Thread: Doomsday Preppers unite...or segregate, whichever is safer.

A couple of emergency relief agencies around North America posted up some zombie apocalypse survival guides because if you're prepared for one of those, you're prepared for just about anything that can come your way.

It has sorta become the catch all phrase on being prepared, I find it in a joking way alleviates the dumb scenarios that they portray on shows like Doomsday Preppers...

If you say something like the Financial Crisis or a Solar Flare, or a EMP attack or whatever, people tend to start explaining the odds against that happening, instead of realizing that being prepared is the end goal, and the reason is of no consequence

It would be realistic here to be stranded for up to three days and be without power for a week.
I have at least a month's supply of food and redundant water sources that will work without electricity.

Beyond that in terms of 'survival' - I have long been a believer in self-sufficiency. I used to think myself a survivalist, but I think that means something different today. I am more of a homesteader - I don't live off grid, but it wouldn't be a huge transition. The major thing I lack is enough land to have a sustainable farm.

In the event of a disaster which throws us back to the 1800's most of us are going to die anyway - including the preppers.

I was on a board for awhile where this was being discussed. I thought it was amusing how many people have a romanticized view of what it would be like to have a TEOTWAWKI type of event.
Also, most of them, IMO, focus too much on supplies and not enough on skills.

Really good points Eric, and mostly overlooked ones

There was a special on Finances I wasted time watching about buying Gold and Silver after 45 minutes of Sales Pitch BS there was one small nugget of good info...

The most valuable commodity if there is overall fail is 20 acres of Farmland and the Heirloom seeds to grow food... You of course need to be able to protect that food too

Yeah. It would also be good to have some experience with crop farming before being in a situation where your life depends on it.

Try learning some cropping skills by making yourself a bit of a back yard veggie patch. Might not be possible for those without backyards, but you could always get a few larger pots and plant a few different veggie's in them to get an experience of what it might take to do it large scale. Just a thought on that anyway. May not be feasible.


Mick

My wife and I have the skills to survive and get by off the land.

Problem is, where I am now, it would be pretty much impossible. If we were to have a TEOTWAWKI type of event, we might be able to make it out of the burbs.

If not? It'll be noisy when they come to try to take what I've got. THey may end up with my junk, but they'll pay a hefty price. If not? Won't matter to me because my old ass will be dead.

Originally Posted by Wullie

My wife and I have the skills to survive and get by off the land.

Problem is, where I am now, it would be pretty much impossible. If we were to have a TEOTWAWKI type of event, we might be able to make it out of the burbs.

If not? It'll be noisy when they come to try to take what I've got. THey may end up with my junk, but they'll pay a hefty price. If not? Won't matter to me because my old ass will be dead.

Which is why I live on a BIG lake...

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Which is why I live on a BIG lake...

LOL, BUT it gets too cold up there for me.

If the idiots in charge can hold it together for 5 more years, I'll leave the burbs of my own free will. If not? Oh well.

Originally Posted by MickR

Try learning some cropping skills by making yourself a bit of a back yard veggie patch.

Yes!
It's amazing how many people have seeds for survival, and have never even planted a garden.
Also be sure to harvest and retain seeds for replanting next year, and to preserve some of your veggies. For bonus points use wax seals that you make yourself.
(afterall - after TEOTWAWKI you probably won't be able to get rubber seals at the store)

The point I'm trying to make is that being truly prepared is virtually endless.
So many preppers have some seeds and a bunch of cans in a bunker and feel all warm and fuzzy.
There's nothing wrong with that - because it will take them and their family through any disaster that's realistically likely to happen.

Those that want to be prepped for a return to 1850, on the other hand...

If you plan on hunting to obtain protein - have you given any thought to the fact that MANY other people who don't normally hunt are planning on the same? Animal numbers will be low, and they will be skittish. Hunting is not going to be easy. I always felt good about the fact that I could go out and get my own meat anytime if I needed to. When I consider that millions of concrete dwellers will be flooding out of the urban areas hoping to do the same - it kind of brings my odds down a bit.
I think if some kind of teotwawki ever did happen I would try to buy or barter for some chickens very early on. Basically I'd get as much livestock as possible. (if I had the land for it, I'd have livestock right now) Hell, if I had a big prep bunker, I might even try to get some tranquilizer darts stockpiled. When the event happens, I'd go dart some deer before everyone else kills them all.
Afterall - the BEST way to preserve meat is to keep it alive.

The whole point here is that to be prepared for something like that - it's much deeper than the surface stuff. There are a lot of contingencies to deal with.
Go through your day - and think about everything you use - could you replace it or make a substitute for it if it's something you would need?
Stockpiling stuff in a bunker is nice. Being able to actually make or source it is better.

I believe my odds would be better than most in a scenario like that, and I'd still only give myself a 50/50 shot of surviving it.
I used to worry about it. I don't anymore.
I let other people worry about it.

If it happens, I'll just find someone who is really well prepared and shoot them from a distance.