Interested in a serious discussion. (Survival/Prepping)The time may be upon us, are you ready?

[GOPerfect]

Your electricity and water just went out, and will be out for at least a month.

Grocery stores have closed, and traveling is dangerous.

Are you prepared enough to survive?

I mean, how ready and are you really ready? Mentally, physically?

Medicines that are needed? Supplies? Good with the people in your area?

 

[GOPerfect]

I am more ready on some fronts down here, and lacking in other areas.

My new area, better people in the neighborhood. Less people.

More options to join up with like minded people.

When we moved, I donated a lot of stored food to food banks instead of moving everything.

I have a bit of everything, while lacking in stuff, if this makes sense.

I have a couple of generators, but they are loud. I would like to get a slor capable inverter generator. Have to learn more about them.

 

[96coal449]

Good on you to be as prepared as possible. You can never be ready enough.

I'm far from it. I live in a house full of parasitic sheeple. They haven't a clue. My ''wife'' does but prefers to hide under the "everything's going to be fine blanket." I'm tired of "babbling'' to them and have long since stopped. When everything does fall apart, they are not my responsibility.

I have survived with little to next to nothing. So yea, I guess I'm ready. LOL

 

[FP1201]

Your electricity and water just went out, and will be out for at least a month.

Grocery stores have closed, and traveling is dangerous.

Are you prepared enough to survive?

I mean, how ready and are you really ready? Mentally, physically?

Medicines that are needed? Supplies? Good with the people in your area?

You're never as ready as you think, and what happens isn't going to be what you prepared for, that's what the OODA Loop is for...hunker down if you can, bug out if you can't.

 

[GOPerfect]

You're never as ready as you think, and what happens isn't going to be what you prepared for, that's what the OODA Loop is for...hunker down if you can, bug out if you can't.

True facts. Just curious how upto date people are. Scary events may be on the horizon...

 

[RedBreast21]

I got plenty of whiskey.

On a serious note, everyone should have 3 months of supplies per person food and medicine. Learn field sanitation, collection of water, purification of it and other real basic skills that our ancestors used everyday to live. Have critical manuals or other information printed out. If that isn't possible store them on HD's that are EMP protected with a computer to connect and access. Check that every month. Solar charging for small batteries and of course a SW radio at a minimum. HAM radios are great as well as you can hop on local repeater networks and keep contact with those in you area. Keep noise to a minimum.

Most important is to have a plan with neighbors. Safety in numbers.

Fire fights will only attract people so put your John Wick mentality in a safe place. No good to your family dead. Think stealth and grey man.

 

[Uzi]

I think to give any answers one needs many, many more details about the hypothetical situation they're going to be involved in. Is this localized or nationwide? Are there any other businesses in the area that are able to remain open and still use cash as a form of payment with the electricity out? What time of year is it?
What was believed to happen to cause the outage? Was it a storm or a terrorist attack? These things are pretty important in determining how you move forward. lol

 

[spat]

Your electricity and water just went out, and will be out for at least a month.

Grocery stores have closed, and traveling is dangerous.

Are you prepared enough to survive?

I mean, how ready and are you really ready? Mentally, physically?

Medicines that are needed? Supplies? Good with the people in your area?

We are on a well, and have off grid capable solar.

We would need to conserve power, in the summer the solar doesn't quite cover all our normal usage, but it would not be that uncomfortable. Maybe set the AC at 85 instead of 75. Be careful about hot water usage, etc.

Water is good indefinitely as long as we have power, and even if something happened to the solar, could run the well pump off a generator, and 5 gals of gas would go a *very* long time doing that.

Food we would be fine for a month, a few minor inconveniences like no fresh milk, but being stuck drinking black coffee isn't exactly the apocalypse. We'd still be grilling steaks for dinner if it was only a month.

Don't have a lot of close neighbors, but we're on good terms with the ones closest to us, and being the only ones in the area with a well, a lot of good will could be generated essentially for free for us.

Also, to call our location "defensible" might be an understatement. Alone it could be tough to hold, but with a few neighbors helping, it would take heavy, crew served weapons to dislodge us.

I do really need to get going on the garden though. Some of the neighbors have them, so trading water for food would be easy. It would be nice to have some livestock too. The rancher who owns the property next door rounded up his cattle and took them a few months ago, so there went my long term beef stash and milk source if S suddenly HTF.

 

[CNYJohn]

I'm going full ass Viking
Raping and pillaging
Now that you guys have advertised what you got, better put the steel plates up over windows and doors...........
I'll run a semi thru your house to get what you got.............


Let's just say I'm a country boy and country boys can survive.
I ain't telling nobody what I got

 

[Jmac00]

We are on a well, and have off grid capable solar.

