What types of SHTF scenarios are people basing plans on?

[Andy Griffith]

This is what you need in an emergency:

See, you don't have to worry about the hoards of starving folks getting it either...because it doesn't come in a wrapper out of a window. Likely, they'd starve first before they'd eat vegetables.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Down here SHTF means hurricanes, ie Betsy, Camile, Andrew, Lilly, Kartina, Rita, Ike, Gustave-can you tell I've been through this a few times
I usually do my pre storm inventory at the beginning of the season and already have in stock the essentials, non perishable food, water, candles kerosine, batteries etc for about a week for a family of 5. When a storm hits the gulf and it looks like it might come near, I'll fill up all the jerry cans with gas-get two stroke oil for the chainsaw-make as much ice as I can and make sure I have plenty of booze. If I have to drive north-we can pack enough in the suburban and I know te back roads so that I can get above the flood line. You'll note that I don't mention guns or ammo. That's because I already got that covered.
One thing I religiously do, is never let my gas tank on the suburban (42 gals) ever get below half way full. With a storm in the gulf, I will top it off sometimes daily.
Oh, and make sure you have plenty of whisky-you'd be amazed at the stuff you can get from the National Guard in exchange for a bottle of likker-or so I've been told

 

[Careby]

Oh, and make sure you have plenty of whisky-you'd be amazed at the stuff you can get from the National Guard in exchange for a bottle of likker-or so I've been told

I really need to stock up. Maybe I can get case lot discounts at the liquor store. If things get bad and I can't trade it for what I need, I can always drink it (for the calories, of course).

 

[Wayne02]

I'm not going anywhere unless forced from my property, and if that happens I'll go to our acreage farther out in the country, hopefully with the RV in tow. Even if we had to take a roundabout path to get there and it took a number of days, it is do-able. I can live, 'in plain sight' for a period of time if need be. I think the key to successful 'bugging out' is to have resources already present at your bug out destination. This would include not just rudimentary infrastructure, but friends and/or family in the area as well.

Personally, I think too much is made of the whole 'run for the hills concept', unless you are in the city. I suspect many (most?) people are better off staying put. Even if structures were destroyed and utilities cut-off we could still 'live' on this property. It would not be pretty, but do-able.

As far as what I prepare for, I prepare for the most likely natural disasters for my area which are:

1. Flooding
2. Earthquake
3. Volcano

 

[BarbC]

Realistically, my most likely disaster in this part of the country is that the cable tv/phone/internet goes down.

 

[venomballistics]

I've got my j-frame, a Vespa and a snicker's bar under the seat.

I'd love to know where sip gets this kind of material
you must spend an hour watching Monty Python every day

 

[pred]

I have an older MB G wagon that's a diesel and an extra tank that I can run veggi oil/engine oil/home heating oil/transmission fluid and the like,,
Plus a couple of .22 rifles and a trusty side arm and a small camper,
I dont need much to live, Just a couple rabbits or birds and something for my beagle to eat,,,, But the woman is a vegetarian,,, I dont know what she'll eat?
Peter

 

[em-man]

I'm just going to take whatever I need from the NATO trooper manning the roadblock down on the corner...

 

[tripledipper]

BarbC hit the nail on the head. If the SHTF in Hampton Roads VA you are screwed because there is no quick way out of here even under normal conditions so I would stay put and do my best to keep the zombies away. You would find out very quickly which neighbors you could depend on. I'll be damned if I would surrender any weapons to authorities like what happened in NO.

 

[venomballistics]

BarbC hit the nail on the head. If the SHTF in Hampton Roads VA you are screwed because there is no quick way out of here even under normal conditions so I would stay put and do my best to keep the zombies away. You would find out very quickly which neighbors you could depend on. I'll be damned if I would surrender any weapons to authorities like what happened in NO.

I already know which neighbors I can count on. and we seem to be in agreement as to who will turn zombie after SHTF time.
Investing yourself as a good neighbor today will provide you with this intel for tomorrow

 

[m657]

re: "But the woman is a vegetarian,,, I dont know what she'll eat?"

It depends on how hungry she gets....

