A survival scenario: What do you do?

[peshguy]

Originally Posted by Pete

You always have something someone wants. Your life and the life of the others around you are the most important things. You let strangers get close enough to check you out and they are too close.

A face to face could turn into a quick draw contest- winner gets to look around at their leisure.

Yup, that's pretty much the way I see it also. I'm all for being a good Samaritan, if it doesn't make my wife is a widow and my kids orphans. Married life has really changed the way I think about these things.

Originally Posted by 98G

Also, canning is a bit of an art/skill, so if you don't know how, good idea to learn and to practice before you need to depend on it. Many new farmers lose their first batches to mold.

I have sweet memories (no pun intented) of canning peaches with my folks. I think we'll do it again this summer. It's been 10 years or more.

WD

I will post this here and be prepared.

Was watching a news channel that shall remained unamed and there was this lady who was talking about an interesting product is used to help malnourished children. A peanut based paste, that is easily squeezed out.

Here is the wiki on Plumpy'nut

the website for the company that makes it, Nurtiset

I could see using this for other purposes, like survival rations. It contains pretty much all you need.

An alternate product is, Unimix

Unimix, however, has to be cooked. In a survival scenario, plumpy'nut would work better. No fire to draw attention and all that.

[Cowboy1957]

A book from 1977 titled "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a rather graphic fictional account of the consequences of a meteor impact on our planet. There is no other account of natural disaster that I know of that comes close to what we have experienced. It is a source of "what WOULD I do?" I do not have ANY of the skills or knowledge that the QP members of this website possess. I do know that there is a chance that a meteor could strike this planet with greater probability than myself winning a mega-millions lottery. My closest experience to that scenario is enduring the loss of possessions caused by Hurricane Katrina. We have had some cosmic near misses with more to come. Any thoughts that come to mind?

[Monsoon65]

I've been meaning to read "One Second After", but as TR said, it's depressing and I know I'll be in a funk for days after. Still.....

My wife and I have been getting our ducks in a row since I started reading the, "Be Prepared" thread. This winter in PA, we got hit with two snow storms pretty much back to back.

We never lost power, but had a generator if we did. Our pantry had a ton of food. Even if we did lose power, we were ready for that with winter gear to wear, and the food we have can be eaten without being cooked. As someone here said once, food is a necessity, hot food a luxury.

My problems are:

1. I live in a nice development in the middle of Amish Country. I know we'll have a buttload of footmobiles pouring thru this area like shit thru a goose. Stay and try to be the "grey man" or move? And to where?

2. Deadbeat relatives. My wife has two sisters in our AO. One is single, the other married with three kids. Neither has done anything. (In fact, when "the Oink" (H1N1) was the threat, HH6 said her sister (with the family) said, "Oh, I don't have any worries, we'll just come over to your house since you have your 'survival bunker'!").

3. Wife is now 4+ months pregnant. Doing anything with a newborn will be interesting, to say the least.

[Defender968]

Originally Posted by Monsoon65

I've been meaning to read "One Second After", but as TR said, it's depressing and I know I'll be in a funk for days after. Still.....

It's got some hard parts, but it's not that bad in terms of being depressing.

[Nightfall]

I try to stay hidden, not stick out in my life. So most of my survival strats are based on that and the ability to move out quickly. Myself, family, and a few close friends wouldn't be enough even well armed to fend of the mob in this town...

Guerilla farming is effective on said land. Lots of fruits like plums, apples, pears, things of that nature. Vitamin C and tend to grow and produce whether you want them to or not. Other things that don't necessarily need cultivating like viney plants, cucumbers and watermellons don't produce year round but produce with little help regardless and don't appear to be much more than weeds. So long as it doesn't look cultivated, it will most likely be overlooked or passed over by the untrained eye. Even if it is noticed, it may be avoided as most grown in this manner doesn't look like the store bought so said scavengers are likely to avoid as they won't know what they are. In addition to that it will attract small game. I've got a tiny bit of land to be planted as such way in the sticks east of me in between 4 stocked private lakes less than a mile away.

