View Full Version : The First/Most Important Step?
echo5whiskey
08-05-15, 01:37
Up until somewhat recently, I never really gave any thought to having any kind of disaster plan. It was just one of those things that I never really thought of. I am soon to be a father, second award, and it kind of pushed me into taking this idea a bit more seriously. To top it all off, I'm hoping to move to a different part of the country within the next 6-9 months. I sort of started getting things together over the last several years, but I haven't been able to get much. We could make it through a short term situation, but I'm not so sure about anything extended.
What would be the first and/or most important step in getting together a good disaster plan?
Up until somewhat recently, I never really gave any thought to having any kind of disaster plan. It was just one of those things that I never really thought of. I am soon to be a father, second award, and it kind of pushed me into taking this idea a bit more seriously. To top it all off, I'm hoping to move to a different part of the country within the next 6-9 months. I sort of started getting things together over the last several years, but I haven't been able to get much. We could make it through a short term situation, but I'm not so sure about anything extended.
What would be the first and/or most important step in getting together a good disaster plan?
Figure out the most common disasters in the area you will live in and proportionately plan for those. If you moved to the gulf coast, be prepared for hurricanes and massive flooding, which would mean being ready to evacuate with not much notice. If you moved to Oklahoma, be ready for ridiculous storms and tornados. If you moved to California (I hope not!), they're expecting "the big one" earthquake at any time, so... yeah.
For Hawaii... get a plan to move to higher ground in case of tsunami if you live near the coastal areas, get a plan in case a once every 2-3 decade hurricane hits, and stock up on food mostly, since Hawaii has something like a 7 day back-stock of food if there aren't constant shipments from the mainland.
Straight Shooter
08-05-15, 07:54
MINDSET. Seems you have it now, so that's a HUGE step right there.
Koshinn hit the nail on the head. Be ready for local stuff first...then prep for a bigger, national type event. Food, the knowledge/ability to make clean water, protection, meds....long list of stuff. For ME..Im paranoid about lack of drinking water. Cant store enough of it, so one must have the tools and knowledge on how & where to get or make it. PLENTY of good tech out there for it, like LIFESTRAW, for example.
rcoodyar15
08-05-15, 08:44
MINDSET. Seems you have it now, so that's a HUGE step right there.
Koshinn hit the nail on the head. Be ready for local stuff first...then prep for a bigger, national type event. Food, the knowledge/ability to make clean water, protection, meds....long list of stuff. For ME..Im paranoid about lack of drinking water. Cant store enough of it, so one must have the tools and knowledge on how & where to get or make it. PLENTY of good tech out there for it, like LIFESTRAW, for example.
I like this one! MINDSET!!
Once you have made that decision to prepare it is really pretty easy from there on if you eat the apple one bite at a time.
Local disasters first is good advice. I have lived in florida most of my life. Hurricane preparedness is just a way of life. Get your supplies well in advance. You should see the shelves at Walmart and Lowes a few hours after a hurricane warning. My advice on hurricanes is to leave and not come back till the power and water are restored and the mess is cleaned up. Not always possible though.
Shelter, water and food in that order is the rule. Where ever you live is going to dictate how you handle each. I say everyone should have at least 6 months non frozen/ refrigerated food supply. I like the canned Mountain House because of the 25 yr shelf life. Then canned goods used on a rotating basis. Beans and Rice for long term storage. Water purification equipment. For those in the desert water storage is essential. I would go with a large cistern.
the shelter one. Everyone needs a bug out spot. When I evacuate for hurricanes I go to the home place in Georgia. Now if the big one ever happens and the trucks quit delivering food to the grocery stores and gas to the gas stations then cities will become places you don't want to be. In fact you wouldn't want to be in the path of the refugees leaving the cities. you need a small piece of land a long way from any concentration of people.
Now here is the rub. You have spent all that time and money stockpiling food and other supplies and like most you stayed to long and now you have to get out of dodge. How much of that stuff can you carry on your back. Remember no gas at the gas station.
What are you going to do now.
Mindset and physical fitness are two that are 100% within your control.
