Power Sellers Unite

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

So I was reading a news story online, I think the title was how the government considers many 'preppers' as potential terrorists. I had never heard of the prepper movement and after research found its sort of a Y2K preparedness mentality. Folks are 'prepping' for the complete or partial end of civilization via something as obvious as a nuke attack or a sneaky as another flu pandemic, meteor, whatever, that causes the break down of power, water and food supplies.

I'm sure most of us have a week or twos worth of food in the house, cetainly enough to survice a long snow/ice storm. The preppers aim for a years worth!

This made for some stimulating dinner table conversation. What would we do? Where would we go as the big cities emptied out of their millions and moved towards us here in the country? How much food do we really have in the house? (will my few extra jars of peanut butter picked up on sale really feed me)

Every aspect of this was incredibly interesting, and scary.

So how prepared are you for a long term blackout of civilization as we know it?

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17241 Location: Texas

I think we've hashed this topic out but it's been a while and not sure where to find the OP. Probably at the Cafe. Thanks for bringing it back up cohiba.

Please recall when a few years back our government panicked when they realized China or Russia could easily take over the U.S. poser grid? No communiications, email/internet electricity, etc....Most are not prepared and those who think they are, will still be a bit shocked as how to return to the ways of say 150-200 years ago.

Those residing in the cities I feel for because once the infrastructure fails, IE fire depts, traffice lights, police, overall government rule, people will probably panick and start rioting and killing one another in order to survive. One merely needs to think back to Hurricane Katrina to how those folks reacted.
That disaster lasted about a week? Think if it happeend for a month or longer?
Rampaging, looting, killings, death would prevail while other countries stood back and watched. OK the Brits would help thank goodness!

I remember sitting on my front porch armed to the teeth while nearby small towns tried to assist those Hurricane victms, only to be overrun and robbed by Katrina victims. :shock: Locals were buying ammo at a rate to where stores could not keep their shelves stocked and those who purchased the ammo, still have it in their homes.

I'm not possitive I could last long but have had lot's of experience camping most of my life, also have an abundant of wildlife nearby, battery powered lighting, food stocked and yes, lot's of ammo to defend myself against looters. Remember when these Hurricanes make landfall in sourthern Texas or eastern Louisiana my power usually gets knocked out for days. Back to camping out, grilling conserving water, etc.....

I'd be curious to hear from others as to how well they are prepared.

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1332

I am at home in the out doors so I don't think I would encounter any problems other than the ones that have no clue
I am set if need be to live comfortably with out all the creature comforts and know where to find editables and snar small game water is easy as shelter starting a fire simple if you know how with out a match or lighter.
only hard if you never took the time to learn the basics and not panic,
if it would come to total shut down there would be a lot of helpless people and money won't be worth anything more than toiliet paper so I guess they won't be able to buy their way lol.

slythorne · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 220

There are different types of preppers out there. I consider myself to be one of those preparing for whatever short term disaster is thrown my way. In my area, the main concern is earthquakes. If "the Big One" strikes tomorrow I have the preps on hand to survive a couple weeks to a month, which is how long I estimate for things to start to return to normal.

If you check with the government (forgot which site), they actually recommend people prepare for a natural disaster, and have at least a 72-hour kit where you can survive at least 3 days without any outside assistance. (I find it shocking that some people don't keep enough food in their pantry to last at least a week) It is also recommended that you have basically the same kit in your car.

Sure there are other preppers out there with thoughts of EOTWAWKI (End of the world as we know it), but there are also many preppers who would rather die in the chaos of a major event then live in a PAW (Post Apocalyptic World).

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

slythorne wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")....rather die in the chaos

That thought had crossed my mind.

Anyone with sense could certainly survive without most of modern lifes trappings. Especially during a short term catastrophe like an earthquake, weather event, nuke plant melt down in the area, etc.

A planet wide event like a asteroid hit and subsequent long term climatic disruption might be too much for all but the hardiest to survive.

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It did get us talking about where we'd go and how we'd get there if Peach Bottom or one of the other nuke plants in the area popped. I think there are 10 within 200 miles of me. My wifes school actually keeps the potassium iodide pills at her school since they are in the 10 mile radius. Might have to some for home since we are just outside the zone, maybe 15 miles.

I keep plenty of water on hand, plus the gallons in the hot water heater and a very big fish tank if desperate. Might need to build us up a bit more dry/canned food. Frozen veggies won't stay frozen in summer if the powers out. Had some family go without power for a week last year.

As eglato stated I think I'd be more concerned about the drones from the city coming out here as they did in Texas after Katrina, rather than going hungry.

