The Common SensePractical PrepperPreparedness · Survival · Self-RelianceThe Common Sense Practical Prepper home
Free Downloads

Resources

Every checklist, guide, and template here is free to download and share. Print them, fill them in, and get your household a little more prepared this week.

Checklist

72-Hour Kit Checklist

The core items to get any household through the first three days of almost any emergency.

  • One gallon of water per person, per day (3 days minimum)
  • Three days of no-cook, familiar food + manual can opener
  • Flashlight, headlamp, and spare batteries
  • First-aid kit and a week of any required medications
  • Phone battery bank and charging cables
Download free
Guide

Two-Week Pantry Builder

A slow-and-steady plan to build two weeks of familiar food without a big shopping trip.

  • Pick 8–10 shelf-stable staples your family already eats
  • Buy two or three extras of a few of them each grocery run
  • Shelve new items behind old ones (first in, first out)
  • Add water storage: two weeks of drinking water minimum
  • Include comfort foods and a way to cook without power
Download free
Checklist

Home Security Layers Checklist

Make your home a harder target with practical layers — no fortress required.

  • Trim landscaping that hides doors and windows
  • Motion lighting at entry points
  • Reinforced strike plates and longer screws on exterior doors
  • Window and sliding-door blocks or pins
  • A dog, a sign, or the appearance of occupancy
Download free
Template

Family Emergency Plan Template

Fill-in-the-blank plan so everyone in the house knows the meeting spot, contacts, and roles.

  • Out-of-area contact everyone can call or text
  • Two meeting spots: one near home, one outside the neighborhood
  • Who grabs the kids, the pets, the go-bag, the documents
  • Utility shutoff locations (gas, water, electric)
  • Medical needs and medications for each person
Download free
Guide

Go-Bag Loadout Guide

A realistic bug-out bag that you can actually carry — organized by priority, not by fantasy.

  • Water + filter or purification method
  • High-calorie, no-cook food for 24–72 hours
  • Shelter layer: rain gear, emergency bivy, warm layer
  • First aid, medications, hygiene basics
  • Navigation: paper map of your area and a compass
Download free
Checklist

Power Outage Readiness Checklist

Everything to check before and during an extended power outage, from fridge to comms.

  • Battery/solar power station sized for your must-run devices
  • Coolers and a plan for the fridge/freezer
  • Non-electric heat or cooling and the fuel to run it
  • Hand-crank or battery radio for information
  • Fuel stored safely and rotated regularly
Download free
The Weekly Prep

One practical step, every week

A short note from me each week — the new episode, one thing you can actually do to be a little more prepared, and the occasional listener story. No spam, no fear-mongering. Just reply anytime; I read every email.

Free download: 10-Step Home Preparedness Checklist when you subscribe.

Or follow along on X

Follow @prep_podcast