Posted: 11/1/2012 6:48:26 AM EDT
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I know too many people who consider themselves preppers who neglect the most basic needs that a person has to have during a disaster.
Among the most basic needs are food, water, and security. In the big cities, security is often a dependence on law enforcement. Where I live in Kansas, I don't know anyone who does not have at least a couple of firearms that could be used for defense against many threats. Also, many of my city friends have a stockpile of food and bottle water. That is fine until the supplies run out. They have no provisions to rebuild the stockpile - they of course state that the government or some entity will restock the shelves eventually (or they are going to join the hordes hunting for their food). Many of my country dwellers not only can the food the grow in their gardens but they raise a variety of livestock. Any of course many hunt. The city dwellers who think they can go out and grab either livestock or game animals are going to get a big surprise from the landowner trying to protect their property. And finally, water is a very immediate need during a disaster. Bottle water is great and so are the big water towers which may keep a city going for a few days. This is a weak link for many of us in the country. I get my water from an electric pump in an 85 foot well. I have a generator which will allow me to get water until the gasoline runs out. My backups include a windmill about 200 yards from my house, a 2 acre pond, and several springs which run year round near my property. My wife and I have discussed what life would be like during a major disaster. We heat our house with a wood stove that keeps us very warm during the coldest days. We have 80 acres which supports our horses, other livestock, a large garden and about 14 fruit trees. I can a years supply of food. Our pond is full of fish Our security provisions seem adequate. Our weakness? First of all a deep attachment to things like cell phones, computers and air conditioning in the summers. Also, we have few neighbors as we average one family farm per square mile. It will be difficult to respond to large groups of people seeking to find resources in our area. Many of us would be charitable because that is the way we are, however there is only so much charity that we can dispense. And of course, health care is a concern during a disaster. We have two very small hospitals in our little county and they would be overwhelmed in even a small disaster. My response to our weaknesses has been to depend less on technology to keep me happy. I have answered my need for more neighbors by inviting friends to share my house and resources during a disaster. These friends include those who fill my need for health care (no doctor but at least one nurse and a pharmacist). I hope more city people start considering these things and seek ways to be more independent. |
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I think there is a time, money, practicality, and probability aspect to it.
I think the time, money and practicality of it are pretty much self-explanatory. You do what you can with what you have and can afford. For the probability: Let's pretend we're going to Las Vegas to play roulette. Betting on RED or BLACK is fairly decent odds, 1 to 1. Bet on a column or the first dozen, 2 to 1, still not bad. You can have some fun, maybe walk away with something or not get hurt too bad if you play conservatively. You can also bet straight up on any SINGLE NUMBER, with longer odds. Odds are 35:1, not a real good chance that you'll win, but when you win, you win big. In between those strategies are a number of bets with different odds like betting on the line or row or on a corner, all with their own odds, that range from 5:1 to 17:1. To me, stuff like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, blizzards, depending on where you live, is like betting on RED or BLACK. Pretty good odds that you'll run into one of these conditions sooner or later. Stuff like OJ Simpson riots is more like betting on the first dozen, maybe 2:1, depending on where you live. Stuff like the local nuclear reactor blowing up, Iran launching a successful missile strike against the United States mainland, a volcano sprouting up in Los Angeles, scenarios that bring upon conditions like from the movie "The Road" are more like betting on a SINGLE NUMBER with 35:1 odds. They're not completely impossible, but they get a lot further out there. Given that line of thinking, I play the odds. I prep more like betting on RED or BLACK, less like betting on a single number. Your chart or betting habits will be different than mine, but that's how I look at it. I put what time and money I can afford into guarding against these things that are most likely to happen to me. |
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The basics
Security - If you can't keep/defend what you have, you don't have anything. Air - Dust masks through respirators - If you can't breathe... Water - Clean supply on hand, redundant places to resupply, redundant filtration/purification. Shelter - Primary, secondary, bug out. Food - Bug out supply, Bug in supply, extra guest supply. (this includes redundant ways to cook/prepare) |
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Probably the best explanation that I have heard in a long time!
Quoted:
I think there is a time, money, practicality, and probability aspect to it. I think the time, money and practicality of it are pretty much self-explanatory. You do what you can with what you have and can afford. For the probability: Let's pretend we're going to Las Vegas to play roulette. Betting on RED or BLACK is fairly decent odds, 1 to 1. Bet on a column or the first dozen, 2 to 1, still not bad. You can have some fun, maybe walk away with something or not get hurt too bad if you play conservatively. You can also bet straight up on any SINGLE NUMBER, with longer odds. Odds are 35:1, not a real good chance that you'll win, but when you win, you win big. In between those strategies are a number of bets with different odds like betting on the line or row or on a corner, all with their own odds, that range from 5:1 to 17:1. To me, stuff like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, blizzards, depending on where you live, is like betting on RED or BLACK. Pretty good odds that you'll run into one of these conditions sooner or later. Stuff like OJ Simpson riots is more like betting on the first dozen, maybe 2:1, depending on where you live. Stuff like the local nuclear reactor blowing up, Iran launching a successful missile strike against the United States mainland, a volcano sprouting up in Los Angeles, scenarios that bring upon conditions like from the movie "The Road" are more like betting on a SINGLE NUMBER with 35:1 odds. They're not completely impossible, but they get a lot further out there. Given that line of thinking, I play the odds. I prep more like betting on RED or BLACK, less like betting on a single number. Your chart or betting habits will be different than mine, but that's how I look at it. I put what time and money I can afford into guarding against these things that are most likely to happen to me. |