Emergency Preparedness Plan

Thanks for the links I always wanted a Sub-Machine Gun.

I have been activitely upping my preparedness level since the mid-80's. Here are a few things that I see, meant a good-natured critique.

What if the goverment and criminals turn out not to be the problem?

I see on your list a lot of combat equipment. Much of it is expensive. Using ANY of it in a chotic/riot situation will draw combatants to you like a walmart. If I here your firepower going off, I'll no where to get some for free! Also, explosives are fine for the lone ninja. But they mess with your social life. Most chicks get nervous with you handling stuff like that, and won't pull for a long term relationship where C4 is stored in a shoebox under the bed.

I don't see you prepared very well for serious contagious disease. Just a thought.

I also see that you are well prepared to go on a mission. What if it's o.k. to stay where you are rt. now? No crime or govt oppression, just lots of hungry and needy (but friendly) neighbors. Are you prepared to be a force for good citizenship or law & order then? (If not, then you're a bandit, and will not live long enought to bother me, anyway.)

No fishing gear? No saw or real shovel? (have you ever dug anything bigger than a foxhole with a folding shovel? Neither has anyone else!)

Plenty of Big-game guns, but no rabbit rifle? No 22lr?

No seeds?
Batteries are only good for 10 hours. Consider a crank powered flashlight;
a crank-powered radio. Coleman makes 'em.

Did you know that water purification tablets contain iodine, and that the body cannot stand more than trace amounts in the system at once? You would develop thyroiditis, which is a permanent death of the thyroid system . . . thyroxin dependant for the rest of your life. Consider unscented, non-arsenic household bleach as a better and safer alternative.

No cough drops, or toilet paper? No toothpaste, or condoms, or BEER!!!???? Why live?

Seriously I respect your spirit.

My approach was transformed by a good friend who was trapped without drinkable water for 6 weeks after a hurricane. The army and redcross shipped water to the island, but as a single adult male, he only got a gallon a day, and 3 meals a week for the first two.

I learned from him about canned goods. They are cheaper, civilians understand them and will trade them.

Looking like a militia type scares the neighbors. Here is the best peice of advice you will ever get about survival preparedness:

No one is so powerful that he can afford to have enemies.

Starchild - With all due respect don't you think that you've gone a bit over the top, I mean do you honestly think America is under threat so much, that you going to need some cemetex, a few guns etc etc to defend yourself. The words paranoid, and overkill would spring to mind.

I cannot believe what some other people are writing on this page, can you not see how unbelievable and crazy the things you advocating are

[edit on 26-7-2004 by Rock Hunter]

[edit on 26-7-2004 by Rock Hunter]

The trick is not to be there. When the round ups begin, assuming you are not the first to go, you leave your home. You could still defend it (from a nearby hilltop mabey) but the key is to leave. The ninja-suit type agents historicly will burn your place down if you dont come out (assuming Lon H. isnt there to shoot your wife in the head while she is armed with a baby)

My family and I live is a low-crime, low population area. We have dozens of family and friends who consider us family. A large and active church, as well as an active masonic lodge. Those are my first lines of defense.

2. LPG barbeque grill. Works when the power and gas are off. A spare tank of LPG. Probably cook 300 meals or so.

3. A 50-gallon drum of water for each family member.

4. Half a pantry full of veggies from our oversize garden. Seeds for next year.

5. A freezer full of meat. (will last 12 hours or so; much will be ruined, but some can be cleaned and jerked. My new hobby is making game jerky, by the way.)

6. A month or so of commercially canned foods.

7. A few week's worth of "bear creek" dehydrated soups and "homemade gourmet" low labor meals. WAY cheaper than MRE's. And tastier too.

8. 5 gallon cans of gasoline

9. Solar powered short wave reciever. I listen to BBC, German, and South African stations with a 75 ft. wire antenna strung in our oak tree.

10 Friends who live about 10 minutes by car, who are raising their own chickens. He'll be mister popularity when econohell finally arrives.

11. An acceptable collection of inexpensive wines; but you'll pay premium prices when we barter, I'll bet.

12. "Escape Trunk" packed with everything we need if we have to leave the house in 10 min and never return.

13. A water distillatior, so we don't get iodine poisoning.

14. A K-meter, a non-battery-powered radiation detector I built from plans I found on line for free.

15. Crate of diapers for the toddler; feminine products for those who'll need em. (and for trade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

16. A crate of toilet paper.

17. Gold and silver 1 oz. ingots

18. Rifle safe with SKS, Remington 870, Springfield Savage 12 ga., Taurus 44 special, walther 38., 22 long rifle., 30-06., and ammo. Of course, the most valuable is the rabbit rifle. The least valuable is the SKS. They can hear it down in hell when I fire, and it really draws onlookers.