I've also read of people turning their homes into pseudo-sod homes, essentially burying their houses and putting in grass along the outside, looking something like a hill of sorts (a hobbit house?). Keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter and depending on what you have buried it in (tires, scrap metal, drit, concrete) also provides a storm shelter/almost bomb shelter-esque habitat. Plant some kudzu around the perimeter and within a matter of days or weeks(depending on the weather) it will be completely hidden. Hopefully it won't choke out the previously mentioned guerilla farm. 32 acres right? Will also allow for hidden movement - I used to make tunnels through the kudzu as a kid to hide out from the older kids, never saw me even after they took a BB to the ass. Sounds wierd, but the theory seems sound. But then again could be like the lion trap in The Ghost and the Darkness.

Rechargeable AA's (as mentioned by TR) and you can make a wind-charger fairly easy out of one of those little hand held fans by reversing a couple of wires. Also could be turned into a crank charger, same principle. Definately standardise what batteries you are using.

Teach everyone to build a fire without matches. Sounds silly but I didn't see it mentioned, sorry if I overlooked it. This one is an imperitive in my book. If you lose everything from said farm, that skill and a good knife/machette and a little knowledge will take you far. Sorry getting off on a tangent, starting to revert to my teenage years living under the bridge Still keep my *jumpbag* and enough gear to at least get my wife and daughter to our land (even if by foot) and keep us going until I get the shelter up - I live right in the center of town, I've got escape routes that don't require roads water purifier and tablets, so on. Working on the years worth of non-perishable food, but either way, we'll have to bail for our land and keep mobile until we get there. Would love to have 32 out in the sticks with a little house to keep my daughter away from the mutants and junkies. Teach her to be a little Nim

[nmap]

A 6:45 video that may illuminate the problem

LINK

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by nmap

A 6:45 video that may illuminate the problem

LINK

Along that same sobering line....


http://usarmyguyretired.com/wordpress/

Is America Destined to Starve? by USARMYGUYRETIRED
June 21st, 2010 / Author: usarmyguyretired

Americans are no longer prepared to take care of their basic needs without the involvement of the federal government. The majority of Americans have relinquished the responsibility of their future survival to bureaucrats. How and when did we, as an intelligent and formerly self-reliant populace, decide to become wards of the state?

Since September 11, 2001 this country has faced numerous disasters both man-made and natural. It is evident after these disasters the majority of the population is unable to fend for themselves without government assistance. In only a matter of days, people run out of food and water, no longer able to take care of their families. They then expect some level of government to open up centers which will provide the necessary sustenance to support their families during these emergencies. Basic needs cannot be met without outside assistance. In less than 60 years Americans have lost the knowledge and will to be self-sufficient. How did this happen?

The federal government, in conjunction with large food suppliers, has seduced the citizens into servitude. The greater part of the population no longer maintains more than seven days of food supply in their homes (paycheck to paycheck). Some may argue this is untrue but it is imperative to be able convert raw foodstuffs into an edible product. If you have basic ingredients but no water, heat source, or electricity those raw foodstuffs might as well be located on another planet. American citizens have succumbed to the lie that everything will be available to them at all times in all circumstances. Americans now spend their money on frivolous goods and services which will not protect them against a possible disaster. If one had the ability to inspect any citizen’s food supply they would be minimal and nutritionally harmful. Food products purchased today are processed to the point of having the actual nutrients degraded in the attempt at extending shelf life. Even Americans themselves seem to have a shelf life after death. A lifetime ingesting foods packed with preservatives and the residuals have significantly altered the very essence of what makes our bodies tick. Americans have fallen into the trap of a never-ending supply of food stuffs from the local grocery store. The just in time inventory system we mimicked from the Japanese has certainly increased efficiency but it has greatly increased risks in food supply if interruptions occur. No one ever questions what happens if that supply suddenly stops or their income ceases to exist.

The example before us today is the oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. This affects a wide swath of wage earners in the gulf region with immense and unpredictable second and third order effects for the rest of the country. The impacted individuals no longer have the capacity to earn a living and limited job prospects, at least in this country. Food lines are now the order of the day in the region. The people now find themselves at the abject mercy of an indifferent, disengaged government bureaucracy only intent on expanding their agenda and the population’s dependency. Listen to the rhetoric from the federal government. Their major concern is not the people or the cleanup, it is how they will extort large sums of money from BP, how they will push forward their Cap and Trade fiasco and how they can take over yet another sector of the economy. The old-school media will cover any usurpation for the current administration in the face of this catastrophe. There will be limited blame placed on some minor bureaucrats with the majority of the fault falling to BP. The assignation of blame is only relevant because the federal government will use this as an opportunity to seize more power and control over business and the lives of the citizens. The economic illiteracy on the part of the government media complex is astounding. If BP is fined, that will have no impact on fuel prices down the line?

