About Us

I’ve watched dozens, if not hundreds of apocalyptic, end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it movies. Natural disasters, plagues, alien invasions, and animals running amok are among my favorites in the genre. I fell in love with zombies when I saw Night of the Living Dead in my formative, pre-teen years. Throw in a badass werewolf or charismatic vampire and I’m set! Joking aside, my interest in emergency management and prepping were an offshoot of my security management career. At work one day, I met a guy who was into search and rescue and that conversation set me on the road to emergency management.

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I moved to Chicago in August of 2002 and the apartment building I lived in experienced frequent fire alarm activations, all of them false. One night the building was quickly evacuated, and I was standing on the sidewalk with nothing more than the clothes I was wearing. I knew in that instant that I had to do more to keep myself safe and ensure that I’d be able to quickly bounce back after adversity.  

 

My intention was to volunteer for the Chicago CERT, Community Emergency Response Team, but all the slots on the team had been filled. Luckily, a few years later, I was able to circle back and join the Chicago CERT. That led me to volunteer with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. The door quickly opened to working there as the project coordinator for a community outreach program. A buddy who worked there mentioned that one of the local college’s EMT classes were starting so I quickly enrolled and spent roughly thirteen years as an EMT.

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I hold degrees in emergency management and public safety. I was an Adjunct Instructor in Homeland Security and Emergency Management at a local two-year college. I led courses in Intelligence Analysis, Disaster Psychology, Disaster Response and Recovery, and Transportation and Border Security. Teaching reminded me that people don't need more fear or misinformation. They need someone to explain things clearly and tell them where to start. 

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That's what Hidden Cache Prepper is for. Hidden Cache Prepper is my vehicle for introducing everyday people to the world of prepping and preparedness for real households. That means the ones with prescriptions, CPAP machines, toddlers, aging parents, anxious teens and a dog that refuses to get in the car.

 

Most preparedness advice focuses on a healthy adult with a truck and a garage. If that's you, you're welcome here, too. Hidden Cache Prepper recognizes that we all live differently due to a host of factors. The plan designed for a healthy thirty-something, single male wouldn't address the specific needs of a retired couple in their seventies. 

 

Nothing here is medical advice. When it comes to your health, I'll point you to the questions to ask your doctor, pharmacist, therapist or vet.   

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One more thing. I'm an avid outdoorsman, but I claim no expertise. Orienteering, bushcraft and wilderness skills are things that I'm learning, just as you're here to learn how to become ready, resourceful and resilient. What I do know is from years in the field, and in the classroom. 

 

Michael Witherspoon, CHEP

Founder, Hidden Cache Prepper