so what exactly do you plan for???

by **terminaltransco** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:57 pm

was thinking of this while reading through various parts of the forum.
some guys advocate communications (ok, so no direct EMP or nuclear attack) others take the FEMA side (so it just a natural disaster and FEMA doesnt warp into the monstrosity it feasibly could) others say carry cash (seriously, even with an intact system paper money is risky).....some get anxious about legal ramifications(lawyers appearently aer not in the diseaster)....

see where i'm trying to go with this? when we read everyones emergeny plans what does that mean? a nuclear attack will be different the a couple hurricanes, which would be different than anthrax which is not similar to, i dunno, lunar destruction (ok, love the "time machine", sorry for the reference).....

so when you make your plans, what exactly did you have in mind when making them? after all, "bugging out" with jetstreams covering you in volcanic ash may put a kink in those plans

dont limit yourself to the scenarios i presented either, let your mind waunder on this one!

by **Doctorr Fabulous** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:06 pm

Link in my sig about figuring out what to prep for. I prep for zombies, civil unrest, social collapse, nukes (what, I stock whiskey and smokes?) and all sorts of other things.

by **JWCubbedge** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:28 pm

I'm pretty much over worrying about "zombies". Like I stated in one of my other posts, if I gett bitten by somthing that has a top speed of a jungle sloth, I probably had it coming. The things to plan for are beyond the first 72 hours, the rebuilding. I see lots of people toting on about all the guns they have, thier bad assed trucks, yadda yadda. What a real survivor is going to be doing is trying to form groups. Assign jobs, tasking, chores. People will need work to keep from loosing it in a P.A.W. Sure, there will be a need for guns and protection but not from zombies. If I can walk up to it and bash it's head in with a bat, it's not really a threat. We will need protection from the raiders that might pop up, from scared and riotous mobs that most definitly will pop up. Sure, some MREs are good to have around, some #10 cans are cool. What about the skills? Plan for that. Learn stuff. Learn to grow crops, learn to build a fire without fancy tools, learn to build a shelter and fortify it. Learn to skin and field dress animals and also, learn how to use every bit of that animal. Learn how to survive as if it were 1776 or 1845. Once the dust settles, that's the stuff that really matters. Not what cool gadgets you carry in your G.O.O.D. bag. You should build your knowledge base so that it doesn't matter what type of catastrophy hits us in 355 days, you will be able to respond. So that's how I prepare. I am learning as much as I can and putting into practice as much as I can.

by **KentsOkay** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:10 am

Gorram Reavers, 'nuff said.

by **shrapnel** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:34 am

Hurricanes, disruptions to the power grid, and blocked roads. You don't have to be hardcore into prepping to be here. I'm good for a few weeks. Might not be comfortable weeks, but I could get by ok. I'd like a generator, some gas storage, and a better means of sewage disposal than pooping in the backyard, and I'd also like a few months worth of food rather than a few weeks. Overall, though, I think I'm tolerably prepped for the most common disasters in my area (hurricanes, with interruption of utilities for a while after). I do assume that at some point the government, local, state, or federal, is going to come in and help things get back on track, though, and if it takes more than (at the moment) a few weeks for things to get back on track, then there will probably be a problem. For the moment, it's a risk I'm willing to take, and I will hopefully be extending my preps in the nearish future.

by **whisk.e.rebellion** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:40 am

Quakes and zombies (or "zombies," as it were).

by **J.C.** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:44 am

It can be fun but I think its going to really badly skew priorities to think about some PAW assless-chaps scenario. That is very unlikely. The things that are most likely are the ones we see in the news all the times. Hurricane, winter storm, tornado, wild fire, etc. Some of those might cause you to evacuate and that is where your BOB comes in - but the idea is not that you'd strap that on your back, put on your BDU's and sling your AR and march out your back door into the wilderness. Its more like you put the bag in the car and drive to the first hotel you can find outside the danger zone.

Having cash? Well, what if you lose your wallet? I keep an extra credit card and cash stashed for pretty mundane "disasters" like loss of wallet or identity theft.

I have a power inverter so I can recharge my laptop and cell phones if our house loses power. I have a bicycle so that I have some mode of transportation if there is another gas shortage here (we had a ten day shortage in Charlotte a few years ago due to a problem with just one pipeline). I have a propane heater in case we lose electric in a winter storm.

Yes I have a stupid amount of guns too and its fun to pretend they all have a "mission" but really that is just a separate hobby altogether, could as easily be golf clubs.

by **Doctorr Fabulous** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:46 am

KentsOkay wrote:Gorram Reavers, 'nuff said.

Hence the AA gun that I'm trying to mount on my roof.

by **carolinafan** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:15 am

I think the general preps that I have are good for a variety of situations. Mostly though I think I'm more concerned about anything where I might lose power and/or the ability to go out and get supplies, be it a natural disaster or civil unrest. Hardcore end of the world type things are honestly pretty low on my priority list.

by **duodecima** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:18 am

I prep for a lot of things - many of which are very very boring.

I prep for being very bored at work, hence this REALLY LONG POST!