19. A wife who has a paramedic's license and is fluent in several languages I'm not.

20. A survival library, including "The Poor Man's Guide to Self-Sufficiency," "the square foot garden," the Boy Scout Handbook, A nearly complete collection of radio shack's "engineer's mini-notebook of electronics projects," "Physician's Desk Reference," "Gray's Anatomy," And the Merck Manual. Chilton's repair manuals on my vehicles, a guide to pirate radio, and of course the Bible, sourcebooks and commentaries.

21. An active mind.

Seriously. You ought to put aside your paranoia and take a look at Fema and the American Red Cross's survival websites. I don't care what any of you say, Bush's fema is actively encouraging people to be prepared for a 2 week disaster survival. THAT is an example of responsible government.

They have the best info for free, and they'll point you to other worthwhile sites, including the one for the K-meter. They just might NOT be your enemy, all the time.

Don't forget

Bungee cords
90mph tape
Ponchos - at least 2
Ponco liners
Wet weather bags
A Hatchet - Gerber makes some good 1s - www.gerberblades.com...
Gore-Tex coat
Bug spray
Musquito net

www.actiongear.com... is a place to look if ur having trouble finding some of this stuff

I believe Barret is the first company to produce a rifle that takes the new 6.8mm cartrige www.barrettrifles.com...

The Beretta Cx4 Storm can easily be converted for left hand shooters w/out buying a completely new receiver www.cx4storm.com...

[edit on 26-7-2004 by infernal]

[edit on 26-7-2004 by infernal]

in everyone's survival kits, most seem people seem to forget the feminine hygiene products, it will be awfully messy and bad for the females in your group. tampons, pads, lots of rags are highly recommended to add to any survivalist list, unless you're a single male.

i keep "hurricane" survival supplies on hand at all times. we do have two weapons, only one which i know how to use properly. other than that, i will hold off on may any additional preparations, unless i win the lottery and can build my own fortified underground bunker.

Fierce. SC, I agree with many of the others... you are missing a fair amoutn of very, very useful objects. However, I also realize some of the realities of a civil war or disaster, or I try to.

I'd ditch the explosives. Lotsa bang for your buck, but I'm guessing you're taking more of a stealth approach, and things wot go boom attract attention. Anyways, if you're out in the middle of nowhere, i see little practical use for explosives.

However, SC does have the advantage over most of everyone else's preparations. He remains (fairly) mobile, seeing as he doesn't have everything and the kitchen sink. Also, having a big gun means that people will respect and fear you. When times get crazy, so do the people. A big gun will discourage bandits, and give those you protect a better sense of security. In a big old firefight against multiple adversaries, your pistol and rabbit rifle won't do much.

My only contribution would be an exceptionally hefty hand to hand weapon. You might not have time to reload, and bullets will get scarce in a hurry. Plus, it's intimidating to have a sword or hammer.

DE

All this equipment ready to fight for your life. Lets hope you don't choke on a steak or get hit by a bus in the meanwhile!

Personally the only thing you need to ready is your mind and soul. That is where the true fight will take place.

Well, DE, understand that SC has made several assumptions about a survival scenario, while I have made others of my own. I would be happy where I am (or will be in another month), so I won't have a reason to "bug out" when the fit hits the shan. The only reason to be mobile is if you decide to flee; in which case a pistol is much easier to hide in a refugee's rags than an assault rifle.

I won't be personally leading any resistance movements; I plan to help coordinate the efforts to rebuild and restore. Bandits won't be a problem for me because I won't be alone. I'm depending on my communities of church and lodge to provide safety so I can sleep sometimes. (and they are depending on me.)

As far as having a big gun goes, I think you've got it half right: People will fear you (but you'll also be hated rather than 'respected'). And that is a poor recipe for survival in the midst of chaos. If you read machiavelli, you know it's better to be respected than feared; but it's best of all to be loved.

You are welcome to your own style of survival, and such ideas are not without merit. But I'd choose my vigilant friends over your massive gun any day.

As far as " a big old firefight against multiple adversaries, your pistol and rabbit rifle won't do much. " That's true. But I won't be engaging in any big ole firefights. I'll leave that to you young turks who take each other out in the first week.

