Specific Disaster in Mind?

[jamesneuen]

As everyone knows on here, prepping can take in mind general preparedness for small things or large events, it can also be adapted to only be used sporadically or be your entire lifestyle. Everything mostly centers around what you are preparing for specifically and what you think the long term effect will be.

So that's my question to the members here, in 4 parts.

1. do you prepare in small scale or plan to live it forever?

2. what are you preparing for the most (ie. financial collapse, nuclear war, rapture, civil war, winter ice storms,)

3. what are the most specific things that you think set you apart from others and their preps? (more emphasis on food, weapons, long term survival, underground living)

4. why are you preparing for your chosen event? (ie. justification based on facts, beliefs, old gypsy woman said so)


As I'm the original I'll go first,

1. With my mobile life every 3-4 years I prepare small scale based on where I am located at the time with plans to sustain myself for as long as possible. At least 2 weeks without any help whatsoever.

2. At the moment water and food shortages due to remoteness are my greatest concern though I am concerned with a financial collapse and civil war in the long run.

3. Because I'm mobile and have a weight limit moving I must base my concerns on where I am currently and where I will be next. I try to make do with what I have and educate myself more about exactly what I can do with what I have and my surroundings, rather than trying to buy things to fill the void everywhere I go.

4. The reason I am concerned with food and water shortages is because both have only one way in and out of my current location and any "terrorist activity, natural disaster or IDIOT" could potentially doom almost 80,000 people depending on where the event happens.

MODS!! I in no way intend this to become a point of contest about personal beliefs, religious, or political, and any movement in that direction please feel free to remove.

[Sniper-T]

Good post. If everyone can keep it real for their situation, there is no need for removal. IMO. 'm going to think on this for a bit and come back to answer...

well thought out post!

[Vodin]

1> I only plan on the short term. This is so I have time to analysis my future needs and respond appropriately.
2> Expecting something to occur with me personally. Flood, Fire, Tornado, Financial Collapse all of these will affect me. So what ever occurs it will affect my family.
3> Knowledge is what places you in the survival game. It relies on how you analyze the issues and respond. Nothing else matters.
4> I don't have a belief of an after life. I will remain alive or.. die trying

[robsdak]

1. do you prepare in small scale or plan to live it forever?

i really wouldn't say 'forever', but for as long as i needed too. i have/am planning on 3-5 yrs. due to health.


2. what are you preparing for the most (ie. financial collapse, nuclear war, rapture, civil war, winter ice storms,)

here it's more natural happenings ie, hurricanes, extremes in the weather and flooding. financial collapse and civil war is always a thought in the back of my mind. (due to the fall of the Government) it's not going to happen in my life time, but none the less it a thought. no real need to prepare for Nukes around here as i am close enough to several Military Bases that if war was declared and they where deployed, i am a Krispy Kritter.

3. what are the most specific things that you think set you apart from others and their preps? (more emphasis on food, weapons, long term survival, underground living)

my specific Skill Set is a start. i have experience in several different areas, from gardening, building/construction, medical (again not a Doctor/Nurse) farming/farm animals, hunting/fishing/trapping, mechanics, mechanical things, there is a lot more. i have a background in small caliber weapons, .22-.30 cal. knowing my surrounding area well. a word of advice that i got from a Boy Scout Leader that has always stuck with me 'you need me, more than i need you'. his point being, make yourself an asset to others.

4. why are you preparing for your chosen event? (ie. justification based on facts, beliefs, old gypsy woman said so)

the weather is unpredictable, we all know that. when it hits here, it ALWAYS hits hard. i can see and read the writing on the wall as far as the rest of the worlds problems finding their to the way US of A in time.

[Domeguy]

1. This may not be a fair answer, but I plan for both, so I guess it's mostly long term. My long term goal would be to have 20-30 yrs of food, ammo, medicine, etc. put back somewhere. I have a home that is not paid for, but in worst case scenario that won't matter. I have all the water I need from the many local springs, plenty of land to grow on, I am planning long term power form solar panels and solar hot water, etc. I know this not practical, but it is my goal. I may look into hydroponics and fish in the future.

2. My biggest fear would be global terrorism, as it would seem there are so many evil people doing their best every day to destroy this great country of ours in ANY WAY THEY CAN. Until 9/11, I did not think this was possible, but they have shown this to be true. I plan also for a large solar flare that has a good chance of taking down our electrical grid. Governmental collapse, along with global financial collapse is also high on my list.

3. I don't feel anything sets me apart from any of the others that have the same belief about out country being under attack and falling, no matter how. If the question is why I should be brought into a group and not turned away, my wife is a nurse with an extensive medical background, and in short term for me, I have a background of maintenance and a solar background, but in long term, my body is wearing out quickly, and without my daily medicines, I don't know how much longer I could make it without walking into the woods with one bullet in my pistol.

