But no list of supplies to hoard can prepare you for the fluidity of the situation when the SHTF actually happens.

You can easily get done some preps in terms of what stuff you need and how much of it, what is really important and whatnot. A lot of that knowledge is available online and some people did a very good job putting that information together.

For example, you can find info what kind water filter is best for the time when clean water is not available, you can find reviews of that filter online, you can buy the item, and you are prepared.

Same with weapons, ammo, clothes…or whatever.

Same with the amount of the things that you need, there are simple tools for calculating how much of what items you need for how much persons for how long.

Information is available, you just need to research it and buy it.

But prepping in its essence should not be the simple hoarding of items. It should not be because it might easily lead you into paranoia, and another important reason is that most of us do not have means to store everything that we might need for a longer period of time.

You have to expect the fluidity of the situation
Very often you can miss the whole point if you do not count on something that I call "the fluidity of the situation".

SHTF has at its core that "fluidity of the situation" and it can crush all your preparing or at least shock you if you do not count on it in your preps.

That fluidity means that the situation and value and importance of all your preps, solutions and plans might change all the time, and many times during the SHTF.

It sounds a bit vague but it is actually simple, and it is best to describe it is with real-life examples, particularly the example of food.

The value and importance of food changed based on a few subjects: personal needs, regional circumstances, psychological needs.