We would need to conserve power, in the summer the solar doesn't quite cover all our normal usage, but it would not be that uncomfortable. Maybe set the AC at 85 instead of 75. Be careful about hot water usage, etc.

Water is good indefinitely as long as we have power, and even if something happened to the solar, could run the well pump off a generator, and 5 gals of gas would go a *very* long time doing that.

Food we would be fine for a month, a few minor inconveniences like no fresh milk, but being stuck drinking black coffee isn't exactly the apocalypse. We'd still be grilling steaks for dinner if it was only a month.

Don't have a lot of close neighbors, but we're on good terms with the ones closest to us, and being the only ones in the area with a well, a lot of good will could be generated essentially for free for us.

Also, to call our location "defensible" might be an understatement. Alone it could be tough to hold, but with a few neighbors helping, it would take heavy, crew served weapons to dislodge us.

I do really need to get going on the garden though. Some of the neighbors have them, so trading water for food would be easy. It would be nice to have some livestock too. The rancher who owns the property next door rounded up his cattle and took them a few months ago, so there went my long term beef stash and milk source if S suddenly HTF.

FUCK, Im coming to your place if the SHTF. If I can't make to your place, I have friends in eastern Tennessee.

But being in a completely self contained RV, all I need is a 70 gal diesel fuel fill and Im GTG for months. And, being four wheel drive, I can get pretty deep in the woods

 

[Depick]

I’m surrounded by gun hating liberals. If I don’t have it and need it getting it won’t be a problem.

 

[FP1201]

True facts. Just curious how upto date people are. Scary events may be on the horizon...

A few years back I came to the conclusion "you can't do it all by yourself for very long" Sure you can go Lone Wolf for a little while, and yes there is always the exception, the exceptional one, but to not just survive but to thrive you have to have others to help, to supply their talents, their supplies.

Tests: I came to the North Country by orders from Uncle Sam in '87 and having lived, trained, and endured Ice Storms, Blizzards, power outages, water disruption, intense heat, lethal sub-zero temperatures, and assholes from Montreal, we've come out stronger in the knowledge that we'll get through, we know enough to have Water in storage and a source if depleted (shallow wells aren't exactly optimal, but they are cheap and easy) Portable Generators (not a practical long term solution) Dry and non-perishable Food (gotta rotate it out and try not to have too much of any one thing) and SKILLS: there's nothing wrong with being a "Jack of all Trades" in fact a Renaissance Man SHOULD be able to do lots of things; you needn't be a Master Automotive Tech to clean the carburetor in your Generator because it's clogged up, I'm too old and out of shape for physical combat, but I AM awake and alert at 0300 and can stand guard without nodding off, and after a late morning nap, I can load a few hundred rounds while someone else fixes Lunch...get my point?
There will always be "givers and takers" and should we truly be thrown into a long term survival situation things WILL turn very ugly (hunger and fear will drive people to the unthinkable) and we all are subject to a reflection into the abyss.
While Fiction, I highly recommend reading William R. Forstchen's series of Books not for the entertainment value, but for the insights to consider.

Amazon.com

There are really just a few things we need to be civilized and not just "surviving" and if you can obtain and keep functioning, things will improve.

I would like to point out a little history: When settlers arrived on the Mayflower they essentially built a co-dependant survival colony where everyone had to work, help, and contribute, but the problems soon arrived with "some Pigs are more equal than others" (Communism/Socialism) so you cannot depend on your little survival cult/community its entirety as eventually it succumbs to people believing themselves to be the chosen one or that someone else will provide for them while they do their own thing.

 

[FP1201]

I'm going full ass Viking
Raping and pillaging
Now that you guys have advertised what you got, better put the steel plates up over windows and doors...........
I'll run a semi thru your house to get what you got.............


Let's just say I'm a country boy and country boys can survive.
I ain't telling nobody what I got

You do know it was a Basement that stopped the killdozer?
There are lots, I dare say most of the Houses could be easily smashed/destroyed, but in doing so you loose all but what can easily be salvaged.
One Man behind a fortified wall/emplacement CAN inflict considerable, lethal damage.
Appearances can be deceiving: Where I live there are active duty Field Grade Officers living with their Families, Retired Soldiers, LEO's, and even gun loving shit-heads like me that might taken out by luck, 'course your luck might run out before the party even starts.

 

[Brawny71]

Add: Ham and shortwave, reloading knowledge and materials, small circle of trade partners.