 

[feralmerril]

Just a odd thought here. There are several brands of ELECTRIC ATVs that have just hit the market. Now I never had good luck with anything electric, and just dont trust them. I have a close friend that is serious about buying one. Today while the wife shopped I read a quad magazine on the rack where polaris is comeing out with one they claim 30 HP and 50 miles between charges. I love/hate the idea. Still, if you had a windmill and could charge and depend on them, think of the possibilitys. A quiet vehicle that you could noisesly go through a town or village or past farm houses at 3 am, dont need gas, and probley almost invisable to those heat seeking type binnoculars! (No hot engine or exhaust). I have rode quad a lot in the last few years. It is my most enjoyable hobby. Yet, I have NEVER rode 50 miles in one day. Trust me, 30 miles is a BIG day! (Off road in the boonies.)
If they build them where they are well proven, you had a windmill or way to charge them up, in a shtf senerio, I cant dream up a better vehicle to kind of haunt the countryside with! Its all about traveling quietly!

 

[rburg]

JStill, if you had a windmill and could charge and depend on them, think of the possibilitys.

Next time you visit an RV store, ask them about solar chargers. They make some huge arrays. One I saw last year rolled up. It was probably 30' long and 3' wide. A couple of them and you'd get a charge pretty quick. And they're basically maintenance free, just keep the surface clean so the sun can reach it.

 

[feralmerril]

Here is something on it. I misstated, said 50 miles, writeup says 35 to 40,----still

2010 Polaris Ranger Lineup Preview

 

[Black_Sheep]

The most likely scenerio here would be an ice storm taking out the power or a tornado. We've survived both on occasion and adjusted our preparedness plans due to lessons learned.

If a doomsday scenerio ever occurs we'll just have to wing it. If at all possible we would try to stay put. The house can be heated with wood, there's abundant fish and game. The biggest concern would be keeping people that aren't self reliant from trying to steal our provisions. You can't be on guard 24/7...

 

[The Big D]

Speaking of gloom and doom, those who speak of imminent US/global peril sound like the utterly useless weather forecasters of NOAA, USWS, and Colorado State University (of all places!) who "predict" (I say "guess") severe weather in the US of A.

These morons cause constant worry among folks who don't know they (the forecasters) are utter imbeciles.

Multiple hurricanes were predicted to hit the US this year. Guess how many have? NONE!!!! Guess how many will? Again, NONE!

Folks who thrive on predictions of disaster that will affect millions of others should be paid based on the accuracy of their forecasts.

Rant off.

Be safe.

 

[jkc]

My SHTF plan is based on my Y2K model, i.e., enough water, food, fuel, to survive a week or so without electricity and pressurized city water. Living in a largely urban area, I expect widespread panic and lawlessness on the part of desperate, unprepared, unequipped urban sheep. Truth is, surrounded as I am by harsh desert and arid mountains, neither of which provide easy pickings for edible flora and fauna, (not to mention water), bugging out is not much of an option --- on foot, forget it, within the range of a tank of gas, little better. I'm looking toward pillaging and cannibalism as the only viable alternative, and hoping that my condo neighbors have substantial, traditional hardwood furniture with high BTU content for fireplace fuel, and high protein and caloric content, themselves.

 

[feralmerril]

By my nature, once in awhile I am a killjoy, or like a old cartoon character called the "Dim viewer".
Consider the last groups in this country that had to run and survive. They were american indians. Geronimos group and Chief joesphs in idaho.
Consider they were born in the wilderness. Consider they never knew any luxuries, and were far more adapt to hunting and liveing off the country than we are.
Consider what happened to them. Consider their oppressers had no airplanes, no mechanical vehicles, no GPSs, no roads like today and the country wasnt 5% as populated as today.
These things are kind of fun to speculate about, however, I think just a touch of reality should be there in the blurry background.

 

[Out West]

My most frightening and challenging scenario involves:

1) me getting up at the same time every weekday
2) going to work for ten hours
3) being supervised by idiots through out the day
4) enduring successive lay off lottery's
5) enduring successive benefit reductions
6) producing piles of spreadsheets and papers that are useless next week
7) balancing 401K contributions with the need to pay off the kids' college loans before I croak
8) and so on for the next 15 years

Riots, the Taliban, invasions from the south, rising sea levels, and 1000 year winters sound like a cake walks to me. I could use a change of scenery.

Out West

 

[feralmerril]

Thats why its fun thinking about these things. I belive its a escape in its self.