Job loss, car accidents, house fires, illness, water in my basement, tree falls on my roof. The most "exciting" prep in this category is the emergency fire escape ladder, followed by the fire extinguishers. After that, it's boring stuff like changing the batteries in the fire detectors, wearing seatbelts, insurance, having cash saved up, and always having two jobs.

The somewhat more "exciting" but still really realistic stuff - snowstorms, tornadoes, power outages, water service interruptions, sewer problems. I've got flashlights, lamps, winter clothes, canned goods in the cabinets, battery and crank radios, cell phone charger, and a more-than-strictly-necessary number of ways to heat and cook food. My water storage could be a lot better, but we've got the toilet thing covered. Oh, and, for the tornadoes, a basement, and insurance.

Then we get into the more challenging things. Who doesn't love a challenge? Fire that takes out my whole city, hazmat stuff, really big floods, civil unrest, food shortages, earthquakes, EMPs, nuclear attacks, massive pandemics, and, of course, "ZOMBIES"!!! 'Cause if you're prepared for zombies, you're prepared for anything!!!

The OP is right - different preps are needed for different situations. But I'd rather have fantastic comms (I don't yet) and not need them, enough emergency cash (don't have to use it), and if you're prepped for an EMP it's not a big deal if it never happens. I fully expect to have to cope with rotating my long term food stores in 15-30 years, and to be fair, my food stores are like some folks' gun collections - if it weren't PAW food and how to cook it, I'd be doing gourmet, or ethnic, or something else. Being prepared for everything, including the skills and team to rebuild a society, or at least a village, is likely to be a lifetime endeavor, not something you can do by next New Year's.

But I think that's true of anything fun & worthwhile.

by **JWCubbedge** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 1:30 am

J.C. wrote:to think about some PAW assless-chaps scenario.

Yikes! Hope I don't have to see that scenario come to play. That's like Mad Max meets Blue Oyster Club.

I'm not prepared for that. :lol:

by **TacAir** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:07 am

AS duodecima noted -

House fire. Most common disaster in my AO - happens 100s of times a year.

Loss of utilities, esp gas and/or electric. No big in the summer, but when it is minus 20, a bit more of an issue.

Loss of the local port facilities - doesn't matter a whit the why or how. Striking dockworkers or a tsunami - not working is not working.

Population displacement for either or both of the above.

After that, pretty much everything else is a minor inconvenience IF I'm prepared for the above.

Nuke war, the mythical EMP or a meteor strike, I don't even bother tot worry about something so far out, so Black Swan, as to be... not a worry. let's just say. (I did write a book series on that kinda stuff though)

A currency collapse/social chaos - big things and maybe they could happen. BUt if I have a house fire such covered, that's pretty much covered as well.

A better question to you is
*What have you planned for?
*Have you contacted your local FD HAZMAT folks to see what risks are in your AO?
*Have you contacted the local Emergency planning department to see what they have planned, and how it will impact on yu?
*Worked with your family and community to do what you can to help prevent or mitigate known hazards?

Because believe me, a house fire is far more likely than some interstellar radiation burst that fries your home steoro...

by **aus.templar** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:10 am

Personal Crisis
Natural Disaster
Loss of services (gas/electricity/water)
Financial SHTF
Foreign Invasion

by **skelco** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:32 am

JWCubbedge wrote:
J.C. wrote:to think about some PAW assless-chaps scenario.

Yikes! Hope I don't have to see that scenario come to play. That's like Mad Max meets Blue Oyster Club.

I'm not prepared for that.

that's just another Saturday night here in San Francisco!

But seriously, Most of my prep is for an earthquake, or other events such as the Oakland Hills fire or the San Bruno gas main explosion. We even got a little splash from the tsunami after the Japan quake. We have also had multi-day power outages, broken water mains and other issues. It's nice to know I have supplies on hand to keep things pretty functional around here, even with a disruption of my utilities.

I suppose, for a number of reasons, my city might also be a target for some kind of terrorist attack and I keep that in mind. I treat it like going to a party in a bad neighborhood, I keep my eyes and ears open, but I try not to let it spoil my fun.

Social unrest? We're in the social unrest business here, and most of the time it's pretty dull. I can't see it getting dangerous any time soon.... unless filthy rotten zombies are involved.

by **KentsOkay** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:51 am

Doc Torr wrote:
KentsOkay wrote:Gorram Reavers, 'nuff said.

Hence the AA gun that I'm trying to mount on my roof.

