Survivalism

[hillfighter]

It really suprises me that there doesnt seem to be more interest in survivalism on this board. (yes, I know survivalism isnt a word, yet)

I am not a "end of the world as we know it" kinda guy, but I do have some preps.

Is there really not that big of an interest on this board?

There's not a lot of talk about dating and marriage but I don't assume that means nobody is interested in the subject.

[jmra]

I have a long ways to go to come even close to being ready for a major event. I have the firearm/ammo aspect covered but have just started on most everything else.
I have purchased enough life straws and other devices to filter around 10,000 gallons of water and we keep about a six week supply (family of 4) of bottle water on hand. I plan on expanding the bottle water supply to 3 months.
Where I am really behind (I think) is in food supplies. What we have in the pantry would probably go pretty quickly. This week we plan on taking inventory to see exactly where we are. Then it is a matter of seeing with what and when we can start to fill in the gaps.
The other thing I need to think about is where we would go if we had to leave assuming that travel was even possible. In most cases I think I would try to stay put. If we had to leave I think I would head WNW and look for a sparsely populated area. Once we get everything in place here I will start looking at bug out locations.

[chasfm11]

It really suprises me that there doesnt seem to be more interest in survivalism on this board. (yes, I know survivalism isnt a word, yet)

I am not a "end of the world as we know it" kinda guy, but I do have some preps.

Here are my thoughts:

1. Topics like CHL and emergency preparedness are extensive. There is a lot of information in each area. Mixing them all together does help me to retain and use the necessary information. I belong to this forum but I also participate in emergency preparedness forums and belong to an EP group. We just had a meeting last night.

2. Bug out bags are great for individuals. Those of us with wives and children who want to help protect them in a disaster situation have to take a different approach.

3. The EMP scenario is fine as a consideration. If you want to pursue that line of thinking, I suggest reading "One Second After" and "Last Light" I have. Each book approaches the situation differently but they share many of the same ideas and the realism of the ideas is born out if you also study the aftermath of Katrina or the tornados in Alabama a couple of years ago.

4. If you perform a risk analysis on possible disaster events, you may find as I did that there are many of them that are more likely than a TEOTWAWKI scenario. Many of the preparations for those lesser impact situations can also be used toward the more significant disasters.

5. I've concluded that the likelihood of a singular individual surviving for very long in a true TEOTWAWKI event is not very high. The key for me is to try to re-establish some sort of society among like minded individuals and to use the collective capabilities of the group to try to extend survival chances. Think about this: you cannot remain awake 24 hours a day for very long and who will handle your security when you aren't awake? I recognize that there are parts of this country where you could be truly lost of months but your chances of getting to one of those after an EMP type of event are inversely proportional to your current distance from it.

There are people and resources available for emergency preparedness in your area. If you are really interesting in this topic, you might benefit from finding them. Having a BOB is only the beginning of the discussion.

[Charles L. Cotton]

History Channel (H2) has run an interesting "what-if" program titled "After Armageddon." It originally aired in 2010 and it recently ran again. It's premise is based upon a pandemic and the resultant breakdown of society and infrastructure simply because people cannot get to work for fear of disease. It goes into the near impossibility to restart basic systems like railroads, power generation, and mechanized farming once they are truly shut down. It's impact on modern society is devastating and likely permanent.

Much of the supposition in the program is based upon New Orleans during Katrina. If you live in an urban area, the idea of being able to stockpile food and water for any long period of time is comforting, but someone else is likely to be living off your supplies. So unless you have a trailer large enough to hold all of your supplies, and unless you leave early enough (very unlikely), then escape from urban areas after society has crumbled would be a very difficult task.

If you are truly interested in this subject, then watch the program, it's thought-provoking.

Chas.

[chasfm11]

Thanks for the information on the History Channel, Charles. I had not heard about that.

What I have heard is stories like this one.

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/20/p ... -doomsday/

There is also an unsubstantiated rumor of a significant number (600+) of high bank executives who are investing in "prepper" type properties around the world. While I don't put much stock in any news without sources, it does give one pause.

I remember the doom and gloom that preceded Y2K. That, too, was going to be the end of the world as we knew it. It turned out to be a very much ho-hum event. Personally, I'm less interested in the doomsday planning than I am trying to sustain through a protracted power outage or natural disaster. I'm betting that if I can get 800 miles from my current location, things would be better. The means to do that at the drop of a hat, in the face of thousands of others trying the same thing as in the Texas hurricane evacuations is daunting enough to consider.

[Scott in Houston]

History Channel (H2) has run an interesting "what-if" program titled "After Armageddon." It originally aired in 2010 and it recently ran again. It's premise is based upon a pandemic and the resultant breakdown of society and infrastructure simply because people cannot get to work for fear of disease. It goes into the near impossibility to restart basic systems like railroads, power generation, and mechanized farming once they are truly shut down. It's impact on modern society is devastating and likely permanent.

Much of the supposition in the program is based upon New Orleans during Katrina. If you live in an urban area, the idea of being able to stockpile food and water for any long period of time is comforting, but someone else is likely to be living off your supplies. So unless you have a trailer large enough to hold all of your supplies, and unless you leave early enough (very unlikely), then escape from urban areas after society has crumbled would be a very difficult task.

If you are truly interested in this subject, then watch the program, it's though-provoking.

