How Prepared Are You for a Long Term Crisis? (Page 3)

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Hahahaha, the fact there are so many movies like that out recently is an indicator of how the public is feeling. 

I on the otherhand came to feel this way through observations in Argentina, Chile, Greece, Katrina, 9/11 and experiencing the chaos that happens after hurricanes and massive blackouts.  You are absolutely right, the possiblity of a catastrophic event happening that would last longer than 72 hours is rare.  Lasting more than a week is exceptionally rare.  I am however, very concerned of the possiblity of an economic collapse like europe.  I don't think there is any way to fix it and only a collapse will correct it.

Again, I enjoy having these skills for the preperation benefit as well as the ability to just go get lost in the woods and not have to worry about not coming back.  Before I had kids, it wasn't very rare for me to just go into the woods or even the desert if I was in the southwest and just get lost for a few hours.  It is actually quite relaxing and reassuring to know you won't die in such environments.

Is anyone prepared to assist their neighbors or community?

I have been certified by CitizenCorps' Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). I've taken their First Responder training, to assist with triage and limited emergency assistance. I have rugged boots and plenty of jeans if I need to be mobilized in my city.

I'm not worried in the least about rioting or financial meltdown or asteroids hitting the Earth or biowarfare. If it's my time to go, it's my time to go. If a disaster occurs, I'm ready to be a part of the solution, to help my neighbors.

Living in coastal Florida, I am in the habit of being prepared for an emergency (hurricane). I have a plan.

Paranoid about nothing?

I know that one of the primary goals for the LDS is to do this.  Its interesting to read how "prepared" they are....

If everyone took more concern about this stuff instead of the new blueberry or Inod, then no one would have to worry about riots, their neighbors, community etc?  Thats one of the main reasons I created a website about it, to "inform" folks this stuff is real and how to prepare for it.  If I get one "converter" to start preparing, then I've done my job.  I can't change the world though.

As one prepper said "I don't golf, bowl, I prepare..."

Agreed!

Hey there is nothing wrong with a health dose of paranoia, and just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. 

Seriously I put a little comic relief when talking about such bleak scenarios but I often tell people that I do not deal in conspiracy theories, I deal in conspiracy fact.  The fact is even in a minor disaster, the priority of local gov't is to get themselves up and running so they can MAINTAIN ORDER.  This usually takes 72 hours.  Then they can sort through the damage and destruction.  This is not debatable, like I said, my job requires that I be NIMS certified and that I man a station at the Emergency Operations Center.  So at the very least every one of you should have enough supplies to get through 72 hours.  I argue everbody should have at least one gun, but if you don't at least seriously consider your environment.  If you are in the inner city, and you have 72 hours of supplies, you will likely be the target of somebody who does not.  If you are a small store owner, that to will likely be a target for the unprepared.  Somebody here joked that they would just take what they could find, and as much as I'm sure he is joking, there are a lot who will do that very thing. The hardcore criminals and low IQ psychos often found in the inner city will likely be having a great time looting and getting high and as a result will be dealt with by the police for the first 72 hours, so unless you are close to that area, you need not worry about them.  But how will you handle the desperate and hungry down the street, or from another neighborhood.  That is what you will have to worry about in the immediate aftermath.  There is an old saying many disaster planners say, civiliation is only three or four meals away from collapse.  This is undeniable.  If you cannot seriously ponder that a disaster will be harder for you than one who can.

I have emergency medicine and trauma skills - including wilderness medicine - that is my only preparation.

do my paintball markers count as weapons?  then I am armed :p

But maybe they aren't worried. Not everyone thinks catastrophe is around the corner.

I decided to get trained after September 11, 2001. I wanted to be prepared and have a plan if something unthinkable happened, or just to assist with hurricane response if Tampa gets hits. (I also received Red Cross training in Mass Care and Logistics). I have no one to worry about except myself and my cats and puppy in the event of a hurricane; I wanted to be prepared to be useful in the event of a hit.

