Is the EOW getting closer or further away?

[Moose-Knuckle]

I'll add something here for thought. Just in the 20th century stuff the magnitude we've never experienced from '70's on. Let's visit some of them:
Not just one but 2 world wars. The great depression. 1918 before that. Influenza kills about 17 million. Social upheaval of the 60's. Africa has always been fukkked! Middle east ditto. Communism in russia, china, se asia, central and south america, eastern europe.

Any or all this crap could have been EOW... But it wasn't.

Well it WAS the end of the world for hundreds of millions . . .

https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/MURDER.HTM

[JusticeM4]

OK, let's get some terms correct. The end of mankind is not the end of the world. Barring some cosmic event, the world will go on without us, much as it did before us. Some even say it would be a better place without us.

And even the EOTW As We Know It (EOTWAWKI) is not the end of mankind. We experience the EOTWAWKI every day - it just happens so slowly that we don't necessarily notice it daily, but do over longer periods of time.

The world as I knew it in the 1940's and 1950's is a much different place today. And the world as I knew it in the 80's and 90's is just a fond memory. The world as I know it today is both a better and a worse place, depending on the topic discussed. Things evolve and some things we like and some we don't. Hopefully, we adjust and mature.

Based on my short life span on this ancient earth, I can only compare what I know, and the current decade, the 10's, feels an awful lot like the 60's to me in the sense of US civil unrest and world turmoil. I didn't think we would get through it (mutually assured nuclear destruction), but we did.

The 80's and 90's were pretty much the golden years for me from a world stability and personal career standpoint. Then came 9/11 and here we go again.

As bad as it is, I really don't see the 10's, so far, as bad as the 60's were, but things could always get worse. But they could get better also. Enjoy the life you have, however long or short it might be, as it is probably the only one you are going to get.

Not to argue semantics, but we get your point. End of Mankind is just as bad as End of the World. If humans all died like the dinosaurs did, it wouldn't matter if the earth still existed. As long as there are still people, then its not EOM.

We're more discussion how close/far such an event is, which of course only God knows.

This thread has developed into one of my favorite threads we've had since I've been reading on a regular basis. I find this conversation the most thoughtful dialogue about the likely possibilities that could threaten the way of life we are enjoying. These comments have provided avenues of thought.

I find myself on the lighter side of things with a small portion inside that fears the worst as a possibility. For where I live I have 2 likely events that I frame it all around: and earthquake taking down services and causing water table to rise temporarily and the economic disturbance (read as "EBT cards get denied and the free shit crowd gets hungry, scared, and then angry/mobilized"). The most realistic and rational part of my brain says these are very good possibilities and will be a problem but the problem is likely to be short lived and containable. The "plan for the worst" part of me says that these could both become prolonged problems turning my city dwelling into a dangerous situation.

I agree with those above that comment on the Federal Reserves manipulation of our economy and currency. I don't profess to be well educated in macro-economics but the whole "prosperity" we are seeing right now in the markets seems like it has to be mostly fake, driven by emotion rather than wealth building. This combined with the Left's perpetual buying of power with expanded gov't programs to be cradle-to-grave nannies for this free-stuff crowd make the sustainability outlook frightening.

So closer or further? I'd say something happening is closer. You pick your something. If I lived on the southern and eastern coasts I'd say the next hurricane is closer. As far as the econ disaster I say closer but I believe it won't be a spiral to the depths of Book of Eli or The Postman. I just don't think it will last that long. Reason being I think people will do what they've done for milenia: seek societal structure and build for a more functional and comfortable way of life. People will try to restore the power and make neighborhoods safe. I don't believe WROL lasts long because the reality is that it is against our very nature as human beings. S may HTF but the fan won't fling the feces forever. Prepare as best we can!

Same here. Its a pretty good thread with lots of good points thrown in by many.

Lets say a good scenario is a societal disturbance.

I've lived through a Coup de 'etat (sp) when the country I lived in overthrew the president that was corrupt. Luckily I lived in the country (aka province) at the time; I was probably in my early elementary years when it happend. You know what, those in the countryside did not get affected much, if at all. Phones worked, supermarkets were open, etc. While in the capital, all the chaos was going on as the people revolted against the administration/presidency. Tanks were deployed in the capital, and Martial law was imposed. Those living in the capital felt the brunt of it, while the rest of the country was fairly ok. I could remember it happening only because my father was in Europe at the time, and the main international airport in the capitol was suspended and my dad could not come home until after the Coup ended. Clue: the coup happend in 1986. Figure that out and you know what country it is.

If Compared to the US, those living in D.C. and surrounding areas would be hit hard, but everywhere else will probably be ok and lightly affected. Of course, now we all depend on Internet, Smartphones, and electricity so those may complicate things a bit.

[MorphCross]

All we have to do is look at Katrina as a small example of what a large scale elongated power outage would do during the warmer months INCONUS. The lights went out, the A/Cs stopped spewing refrigerated air, and people who were old, obese, diabetic, and dependent upon things like dialysis expired in short order. 1,833 people died during Katrina, the majority of those fatalities were not from drowning.

Katrina was a compounded disaster, and it included long term power outages and massive displacement of a population. Power outages alone are not a big issue. For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003 IMO, all disasters are unique test cases, and where you live does make a difference.

As is commonly said failure to plan is a plan to fail. Prioritize what life changing events have the greatest likelihood of happening to you and go from there.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Katrina was a compounded disaster, and it included long term power outages and massive displacement of a population. Power outages alone are not a big issue. For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003 IMO, all disasters are unique test cases, and where you live does make a difference.

As is commonly said failure to plan is a plan to fail. Prioritize what life changing events have the greatest likelihood of happening to you and go from there.