4. And as to why I am preparing for any of these events, I am a human being. It is in our DNA to try to survive, no matter what the cost. It is the same in the animal kingdom. The survival of the fittest. A new male lion after fighting and wining the rights to take over a lion pride will kill all of the young male cubs that are not his, and then will breed with females. He will do his best to ensure his DNA and bloodline will continue on. It will be at that time the same for the human race, survival of the fittest. I know also at that time, I will not be the fittest. I also do not believe in a hereafter of eternal bliss, or eternal damnation either. I feel I am here for the moment, and due to up bringing, I will do my best to help myself and others at a time of need. But I also know, others were not brought up as I was, and will feel it is their right to take and do as they please. I have had my fights, and have passed on my DNA, and now I feel it is my time to rest in the sun. When I look at my grandson, I have a fear as to what the future will hold for him. Perhaps every parent from the beginning of time has looked down upon their children and had the same thoughts. Perhaps, that to is in our DNA. But for me, it has never felt so real and felt so close as it does upon these times now.

[bacpacker]

I may amend this later, but here goes.

1. do you prepare in small scale or plan to live it forever?
Both to some degree. Short term for certain, but I look at that as just livin life. Deal with what comes along as it hits ( medical issues, jobs, storms, whatever). Long term, I do to some degree, but my crystal ball aint up to snuff so who knows???

2. what are you preparing for the most (ie. financial collapse, nuclear war, rapture, civil war, winter ice storms,)
Financial collapse, or even severe depression is high on my list, EMP/CME and terrorism/civil war are next in line.

3. what are the most specific things that you think set you apart from others and their preps? (more emphasis on food, weapons, long term survival, underground living)
Food production is probably my best asset, followed by good mechanical skills. Pretty quick learner and can understand how things work easily in most cases, thinking outside the box. Decent to good outdoor skills.

4. why are you preparing for your chosen event? (ie. justification based on facts, beliefs, old gypsy woman said so)
I see a long term downhill slide taking place (since early in the 1900's, but rapidly increasing since the 1990's). The global financial situation is in the crapper and getting worse every year. I fail to see this ever getting better. Just in this country, we are so far in debt and no one is trying to regain control. This is on the Federal, state, county, and individual plates. Most folks live week to week.

EMP/CME: between the countries gaining or already having nukes and our own Sun, I think this is a matter of time whether next year or 1000.

Really good thread. interesting to see where everyone is going with it.

[Gunfixr]

We live in a decent sized city, which is butted up to another decent sized city.
Even now, they are in the news daily for crime, so I think that gives the picture.
The primary real threat here, besides the crime, is weather. Hurricanes in the summer, and northeasters, which are basically a winter hurricane.
I do feel that at some point our financial system will collapse, as it has been run in an unsustainable manner for some time. As it has been managed to keep propped up way beyond when it should have collapsed already, I could not guess when it will finally happen.
We are so close to a major nuclear target that should a nuclear exchange happen, our location would be in a crater, so no preps in that direction have been taken.
Because of the local environment, there is no way to self sustain indefinitely.We would have to relocate at some point, to an as yet unknown location. Probably wherever we could convince the locals we were worth taking in. We do have useful skills, so that shouldn't be too difficult.
So, our preps is semi-long term, several months. Time for pretty much any natural disaster to be worked through, or if the financial collapse came, time for the initial upheaval to work its way out and allow us to leave with relative safety.
So, preps is food, water, weapons, medical, repair/maintenance of shelter, heat, travel, some barter, things like that. We do have some things in other areas, but they are lower priority at this time.
There may be a chance to move out to a more rural setting in the near future, I don't know for sure at this time. It could be a bug out location, or as close as we would ever be able to get. In that case, our preps and priorities would be adjusted.

[Illini Warrior]

common fault I see with preppers - especially the newbies - they fail to recognize the almost certainty of inter-connecting SHTF events .... and I see it here .... take a serious SHTF like a US financial collapse - it would have a cascading effect around the world .... we have a half dozen war conflict situations being held back by the US - the weaken and almost totally dysfunctional US - no US at all and the dictators and terrorist leaders would be marching ....

if you are only prepping for 3 days for natural disaster and OK with it - that's your biz .... but if you are thinking about the more serious SHTFs - think VERY long term - think self sufficiency - a recovery may never come in your lifetime ....

[bacpacker]

Your exactly right Illini.

[ElevenBravo]

I plan the best I can with the $$ I have.

As long as Ive been a dog in this fight, Ive come to realize... more $$ = longer plans.

If your going for a few weeks, it takes less money than to plan for years...


Being that I think the BIGGER shtf problems will last a good duration (year or more?) I tend to plan on shorter term problems, though I do have concerns for *ALL* problems that last *ALL* durations, I just cant get "there from here" at this time...

If I hit the lotto, you will never hear from me again, Ill be too busy inventorying my preps, far from a dug out location in the side of a mountain. :-)


EB