I have a year before I have to prepare for the end of the world on 12/21/12. I need an all-white, gauzy outfit for the party.

There are movies like Book of Eli or Mad Max type scenarios... but I think "The Postman" is more realistic. I loved that movie too. I can't think of the title... but I really like that series that came out on TV with the US getting nuked by terrorists... EDIT: "Jericho".... so much fertile ground with that show, too bad it didn't make it.... but groups, neigbourhoods, parishes, communities, small towns banding together is much much more plausible than the lone gunner out there against the world.

As far as cataclysmic events... it isn't if... it's when. Yellowstone will go again. Another solar ejection will hit this planet. There will be more mass extinctions. Will it happen in our life time... that's where we can play the odds. But it is 100% certain it will happen again.

Calmly and with compassion.

The Red Cross is great at mobilizing and providing food and shelter in the event of an emergency (mass care). Nobody needs to be desperate and if they are, it is not difficult to lower their anxiety by directing them or even taking them to a Red Cross shelter.

Actually, we're already in the middle of the 6th mass extinction...

My plan is to get lots and lots of rice cakes.  I'll hide everything I'd like to keep behind them and then ransack my house so it looks like it's already been looted.  If someone decides they still want to investigate further they'll find the stacks of rice cakes and say 'ewww' and move on to find something better.  Only flaw is the smell of mac & cheese could give me away.

More importantly, where would you hide the Twinkies??

Depends how you define "Long term crisis"

Given where we live, the most likely natural disaster that would be severely disruptive for any length of time is an intense ice storm.  It happens every few decades here. With current emergency systems in place I'd say two weeks at the outside to get things restored to a reasonable approximation of normal.   Allowing for a 100 year storm, I like to have three weeks of supplies available. I figure being prepared for that will have us ready for pretty much any likely scenario that could occur around here.

This thread is a good reminder, I haven't done my winter prep flashlight check/inventory yet. I also need to get a generator and determine how I'll secure it. They're the first things to get stolen in an extended blackout.

Am I preparing for "the end of civilization as we know it"? Nope. 

People,

  Please remember not to feed the trolls.

Your friendly neighborhood zoo keeper.

My bug out plans

Retired, 8541

Hmm, hadn't considered that.  Might get a bunch of cans of lima beans, empty them from the bottom so it looks like they're unopened and then stick the twinkies in the cans.  Guess I still have some planning to do.

I have access a bomb shelter from the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I think it will be as necessary in the future as it was in the past.

Huh, live and learn.  I have never heard the term "Prepper".  Is that like a focussed and organized hoarder?

Duck and Cover. Now how many of us remember Civil Defense drills as kids? What was the purpose of teaching us to hide under our desks? Seriously!

In my school we actually felt the ground move everytime they set on off at the test range.

When I first saw the tread title, that's what I thought was behind it (the LDS expectation for being prepared). 

I'll assist neighbors and the community. 

The Mormons? I had no idea.

Well, I asked this question because we have seen instances globally that were short lived but still traumatic including lives lost.  We were never prepared for what happend on 9/11 and if you think it was a one time shot you are wrong all ready.  The test run and actually attempt was to take down one of the buildings in 1993 which it failed.  I would suspect in reality the next occurance of terroism will be Bio Chemical.  It may be local, contained, etc.  But food prices and sheer speculation of commodities will creat panic like you've never seen.

Being prepared and somehwhat paranoid is my job as a parent, after all, I don't think anyone would take care of my kids any better than me.  They count on me to be prepared.  Sincerely, the probability is small but as in 9/11, you only have to be right just a little to = 100%. 

After being in the military and traveling to 3rd world countries, and anyone else that has seen it, I will say, people will do what they have to do to survive, that may mean overtaking you and your family if it means feeding their family.

Reminds me, I need to run to the store.

I'd rather take my kids bowling than run family armageddon drills.