Evenodds20,
The first thing I would do is save up some cash. Ideally you want $1,000 or more, but even a couple of hundred to start with is better than none. This is cash in hand, not in the bank account or stock account. In an emergency lees than SHTF you need cash for repairs, travel, etc. Cash gives you flexibility and ability to respond.
Considering you have firearms and ammo, the next thing to get is food. Easiest is just build up to where you have a months worth of whatever you eat now but simplified. If you eat out or buy frozen a lot then start learning and getting used to cooking from bulk and canned goods. You don’t need any special storage stuff for this. As you run out of things on your kitchen shelves, pull from your in-house grocery (garage shelf, spare bedroom closet, plastic tubs. This could be some basics like canned meats and vegies, soups, rice, beans, flour, salt, sugar, oil, extra yeast in the refrigerator/freezer, etc. You pull from your backup pantry supplies during the week as you run out in the kitchen. Then when you shop put the new food into the backup pantry/grocery. After you have one month of ackup pantry running smooth, then you get get into longer term storage.
You also need to be storing some water and finding ways to save water. In an emergency your hot water heater can give you 50 gals or so of water, but turn it OFF before draining. You can start by just saving tap water and a few drops of pure bleach in left over 2 liter pop bottles. Or get a couple of 5 gal water cans from any sporting goods store in the RV section. You can save a lot of water in an emergency by not flushing the toilet (if the water supply is down). All you need is a 5 gal bucket, lid that you can cut a hole in (or buy a $12 Luggable Loo seat for it), kitchen trash bags, some kitty litter to cut the smell and absorb liquids. You can add some one gallon ziploc bags to stuff the partially filled trash bags into for the duration and later disposal. Later on, get some water filters. Compact and gives you a chance to quickly sanitize a lot of drinking water from questionable sources. Backpacker water filters are good or work up to a Berkey counter top filter (no hand pumping).
So at this point you have some cash, food, water, and firearms to get you through 1-4 weeks of emergencies. Might want to consider getting some emergency lighting and basic tools. Candles are relatively cheap and very handy when the power goes out. One of the most practical lights I have is a keychain Photon LED (about $6-8). Very tough, very bright and you can dim it for longer life. Many ultralight backpackers use this as their ONLY flashlight. Takes two 2016 watch batteries and last a long time. But you also want at least one headlamp and a very bright flashlight in the 80-200 lumen range. I have a fancy backpacking headlamp, but I found some of the RayoVac and Energizer brand headlamps at Home Depot are very good values. Great for working outside in the dark, or for inside when the power is out. Great for task work. A very bright flashlight like a MagLite 3 D-cell LED, Fenix CR123 type LED etc are great for car breakdowns at night in the rain, investigating noises at night, etc.
You want some basic knives. They are handy every day but especially in emergencies when you are cutting plastic sheathing, ropes, wires and such in a hurry. I would try to get a few basic ones:
- Box cutter with lots of blades (cheap and excellent for many household tasks that you don’t want to damage or dull your carry knife on.
- Sturdy folding knife. I like the Benchmade Griptillian, but the Spyderco Endura is a classic.
- Sturdy fixed blade sheath knife of 4-5 inches. Could be a Buck hunting knife (I like the Vanguard), Cold Steel, smaller version of KaBar. In addition to, or in place of if cost is a factor, then the Swedish Mora knives are extremely sharp and handy size. Not as thick bladed and tough as hunting knives but can do a lot. You can get the Frost brand Mora in stainless steel for like $15.
- Multitool if you can afford it, otherwise just have some pliers and screw drivers handy to carry around in an emergency for doing repairs.
You should have basic car repair and home repair tools. Sounds obvious but many people nowadays don’t even have a set of good screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, etc. If you don’t do simple repairs around the home and car now, start learning to do them and you will discover what tools you need. Also have basic things like electricians tape, duct tape, steel wire, wood glue, a couple of tarps, some rope and twine, etc. BTW, do you have gunsmith tools? Need a set of pin punches, brass hammer, gunsmith screwdriver bit set, any specialty ones for your firearms, cleaning equipment, etc. You can buy gun oil/cleaner and grease, or for cheaper get a qt. of Mobil 1 or Dexron Auto transmission fluid (lubricating), some mineral spirits (solvent) or kerosene, and some lithium grease from the auto parts store.
As you work up to this basic level you will probaly start developing ideas for next steps as you imagine what type of emergencies you are prepping for, what those conditions will be like, what you will need/want to do in response, how long it might last, and what you will need to get by.