Let's talk DISASTER...

[gunsandgardens]

he then suggested propane or natural gas powered generators since gas is going to be hard to come by.

These things are great!! And, if I have been informed correctly, AZ law says you can only store 25 gallons of gasoline on your property. That is not the case with propane......If I am correct.

 

[gunsandgardens]

Well, after getting the very basics together, which is not easy, then you need to add to it.

Those who go camping are familiar with all the roughing-it requirements.

Ground tarp, tent, cots, air mattresses, sleeping bags, woolen caps, flashlight, firestarters (several), parachute cord, gasoline stove so you can use car gas as needed, when you can't find wood, lots and lots of water in containers, water filter, nonperishable foods for short term and long term, camping pots and pans, hunting gear, food storage.

My bugout location is within 1/3 tank of gas from my residence on the road to the mountains in a place I am familiar with where I hike, camp, and backpack. I can refuel along the way once I get out of town, and I have 4 empty gasoline containers that serve to double my gastank capacity to 40 gals which is 1000 miles range at 25 mpg.

You have to remember that cities will become death traps with everyone else looting each other. If you stay in the city, you are going to run out of ammo and be killed. You cannot deal with millions of vagrants.

Once you bug out, that will at least get you away from the nonmobile zombies.

On the roads, refugees will form migrant communities for their own mutual aid. But you will need to be a contributor.

Initially a lot of cattle will be plundered until these all run out. Farms will be raided and farming families destroyed.

Finally there will be a huge era of cannibalism and scavanging.

It will finally end up as a mad max world.

A good bow and arrows will come in handy when all the ammo has run out, and smokeless powder is no longer being produced, nor the brass and bullets to go with it.

A good fishing spear, and snorkeling gear, for lakes and ponds and coastline will come in hand too. Rod and reel works also, but spear fishing is much more reliable.

Spearfishing a lake is easy because the freshwater fishes all tend to come up to you. That's why spearfishing is not allowed in fresh waters. Its a bit harder in the oceans, but not much harder. Finding big fish is the hardest part. Then they are easy to spear on one breathhold of air, once you have found them in the sea.

Some other nation will eventually invade, and take over. That's what always happens in history.

Holy crap man you've got one hell of a perspective! I pray to God that your outlook doesn't come to play.

 

[gunsandgardens]

Now this is a thread!!!!

 

[longslide10]

Loot and steal as needed. Survival of the fittest unfortunately. When u and ur family are hungry, you are capable of anything.

Yeah maybe like getting together with other families and splitting food or hunting for it, collecting and sharing water, pulling resources etc. I don't think everyone is going independent (as much as bubba gubbament would enjoy that) and bug out to the hills. Only the criminally minded psychos and uneducated desperate loners may decide to loot and steal.

 

[eagleeyes]

you loot, i shoot
heheh

 

[walt629]

A little late to the discussion but here goes anyway...

I'll be the first to admit or confess that I am not a prepper. Am I prepared for the natural disasters that I encounter way down here in Florida. You know, hurricanes being at the top of the kist, power outages due to wind and storm activity, extreme heat and humidity, flooding and all the rest of the natural uglies.

We keep at least 10 days of "rations" around the house at all times, in other words our pantry is well stocked all the time with can and boxed goods. We keep a large box of dried everything in the cubbord, milk, fruit, cereals, eggs, you name it it's probably there. I think the only thing we don't have is dried water. Okay! Weak joke.

So I like to think I'm ready. But.... Almost everyone that considers them self a well prepared individual, in my opinion is making the same mistake. They are relying on 'bugging out' as part of their defense against what ever it is that is coming. Shy of a natural disaster that would force one to evacuate, why would you not make where you are the ultimate fortress for you to hold up in?

Barring natural disasters, bugging out puts one in such an indefensible position and probably at the height of what ever it is that want to make you bug out.

And I especially don't understand bugging out by any home owner. Renters or people in an apartment building ... okay. I can see the desire to separate ones self from the populace especially if you have not established any alliances among your immediate neighbors. An neighborhood alliance is the next step to reintroducing stability into the area you live in.

Ask you self these simple questions to figure out if your neighborhood will survive. What tools does my next door neighbor have that can be used to repair damage caused by (fill in the blank)? What is the level of survival skill apparent with my neighbors? Does my immediate neighbors have generators to support them self? Could I rely on my neighbor to come to my assistance if I call them?

If you can't readily and honestly answer these questions, you have a problem in your neighborhood and probably should take your chances on the open road.

Next.... how many of the Bug Outs are relying on gasoline for their vehicles? I've read some say "oh I have (X) number of cans of gas stored for the big one.". Okay What happens when the gas turns to crud from being in storage for so long? Are you adding a stabilizer to the fuel? What happens when the gasoline runs out? What happens if the power is out and you can't get the gas you expect to get on your bug out journey?

Look... I'm not saying anyone is wrong about the preparations they've made. Heck just having an idea of what you're going to do, even if you're not well prepared is still a plan. ANd that put you a lot farther than a lot of people.

Last question. What do you do when the ammo runs out?