Being in excellent physical shape was so important during/after Lenny and Katrina. One day I'll get around to posting some pics from after them as well as give a write-up of what occurred.
10th anniv. of Katrina is coming up so I'll make it a priority.
If anyone here is an IT guru and can help with getting pics. up for me, let me know and I'll PM.
Mindset and physical fitness two that are 100% within your control.
Being in excellent physical shape was so important during/after Lenny and Katrina. One day I'll get around to posting some pics from after them as well as give a write-up of what occurred.
10th anniv. of Katrina is coming up so I'll make it a priority.
If anyone here is an IT guru and can help with getting pics. up for me, let me know and I'll PM.
Yeah I can help you out with whatever you need to get up :)
I'm guessing a lot of the IT folk on M4C are in Vegas now for Black Hat and perhaps Defcon. I happen to live here though.
bigjack7440
08-05-15, 11:11
WATER!!! FOOD !!! WAY TO MAKE FIRE !!! WEAPONS/AMO !!!
KNIFE !! after these things you can make it almost anywhere
Ps
I worked the power lines for 4 months without a day off and 16-18hrs a day during / after Katrina and I'm 6'5 325 . Not what you call in shape but if you WORKA FOR A LIVING your as strong as someone working out a hour or 2 a day lolo
Good luck to all
Sent from my rocket ship using
My cell'y
All good advice thus far. MINDSET is huge.
One thing I think most forget to do is REALLY plan how to get out of their area and travel to a safe area. If you live in a city or a suburb of a city- bugging in would be the most likely scenario; but what if you have to bug out- and the other 2 million people around you do also?
Do you plan on taking the highway like everyone else into the hills/plains/forest/whatever- or do you have alternate routes planned out and a place to go to you can set up camp or have an alternate property, etc. Do you know of a walking route if things are really bad?
Water, food, guns, ammo, medicine and mobility are at the top of my list. Mobility and planning for the trip; having alternate routes is very important to me. What's the use of all the equipment/food/water if I can't use it?
If shit goes down all your "survival stuff" needs to be accessible and ready to move.
Do some mock runs. Figure a scenario and act it out- time yourself and see what you REALLY need time wise to get the task done. This will help if and when shit does go down as you have practiced what to do and can go through the motions. Practicing will also flush out your weaknesses and you can work on those- be it physical, mental, lack of preparedness, too much stuff, etc.
I've got an area in my basement where I keep bug out bags, food, water, a few guns and a few ammo cases- so if we need to get out quick we can pack up and be out with minimal/necessary gear to survive for a month without procuring resources. I figure if it's more than a month; we've got some work to do and some decisions to make as to where and how to procure resources for the future.
I've got tons of supplies, but realistically I can't bring it all with me; so some of it needs to be hidden in case I need to come back for it later. If people loot my house they will get a lot of good stuff- I can't hide it all; but I have a a good deal of gear in places it won't be found.
I have a hitch cargo carrier that folds up on my 4Runner all year long. It's not huge, but can carry quite a bit of gear and is ready to go on a moments notice. Same thing with my roof rack. I've timed myself getting all the gear packed and tied down and getting going. I get quicker each time and find easier ways to do things.
If you need to get out quick- everyone else near you does also- it will pay off to be one off the first out and on the road rather than stuck in the mass exodus.
I think most try to bite off a lot in the beginning, but don't really need to. Next/every time you go grocery shopping pick up some extra canned food that is on sale, buy a few gallons water, pick up a big bag of rice and of beans. You can rotate new supplies in and out as needed for optimal shelf life. Buy a few hundred rounds here and there each month when you find a good price. Buy components for firearms here and there.
Few preppers I know actually allocate a small budget of funds each month- I do and it has really paid off. Even if I'm not buying anything that month it rolls over and I have funds for when things go on sale so I can maximize my investment.
If you just do a little here and there it will add up quick, as opposed to dropping thousands of dollars in one month; which many cannot afford.
Also, what works for others might not work for you- so when you get a new tool or learn a new skill practice it and refine it to your personal ability. Everyone needs to test themselves and learn from mistakes- better to make the mistakes when your life isn't on the line so when it is you know what to do and how to adjust without wasting energy and time learning on the go.
