History may repeat itself.

[Ivan the Butcher]

On this day in 1906, a earthquake hit San Fransico. The fires that followed were even worse than the quake's damage.

It will effect every part of our country in one way or another. What precautions are you taking?

Ivan

In central Ohio, we are not quake prone, so I'm set up for Fires, Winter Storms, and somewhat for "Grid Failure". Societal Collapse, and Overreaching government, not so much. Collapse of transportation from the farm to market will be a big issue.

During the height of the Pandemic, even the more conservative state governments tried to limit our freedoms of religion and assembly, without the proper declarations of emergency. (Ohio tried to protect the 2nd Amendment to the best of government's ability. However, the "Supply Side Issues" had their way with buying guns and ammo! After a major disaster will probably be worse!)

ITB

 

[kozmic]

"We're the government and we are here to help".

 

[cmj8591]

All that societal collapse stuff was once the purview of science fiction. Then COVID came. If you still have questions about how fragile our way of life is, you aren't paying attention. The biggest surprise for me, and it really shouldn't have been, was how willingly the population goes along with things when they are scared. If you had told me 10 years ago that the State would prohibit religious gatherings in the US I would have said you were foolish. But not only did they do that but they got people to go along with it. It made me think of Germany in the 30's when National Socialism was coming into power and how they got the population to go along with things like loading people into freight trains. Fear is a powerful force and I think we are at a point where it wouldn't take much for a 30's Germany to happen again. It will just take the right group or person to take advantage of conditions to manipulate the population into whatever they want it to be.

 

[Rudi]

Anyone who is not "ready" for what is coming, had better get in high gear.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

No exactly the direction I was hoping this thread would go! Let's avoid the dings and stay away from banned topics.

I was thinking more alone the lines of the "How to" and not the "Political or Philosophical why." Besides a personal warehouse full of stuff, How do I or collective we, plan on resupply and basic services? (Food, Water Medicine, Trash disposal) Will we just pull ourselves up and move on, or will we collapse into the 1800's or 800's or even worse.

I watched the real behind the scenes Y2K preparations that industry took. I don't know if there is any real "Plan B" other than 1930's Civil Defense planning.

It's kind of like those math word problems from elementary school: Cindy has Fruit and vegies in the Imperial valley, Jose has Cattel in Texas, and Pete has Oranges all across the South. Bobby lives in New York and has stocks and bonds. Billy lives in Chicago and has silver ingots. HOW DO WE GET EVERONE FED? The variables are: Bridges across the Mississippi and Interstate System bridge condition. (Sorry Rusty, this is just like math class!)

If you move the Epicenter from San Fransico to St. Louis, I think the west half of the US will survive and the East half slides into a 3rd world country, and drags most of Canada with it!

Show me something that indicates I'm wrong.

Ivan

 

[Rustyt1953]

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to summer school.

 

[ladder13]

When the real collapse comes it will be the last.

 

[LVSteve]

Disaster preparedness is always money limited. How much money is a nation prepared to have tied up in people, materiel and real estate "just in case"? There is also the questions of "just in case of what?", and at what point do you decide that the GDP devoted to dealing with a possible disaster is too much. I've seen this multiple times when snow hits the UK. The cry goes up "not enough snow ploughs", but the unpredictable nature of weather in NW Europe is such that you could have those vehicles sitting rusting for years without use. I know, I bought a set of spare wheels and fitted snow tires to them for a car I owned, which guaranteed no snow for the next three years of my ownership.

In the case of San Francisco, I agree it is a case of when rather than if, but then it could be said that it is not necessarily that big in national terms. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but if you still have multiple ports open on the west coast after SF collapses, then the country wide impact is limited.

The classic what ifs I can think of that are far less likely (we believe) are a repeat of the New Madrid quake, or a meteor strike in a key spot transport wise or on a large city. This strike would be similar to, or a bit larger than, the one that struck Arizona. Say, 10 megaton equivalent up to 50 megatons. I suppose having robust alternatives to transport routes through the New Madrid area counts as preparedness, but the random nature of a meteor strike cannot be dealt with sensibly because of the unknown location of such an event.

 

[Rustyt1953]

 

[pharmer]

No one is truly prepared for what's coming. Plan best you can and "get right."
At 70 I'm not dying young or in New Jersey. I plan to conduct myself with dignity and as much style as conditions permit. Oh yeah, I ain't ever, under any conditions going underground. If'n the "big flash" happens I hope I have my shades on. Joe

 

[twodog max]

I knew an old Arkansas hillbilly that literally became a self made millionaire. However he was always grounded in his austere existence during the depression. He once told me and his son that a man that had a good 22 rifle and ammo could find an kill enough to live on in these hills as he had done that very thing in the lean times of the 30's.
So the basics are what you need. Plan accordingly

 

[Greyman50]

Seriously doubt todays society could " cope" with the likes of the great depression.

 

[MelvinWalker]

One the direct earthquake issue, I lived in Tennessee for forty years. It is hard to believe the old footage, (Still on You Tube I'm sure), from the earthquake that caused the Mississippi River to run backwards for several days causing Reelfoot Lake to form in West Tennessee....It was sparsely populated then, but now? Forget it.

 

[Alk8944]

On this day in 1906, a earthquake hit San Francisco. The fires that followed were even worse than the quake's damage.

ITB

It has already repeated itself! Doesn't anyone remember the earthquake in San Francisco that occurred during the World Series in 1989?

And, quoted from Melvin Walker:"I lived in Tennessee for forty years. It is hard to believe the old footage, (Still on You Tube I'm sure), from the earthquake that caused the Mississippi River to run backwards for several days causing Reelfoot Lake to form in West Tennessee...." ???? Are you talking "footage" (movie film) of the New Madrid earthquakes that occurred in 1811 and 1812? That is nearly 100 years before moving pictures existed! What "footage" are you referring to?

You are correct that Reelfoot Lake (and the "Kentucky Bend") were a result of those earthquakes, but there certainly is no "footage" of the original occurrence!

 

[Rustyt1953]

It has already repeated itself! Doesn't anyone remember the earthquake in San Francisco that occurred during the World Series in 1989?

Al Michaels.