Mare's Leg 45-70 is also a must have sidearm

by **Orphancow** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:43 am

JWCubbedge wrote:I'm pretty much over worrying about "zombies". Like I stated in one of my other posts, if I gett bitten by somthing that has a top speed of a jungle sloth, I probably had it coming. The things to plan for are beyond the first 72 hours, the rebuilding. I see lots of people toting on about all the guns they have, thier bad assed trucks, yadda yadda. What a real survivor is going to be doing is trying to form groups. Assign jobs, tasking, chores. People will need work to keep from loosing it in a P.A.W. Sure, there will be a need for guns and protection but not from zombies. If I can walk up to it and bash it's head in with a bat, it's not really a threat. We will need protection from the raiders that might pop up, from scared and riotous mobs that most definitly will pop up. Sure, some MREs are good to have around, some #10 cans are cool. What about the skills? Plan for that. Learn stuff. Learn to grow crops, learn to build a fire without fancy tools, learn to build a shelter and fortify it. Learn to skin and field dress animals and also, learn how to use every bit of that animal. Learn how to survive as if it were 1776 or 1845. Once the dust settles, that's the stuff that really matters. Not what cool gadgets you carry in your G.O.O.D. bag. You should build your knowledge base so that it doesn't matter what type of catastrophy hits us in 355 days, you will be able to respond. So that's how I prepare. I am learning as much as I can and putting into practice as much as I can.

We absolutely think alike, I see your logic as rational. Often I listen to my buddies talk about how great their toys are that they have, which are all great. Glad we have the ability to purchase nice items that will last.

So I asked one day, "what happens after we burn through all of our batteries and fuel is gone. At some point you will have to learn to live off the land". They all seemed perplexed by this idea.

Great point you made there!

by **JWCubbedge** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:54 pm

skelco wrote:

I suppose, for a number of reasons, my city might also be a target for some kind of terrorist attack.

Interesting that you should mention that. One of my coworkers, who was born and raised in Pleasonton(sp), once told me that because of the military science laboratory facilities in Livermore, this area is somthing like the fourth most likely spot to have a nuclear bomb attack. Hope you stocked up on your Rad-Ex and Rad Away.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

by **azrael99** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:57 pm

human created disaster, and natural disaster. pretty much the first disaster that come around.

by **skelco** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:36 pm

JWCubbedge wrote:
skelco wrote:

I suppose, for a number of reasons, my city might also be a target for some kind of terrorist attack.

Interesting that you should mention that. One of my coworkers, who was born and raised in Pleasonton(sp), once told me that because of the military science laboratory facilities in Livermore, this area is somthing like the fourth most likely spot to have a nuclear bomb attack. Hope you stocked up on your Rad-Ex and Rad Away.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

if someone starts setting off nukes around here I'm hosed, might as well break out the good booze and toast oblivion!

by **azrael99** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:43 pm

i'm living within 20km from the biggest airforce base of this side of Canada. so it should be one of the main target. i guess i'm toasted

by **TacAir** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:29 pm

Orphancow wrote:
JWCubbedge wrote:I'm pretty much over worrying about "zombies". Like I stated in one of my other posts, if I gett bitten by somthing that has a top speed of a jungle sloth, I probably had it coming. The things to plan for are beyond the first 72 hours, the rebuilding. I see lots of people toting on about all the guns they have, thier bad assed trucks, yadda yadda. What a real survivor is going to be doing is trying to form groups. Assign jobs, tasking, chores. People will need work to keep from loosing it in a P.A.W. Sure, there will be a need for guns and protection but not from zombies. If I can walk up to it and bash it's head in with a bat, it's not really a threat. We will need protection from the raiders that might pop up, from scared and riotous mobs that most definitly will pop up. Sure, some MREs are good to have around, some #10 cans are cool. What about the skills? Plan for that. Learn stuff. Learn to grow crops, learn to build a fire without fancy tools, learn to build a shelter and fortify it. Learn to skin and field dress animals and also, learn how to use every bit of that animal. Learn how to survive as if it were 1776 or 1845. Once the dust settles, that's the stuff that really matters. Not what cool gadgets you carry in your G.O.O.D. bag. You should build your knowledge base so that it doesn't matter what type of catastrophy hits us in 355 days, you will be able to respond. So that's how I prepare. I am learning as much as I can and putting into practice as much as I can.

We absolutely think alike, I see your logic as rational. Often I listen to my buddies talk about how great their toys are that they have, which are all great. Glad we have the ability to purchase nice items that will last.

So I asked one day, "what happens after we burn through all of our batteries and fuel is gone. At some point you will have to learn to live off the land". They all seemed perplexed by this idea.

Great point you made there!

(scratches head)
Doesn't everybody on the board pretty much garden now?

by **KnifeStyle** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:35 pm

I'm a first responder type, have a job that involves minor emergency response, and at any time things could get ugly and I may be living off my gear without a distinct residence. I also do all this at a notably dangerous college that...truthfully deserves its reputation. I'm an RA who takes care of thirty something people at a minimum, always handy to have the right thing when the time comes.

That, and zombies.

by **RickOShea** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:53 pm

KentsOkay wrote:
Doc Torr wrote:
KentsOkay wrote:Gorram Reavers, 'nuff said.

Hence the AA gun that I'm trying to mount on my roof.

Mare's Leg 45-70 is also a must have sidearm

The latest "must have" version:

by **azrael99** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:24 pm

RickOShea wrote:
KentsOkay wrote:
Doc Torr wrote:
KentsOkay wrote:Gorram Reavers, 'nuff said.

Hence the AA gun that I'm trying to mount on my roof.

Mare's Leg 45-70 is also a must have sidearm

The latest "must have" version:

saw it before but

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT!!!!!!!!