Chas.

This can be found on YouTube as well... it's in like 6 parts. I don't have a link, but it's easy to find.

[packina45]

I'm assuming most of you have a "readiness" bag packed. I don't call it a "bugout" bag, I call it an "oh crap I gotta walk 20 miles to get home bag". It goes most everywhere with me.

I use a Drago "Three-Day Assault Pack" for my bag. In it:

FOOD AND WATER GROUP
3 Hormel MRE-style entrees
9 high density 400-cal food bars
1 can sardines in oil
3 Jif single-serv peanut butter
3 liters of water in plastic bottles
coffee filters (for straining water)
MicroPur purification tablets
collapsible 2-gallon water carrier
6 single-serv tubes instant coffee
some salt, pepper and condiment packs
plasticware
Nesbit stove and fuel tablets
metal canteen cup
P-51 can opener
folded heavy-duty aluminum foil

SHELTER/WARMTH GROUP
GI poncho and poncho liner (real thing, not a made in China knockoff)
2 Space blankets
BlastMatch firestarter
Wet Fire tender, along with a medicine bottle full of cotton balls saturated in petroleum jelly
Disposable poncho (weighs nothing, takes no space)
Strike-anywhere matches, coated in paraffin and stored in a ZipLock bag
two pairs of heavy socks

HEALTH/HYGIENE GROUP
Comprehensive first aid kit including trauma dressing and basic meds (painkiller, Immodium, antacid, Benadryl, etc)
Sample-size bottles of mouthwash, body wash, shampoo, sunscreen, etc.
Toothbrush
Small towel
Individual packed Wet Wipes
toilet paper, 1/2 roll, compressed

DEFENSE GROUP
Extra magazines and ammo for carry weapon
A fixed blade fighting knife of an "illegal knife" length and sheath
FOX53 OC spray, police Mark III size, with belt carrier
FOBUS paddle holster (if it's bad enough I've got to use the pack, I'll be carrying openly, state law is not my concern)

GENERAL GROUP
Duct tape (15', rolled up on a cheap pen)
paracord 100'
Gerber multitool
Surefire flashlight and spare batteries
light sticks
pocket notepad
snare wire
zip ties, various lengths
cash ($100 in small bills and change)
4 single-serv plastic bottles vodka (multiple potential uses from disinfectant to barter)
compass
computer printed maps with reconned routes, potential supplies and "no go" zones marked

Fishing gear omitted intentionally. This is intended as an urban bag, and odds are in the early stages of a bad situation, I'll be able to scrounge more food/water as I make my way home. It's assumed that when I start my trek, I'll either be near or in my vehicle (how else did I get so far from home in the first place?), so in the back of the SUV I also keep a pair of well-broken-in tactical boots, another pair of heavy socks, and a set of BDUs. Total loadout is about 20 pounds.

So...what's in YOUR bag?

[packina45]

Drive a short distance from home, and strike out into the boonies for a five mile hike with your bag. Spend the night, hike back to your car, and drive home.

Then make a list of what you are missing.

[TraCoun]

If you have not heard of it or checked it out before, try SurviveInPlace.com
It has lots of information.
Thanx,
TraCoun

[i8godzilla]

History Channel (H2) has run an interesting "what-if" program titled "After Armageddon." It originally aired in 2010 and it recently ran again.

--snip--

Chas.

Thanks for the suggestion. I watched this last night and found it good food for thought.

(It is available as On-Demand on DirecTV.)

[emcee rib]

So...what's in YOUR bag?

Back up gun and two extra magazines.
Back up cell phone.
Back up credit card with $8000 limit.
Back up cash. $300 in twenties.
Back up gun license. Nonresident.
US Passport card.
Gerber multitool.
Socks.

[OldCannon]

I use a Drago "Three-Day Assault Pack" for my bag. In it:
...
So...what's in YOUR bag?

Thanks for posting this list, it's a VERY good list of essentials. I completely agree about leaving out the "fishing kit" stuff. I have a spreadsheet I've been making of different "day range" kit loadouts...I'm definitely stealing yours as a "3 day" template.

[OldCannon]

For those that were reading this thread earlier today, I made a post that was a personal attack against somebody. The post was removed by moderators and I was given a stern warning about violating forum rules.

I sincerely apologize to anybody that read those posts. I'm a better person than that, and I let my sense of indignation get the better of me.

[carlson1]

We are working on our bag. We would like it to be able to take us three at least three weeks. Both my wife and I have a lot of medicines and we have been able to get our medicines to the place that we have three weeks works.
Prescriptions like a antibiotics, Epipen, bactroban, etc. . .; Ammo for both rife and pistols; First aide (still working on); Food and water (still working on).

I am still reading threads and post to decide exactly what to have.

We have things in the home prepared good including a large generator.

[Sangiovese]

One quick thing to consider. It doesn't make it onto a lot of "lists" but it is important if you plan to "bug in" or shelter in place to ride out a temporary disruption.

Sanitation/waste disposal.

Anyone stuck in a city/suburb without running water for even a few days will be dealing with a major problem once the toilets stop flushing. There are several "bucket with a seat" style commodes available, with disposable liners. On the plus side, you can store other preps in them until you need to use it.

I only mention it because it is something that I personally overlooked for a long time, and rarely see mentioned.