About PrepScore

Who's behind it

PrepScore was started by CC Pearce, a writer and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles.

I'm new to prepping myself. But the time has never felt more uncertain, and I want good, practical resources to be available to everyone, for free. So I built the site I wished existed when I started: begin with what actually matters, check it against official sources, and be upfront about how the site makes money.

You can find me on X at @cc5alive and at ccpearce.com.

What the site does

PrepScore is an independent site. We built it because most prep advice is either a 300-item shopping list or a doomsday fantasy. We'd rather help you get the first two weeks right: water, power, light, first aid, a way to get alerts, and a plan to leave.

The free quiz shows where you stand. The location and city guides show what tends to fail where you live. The gear guides show what to buy, how much you need and what to skip.

Where our guidance comes from

Safety guidance on this site follows official public-health and emergency-management sources, including American Red Cross, CDC, CPSC, EPA, FCC, FEMA, King County, National Weather Service, Ready.gov, Seattle Public Utilities, Stop the Bleed, USDA FSIS. Every gear guide lists the specific sources it was checked against. City guides link only to official city, county and state alert systems and evacuation-zone tools.

When official guidance and common prepper advice disagree, we go with the official guidance. Examples: storing two weeks of water rather than three days in earthquake country, never running a generator in a garage, and not taping windows before a hurricane.

How we review

• Each guide shows the month it was last reviewed. We re-check guides at least once a year and after major changes in official guidance.
• City alert links are re-checked at least yearly, because cities change their notification systems.
• Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. Check the retailer before you buy.
• When we find a mistake, we fix it and update the review date.

How we make money

We earn commissions from affiliate links, which are always labeled. They never decide what we recommend, and we point to free options first when they exist. As an Amazon Associate, PrepScore earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.

Not professional advice

This site is general information, not medical, legal or engineering advice. In an emergency, follow instructions from local officials and call 911 when lives are at risk.