To be honest i wouldn't really want to give you any advice as i'm not really an expert in survival situations etc but i'm sure there are people on here you can give you SENSIBLE advice about self defence and surviving outdoors, that kind of stuff.

Hey, good to see you mate, thats three of us in this thread alone lol. No matter where you go or where you look theres always a Geordie lol.

Hey Cgurl. SITX probably wont happen. I believe a lot of stuff on this website but the negative aspects are EVERYWHERE on this site. For every good post theres 3-4 end of the world nitemare posts. Im very open minded but I feel the current war and weather events have got conspiracy theorists working over time to mess with everyones head. There is one thing you MUST know. People speak about the end of the world and whats going to happen in the next few years (2012). If we think positive things then positive things happen. We are all in control of our future despite what so called prophets say. Please cgurl dont spend sooo much time on this website because even thought I love ATS most of it is paranoia and depression triggers. More then half the things said on this site are bad. Dwelling on a lot of the posts on ATS = depression. Dont take everything for face value on here. I hope this helps. Also one other thing. Im a 25 year old white male and I want to say, I really think that white people are truely sorry for what happened in the past and any rascism you come across today isnt exactly the hatred form that we know from 200 years ago. Rednecks even though rude and may say hurtful things are no more harmful then if you went to a crypt neighborhood in Los Angeles.

I always thought the boy scouts and the girl scouts were great organizations for learning outdoor skills, citizenship, and self-reliance, but not many kids seem interested today.

Actually I had my kids in Girl and Boy Scouts, in our area it seemed the thing the instructors were interested in doing was "glue the glitter here on this paper" and memorize the pledge. After two years of never leaving the lunch room I decided they had learned all they needed to about glitter. I was sorely disappointed in our local chapters.

I live in Florida and it is part of my life to prepare for sitx. While we have been very fortunate the last 2 years in my neck of the woods, we aren't always. Hurricanes provide some good training.
That being said, my advice to a 16 yo would be that seeing that your funds may be somewhat limited, every week when you get paid or allowance, put a few dollars away to buy dry goods that are easily transported. Crackers and dried meats are my choice. I've built up a stockpile that will keep a few of us in food for a while till the worst is over and its "safer" to go foraging, or in worst case to bug out and head for the hills. (figure of speech, there ain't no hills in Florida)
Don't wast your money on buying too much freeze dried goods as they take water to become edible and most water will have been severely contaminated and its too heavy to carry around.
Speaking of water, you said you know how to purify contanimated water, I hope so, because if your wrong, diarreah will kill you in a sitx scenario.
If your family is amenable, talk to them about your concerns and gauge their reactions about compiling "just a survival kit". You sound like a level headed young lady, maybe they'll put you in charge.
A lot of my loved ones tend to think I'm outa-my-mind when this subject is discussed, but they all want to hook up at my house when the storms threaten.
Good Luck
LC

[edit on 7/24/2008 by LAUGHING-CAT]

Hi, I'm the anonymous guy on the internet you've heard so much about.
There have been some really awesome answers for you here already. Literally a lifetime of worthwhile things to study.

One thing, and then maybe two things, we'll see. Sitx, like the person from Florida can tell you, can happen anywhere and at any time. It doesn't have to be aliens, zombies, and/or FEMA martial law. It could be a week long electrical black out with no good explanation. It could be a crappy levee or a bad rain storm. We had one here two years ago that we're still feeling the effects of to some degree.

Knowing something you can do with proficiency when there's no electricity is vital. A skill that you will need every single day is of utmost importance.

So, my sage anonymous internet advice to you, turn off the lights. Turn 'em off. This goes to everyone out there. You don't have to go camping to learn stuff. Just do without electricity for ever increasing amounts of time.
Start small. 5 minutes. What did you think to do in 5 minutes in a dark room that doesn't involve electricity.

Ya'll get your minds outta the gutter cause we're talking to a person of youthful persuasion.

If you're like me you got tired of being in the dark and tried to make light. Maybe you just opened the blinds or maybe you had to find a candle and matches in the dark.
Next time maybe leave the lights off until you get hungry. What then?
This is a simple game/learning tool that anyone can do.

I'm not advocating unplugging the refrigerator or your alarm clock. You really will be roughing it if you don't make it into work because you forgot to plug your clock in.

You'll know you've actually learned lessons when you start keeping the things that are handy when the lights go off in convenient places. Maybe that's a bag at first. Later it will probably be shelves or a room. Maybe a bunker. Bunkers are sweet.

As far as guns...really be careful where you get your legal info. In Texas you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun. 18 for a rifle or shotgun. In fact I wouldn't even steer you towards a gun first; though I love guns.

In a race war you will not be a target for the nuts out there. Black males will be the target of misplaced anger, and ignorance. There are plenty of white men like myself that want nothing to do with a race war. I am out for myself first, family second, and whoever needs help black or white last. You will be just fine.

Originally posted by TXMACHINEGUNDLR
In a race war you will not be a target for the nuts out there. Black males will be the target of misplaced anger, and ignorance. There are plenty of white men like myself that want nothing to do with a race war. I am out for myself first, family second, and whoever needs help black or white last. You will be just fine.

Thank you for your kind words and I also will do the same...