Hurricane Katrina and Rita were only small windows into what the country might face in the future. Those natural disasters were limited in scope and therefore did not reach the full consciousness of the American people. Yes, we were quick to blame the political powers for failing to act quickly in response to those disasters, especially if we were diametrically opposed to their agendas. Those disasters pale in scale to what the Gulf Coast now faces in conjunction with a grossly incompetent federal government and complicit media. The lethal combination of incompetence and the ability to have an unlimited scope in meddling is a recipe to make the Greater Depression worse than it is already.

Controlling the food supply has been the plan of the federal government for an extremely long time. The creation of the FDA was fundamental to the execution of this plan. Working in conjunction with large agribusiness and complicit media they now control the destiny of the majority of the population of the United States. They are attempting to eliminate all small farming operations through overbearing regulations and a wink and a nod in the courtroom to patent regulations for the agribusiness lobby. Part of the agenda is to force all small operations to microchip every animal and provide tracking information to the federal government. The large agribusiness operators will not be subject to the same regulations as small farmers. They will be exempt from providing the same information because of the political power they wield through the purchase of politicians.

It is a historical fact that whoever controls the food controls the people. History is replete with examples of what happens when a corrupt and ruthless government controls the food supply. In the 1930’s, Russia starved 10 million Ukrainians to death by stealing all the food produced in their country because they would not support Stalin’s farm collectivization program. Hitler used starvation in Poland for the mass murder of the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto. America is now poised for the same fate since they are unable to feed their families in the face of a disaster or corrupt government.

There are many reasons the food supply might cease functioning in United States. Natural or man-made disasters are the preeminent possibilities which might precipitate a food stoppage. We do not want to contemplate the stoppage may be due the interference of the federal government. The question that must be asked is how we survive as a people in the event of a long-term interruption of the food supply? The majority of the population no longer has any understanding of raising their own food supply. No longer are we capable of going to our seed supply and planting a survival garden. If a family does have seed, it is imperative to ask a question. Is the seed the heirloom variety or the genetically altered large agribusiness strain? If it is the genetically altered variety then it is part of the trap and that family will starve. Genetically altered seeds render them viable for one season with no ability to harvest seed for future planting. The unprepared with no stockpile of heirloom seeds will be at the mercy of the government or whoever holds the power.

The stoppage of the food supply is only an example of what might transpire in the event of a disaster. We, as a people, are an unprepared population. There are many books written concerning what this country might face in a disaster which also address the impact of a massive economic or social collapse of the government. I urge everyone to read these tomes and educate themselves as to what might transpire and to better prepare for the unspeakable but inevitable future. It is incumbent upon each family to prepare themselves for the coming crisis our country will eventually have to endure. It is naïve at best and foolish at worst to believe our country is too big to fail. The preparation of an informed populace will define how we survive as a people in the event of a major disaster or economic collapse.

Are you ready, or will your family starve

[Last hard class]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

If you want a educational, but depressing read about a post-EMP survival scenario, get "One Second After", which nmap alluded to earlier.

The worst part is that it is completely plausible.


TR

I just watched the Nat Geo special on the EMP. It seems to me more than plausible. Downright scary in fact.

I need to look into a regenerating power source for the home asap.

[GratefulCitizen]

Was thinking about an issue along the lines of vehicle reliability (posts 85, 91).

Cooling systems.
Low pressure cooling systems are much more robust than high pressure systems.

A low pressure system can keep running just fine with a leak, if it's high on the radiator.
Small cracks might not leak at all, and repairs need not be as sturdy.

If you have a slow leak which can't be plugged, a low pressure system will leak much more slowly, allowing for less frequent coolant refilling.
Low pressure systems can more easily accept non-standard (jury-rigged) replacements.