I already know who'll be covering my back; my community. Who will cover yours? A bunch of other guys with violent tendencies and massive firepower? Hmmm...

Being mobile and lightly equipped means you aren't tied down to one place, which helps if said place is flammable. It also means that if your place gets hit by a stray bomb, then pork chop sandwiches, you haven't lost it all. And if you have to flee, an assault rifle in the open is a good idea. It'll discourage bandits and other unsavory folks.

Me? I'm not big on community. communities have their inevitable politicos and traitors. As well, the bandits will begin mobbing up at some point. Who knows, maybe a few of us 'young turks' will be in said community, defending it when you sleep. Hey, a dedicated warrior is always good to have around, isn't it?

As for feared versus respected, respect won't get you diddly. Respect might keep a few knives out of your back, but not all. Nor will respect keep out the human coyotes who will form packs. want to trade with someone? Let them know they won't be walkign away if they cross you. Fear is more universal than respect in our little post apocalyptic scenario. If it's civil war, you cna count of troops running amok and doing crazy things. Our warrior archetypes will certainly be quite happily accepted then.

As for who'll cover MY back, two or three friends and a small pack of very large, loud dogs will suit me just fine.

*holds up sign reading 'WILL FIGHT FOR CANNED GOODS'*



DE

StarChild - Excellent post and rundown of your EPP

dr_strangecraft - Again, excellent post.

Deus Ex - Again again, first class post and analysis.


What does this all tell us? It tell's us that it takes all sorts. I, for one, am equipped and prepared 50% StarChild & 50% dr_strangecraft, a hybrid if you will.

If the $hit does hit the fan it will take a StarChild to fend off aggressors, a dr_strangecraft to think to extended periods without any assistance from the outside world, and a Deus Ex to analyse exactly what should be done and when.

I'd be cowering under a pile of coats hoping somebody remembered to pack my toothbrush for me.....!

Benjj

Benjj

I like your style. However, please keep in mind that for me to list EVERYTHING I have prepared, it would be huge, and would take up way too much space. That list I provided is but a small portion of the supplies I have available to me. Can you honestly see me posting a list like this:

toothpicks
TP
soap
sunglasses (for those sunny days)
earplugs (for that AR-30 )
etc.




Mr. M

Hello Benjj. Good humor as always!

As I mentioned above, it would be ridiculous for me to post every single thing that I would need in the event of something like this happening.

However, as others have mentioned on this thread, mobility is the key, and without it, you will be dead in the water. If the # hits the fan, right up your alley, you want to be able to take as much with you as you can that is absolutely essential to your survival, and escape to a remote location, where more supplies are standing by. Most people don't realize that. They think that if they have a bunch of supplies in their house that they will be just fine. In all actuality, they won't...

You have to spread it out. Stash some here, stash some there, etc. Spread it out over a wide range of land, that way you can bounce around from place to place, without having to rely on your backpack for everything. That, my friend, is the key...


Mr. M

SC,

What kind of toothpicks are you going to take? Mahogany picks are good at getting out bits of rabbit meat but a little on the heavy side. Balsa wood picks would be light to carry but would struggle to handle more than perhaps a bit of jammed apple-pip......

Benjj

SC,

Yes, point taken on the mobility issue.

I have gone as far as preparing a sealed heavy-duty plastic chest for popping in the boot (trunk!) on my car at a moments notice to get out of dodge.

It simply has in it all me and the good lady wife would need for a 5 day drive / walk up to my place in the country. Oh, and my Winchester 101 12g and 250 shells!

Benjj

The toothpicks must be able to be utilized underwater, and be able to maintain a composite structure up to depths of 90 feet under the surface. Also, the potential use of toothpicks in a survival scenario is unlimited. Potentially, a toothpick is capable of supporting 5 ounces in the center. Therefore, theoretically, a large amount of toothpicks might be able to withstand enough pressure, as to construct a temporary shelter, capable of withstanding an explosion.

Diamond Brands Toothpicks. The survival expert's key to success.

LINK




Mr. M

Toothpicks, an amazing medium to work with when you're on the run during a civil war and all you can think about is crafting yourself a lifesize toothpick sculpture of Jesus Christ lashed to a crucifix.....

www.art-bazaar.com...

Argh, this is getting out of hand!

Where the hell did you find that, Benjj? That is ridiculous. Who on Earth has that much time on their hands? You know what I have to say to the person that built that? GET A JOB!!!


Mr. M

Exactly! That guy has got something washing all over him. Something he could make better use of, something he could use to help others. That thing, my friend, is time......!!