Buy a few books about survival in your region/climate. Buy a book on edible natural plant life in your area; knowing what and what NOT to eat is huge, and buy another on natural plant remedies/medicines. Keep these in your bug out bag.
Last thing I will recommend is buy some schedule 40 3/4" PVC pipe- it is extremely useful. Can make a lot of stuff out of it and it is light. Shelters, weapons, piping water- you are only bound by your own imagination and ability.
With some gorilla tape, para cord and PVC pipe you can make just about anything.
Straight Shooter
08-07-15, 07:27
Yall made me think of a couple more things I do religiously.
1. READ. EVERYTHING. ANYTHING concerning food, storage, making fire/water/improvised weapons...ANYTHING to do with survival/shtf. 2. Every paycheck, buy at least ONE high quality, well made dependable thing. NO JUNK. NEVER. ONE GOOD THING, not 5 pieces of shit.
EXAMPLE: Lights. Buy a good SUREFIRE, NOT 3-4 Chinese pieces of shit.
3. Every time you add something to your kit...write it down, and keep a list in a ziplock bag, so in a hurry you wont have to dig around wondering if you forgot this or that.
these are things I DO.
echo5whiskey
08-07-15, 16:47
Figure out the most common disasters in the area you will live in and proportionately plan for those. If you moved to the gulf coast, be prepared for hurricanes and massive flooding, which would mean being ready to evacuate with not much notice. If you moved to Oklahoma, be ready for ridiculous storms and tornados. If you moved to California (I hope not!), they're expecting "the big one" earthquake at any time, so... yeah.
For Hawaii... get a plan to move to higher ground in case of tsunami if you live near the coastal areas, get a plan in case a once every 2-3 decade hurricane hits, and stock up on food mostly, since Hawaii has something like a 7 day back-stock of food if there aren't constant shipments from the mainland.
That's along the lines of what I've started. I just don't like the fact that there are over 1M people on one tiny island, thousands of miles from everything.
If there's even a hint of some kind of natural occurrence, there's no such thing as back-stock. That's part of what got me thinking about all this in the first place.
echo5whiskey
08-07-15, 16:52
MINDSET. Seems you have it now, so that's a HUGE step right there.
Koshinn hit the nail on the head. Be ready for local stuff first...then prep for a bigger, national type event. Food, the knowledge/ability to make clean water, protection, meds....long list of stuff. For ME..Im paranoid about lack of drinking water. Cant store enough of it, so one must have the tools and knowledge on how & where to get or make it. PLENTY of good tech out there for it, like LIFESTRAW, for example.
Water is one of the first things to sell out over here. Heck, the temperature was about 8 degrees higher than average last week, and A/Cs sold out!
echo5whiskey
08-07-15, 17:03
I like this one! MINDSET!!
Once you have made that decision to prepare it is really pretty easy from there on if you eat the apple one bite at a time.
Local disasters first is good advice. I have lived in florida most of my life. Hurricane preparedness is just a way of life. Get your supplies well in advance. You should see the shelves at Walmart and Lowes a few hours after a hurricane warning. My advice on hurricanes is to leave and not come back till the power and water are restored and the mess is cleaned up. Not always possible though.
Shelter, water and food in that order is the rule. Where ever you live is going to dictate how you handle each. I say everyone should have at least 6 months non frozen/ refrigerated food supply. I like the canned Mountain House because of the 25 yr shelf life. Then canned goods used on a rotating basis. Beans and Rice for long term storage. Water purification equipment. For those in the desert water storage is essential. I would go with a large cistern.
the shelter one. Everyone needs a bug out spot. When I evacuate for hurricanes I go to the home place in Georgia. Now if the big one ever happens and the trucks quit delivering food to the grocery stores and gas to the gas stations then cities will become places you don't want to be. In fact you wouldn't want to be in the path of the refugees leaving the cities. you need a small piece of land a long way from any concentration of people.
Now here is the rub. You have spent all that time and money stockpiling food and other supplies and like most you stayed to long and now you have to get out of dodge. How much of that stuff can you carry on your back. Remember no gas at the gas station.