Correct, the City of New Orleans was ran by racist felons. Here you have a city that is BELOW sea level in the Gulf of Mexico, with the Mississippi River (the largest on the North American hemisphere) running through it and a freaking lake to its' North. Hurricanes don't just happen like an F5 tornado or a 9.0 earthquake, they had five days of warning before land fall and they did nothing to prepare. You snooze you loose . . .

[FloridaWoodsman]

Short-term, my only concerns are nature related. Longer term, my biggest worry is over-population. The third-world problems are becoming our problems.

[amac]

Correct, the City of New Orleans was ran by racist felons. Here you have a city that is BELOW sea level in the Gulf of Mexico, with the Mississippi River (the largest on the North American hemisphere) running through it and a freaking lake to its' North. Hurricanes don't just happen like an F5 tornado or a 9.0 earthquake, they had five days of warning before land fall and they did nothing to prepare. You snooze you loose . . .

Not sure this thread needs to go down this road. I don't know where you live, but I live in NOLA and experienced Katrina first hand. The leadership of this city/state were to blame, yes. But their true colors came out after, not before. Too much temptation was created by the slush funds thrown into their control. Additionally, having the means to leave, having a place to go and taking the message serious all played parts in why more people didn't evacuate. What's more, stories about the aftermath are blown up bigger than Pinocchio's nose!

But the experience of Katrina brings me back to my preparation questions. One of the concerns I've had is determining how much is enough and how soon do I need to have everything in place? Based on some of the responses here, I am working my personal lists of likely buggout scenarios. Hurricanes are at the top of the list. If another storm comes head on, all citizens will be required to evacuate. That being the case, I am looking into more "mobile" storage solutions. Going mobile means I am also considering weight, available vehicle space and storage at my retreat location. If you were forced to evacuate with no known re-entry plans, would you bring everything? I keep asking myself this question. My home is 3 miles on the other side of a levy that broke. I could have easily been washed out. I'd hate to loose my food storage and ammo supplies.

Another thanks to all the great conversation here.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Not sure this thread needs to go down this road. I don't know where you live, but I live in NOLA and experienced Katrina first hand. The leadership of this city/state were to blame, yes. But their true colors came out after, not before. Too much temptation was created by the slush funds thrown into their control. Additionally, having the means to leave, having a place to go and taking the message serious all played parts in why more people didn't evacuate. What's more, stories about the aftermath are blown up bigger than Pinocchio's nose!

And just what road is that?

I had a relative living in NOLA at the time Katrina made land fall, a great aunt who lived their most of her adult life. After the storm she had all of her Earthly possessions stolen from her thanks to looters, nothing exaggerated about that. Her nursing home was off Magazine St. I stand by my racist felons comment as it was in reference to then mayor Ray Nagin's "chocolate city" remarks. He is in fact a convicted felon who is a vetted racist and was an elected public official.

[JusticeM4]

But the experience of Katrina brings me back to my preparation questions. One of the concerns I've had is determining how much is enough and how soon do I need to have everything in place? Based on some of the responses here, I am working my personal lists of likely buggout scenarios. Hurricanes are at the top of the list. If another storm comes head on, all citizens will be required to evacuate. That being the case, I am looking into more "mobile" storage solutions. Going mobile means I am also considering weight, available vehicle space and storage at my retreat location. If you were forced to evacuate with no known re-entry plans, would you bring everything? I keep asking myself this question. My home is 3 miles on the other side of a levy that broke. I could have easily been washed out. I'd hate to loose my food storage and ammo supplies.

Another thanks to all the great conversation here.

If a deadly hurricane is predicated to make landfall where you live, you should move/relocate to a safer area. Only take what you can fit in your vehicle. Everything else is replaceable.

Of course, if you can have a bug-out home elsewhere, you should have most of your necessities there: Food, water, medicine, gas, guns/ammo, candles, etc.

Here in FL, we had a few bad hurricanes in early 2000's. IIRC it was hurricane Charlie that forced most people in the Tampa bay area to evacuate. My gf at the time who lived in Tampa drove to Orlando to move away (temporarily) from the hurricane. All she had was what she could fit in her car, and left everything in her apartment.

[68W]

But the experience of Katrina brings me back to my preparation questions. One of the concerns I've had is determining how much is enough and how soon do I need to have everything in place? Based on some of the responses here, I am working my personal lists of likely buggout scenarios. Hurricanes are at the top of the list. If another storm comes head on, all citizens will be required to evacuate. That being the case, I am looking into more "mobile" storage solutions. Going mobile means I am also considering weight, available vehicle space and storage at my retreat location. If you were forced to evacuate with no known re-entry plans, would you bring everything? I keep asking myself this question. My home is 3 miles on the other side of a levy that broke. I could have easily been washed out. I'd hate to loose my food storage and ammo supplies.

Another thanks to all the great conversation here.

Like others have said being mobile in face of natural disaster is important. Stuff is just stuff, leave it behind and stay safe. Take what you can in your vehicle but decide now what the packing list includes so you don't have to decide how to pack the car when the time comes. Decide what are the most important things to have with you leaving or that you can't allow to be lost if left behind.

[Dead Man]

I don't understand this fascination with obsessing over the "end of the world."

I never think about the world like that. It's not ending. As mentioned, absolutely terrible things have happened, and we just keep chugging along. Empires have gone in decline, some have pittered out. When was the last time you saw a real "EOTWAWKI" situation? It's been a long time, and it's going to be a long time till you see that again, anywhere in the world. Man's always experienced hard times and he always will.

I'm sure prepping brings some level of satisfaction. People with OCD generally enjoy their compulsive behaviors: it's like scratching an itch. But it's better to just not be ****ing itchy in the first place, I think.