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17241 Location: Texas

cohiba:
"As eglato stated I think I'd be more concerned about the drones from the city coming out here as they did in Texas after Katrina, rather than going hungry."

It was pretty crazy here after Katrina because the government was not ready for such a huge event, plus the Louisiana governor fled and hid out for a day or so which didn't help matters much. Not casting the blame on any one person but the state and U.S. government took a while to assist those victims, BUT the victims did have the chance to get out but chose to not to.
As for nuclear events? Yikes not sure but it would depend on which way the wind was blowing. I don't think I'd be effected since the nearest plant is about 200 miles NW of me.
I've got friends who have spent a lot of $ on tornado shelters but I've not done so, yet. I've been lucky with the hurricanes and tornados. After watching what happened in Joplin MO I'm sure underground shelter sales jumped.
After Hurricane Ike my power was out for about 3 days and it was hot outdoors which led to a lot of outdoor grilling and trips to the local store for ice. Lost very little food and things4u has given me some great ideas on a generator. Need to save up and get one!

As for large asteroids? Hek just hope your not sitting on the can when that one falls on ya. :shock:

I figure I could easily last 7-10 days with the stockpile here without having to shoot a deer for food. Of course by then I'd be bathing in the nearest stock tank with the cows! :lol:

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

I would think tornado shelter would be easy, if its just for you and no cows.

A big concrete pipe cemented into the ground with a well chained lid - you only need for a few minutes right? Not 14 days until the radiation bows over. LOL

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I want a diesel generator becuase I have a 1000 gallon oil tank in the back yard that would be easy to keep running becuase there's rarely less than 300 gallons in it. (would save on stock piling propane or gas.) Of course no one makes a decent diesel one at a fair price, so I might have buy an old diesel truck and add a AC inverter.

things4u · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1332

not all that easy cohiba as you have to take in to consideration it will be running an adapted inverter that will more than likely fail because the bearings won't take the strain /speed of the motor and you will need a suply of oil to change because of the run time
They make great diesel generators that are reasonable in price I am going to have my set up converted to mulit fuels that makes it more useful as if something does happen that you don't have a supply or it gets destroyed you have an alternatives I am also looking at a emergency wind turbine that one person can erect in about 2 hours and have enough power to run a house investment total for both systems of about 10,000.00 back up generator installed and turbine tower and generator stores in a space 5ftx 4 ft x 2 ft.
as for a tornado shelter the easiest thing is to just get a steel culvert and dig it in to the groung a hill would be ideal add cover with a angled scuttle hole entrance and exit with a door that opens out as it is harder for the wind to pull something open as versed to pushing it in.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

saw this on Amazon today while looking for some bathtub parts

http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Water-Storage/dp/B001AXLUX2

what a brilliant idea

slythorne · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 220

cohibastore.com wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")saw this on Amazon today while looking for some bathtub parts

http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Water-Storage/dp/B001AXLUX2

what a brilliant idea

Filling up the bathtub with water before an emergency is a well known prep trick for water storage, just like tapping your hot water heater. This is just a gimmick from a company making money off of germaphobes. There are stories of people surviving on the water in their toilet tank with no ill effects.

If you have the money to invest, I would say get a berkley water filter. They are reusable and catch 99.9% of the germs and bacteria in pond water.

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

I don't think so.

While my hot water heater is sealed and almost boiled daily, my bathtub is old, has millions of scratches in the enamel, and the plug doesn't work. Not the ideal storage facility. Useful for flushing water but not drinking.

elgato · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 17241 Location: Texas

cohibastore.com wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I don't think so.

While my hot water heater is sealed and almost boiled daily, my bathtub is old, has millions of scratches in the enamel, and the plug doesn't work. Not the ideal storage facility. Useful for flushing water but not drinking.

Dang cohiba we must be showering in the same tub! Mine leaks through the plug also. Are you the one leaving the wet towels on the floor???? :shock:
Most hardware stores sell water containers which are made of plastic, though I'm sure that's not good for you either but is probably better than drinking bath water. :lol:

cohibastore.com · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 4908

Its my wife thats leaving the towels on the floor. I'll tell her you were complaining too! Of course she's up at 5 am. If I was up at that hour every day I'd forget to turn the water off!

We really don't need the tub water for drinking. I hate our tap water so there are usually 10 cases of water in the garage, 1 in each car, 1 in the kitchen and 1 in my office. Enough for 15 days according to the preppers.

We don't keep a lot of dry food. Lots in the freezer. But it would be useless if the powers out in the summer.