Are you prepared for civil unrest?

[Irish]

Often times survival discussions reference a "SHTF" situation in the hypothetical without really delving into what that might truly mean. Discussions of what this might entail would definitely be enlightening but watching actual video of real incidents in the United States should give you a small indicator of how bad it really will get in a time where people are really desperate for water, food, shelter or supplies.

I'm not making any dire predictions but the fact of the matter is there isn't much standing in the way of rioting, looting and mob mentality taking over large parts of our urban cities. New Orleans after Katrina would be a very good example of what people could expect to be dealing with after a major catastrophe or a SHTF situation.

Are you prepared for this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWW2d...layer_embedded

As for me I'm hanging with the Koreans.

[High Desert]

It has been said the civilization is a very thin veneer that covers a rather nasty society and I agree.

I have come to the conclusion that should I ever have to defend my rural property against a group of people it will most likely NOT be, the Chinese, Al Qaeda, NATO troops, or secret government agents in black helicopters. No, it will be the average unprepared Joe and Jane Q. Citizen after they have not ate a meal in a week. At this point they will believe that they have the “right” to take my stores and livestock for the good of the mankind.

Last month, power was out for 20,000 residents of the county I live in. After 24 hours people were furious that their power was not on. You would assume this was city dwellers only. Yet the most vocal person I saw on the news was a small “rancher” with 100 head of cattle and horses. He could not pump water or keep it from freezing because of no electricity.

If you have the responsibility of 100 animals, why don’t you have a generator? Or a bucket to haul water? Or an ax to chop through the ice in the stock tanks?
Hard to believe 100 years ago we had pioneers here.

Am I prepared? Short term….. yes. Long term….no. One or two families wont be able to hold out on there own against these folks.

Just my .02
HD

[500grains]

[QUOTE=High Desert;926382 One or two families wont be able to hold out on there own against these folks.
[/QUOTE]

1. Can the hordes reach your property without dying first? For example, if you live in Tuscon, I don't think you need to worry about vermin from LA because they will die in the Mojave, even if they make it out of the LA city limits.

2. Can you make your area a harder target than other areas? Such as with stuff that blocks the road but is very hard to move, removal of a bridge, placement of a few competent riflemen, etc.

[ColoradoKevin]

after reading your posts I started thinking about my situation as well. I live in a moderate size city (roughly 120,000). I think the first thing that would be looted would be the stores. They seem like a faceless entity at times. I think people would go for those first thinking it is less "wrong." As time moves on and people get more desperate they will start trying to take from people and their homes. I think I only have enough supplies to get through the initial period and then I am suddenly in the boat with everyone else. I think I would be forced to be on the move once my supplies ran out. Probably at the most dangerous time.

I may need to look at my supplies and plan again. Thanks for bringing this up.

[hickuleas]

It would be hard to prepare for something like this. But i am as ready as i will ever be. Glad to be out in the country.

[controlledpairs2]

I'm hanging with the Koreans too!

[uwe1]

1. Can the hordes reach your property without dying first? For example, if you live in Tuscon, I don't think you need to worry about vermin from LA because they will die in the Mojave, even if they make it out of the LA city limits.

The problem with being in Tucson is that there are plenty of "vermin" (crime and gang elements) in south Tucson.

[Irish]

The problem with being in Tucson is that there are plenty of "vermin" (crime and gang elements) in south Tucson.

Along with a flood of Mexicans pouring over the border.

[500grains]

So stock up on hot sauce.

[uwe1]

Along with a flood of Mexicans pouring over the border.

I thought of that, but I didn't want to go there. Unfortunately, I'm firmly rooted in this city (I like it here). Hopefully, being on the NW side will provide a decent buffer. There are a lot of gun owners and hunters in the surrounding neighborhoods.