What are you going to do now.
All that is a huge reason as to why I'm trying to transfer out of here; the only places that aren't built up, are either private or gov't property.
echo5whiskey
08-07-15, 17:29
These are all EXACTLY the kind of tips I was looking for. I'm a stickler for mindset when it comes to self-defense/home-defense, so it's been a fairly seamless transition into this line of thinking.
I literally put in for a transfer yesterday, so I've been trying not to accumulate too much while I'm here. I don't want to get too much stuff, and then have to deal with shipping it across the ocean.
Straight Shooter
08-08-15, 03:10
These are all EXACTLY the kind of tips I was looking for. I'm a stickler for mindset when it comes to self-defense/home-defense, so it's been a fairly seamless transition into this line of thinking.
I literally put in for a transfer yesterday, so I've been trying not to accumulate too much while I'm here. I don't want to get too much stuff, and then have to deal with shipping it across the ocean.
God Bless you in getting out of there. An island..ANY island..is not where Id want to be in a shtf situation either. ONE more recommendation too, brother..read ONE SECOND AFTER.
God Bless you in getting out of there. An island..ANY island..is not where Id want to be in a shtf situation either.
Tell me about it...
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Outlander Systems
08-08-15, 20:02
A Plan
PT
Water/Treatment
Food
...
Guns are at the bottom of my list.
The fact that you are seriously considering it is probably the most important step, so Koshinn's advice is solid.
The key to all of it is self-sufficiency; the less you have to rely on other people, the less likely you are to have an extended stay at Camp Superdome, living in squalor and fighting off rats with a stick for a cold, Vegetarian MRE.
Since you are already working on a plan, the next step is executing a transfer to greener pastures.
Water and a gun.
Rule of 3s. Not to be taken literally, necessarily, but it seems to decently show a general priority/timescale
You can make it
3 weeks without food
3 days without water
3 hours without protection from the elements (mostly a cold weather thing I think)
3 minutes without breathable air
3 seconds without ammo
I'm sure we all seriously over prioritize guns, but a firearm...even just a an old Security Six that works and you know how to use with a couple of speed loaders or speed strips, is way up the list for me.
One thing not mentioned yet is medical.
First, don't get hurt or sick.
Remember, a simple scratch can kill you. A twisted ankle can really ruin a day. The flu can kill you. Think broken bones and no Dr. to set them. (Thinking more of a bug out situation, but can occur bugging in as well)
So preparedness in this means more than an IFAK.
One thing not mentioned yet is medical.
First, don't get hurt or sick.
Remember, a simple scratch can kill you. A twisted ankle can really ruin a day. The flu can kill you. Think broken bones and no Dr. to set them. (Thinking more of a bug out situation, but can occur bugging in as well)
So preparedness in this means more than an IFAK.
Medical is a big one for sure. Best advice I can give is to source Antibiotics and other such meds you need a prescription for from online vet medicine vendors. It's not as good as human grade pharma, but I would rather have it in a pinch than nothing...
A good med kit, not just a first aid kit is definitely required gear. A copy of the "Physicians Desk Reference" is absolutely a MUST HAVE in my opinion.
rcoodyar15
08-10-15, 17:20
Medical is a big one for sure. Best advice I can give is to source Antibiotics and other such meds you need a prescription for from online vet medicine vendors. It's not as good as human grade pharma, but I would rather have it in a pinch than nothing...
A good med kit, not just a first aid kit is definitely required gear. A copy of the "Physicians Desk Reference" is absolutely a MUST HAVE in my opinion.
Really most of us can easily survive our standard run of the mill disasters. Might be a little uncomfortable for a while but it will be over soon. But if something happens that stops the grocery trucks from stocking the shelves or the gas trucks filling up the gas stations nation wide it will be a mess.
Remember guys it really hasn't been that long since Americans were really self-sufficient. less than 100 years ago we were drinking out of dug wells or even streams and rivers. Nobody had refrigeration. Everyone grew their own food. Doctors were rare and pretty primitive at best. No such thing as antibiotics. Lifespans were shorter and lots of children died but life went on.
