usability of stored goods.
OPSEC (Operational Security): Practices to protect sensitive information and plans from being discovered by others, ensuring the safety and security of one’s preparations.
LTS (Long-Term Storage): Food and supplies that are stored for extended periods, often with a shelf life of several years, to be used in case of long-term emergencies.
FAK (First Aid Kit): A collection of medical supplies and equipment used to provide basic medical care in an emergency.
PACE Plan (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency): A planning framework that ensures there are multiple layers of plans and backup options for critical tasks or needs.
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These common prepping phrases help those in the preparedness community communicate effectively about a variety of potential emergencies and survival scenarios with some common phrases. Sometimes they’re cringe, sure, but they help speak a common language given some of the common things a lot of us talk about all the time.
Now that you’re armed with a wealth of preparedness acronyms, you should be well skilled to read our other preparedness content and the content from our daily briefs!
There are lots of other great resources out there like this article to learn more terms.
