The objective, for me, is to prepare to be of great use in building the new world. Come with us alien friend
I get that, but I will tell you what I have told all the preppers over the years: your plans will not work out as you wish them to.
There's way too many variables in the total SHTF collapse. I wasn't kidding about the world burning around you. Fires will rage and go unchecked because no one will be able to fight them. Those who try will die from exhaustion and toxic smoke. There's no amount of self-reliance that will prevent this from happening. Some will survive to start over, but it will take far too long to rebuild anything more than basic civilization. It's sad but unfortunately the most likely outcome.
That's the part of prepping that always makes me laugh. Your beautiful bunker and amazing air scrubbers aren't gonna help of you get no warning. Your firearm collection won't save you from an armed mob who are shooting back. Your stockpile of food is largely only good as long as you have means of cooking and clean water.
Keep some dehydrated food/mres/canned stuff, a few cases of water, a shotgun or two, and pray for the best. Your best preparation isn't Jack in the face of a real crisis.
Keep some dehydrated food/mres/canned stuff, a few cases of water, a shotgun or two, and pray for the best. Your best preparation isn't Jack in the face of a real crisis.
This guy gets it. Stay light and highly mobile. That's the best you can bet on.
I personally stick to mres for my stash. Yes they only have a 3 year shelf life, but they're self contained, not overly thirst inducing, and when they get to end of life, pretty damn good to eat if you hand pick your menu. Water is the biggest issue. Especially in areas without big bodies of water. In Washington, a pack of bleach tabs and a big Birky were good. But now, I have to keep actual water, which is...less than ideal if I have to evacuate
Yep. If you have a lot invested in your bunker and stockpile but you need to move out, it'll be hard to abandon it.
I think developing a few skills and generating a base of local customers (bartering services) is foundational to a new society. More so than the "stuff" you gather to prep, it's the skills and connections that'll likely prevail.
I think developing a few skills and generating a base of local customers (bartering services) is foundational to a new society. More so than the "stuff" you gather to prep, it's the skills and connections that'll likely prevail.
The industrialized world will literally be on fire. Fires caused by infrastructure and machinery that is no longer in check due to the technological failures will soon burn everything down. How many chemical plants, oil refineries, power generation plants and the likes can go completely safe when no one can control them and the automated shutdown systems have failed from lack of electricity, water or other technology driven materials? Once these things explode or catch fire, the game is in extreme hard mode. Bartering skills and goods- that all becomes low priority compared to just trying to stay alive. The sky will darken with toxic smoke. The water will become more polluted. The land will be covered in poison. But yeah, let's barter! :)
Go read about the Union Carbide plant incident in Bhopal India. That is the sort of stuff that can happen when things go wrong.
Do you plan to attempt to survive?
studied all manner of chemical plant incidents in college and professional life thank you