 

[NotTwoShure]

I have been giving away five-gallon gas cans that I bought pre-Y2K for that event. For years, I kept rotating my stock on a monthly basis with the cans numbered. I became old, tired, unwilling to maintain the routine. Now with all the kids gone their own way and out of state, I just keep the SUV, pickup truck filled with gas and 40 gallons for the 12-kilowatt generator. I proved to the world and myself this past week with a camping trip to the mountains that I am too old to sleep on the deck, too old to survive a bug out and to mean to have my stuff taken or vandalized. I shall just stay put and provide cover for the young folks to do the Red Dawn thing. Really, an old man with an ALICE pack, mags, gear running away. No, heart attack, stroke and just plain old, this would get me dead easier than the mass horde coming over the boarder or mountains. I am a realest not a survivalist.

 

[walt629]

Here's something to think about in the 'event'.

Don't Depend on Just Gas

 

[walt629]

I have been giving away five-gallon gas cans that I bought pre-Y2K for that event. For years, I kept rotating my stock on a monthly basis with the cans numbered. I became old, tired, unwilling to maintain the routine. Now with all the kids gone their own way and out of state, I just keep the SUV, pickup truck filled with gas and 40 gallons for the 12-kilowatt generator. I proved to the world and myself this past week with a camping trip to the mountains that I am too old to sleep on the deck, too old to survive a bug out and to mean to have my stuff taken or vandalized. I shall just stay put and provide cover for the young folks to do the Red Dawn thing. Really, an old man with an ALICE pack, mags, gear running away. No, heart attack, stroke and just plain old, this would get me dead easier than the mass horde coming over the boarder or mountains. I am a realest not a survivalist.

I'm right there with ya. Too old to run, too young to die. My reason for carrying and my reason for hardening my home for survival. I remember the good old days of back packing and camping in the woods. That was YEARS ago. Today my idea of roughing it is a Hampton Inn without breakfast service. LOL!

I'm not sure what is coming down the pike. Economic disaster? War? Massive domestic and world wide violence? There are a lot of ugly pictures being painted. Especially by the vendors that want to sell you something "to survive the havoc coming". Gold vendors come to mind right off the bat.

We have slowly been hardening our home against the exterior influences that may be encountered but if the world I know gets that bad that I have to consider eating the next stray dog, I dunno....

 

[gunsandgardens]

A little late to the discussion but here goes anyway...

I'll be the first to admit or confess that I am not a prepper. Am I prepared for the natural disasters that I encounter way down here in Florida. You know, hurricanes being at the top of the kist, power outages due to wind and storm activity, extreme heat and humidity, flooding and all the rest of the natural uglies.

We keep at least 10 days of "rations" around the house at all times, in other words our pantry is well stocked all the time with can and boxed goods. We keep a large box of dried everything in the cubbord, milk, fruit, cereals, eggs, you name it it's probably there. I think the only thing we don't have is dried water. Okay! Weak joke.

So I like to think I'm ready. But.... Almost everyone that considers them self a well prepared individual, in my opinion is making the same mistake. They are relying on 'bugging out' as part of their defense against what ever it is that is coming. Shy of a natural disaster that would force one to evacuate, why would you not make where you are the ultimate fortress for you to hold up in?

Barring natural disasters, bugging out puts one in such an indefensible position and probably at the height of what ever it is that want to make you bug out.

And I especially don't understand bugging out by any home owner. Renters or people in an apartment building ... okay. I can see the desire to separate ones self from the populace especially if you have not established any alliances among your immediate neighbors. An neighborhood alliance is the next step to reintroducing stability into the area you live in.

Ask you self these simple questions to figure out if your neighborhood will survive. What tools does my next door neighbor have that can be used to repair damage caused by (fill in the blank)? What is the level of survival skill apparent with my neighbors? Does my immediate neighbors have generators to support them self? Could I rely on my neighbor to come to my assistance if I call them?

If you can't readily and honestly answer these questions, you have a problem in your neighborhood and probably should take your chances on the open road.

Next.... how many of the Bug Outs are relying on gasoline for their vehicles? I've read some say "oh I have (X) number of cans of gas stored for the big one.". Okay What happens when the gas turns to crud from being in storage for so long? Are you adding a stabilizer to the fuel? What happens when the gasoline runs out? What happens if the power is out and you can't get the gas you expect to get on your bug out journey?

Look... I'm not saying anyone is wrong about the preparations they've made. Heck just having an idea of what you're going to do, even if you're not well prepared is still a plan. ANd that put you a lot farther than a lot of people.

Last question. What do you do when the ammo runs out?

Great point of view. Nice post.

 

[walt629]

I'm on a roll now boy!

Here's the next question ( and I'll throw more out as I think of them)...

How are you going to handle the broken arm or the appendicitis attack? How many of us are actually prepared for the medical emergency that we all know is going to come along? ANd don't kid yourself by thinking "I'm healthy and won't have a problem." Yeah, right.

So who and how do you prepare for major surgery on your loved one that may die if they don't get immediate medical attention? Do we have the necessary medical supplies to prevent an infected cut foot? Can you make a crutch if needed? Do you know what plant to NOT eat and which ones are medicinal?