 

[Celt]

Not nearly prepared enough. With 6 mouths to feed in my house its expensive. I also have been wanting to do a simple garden but just havent found the time. Its sad to say, but when shtf it wont be as easy or "fun" as some would hope. Everyone has well water here, i have a stream on my property, and there is a lake less than a half mile away so Im not concerned about water. With 6 of us in the house and my youngest going on 14 soon we could do ok with security, but in my opinion a group of 10-12 well rounded individuals is kind of a minimum you need to defend a well stocked home base.

Im a family man with younger kids so having dependents forces me to have a different mind set.

 

[spat]

FUCK, Im coming to your place if the SHTF. If I can't make to your place, I have friends in eastern Tennessee.

But being in a completely self contained RV, all I need is a 70 gal diesel fuel fill and Im GTG for months. And, being four wheel drive, I can get pretty deep in the woods

Your spot is always available.

Though in SHTF you might want to park at the top of the driveway

Your presence would certainly ease the defense issue. Water and power in trade for a competent set of eyes standing a watch is a pretty fair trade IMHO.

 

[spat]

I’m surrounded by gun hating liberals. If I don’t have it and need it getting it won’t be a problem.

 

[Nevar]

Not saying what I have stored. Only 2 ways off L.I. plane or Boat. I don't like planes. Used to have A great Neighborhood thing. But all moved or died. Now have A limited dependable number. Lots of food and Ways to cook . No in-laws coming solved that shit awhile back. Wife has 4 sisters. Oh we are coming to your house. OK what are you brining ? [ meaning food ,Ammo, Firearm's. ] The kids and dog . NOPE.
Lets face it be honest. We all have friends or neighbors that do nothing, hate Guns but will be knocking on our doors.
Be safe.

 

[FP1201]

Not saying what I have stored. Only 2 ways off L.I. plane or Boat. I don't like planes. Used to have A great Neighborhood thing. But all moved or died. Now have A limited dependable number. Lots of food and Ways to cook . No in-laws coming solved that shit awhile back. Wife has 4 sisters. Oh we are coming to your house. OK what are you brining ? [ meaning food ,Ammo, Firearm's. ] The kids and dog . NOPE.
Lets face it be honest. We all have friends or neighbors that do nothing, hate Guns but will be knocking on our doors.
Be safe.

That's something I seldom see discussed: Most who can Fly are limited to small aircraft with very limited space and weight, as well as actually having access to a Plane.
Boats are wide open and might be easier to acquire should the need arise...being on the Great Lakes and/or the St. Lawrence gives you plenty of fresh water and lots of places to lay low out of sight, there are logistical problems with Boats, so it's not a panacea, but could well be a viable option to your get the hell out of Dodge plan.

 

[Depick]

That's something I seldom see discussed: Most who can Fly are limited to small aircraft with very limited space and weight, as well as actually having access to a Plane.
Boats are wide open and might be easier to acquire should the need arise...being on the Great Lakes and/or the St. Lawrence gives you plenty of fresh water and lots of places to lay low out of sight, there are logistical problems with Boats, so it's not a panacea, but could well be a viable option to your get the hell out of Dodge plan.

If you had the ability to fly and the access to a plane or helicopter that would be a game changer. Aside from military intervention you would be pretty safe.

 

[GOPerfect]

If you had the ability to fly and the access to a plane or helicopter that would be a game changer. Aside from military intervention you would be pretty safe.

Can't remember, don't you have a place on the lake?

 

[Depick]

Can't remember, don't you have a place on the lake?

Nope. For the time being I’m in the suburbs.

 

[GOPerfect]

Nope. For the time being I’m in the suburbs.

Could not recall who has a small place in Java. Thanks

 

[tgenec86]

I'm mostly comfortable with what we have on-hand right now, although truth be told we really need more canned goods. Nothing setting aside a few Benjamins and doing an Aldi run won't solve. However. There is always a However. We're inside city limits, and once starvation begins to hit, I don't know that we could hold off the mobs of looters looking to break in and take what they didn't think to buy. Big house, not enough of us to watch all four corners 24/7. What truly scares me is if it came to lethal force, there's enough people to come to the conclusion that we have something worth fighting for and bringing their own firepower - or fire. Brute mob force won't scruple at burning down the house for revenge or just for being thwarted. Laying low only works if no one comes calling, and gangs going door-to-door aren't going to stop and think "why bother - it looks empty", they're going to try coming in to make sure. Best bet would be to hope we see the signs in time and head for family that lives out of town in a more defensible and remote location.

Yeah, I could say that "I'd go out in a blaze and take 'em with me" but that pretty much defeats the whole point. There is a whole lot about a total collapse that is a zero sum game. I could say that I have a neighbor I could count on (very conservative retired Army), but we haven't spoken about this scenario before and for all I know - he'd be gone for his own safe-house. Friends, but not that close. There is a lot of uncertainty that is difficult to plan for. We'd do our best with what we have. Probably the biggest plus is both my Wife and I realize that it's a real possibility, so we would not be running around for 48 hours in panic and uncertainty.