Those that think weapons and ammo are the answer need to rethink this thing. Just how many firefights do you believe you will survive without taking a hit. Wounded with no trauma unit on standby. How is that going to work out for you? Best thing to do is avoid any contact with people. That way you won't have to go full metal jacket on them. That weapon would be better used putting food on the table.
I would never plan to bug in in a major city. You need to get out early. Be the first to leave. Better to have a false alarm you can use as practice then stay too long and wake up one morning realizing you made a mistake. I could not imagine hiking out of a major city!
I would never plan to bug in in a major city. You need to get out early. Be the first to leave. Better to have a false alarm you can use as practice then stay too long and wake up one morning realizing you made a mistake. I could not imagine hiking out of a major city!
Problem is that that is likely to be far, far easier said than done. And you have to leave almost all of your stuff behind. And probably get stuck on the road with every other person. Sounds pretty horrible to me.
Outlander Systems
08-10-15, 19:07
Problem is that that is likely to be far, far easier said than done. And you have to leave almost all of your stuff behind. And probably get stuck on the road with every other person. Sounds pretty horrible to me.
Several of my coworkers had to ditch their rides, and ruck home during SNOWMAGEDDON.
Medical is a big one for sure. Best advice I can give is to source Antibiotics and other such meds you need a prescription for from online vet medicine vendors. It's not as good as human grade pharma, but I would rather have it in a pinch than nothing...
A good med kit, not just a first aid kit is definitely required gear. A copy of the "Physicians Desk Reference" is absolutely a MUST HAVE in my opinion.
And que the MD's coming in and harping how using a basic anti is life threatening without a full blood panel and battery of lab tests. :rolleyes:
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Medical is a big one for sure. Best advice I can give is to source Antibiotics and other such meds you need a prescription for from online vet medicine vendors. It's not as good as human grade pharma, but I would rather have it in a pinch than nothing...
A good med kit, not just a first aid kit is definitely required gear. A copy of the "Physicians Desk Reference" is absolutely a MUST HAVE in my opinion.
Honestly (and I'm not saying anyone should go out and break the law trying to get narco's) the most useful meds that I can think of based on the myriad of injuries I've sustained personally are basic anti's, lidocaine (and the knowledge and ability to safely use it), and something like vicodin or percocet. That said, I'm basing this off my experiences and what I've required the most in my life. I'm sure it can vary widely for everyone but these things make up the basic foundation of what has got me through the most in life. Should the shtf, these are what I'd be trying to source.
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rcoodyar15
08-11-15, 04:41
Problem is that that is likely to be far, far easier said than done. And you have to leave almost all of your stuff behind. And probably get stuck on the road with every other person. Sounds pretty horrible to me.Just
your stuff should already be stockpiled at your bugout location. Head out at the first sign of trouble. Just study what happened in New Orleans during Katrina and that was a local event. Look what is happening in Furguson now and those are just protest. Imagine if those people haven't had food or water for a week or two and it is nationwide. If you are bugging in in a city you better have a deep concrete bunker and no reason to leave it till the event is over or everyone starves.
Figure out the most common disasters in the area you will live in and proportionately plan for those. If you moved to the gulf coast, be prepared for hurricanes and massive flooding, which would mean being ready to evacuate with not much notice. If you moved to Oklahoma, be ready for ridiculous storms and tornados. If you moved to California (I hope not!), they're expecting "the big one" earthquake at any time, so... yeah.
For Hawaii... get a plan to move to higher ground in case of tsunami if you live near the coastal areas, get a plan in case a once every 2-3 decade hurricane hits, and stock up on food mostly, since Hawaii has something like a 7 day back-stock of food if there aren't constant shipments from the mainland.
The emergency bucket of soup from Sams or Costco is what I kept in my house. Getting out of Ewa Beach during a Tsunami warning was a different story, might as well stay put and blow up your water wings.
Just
your stuff should already be stockpiled at your bugout location. Head out at the first sign of trouble. Just study what happened in New Orleans during Katrina and that was a local event. Look what is happening in Furguson now and those are just protest. Imagine if those people haven't had food or water for a week or two and it is nationwide. If you are bugging in in a city you better have a deep concrete bunker and no reason to leave it till the event is over or everyone starves.