Anyone know where the closest doctor is to your neighborhood? and I'm not talking his office. I'm talking about his home. What about a nurse that lives in your neighborhood or in your building?

Food for thought people. Having enough gas to keep the lights on is nice but....

 

[gunsandgardens]

I have been giving away five-gallon gas cans that I bought pre-Y2K for that event. For years, I kept rotating my stock on a monthly basis with the cans numbered. I became old, tired, unwilling to maintain the routine. Now with all the kids gone their own way and out of state, I just keep the SUV, pickup truck filled with gas and 40 gallons for the 12-kilowatt generator. I proved to the world and myself this past week with a camping trip to the mountains that I am too old to sleep on the deck, too old to survive a bug out and to mean to have my stuff taken or vandalized. I shall just stay put and provide cover for the young folks to do the Red Dawn thing. Really, an old man with an ALICE pack, mags, gear running away. No, heart attack, stroke and just plain old, this would get me dead easier than the mass horde coming over the boarder or mountains. I am a realest not a survivalist.

I want to be your neighbor. hahaha

 

[Treo]

Something else to think about, all the network news stations are telling us that food prices are going to go way up over the course of the next year. I'd say now would be the time to start stocking up on nonperisables if for no other reason than they're never going to be this cheap again.

 

[gunsandgardens]

Here's something I do for power outage prep.

I have a freezer that is completely dedicated to ice. Nothing but gallon jugs. About 30 8.5lb ice cubes that I can use in my fridge and other freezers to help keep my food colder longer in the event of a power outage. As long as my kids keep the doors shut, I don't have to worry about taking power from the generator for quite some time and can use it elsewhere. And when it does melt......cold drinking water.

 

[Dennis1209]

I'm on a roll now boy!

Here's the next question ( and I'll throw more out as I think of them)...

How are you going to handle the broken arm or the appendicitis attack? How many of us are actually prepared for the medical emergency that we all know is going to come along? ANd don't kid yourself by thinking "I'm healthy and won't have a problem." Yeah, right.

So who and how do you prepare for major surgery on your loved one that may die if they don't get immediate medical attention? Do we have the necessary medical supplies to prevent an infected cut foot? Can you make a crutch if needed? Do you know what plant to NOT eat and which ones are medicinal?

Anyone know where the closest doctor is to your neighborhood? and I'm not talking his office. I'm talking about his home. What about a nurse that lives in your neighborhood or in your building?

Food for thought people. Having enough gas to keep the lights on is nice but....

Since we will be back in the stone age...

Probably the same medical practices my ancestor **** sapien erectus Dennis1209 Jr. passed down from generation to generation... It's a secret receipt or I tell y'all :yes4:

 

[Dennis1209]

Something else to think about, all the network news stations are telling us that food prices are going to go way up over the course of the next year. I'd say now would be the time to start stocking up on nonperisables if for no other reason than they're never going to be this cheap again.

When ever the liberal news media and /or the government announces things like that (panic sensitive), best to try and read between the lines.

Personally, with our collective government debt, personal debt, unemployment, current inflation, wars, rumors of wars, peak oil and other factors, I believe we are on the cusp of hyper inflation in the very near future.

My chicken bones, Tara cards and crystal ball all agree :yes4:

 

[Treo]

The whole point to disaster preparedness isn’t so you can be the only one in the neighborhood w/ ice, the idea is to help you stay alive long enough for A. Help to arrive or B.) You to plan your next move and go from there.

You can’t prepare for every eventuality all you can do is the best you can w/ what you have.

Based on my reading of the Bible I’m not preparing for an all the way back to the Stone Age forever disaster because I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. One of the things people don’t think about almost happened here in Colorado Springs in June, the Waldo Canyon fire burned all the way up to the edge of our water treatment plant. Had it gone up there would have been 200K+ people in the Springs w/ no potable water for an extended period of time. Now what?

Final point, I used to work w/ some guys that were devout Mormons and we got to talking about their religious beliefs one day, specifically the concept of having a 2 year supply of food. One of them told me a story about a friend of his that was down on his luck and came to him to borrow money. He asked the guy what he needed the money for and the guy told him he wanted to buy some groceries for his family. My friend said he asked the guy “Well what about your 2 year supply of food?” and the guy responded “But that’s for hard times.” To which my friend replied

“What do you think these are?”

 

[longslide10]

Disaster? Anyone been paying attention to our government lately? :sarcastic:

Good one!..............

 

[longslide10]

I haven’t heard of this happening but it’s not too far of a jump to believe that emergency workers wouldn’t commandeer your generator for “the public good” in the event of an emergency.

Very good points Treo and you can damn well guarantee emergency workers (aka as FEMA) would commandeer your generator and your food and anything else they could use for the greater good.

 

[longslide10]

Last question. What do you do when the ammo runs out?

My plan is to steal it from DHS and local law enforcement, they have purchased roughly 750 million + rounds right. They got to have stashes strategically placed in every major city and a major distribution point somewhere. Hey, it's my fantasy ok!