This is a phenomenon common in people new to emergency preparedness but afflicts the more experienced prepper as well. There are many areas of focus with disaster readiness, each of them clamoring for our attention.
Food
Water
Shelter
Medical/first aid
Defense
Education
Alternative energy
Hygiene
Special needs for children, elderly, and pets
The list goes on and on. Naturally, there is no way we can give equal attention to each category or skill set, at least not all at the same time. Therefore there must be some degree of prioritization that comes into play. However, the problem lies in concentrating all or most of our attention on just one aspect and forgetting about the rest.
For example, it sounds like a stereotype but there are indeed "survivalists" out there who have spent several thousands of dollars on firearms and ammunition, yet are relying on perhaps one small box of canned food to see them through a crisis. Make no mistake, guns are indeed cool and "sexy" but I'm sure you see the problem with this plan. Bullets just don't taste that good, no matter how much salt you put on them. It is just as bad to focus on acquiring several pallets of dehydrated food but neglect to stock up on basic medicines and first aid items.
The best survival plans are well-rounded. Obviously unless you are independently wealthy, you need to diversify a bit and this can make it take longer to build up a decent stockpile of supplies. Buy a little at a time and you'll be surprised at how quickly it will all add up in your pantry.
Do something every day to add to your preparedness. One day fill up a few empty and clean 2L soda bottles with water and a couple drops of bleach. The next day, when you go grocery shopping, pick up a few extra cans of vegetables on sale. The day after that, if you have firearms, pick up a box of ammunition.
The idea is to remove the blinders and see the whole picture, rather than just a narrow field of vision. As a family progresses through disaster planning, it is perfectly acceptable to tend toward specialization in some areas. For instance, extensive garden plans will naturally entail acquiring and stockpiling vast amounts of heirloom seeds, garden implements, possibly even bags of soil. However, at the same time, this family should also set aside canned food, bottled water, and medical supplies.
At one time or another, every prepper and survivalist falls into this trap. The trick is to recognize when it happens and work toward getting out of the rut.
Jim Cobb is a recognized disaster readiness expert. He has studied survivalism and emergency preparedness for almost thirty years. In addition to this study, Jim has acquired extensive practical knowledge by living what he teaches. He is the owner of http://www.survivalweekly.com. In addition to writing on these topics, Jim is also available for speaking engagements. He was recently a featured speaker at the 2011 Survival & Preparedness Conference in Dallas, Texas. His common sense and down to earth approach to "prepping" have garnered him a substantial following. Jim is a columnist for Survivalist Magazine, writing "The Frugal Prepper." He is also a regular guest on the Prepper Broadcast Radio Network.
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