Prepper Vocabulary

Preppers (anyone making plans for self reliance in case of an emergency, disaster, or societal collapse) have their own vocabulary! We put together a prepper vocabulary list for some common terms used that may need some explanation:

SHTF= Shit Hits The Fan. Commonly used to describe the time of an emergency.

TEOTWAWKI= The End Of The World As We Know It.

Zombies= Loosely used to describe the crazy people that are not prepping that will be begging at your door when their 3 day emergency supplies run out.

BOB– Bug-Out Bag. Your emergency bag that you would grab should you be forced to evacuate your house quickly.

BOL-Bug Out Location. The place you plan to relocate to if you have a forced evacuation of your home.

BOV-Bug Out Vehicle. The vehicle in which you plan to use to get to your BOL with your BOB. 🙂

EMP-ElectroMagnetic Pulse

EDC-Everyday Carry

FAK-First Aid Kit

FEP– Family Emergency Plan

WROL– Without Rule of Law

I will continue to add to the list as I write about terms. If you have any you would like me to add, please leave a comment below!

Preparedness makes more sense now than ever.

As we move through 2026, it’s clear that the world is shifting in ways many of us can feel — even if we can’t always predict what’s next. In recent years we’ve seen global supply chain disruptions, international conflicts affecting energy and food markets, extreme weather events across multiple continents, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, economic uncertainty, inflation, and rising costs for everyday essentials.

From global pandemics to geopolitical tensions and natural disasters happening around the world, the message is the same: stability isn’t guaranteed.

Whether or not you believe we’re headed toward a major global reset, there are plenty of everyday realities that make preparedness practical — not extreme. Job loss. Health emergencies. Severe storms. Power outages. Supply shortages. Economic downturns.

Preparedness isn’t about panic.

It’s about positioning your family to respond calmly when life throws the unexpected your way.

We’ve found that the more intentional emergency planning my family does, the less I worry about the big “what ifs.” When you have food storage in place, backup plans for power and water, and practical skills to lean on, uncertainty feels manageable.

That peace of mind is powerful.

Here at Simply Preparing, we share the survival tips, preparedness strategies, and practical systems we’ve learned along the way — from pantry building and food storage to emergency planning and self-reliance skills. Our goal is not to create fear, but to create confidence.

And we hope you’ll join the conversation.

Preparedness is not a solo journey. We all bring different experiences, lessons, and perspectives to the table. Share what you’ve learned. Ask questions. Leave comments. We grow stronger and smarter together.

Now, let’s get started prepping.

Pick a post and begin reading. At the end of every article, the blog will randomly suggest three additional preparedness posts to explore. Set aside just 10 minutes a day to build your knowledge base. Small, consistent steps add up faster than you think.

Because when it comes to preparedness, we’re never truly “done” learning — and we’re never wrong for being ready.

Let’s prepare wisely.