Posted on 09/20/2013 8:20:06 PM PDT by Kartographer
1 million dollar question is: „How is the collapse going to look like, and when is it gonna start?“
So there are numerous opinions, and also numerous ideas about how it is gonna look, when it is gonna start and whatever.
And big truth is that „sheep“ people (non preppers, non survivalists) are not gonna see it coming and it is understandable, but also lot of real preppers are blind.
Some of us are „too deep“ and „too blindly“ buried into the BOB, BOL, SHTF, WROL and other discussion and arguing about „what knife to have when SHTF” and God knows what else. Many think one day lights go out and darkness all around, hell breaks lose. But this only happens when governments make big mistake or nature finally gets back at us.
I believe government and corporations just turn off light slowly. Hand out pocket lights that people can see small area around them but not big picture.
- See more at: http://shtfschool.com/general/keep-them-fed-and-entertained/#sthash.FE0gWLuI.dpuf
(Excerpt) Read more at shtfschool.com ...
Preppers’ PING!!
This article covers something that Selco has talked about in other articles something he saw in many people while real SHTF was occurring, people not accept that a breakdown was happening even as they watch it transpire right before their eyes. Why don’t they realize it? Many times it is caused by a condition called ‘Normalcy Bias’ a mental state many people enter when facing a disaster.
Normalcy Bias causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This often results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations. The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred then it never will occur. It also results in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation.
A good article on ‘Normalcy Bias’ is on our own ChocChipCookies Blog The Survival Mom:
http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/12/29/normalcy-bias/
You either prepare and stand on your own beholden to no one or you become dependent on others to provide your basic needs and become their ‘serf’. Me I don’t want to be beholden to anyone for providing what is needed for me and mine. I certainly don’t want to have to kiss some ‘gubberment’ third class bureaucratic to try and coax some help from them, I don’t want some ‘jack booted’ thug herding me in line and telling me where to stand, sit, eat or sleep. And last but not least I don’t want to be shut up in with a bunch of ‘zombies’ and have to worry about not only trying to get basic necessities but having to fight to keep what I manage to get.
There is a Great article in my Preparedness Manual on building your on Bug Out Bag titled: A Highly-Mobility 72 Hour Kit-by Ward Dorrity. You can download the whole manual at:
http://tomeaker.com/kart/Preparedness1j.pdf NOTE! THIS IS A FREE DOWNLOAD. I DO NOT MAKE ONE CENT OFF MY PREPAREDNESS MANUAL!
For those of you who haven’t started already it’s time to prepare almost past time maybe. You needed to be stocking up on food guns, ammo, basic household supplies like soap, papergoods, cleaning supplies, good sturdy clothes including extra socks, underwear and extra shoes and boots, cash (I myself have been putting up change for the past few years both for the metal content and the fact that using change places to make what purchases you can will move you down the the list of possible marks during shtf), tools, things you buy everyday start buying two and put one up.
As the LDS say “When the emergency is upon us the time for preparedness has past.”
Again I like to recomend FReeper’s ChocoChipCookie Blog The Survival Mom (Please Blog Police let this one slide!) Where you can get lots of useful information like:
http://thesurvivalmom.com/2011/11/20/8-morale-boosters-for-any-worst-case-scenario/
http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/02/02/survival-priorities-the-rule-of-three/
And More
Also there is Ferfal’s Blog a survivor of Argentina’s first collapse:
And there is Selco’s Blog a Bosnian War survivor at:
“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger. Underestimation can be fatal.”
bttt
Now that was in just 2 minutes.
PING POST #5 this thread!!!
Says a lot about where we are. Lights go out - invitation to take more “Free Stuff”. Sad.
I turn on the tap to prepare the morning coffee and I think “ what if the water stops flowing, am I prepared?
The outside temp reaches 100 deg., so I turn up the A/C and think “how can I even breathe without this cool air?”
As I feed my pets (2 dogs, 3 cats), I wonder, if I had no food, would this Appeal to me? Heck! Would my cat or dog appeal to me?
This comfortable home could be taken, or I could be forced to abandon it. (Well, I'm unhappy with the kitchen remodel, so I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore....a bright spot!
Just damn.
Care to offer a demographic summary?
“My way of thinking has changed recently.
I turn on the tap to prepare the morning coffee and I think “ what if the water stops flowing, am I prepared?”
That is what started me prepping in 1998. I woke up and thought if trucks stop, there won’t be any power. How can I get through this day with no power? Got up, went to bathroom, thought potty doesn’t work due to no water, no water comes out of faucet. Couldn’t buy anything, that means no toilet paper. What do I do about this? It is winter, the house would be cold, what do I do about this? I wrote it all day throughout the day to identify what had to be replicated some way.
So, I did it.
There is a good case made that the collapse will be imminent when a scattering of small banks close on Friday and leave notice that next week opening will be delayed and only at certain locations. I intend to fill water containers on that day.
I'm not sure how so many get EBT cards? Many of them work. They have employee ID badges on them for work at the school district, city, local hospitals, etc.....I just don't understand? I mean if they are working and driving a car (not like my old paid for beater), how do they get government assistance?
Does anyone here know the reputation of the “Emergency Essentials” store?
Kroger @ Poplar & Cleveland at the western edge of midtown Memphis. Two blocks to the east and there are old money mansions and nice areas. It’s where US Rep Cohen lives.
Me too Marcella.
I think I’m prepped better than most, though not as well as some.
But right now it is still abstract. I think to myself, what if it becomes reality?
Am I truly prepared?
And reality comes closer and closer...
“I was in a Memphis Kroger today during a heavy rain. The power went out while I was in the dairy section. No emergency lighting came on.”
Put one of the very small emergency lights on your key ring - there are some made for that. If that situation happens, leave your cart, use the light and exit the store right then so you are out of there before the “takers” start leaving.
I don’t think what we have going on now is your father’s welfare. I see working people (as evidenced by uniforms, badges, etc.) using ebt cards all the time. Heck, even students get ebt cards! It’s incredible. You CHOOSE to go to college and because you are in college you get welfare??
The worst part is that ebt cards replace food stamps- you can now use the ebt for anything, not just healthy food. I see people using ebt cards for candy, cola, etc.
Welfare isn't for the truly downtrodden, anymore! No more cheese, eggs, milk and bread for the takers...heck no...we're (makers) paying for the "good stuff"... filets, lobster, gourmet foods, etc.
“But right now it is still abstract. I think to myself, what if it becomes reality? Am I truly prepared?”
You need to be without power for several days to know how it feels and how your preps work or don’t work. When a hurricane comes through, and there is no power for five days or more, I know how to make it better.
After the hurricane passes, when power is out, the first change is quiet - total quiet, no noise of any kind outside or inside your house. Now, someone on this thread will say that would be great - well, it isn’t - it’s abnormal. I get a radio on to get news of what is happening. Then, I set up the digital portable battery operated TV to see what is happening. I make easy/fast coffee with the Sterno stove and canned heat and Melitta filter, and see what conditions are by having that TV.
Whatever screws up during that time, I fix so it won’t happen the next time. You get used to a system of doing things and now it is automatic after power goes out and that includes water out if that happens, too.
I brought Mylar bags from them a couple times over the last 4-5 years and got good quick service from them.
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