 

[FP1201]

If you had the ability to fly and the access to a plane or helicopter that would be a game changer. Aside from military intervention you would be pretty safe.

You would be at a significant advantage, also a significant danger: MANY of the Light Aircraft Crashed involve multiple persons flying with experienced Pilots in air frames designed for 4~6 places (see: "Doctor and Lawyer Killer") You're in a hurry to bug-out, commandeer an airplane that you otherwise might have Rented, or possibly even owned, but then some things go wrong; weather, water in the Fuel, engine decides to pop a jug, etc. and gravity takes over...OTOH you do your due diligence and things go better than expected, it's a crap shoot with the distinct possibility of dying yourself and/or killing your passengers...If you already have the knowledge and training to attempt it, then you already well know the dangers.

From a logistical/intelligence standpoint, having a small AC, even an Ultra-Light can give you an enormous advantage: being able to observe from the air, travel at faster than typical ground speeds, and being able to observe for miles around is the cats-ass!

While it's illegal, immoral, and quite possibly lethal force could be used against you, there are lots of small Planes at Airports that are easier to steal (we're talking EOTW, flee or die situations) than old Farm Tractors. Up until 9-11 it wasn't hard to stroll up to the local FBO and walk around Planes tied down or in open Hangars like walking through a shopping center parking lot, and with solo level flight training, one could "borrow"a Plane without a high risk of getting caught.

There was a Film called "Cocaine Cowboys" that revolved around Central Florida Aviation....I was never involved, but met and knew questionable Pilots, knew of a Hangar that disguised as a Horse Barn...the 70's and 80's were a wild time with opportunities abounding for those willing to throw the Dice.

 

[FP1201]

I'm mostly comfortable with what we have on-hand right now, although truth be told we really need more canned goods. Nothing setting aside a few Benjamins and doing an Aldi run won't solve. However. There is always a However. We're inside city limits, and once starvation begins to hit, I don't know that we could hold off the mobs of looters looking to break in and take what they didn't think to buy. Big house, not enough of us to watch all four corners 24/7. What truly scares me is if it came to lethal force, there's enough people to come to the conclusion that we have something worth fighting for and bringing their own firepower - or fire. Brute mob force won't scruple at burning down the house for revenge or just for being thwarted. Laying low only works if no one comes calling, and gangs going door-to-door aren't going to stop and think "why bother - it looks empty", they're going to try coming in to make sure. Best bet would be to hope we see the signs in time and head for family that lives out of town in a more defensible and remote location.

Yeah, I could say that "I'd go out in a blaze and take 'em with me" but that pretty much defeats the whole point. There is a whole lot about a total collapse that is a zero sum game. I could say that I have a neighbor I could count on (very conservative retired Army), but we haven't spoken about this scenario before and for all I know - he'd be gone for his own safe-house. Friends, but not that close. There is a lot of uncertainty that is difficult to plan for. We'd do our best with what we have. Probably the biggest plus is both my Wife and I realize that it's a real possibility, so we would not be running around for 48 hours in panic and uncertainty.

I keep mentioning rotating your reserves: While still edible (unless there's obvious failure) canned good have a life MUCH longer that the "Best Used By" Date printed on the side that's about two year post manufacturing, the other thing is weeding out stuff you don't or won't normally eat: If you've got canned Beets in the Pantry from 2019 then toss 'em or use them up and fill the space with something better.

Knowing your neighbors is always a plus, and irrespective of how they were before, what they did, before TSHTF does not automatically mean they are to be depended on...they're in the same situation as you, and may or may not be of help...try, but don't bet your life on it, kinda like the "I'm coming to your house" crowd.

In the Zombie Apocalypse everyone thinks THEY will be the "Survivors".

 

[Jmac00]

Your spot is always available.

Though in SHTF you might want to park at the top of the driveway

Your presence would certainly ease the defense issue. Water and power in trade for a competent set of eyes standing a watch is a pretty fair trade IMHO.

I'll have the drone too. we can send it to scout the area

 

[GOPerfect]

I'll have the drone too. we can send it to scout the area

When you driving through East Tennessee again?

 

[Jmac00]

When you driving through East Tennessee again?

won't be until Oct, we are Workamping until the middle of Oct. I'll post when we figure out where we are headed

 

[spat]

won't be until Oct, we are Workamping until the middle of Oct. I'll post when we figure out where we are headed

Coming back out here for the winter again ?