What bugout location? It's great if you have one, and you know of it and can get to it but others can't, and it's in a direction that makes sense to go for the particular event that happens, but even then, you have to be able to get to it and saying "be the first to leave" is probably a lot easier said than done...and you still have to leave most of your stuff behind, or have most of your stuff away from you and not currently accessible. Neither bugging in or bugging out is the definitive answer until you know the precise situation that unfolds, both need to be options.
What is happening in Ferguson now??
Who is bugging in in Ferguson and not making it because they aren't in a concrete bunker?
sevenhelmet
08-11-15, 12:02
As far as "bug out location" goes, I'd prioritize family or friends I could stay with, depending on which direction we had to go. I'd stay away from big cities, even outside the disaster area, as other people will tend to go there looking for food and a place to stay. Having a stockpile of supplies somewhere other than my house would be great, except I personally don't know where I could have one that would be accessible and yet safe from being looted. YMMV.
Here's how I would prioritize for "bugging in":
1.) Water - enough to drink and cook with for at least one week, preferably two weeks or longer. A good rule-of-thumb is 1 gallons per person, per day for drinking, and double it for cooking. I would have a large container in the basement or garage, along with a siphon or pump. Treat with bleach, or rotate every 3 to 6 months. Can be emptied and moved with your household goods. Don't count on water sources or using what's in your hot water heater in case the supply/source is contaminated. A microbial filter is good to have around to bolster your supply if you can find a natural water source.
2.) Food - Enough for at least one week, preferably two weeks or longer. Have a variety, not all of which requires prep. Deep stock your pantry with a variety canned and dry foods that won't go stale quickly, and then use them periodically to rotate (one technique is to put new items at the back and rotate forward). A combination of MREs, #10 cans (or similar) of freeze-dried food, and some emergency survival "cookies" is a good start for emergency food. Think mainly about protein and carbs. Vitamin pills are not a bad idea either.
3.) Medical - Think about prescriptions first. Is anyone in your house on any medication? Have enough for a bare minimum of two weeks, longer if practical. This can be difficult with some prescription meds, so it bears planning ahead. Common injuries in a crisis are lacerations, abrasions, burns, puncture wounds, sprains, and broken bones. Have what you need on hand to treat them for the number of people in your home.
4.) Temperature - Live in a cold or hot climate? What time of year is it likely to be when disaster strikes? Have blankets, layers of quality clothing, and alternate heat sources as a means of heating up food and water. Most people probably have this covered reasonably well already. For heat, water is paramount, so add a fudge factor to your water storage if you anticipate a lot of heat, plus have a plan to limit activity and stay cool during the day.
5.) Protection - Every prepper's favorite. Having a gun. Remember, this is for defense, not Rambo, zombies, or vigilante justice. IMO, you don't need thousands of rounds (although you might have them for other reasons we routinely discuss on this forum). A gun you are comfortable with is good, at least one handgun, more if you can afford or already have them, and a decent supply of ammo: 100-200 rounds per defensive firearm is a place to start for a local/regional crisis, and adjust from there. More if you're worried about a protracted/larger crisis or if you plan to hunt when food supplies get low. I wouldn't have additional guns at the expense of food and water though.
6.) Tools - Knives, a shovel, crowbar, hammer, wrenches, duct tape, etc. Good leather work gloves and stout work clothing. Stuff breaks in a crisis. You may be forced to dig through debris to get something or someone. Maybe you have to fix your generator, your gas stove, or your car, or your bicycle (go ahead and laugh, but it might be a good way to get around your locale). Maybe you have to dig an outdoor latrine to keep your house livable. Most independently-minded folks have a decent number of tools and hardware on hand already. You don't need to have a garage that looks like a Snap-On sales convention. Just don't be the guy who has to go to the hardware store or call a handyman every single time something breaks or needs adjustment.
7.) A bug out plan in case you end up having to leave anyway. Enough fuel to make it where you need to go, plus a healthy reserve. Don't wait until supplies run out to leave, either.
