The Prepping Architecture System
One of the biggest challenges with emergency preparedness is figuring out where to begin and where to stop. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by all the gear, plans, and what-ifs that come with the lifestyle. Over the years I developed what I call the Prepping Architecture System to help make sense of it all. This system allows you to visualize and organize every part of your preparedness plan. It starts with you and your everyday carry, then expands outward to include your home, vehicle, workplace, and even long-term evacuation options. It helps you see the big picture without losing sight of what matters most.
At the center of everything is you and what you carry with you every day. Your Everyday Carry, or EDC, is the foundation of preparedness because it is always on you. At a minimum your EDC should include a flashlight, a multi-tool, a way to start a fire, a small knife, and any personal items you rely on daily. No matter where you are when something happens, your EDC is your first line of defense and gives you a sense of confidence knowing you are never truly empty handed.
From you and your EDC, the next layer of preparedness is your home base. This is where the majority of your supplies are stored and for most emergencies it is the safest place to be. That is why bugging in should always be your first option if possible. At home you can gradually build up supplies based on different levels of preparedness. Level one is about having 72 hours of food, water, and essentials. Level two covers you for two weeks. Level three aims for a full month. From there you can grow to three months, then a year, and finally an indefinite, self-sustaining level. Most people start with three days and work their way up as time and resources allow.
For many people, the next layer of preparedness is their vehicle. This is what connects your home, your work, and anywhere else you regularly visit. A well-stocked vehicle becomes a kind of mobile base. In your car you might keep a get home bag, water, snacks, basic tools, first aid, weather gear, and roadside emergency supplies. The goal of your vehicle preps is to help you get home safely if something happens while you are out.
Beyond home and vehicle, you also spend time at other locations like your workplace, school, or regular offsite spots. Even here you can keep a small kit in a desk drawer, locker, or closet so you are never completely unprepared. You do not have to go overboard but even a few supplies can make a big difference.
Most of the time you can stay home during an emergency, but sometimes staying home is not safe. That is where evacuation planning comes in. The Prepping Architecture System breaks evacuation into three levels. The first is a short-term evacuation where you leave your home briefly to a safe nearby spot, such as a park, driveway, or prearranged rendezvous point. The next is a long-term evacuation where you relocate to a bug out location, like a friend’s house, a family cabin, or another place you have prepared. The third level is called INCH, which stands for “I’m Never Coming Home.” This is a last-resort scenario when none of your normal locations are safe anymore. You do not need to start here but it is worth keeping in mind as the final tier of planning.
Above all else, knowledge is the most important part of preparedness. Gear and supplies matter but they will not help much if you do not know how to use them. Skills, training, and experience are what really make you resilient. Practice your plans, learn your tools, and keep building your knowledge. This applies to everything from using a radio, to treating a wound, to knowing how to purify water.
With so many layers and categories it is easy for preparedness to turn into a cluttered mess. That is why I organize all of my supplies using what I call the Colors of Prepping. Each major category is assigned a color to make it easy to identify at a glance. Water is blue. Food is green. Shelter is brown. First aid is red. Communications and electronics are yellow. Fire is orange. Tools and tactical gear are black. Hygiene is white. Clothing and PPE are purple. Personal and miscellaneous items are pink. Cooking is gray. By keeping your supplies modular, labeled, and color-coordinated you can quickly find what you need and avoid wasting time or duplicating items you already have.
The Prepping Architecture System is not about fear or paranoia. It is about being realistic, methodical, and organized so you do not waste money, time, or energy on the wrong things. It helps you focus on what really matters: yourself and your everyday carry, your home base, your vehicle, your offsite locations, your evacuation plans, and your knowledge. Whether you are just starting out or fine-tuning an advanced system, this framework gives you a way to see the whole picture and build your preparedness step by step.
If you want to see a full walkthrough of this system and how it looks in practice, watch my video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0W-mwpWEK4
Preparedness does not have to be overwhelming. Start with what you carry today and build outward one layer at a time.