Thread: preparedness

Hi Guys.

I've carried some kind of first aid kit, or bug out bag, or survival kit for many years. It changes from time to time. I've never really been of the "hoarding survivalist" mentality. My carry habits began more with lazily leaving my backpack in my truck after a weekend camping trip; and before I could find a good reason to put things away I'd need something in it for work-maybe only a band-aid, or a bit of duct tape.

My best use so far was when I sliced the fabric of an expensive chair, cutting away the plastic it was wrapped in at a hotel we were building. I fixed it pretty good with my lil sewing kit.

*It could just be the effect of our collective awareness of the 2012 predictions, or my own paranoia building with all the crises around the world. But damned if it doesn't feel like the time is ripe for a good old-fashioned course of history altering event. If nothing else=by not yet happening it becomes more likely to happen 'cause it will. It always does geologically speaking

Which is why I turn to you-tube to get my expert advice on emergency preparedness. I don't watch much TV. It influeneces me too much. Like I mentioned when talking about barefooting. I like that Dual Survivor show. (see what happens I've only seen 3 episodes and I'm becoming a survivalist) That's a long enough backstory eh?

I recall a thread lambasting a youtube survival advice guy. (the baloon was interesting and the extraztor works pretty good) I was a bit surprised(I dont know why) just how much there was on there about the subject.

Have you seen and good ones on there, or where do you look for advice on general self reliance and preparedness?

I watched the first season of "The Colony" while I was on vacation, weed out the stupid Reality show situations and it was pretty good...The Second season which started last week looks dumber than dumb...

That Dual Survival show was actually funny in my eyes, but had some good tips in it...

Check out this one it has some great stuff in there

The one thing I don't believe any of them cover enough is that regardless of how prepared your "home base" is, you have to either be able protect it, or move it, hide it, or lose it...

I watch afew survival shows on OLN(outdoor life network)

My favorite one is survivorman. Man vs wild is also a great show, they are both filled with many handy wilderness tips and other info.


As such since I've seen these shows whenever I'm out and about in the wild or road trip I always carry a few things.

My hunting knife, rope, a lighter/matches. And something to sleep in like a blanket or sleeping bag.

How could I forget about my flashlight! And spare batteries

Originally Posted by basil

How could I forget about my flashlight! And spare batteries

I dont know, but what if you did?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I watched the first season of "The Colony" while I was on vacation, weed out the stupid Reality show situations and it was pretty good...The Second season which started last week looks dumber than dumb...

That Dual Survival show was actually funny in my eyes, but had some good tips in it...

Check out this one it has some great stuff in there

The one thing I don't believe any of them cover enough is that regardless of how prepared your "home base" is, you have to either be able protect it, or move it, hide it, or lose it...

It is a funny show. I like both the "characters". I like the bush hippy best; but I'm with Dave- I need me some 4 legged furry critters.

I think the most valuable thing is knowledge, which is why I started this thread. So maybe if someone is not thinking much about it, or putting it off, they might at least start. There's no way to be prepared for every possible scenario so like they say: The more you know; the less you need

To me the biggest part of preparedness is knowing how to be sustainable and how to adapt to the situation at hand. I couldn't agree more with your post Kevin. I don't believe that hoarding can ever make someone truly prepared.
I used to participate in a survivalist forum, but left as the overwhelming mentality of the people there was that a bunker full of canned goods was the equivalent of being prepared. That said, I do have about a two month food supply on hand. I also have hand tools and various antiquities that would make a life without electricity livable. I've also been studying various crafts and elements of living from pre-electric times. It is amazing how much knowledge has been lost in the age of convenience.
Heck, that is how I got into straight razors in the first place. I wanted a means of shaving without being reliant on razors from the store.

I am not a doomsdayer. I really doubt that I'll ever have a need to use most of what I've collected, or any of the skills and crafts that I've learned. But, it is comforting to know that in the one in a million chance that it would be needed I have it.
Oh, and I have the means to defend it as well.

The power was out here for about 12 hours last week. I know that's not a big deal, but it was nice to know that it could have been out for several days and life would have proceeded virtually normally for me and my kids. Of course I wouldn't have been able to visit SRP for awhile...
I don't have a generator, as I don't see a point in becoming reliant on things that require gas to operate. One day when I have the funds I might look at solar or wind as backup power.

I probably sound totally nuts now...

Originally Posted by HNSB

To me the biggest part of preparedness is knowing how to be sustainable and how to adapt to the situation at hand. I couldn't agree more with your post Kevin. I don't believe that hoarding can ever make someone truly prepared.
I used to participate in a survivalist forum, but left as the overwhelming mentality of the people there was that a bunker full of canned goods was the equivalent of being prepared. That said, I do have about a two month food supply on hand. I also have hand tools and various antiquities that would make a life without electricity livable. I've also been studying various crafts and elements of living from pre-electric times. It is amazing how much knowledge has been lost in the age of convenience.
Heck, that is how I got into straight razors in the first place. I wanted a means of shaving without being reliant on razors from the store.

I am not a doomsdayer. I really doubt that I'll ever have a need to use most of what I've collected, or any of the skills and crafts that I've learned. But, it is comforting to know that in the one in a million chance that it would be needed I have it.
Oh, and I have the means to defend it as well.

The power was out here for about 12 hours last week. I know that's not a big deal, but it was nice to know that it could have been out for several days and life would have proceeded virtually normally for me and my kids. Of course I wouldn't have been able to visit SRP for awhile...
I don't have a generator, as I don't see a point in becoming reliant on things that require gas to operate. One day when I have the funds I might look at solar or wind as backup power.

I probably sound totally nuts now...

When you say two months; Is that strictly rationed micro meals or two months of regular everyday chow down/

all I have set aside is 3 or 4 days water and whatever extra food is left in the pantry next time we go shopping. It seems canned foods would work well enough for us.-pretty reliable, cheap, long shelf life.

So far the basis of my plan: doing without, is well seeded.

just thought i'd post a link to an article i just read.. having the right gear is one of the most important things. check it out.. it's a good read.

The Importance Of Having The Right Gear | Psychology Today

Originally Posted by kevint

When you say two months; Is that strictly rationed micro meals or two months of regular everyday chow down/.

That's two months of pretty good eating. Much of what we eat is the same stuff I have in storage. That way I know how to prepare things with what I have, I know we like it, and it rotates fresh items in as things are used.

That food supply is there with a couple of intentions:
1. In the event of being shut in for a period of time, food will not be a concern. I live in a very rural area. It is conceivable that a blizzard would leave my kids and I virtually stranded at home for a week or so. Even without power that would be an absolute non-issue. I have a lot of bottled water on hand, but I also installed a hand-pump for the dug well in my basement. Barring ground water contamination I have an indefinite water supply in the house.
2. In the event of a SHTF that food supply would allow us time to establish a sustainable food supply without having to be panicked about it. I also have seeds on hand, but depending on the season growing could be difficult. The food supply makes it easy to focus on other immediate concerns of survival.

In a SHTF my primary plan would be to "bug in". I live way out in the sticks and I trust most of my neighbors. As people spread out from the cities it would be quite awhile before the area I live in would be overrun with looters and whatnot.
I do have a bug out bag set up as well, in case we would need to leave quickly. I have a very remote location that I can go to in that case.


One thing I am intrigued by is raising rabbits. I know I can hunt wild game for protein; about half of the meat that we eat at my house is wild game and fish. The problem is that if everyone is hunting for survival, I expect that wild game populations would dwindle in a hurry. It would be good to have renewable protein such as rabbits. I am surrounded by dairy farms, so it's possible that I could trade with neighbors for beef, but that also assumes a lot...