Engines with open-chambered heads (smog-compliant) need more cooling capacity than similar engines with closed-chambered heads.
The difference can be significant on some large engines.

Thermostats.
Ease of thermostat replacement/ availability of different temperature thermostats should be considered.

Insufficient or excessive cooling capacity (due to climate/damage/repairs/driving conditions/etc.) can be mitigated with thermostat selection.
Selection can be counter-intuitive.

If the engine is running too hot, or the environment is hot (insufficient cooling capacity), a higher temperature thermostat should be used.
If there is a risk of the coolant freezing, a cooler thermostat should be used (in extreme cold, the thermostat could be pulled, but this can lead to other problems).

If the engine is failing to reach operating temperature, the thermostat is probably not working correctly.
Engines will reach operating temperature more quickly and burn less oil under load (light load, don't overwork a cold engine).

That's all I can think of right now.

Originally Posted by GratefulCitizen

Was thinking about an issue along the lines of vehicle reliability (posts 85, 91).

Cooling systems.
Low pressure cooling systems are much more robust than high pressure systems.

A low pressure system can keep running just fine with a leak, if it's high on the radiator.
Small cracks might not leak at all, and repairs need not be as sturdy.

If you have a slow leak which can't be plugged, a low pressure system will leak much more slowly, allowing for less frequent coolant refilling.
Low pressure systems can more easily accept non-standard (jury-rigged) replacements.

Engines with open-chambered heads (smog-compliant) need more cooling capacity than similar engines with closed-chambered heads.
The difference can be significant on some large engines.

Thermostats.
Ease of thermostat replacement/ availability of different temperature thermostats should be considered.

Insufficient or excessive cooling capacity (due to climate/damage/repairs/driving conditions/etc.) can be mitigated with thermostat selection.
Selection can be counter-intuitive.

If the engine is running too hot, or the environment is hot (insufficient cooling capacity), a higher temperature thermostat should be used.
If there is a risk of the coolant freezing, a cooler thermostat should be used (in extreme cold, the thermostat could be pulled, but this can lead to other problems).

If the engine is failing to reach operating temperature, the thermostat is probably not working correctly.
Engines will reach operating temperature more quickly and burn less oil under load (light load, don't overwork a cold engine).

That's all I can think of right now.

Almost any truck or SUV before the advent of the catalytic converter is a great survival vehicle IMHO. I miss tuning up the old engines and being able to work in the engine compartment (large enough to fit 4 illegals) without many problems. You ask almost anybody under the age of 30 now days what a "cap & rotor" are and they look at you really weird.

I will reinforce the opinions of nmap & TR on the book: "One Second After". IMHO...a nuclear war would not start without an EMP strike.

Before I usually add something to my kits, I try and see if I am able to use said item with one hand and if so will it be both durable and reliable because of injury(es), or arthritis. Not to mention ease of use with less moving parts if at all possible. If not, then I generally see if I can secure the parts together to prevent loss by using any of the parts of 550 parachute cord, Gorilla tape, and/or strong electric tie downs. Too much trouble, and I just pass it by and through it in a junk drawer. Just my $.02 worth.

[GratefulCitizen]

Originally Posted by MAB32

Almost any truck or SUV before the advent of the catalytic converter is a great survival vehicle IMHO. I miss tuning up the old engines and being able to work in the engine compartment (large enough to fit 4 illegals) without many problems. You ask almost anybody under the age of 30 now days what a "cap & rotor" are and they look at you really weird.

Not as familiar with other brands, but many of the GM trucks/SUVs made in the 80s and 90s can accept retro technology.
There's a base on which to build.

Even the 5700 Vortec is still compatible with most gen I small block parts, and the 7400 Vortec (gen VI) is compatible with most mark IV big block parts.
There are minor issues like needing melonized distributor gears, one-piece vs two-piece rear seals, fuel pumps, etc.

The early 90s gen II small blocks and gen V big blocks have some orphan issues.

Options on vehicle modifications are greatly affected by local registration and emissions laws.
Don't plan on reselling any severely modified vehicle which is subject to federal emissions laws.

Northern Arizona is pretty lax with vehicle standards.
If you have a horn, mirror, brake lights, and a redundant braking system, they'll give you a license plate.