8.) Miscellaneous stuff that everybody forgets like toilet paper (runs out FAST!), Flashlights, Lanterns, Soap... other stuff I forgot?
Remember, mission drives gear. Lots of cool stuff is available on the market, but do you need it? It should fill a niche, and ideally be something you use on a fairly regular basis so you are familiar with it and know its working when you need it in a crisis. A good "test" for a local/regional crisis is don't go to the store for a week. What did you run out of? Was it critical, could you come up with a workaround, or was it just annoying?
rcoodyar15
08-11-15, 16:57
What bugout location? It's great if you have one, and you know of it and can get to it but others can't, and it's in a direction that makes sense to go for the particular event that happens, but even then, you have to be able to get to it and saying "be the first to leave" is probably a lot easier said than done...and you still have to leave most of your stuff behind, or have most of your stuff away from you and not currently accessible. Neither bugging in or bugging out is the definitive answer until you know the precise situation that unfolds, both need to be options.
What is happening in Ferguson now??
Who is bugging in in Ferguson and not making it because they aren't in a concrete bunker?
well everyone needs their own plan. If it is stay put that will be fine with me.
leaving all that stuff would be the hardest thing. Good reason to stay put.....
as far as Ferguson that is just a small scale protest. You still wouldn't want to get caught up in it though. Imagine that throughout the entire country.
Local events like , floods, hurricanes, tornados, even rioting are short lived and easily prepared for. A little discomfort for a few days and it is over. Not what I was talking about.
you let the trucks stop running to the grocery store and the gas stations empty all across the country. after about two weeks people are getting hungry and disparate. Probably never happen but in that scenario....
That's along the lines of what I've started. I just don't like the fact that there are over 1M people on one tiny island, thousands of miles from everything.
If there's even a hint of some kind of natural occurrence, there's no such thing as back-stock. That's part of what got me thinking about all this in the first place.
Best of luck to you and I hope your move goes well. Its good you are planning ahead now. Out of curiousity, where do you plan to move?
I've never been to Hawaii but always wanted to vacation there. I heard everything is expensive there, which also makes your prepping expensive.
Moose-Knuckle
08-15-15, 01:23
Mindset and physical fitness are two that are 100% within your control.
Being in excellent physical shape was so important during/after Lenny and Katrina. One day I'll get around to posting some pics from after them as well as give a write-up of what occurred.
10th anniv. of Katrina is coming up so I'll make it a priority.
I'm always very interested in reading personal accounts, looking forward to yours.
Moose-Knuckle
08-15-15, 01:50
To address the OP, where to start . . .
This thread kind of went all over the place from the OP, not that it's a bad thing as these types of discussions tend to branch off into other topics and it's always informative to see what others think/plan/prep/etc.
OP, you are seeking knowledge so IMHO that is where you start. "For there is no knowledge that is now power" and all that. Good on you for doing your homework as it shows that your head is in the game. Mindset as Straight Shooter listed and education are where anyone should start. It appears that you already have the mindset due to your military background and the fact you started this thread. Your not going to help anyone if you go broke and or go into debt acquiring a mass of gear. I'm big on sales/coupons/etc. This might be signing up for a manufacturers/retailers online news letter or clipping coupons from the Sunday paper. Start slow and use the two is one rule. Also remember it's not just about buying gear. Acquire new skills; first-aid, auto mechanics, reloading ammo, gardening, etc.
echo5whiskey
08-21-15, 19:12
It's been a bit since I've been able to take a look in this thread...wow (in a good way).
JusticeM4, honestly anywhere except an island. I don't dislike this place in and of itself, I'm just ready to move on and get to some wider spaces.
N.Franklin, I used to live up that way, and it was a tsunami warning that started this whole thing. I was still active duty and just about to fly out for training when they made the announcement. My in-laws live just down from camp Smith and I had taken my wife and daughter up there to stay with them while I was gone. If we hadn't left early, when we did, we wouldn't have made it past Ft. Weaver Rd.
This is all really great stuff, and I personally don't care what tangents occur. It's all good for thought and told for the toolbox at this point. Thanks, everyone, for your input!
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