Modern Media has convinced the average person that Preppers are out of touch nuts whom prepare for impossible or unlikely end of times situations. In reality a majority of preppers are what I call Practical peppers.
They know disasters can strike their states, their communities, and their families. A Natural disaster like Tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc, or personal ‘disasters’ like job losses, family deaths, and even scrapped knees are somethings you have to prepare for. Basics of prepping are just as simple as first aid kits and food and water in your home for more than 2 days.
The US Government encourages a 3 day kit, and this is basically the beginning of practical prepping. 3 days though is just a beginning to what most people need in a disaster situation. Hurricanes and Blizzards are some of the best examples possible widespread and prolonged situations where 3 days might not be enough. So many people prep, they might not think of themselves as peppers, but they plan and prep for long periods where they will not be able to get to a store, have access to public utilities, and lack access to safe or passable roads. These are practical preppers.
It's not a long journey from basic practical prepping to TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) or SHTF (‘Stuff’ hit the fan) prepping. Basically you just keep adding time to how long your provisions can sustain your family. You keep adding as much time as you think that it will take for things to begin to get back to a form of normalcy or sometimes you become fully sustainable on your own.
So go forth and prep, prep to the point you feel secure in you and your family’s future.