4 ms·
I still believe that this is 90% of "preppers". They study it for a week, make some arrangements an then just let it go. Revisit those arrangements once a year
by czechdeveloper 8y ago
I still believe that this is 90% of "preppers". They study it for a week, make some arrangements an then just let it go. Revisit those arrangements once a year or so and you are golden.
Generally you aim at basics.
* About 3 weeks worth of food (2000 kcal/person/day)
* Week of water (gallon/person/day), some basic water filtration (Sawyer squeeze)
* Some preps may be more in line with local climate (backup heating for cold environments)
* Evacuation bags are very common and are also known as BOBs (but most are garbage with lots of guns and no water). Still good to make some with copies of important documents, some water and spare clothes. Just get your old spare bag and unused clothes, no need to overthink it.
* Think about having more first aid material and skills
* Hygiene can be pain once your toilet does not flush anymore and you can't wash your hands, make some arrangements for that too (ie. bucket and plastic bags are way better than nothing)
* I'd also consider tools, such as headlamp per person, other depends on location and needs. Axe can be useful even in city in case of earthquake. Fixed blade knife is probably most versatile tool and Morakniv companion for 15 USD is usually sufficient. But I would suggest some practice here too, you don't want to get cut during temporary service disruption.
Good luck. As German governmental pamphlet states "Germany is ready, when every German is ready". Replace with your own country :).
- SlowRobotAhead 8y agoI don’t care about the overly sensitive downvotes because HN has been turning more into Reddit anyhow but - you left out firearm. In any “without rule of law” scenario you need a real means of protection. While this may be a shocker to some people if you try and fight with a knife, even if you have edged weapons training, there is a great chance you are going to bleed as well. I hope people who have had the state tell them they don’t need a firearm never have to figure out that should have been their own choice to make.
- Cthulhu_ 8y agoWasn't the US right to bear arms mainly aimed to overthrow a government in case it sucks? Well now's the chance. But for the US, I agree, I don't trust Americans to be civilized when the shit hits the fan - it's every man for himself there. Which is why the country is failing.
- czechdeveloper 8y agoI did, because I don't own one and focusing on guns discourages people from preparing even for basic service disruption. Focusing on guns just make it look like prepping is just for "gun-nuts" (as much as I don't share that opinion).
- SlowRobotAhead 8y agoThat’s the thing though, it doesn’t matter how much stuff you have, without a way to keep it you won’t keep it. In a without rule of law scenario there is no one coming to help, say to protect you from someone bigger stronger faster or more clever than you that did not have a prepper foresight. Que the famous Samuel Colt quote, right?
- 3chelon 8y agoAnd this is the problem with preppers in general. I don't know if it's too much Walking Dead or just a mindset they have to start with, but as someone else pointed out they seem to be far more obsessed with guns than with clean water, sanitation and heating. Guns aren't very common in my country so I'm not worried about gun-toting locals rampaging around. Sure, a few might raid a military base or a farmer's shotgun cabinet, but statistically I think my family would be under far more threat from hypothermia, cholera or an infected scratch.
- SlowRobotAhead 8y agoWhat is it you think happens to your police and government guns when there is no rule of law? I’ll give you a hint, there’s a reason the Taliban was walking around with Soviet era AK-47s, and Isis was walking around with US-made M-16s.
- pjc50 8y agoI'm going to post this elsewhere in the thread, but a comment on Metafilter from someone who survived the siege of Sarajevo: https://www.metafilter.com/78669/What-if-things-just-keep-getting-worse#2430771 https://www.metafilter.com/78669/What-if-things-just-keep-ge... "Guns and weapons helped no one directly and were even of little to no use in the defense of Sarajevo, since they were toys compared to the shells, bombs and high-powered armaments of the attacking forces."
- manfredo 8y agoThere's a broad category of social turmoil that is life threatening but not quite the magnitude of "professional military starts attacking citizens." Say bands of political extremists of whatever flavor start attacking towns, or other smaller-scale (in comparison to outright civil war) acts of violence erupt. I don't dispute your anecdotes from the Balkans, but using it as blanket proof to say that firearms won't ever be of benefit in times of civil unrest is not effective.
- 8y ago
- ahje 8y agoHaving access to a ranged weapon is defenitely a plus. Even if complete absence of law and order is a somewhat unlikely scenario, a ranged weapon will also make things like hunting for food easier. In many places, there are quite heavy restrictions on firearms, and obtaining one without breaking the law might simply not be legal for everyone. Most such countries don't outlaw the use of bows and arrows though...
- carry_bit 8y agoThere are a wide range of scenarios you can prepare for; not all of them require a firearm. As long as you what you're preparing for, that's fine.
- SlowRobotAhead 8y agoIsn’t an effective means of defense for yourself and your family a high priority in most scenarios?
- servercobra 8y agoAs a bonus, this gets you half way to a backpacking kit! I've got almost all of this, minus the food and water, always packed and ready in my closet (not for society ending, but as an earthquake kit and convent way to store camping gear). Just add a tent, sleeping bag/pad, and a suitable backpack, and you can head out to the great outdoors!