'If the internet goes down, half the planet will come to a standstill'

Mirror ^ | 8/25/15 | Jeff Parsons

[Kartographer]

Preppers are the ones that'll survive long after the rest of us have gone

These days the world is a scary place to live in.

If there's not an asteroid on its way to obliterate us or terrorists plotting our imminent downfall, there's the dangers of giant online data hacks or complete economic collapse.

But when the end does arrive, there are a few people who aren't just able to cope with the apocalypse - they've been actively preparing for it.

These people call themselves 'preppers' or 'survivalists' and they belong to a vast underground community. When the ATMs stop running or the internet goes down, they'll be the ones that make it out alive.

"Its a huge community, especially in the States. But in the UK it's becoming more and more recognised," explained Steve Hart, the man behind the UK's top prepping website: ukpreppersguide.co.uk.

[BobL]

Just a pain in the neck to cut with a hand saw. Just get the real think, especially if you may be burying a good number of them. Handy for other work too.

[norwaypinesavage]

"And when you stop to get gas for your trip west and your debit or credit card don’t work?"

You write a check.

[Roos_Girl]

High ground water of course is prevalent through much of Florida also, as I’m sure you know. We happen to live on basically a big sand hill, got about 40’ of fall across a 1/4 mile long property. I don’t know what our wet season ground water level generally is, but I’m pretty sure we could get away with a full basement here. I’ve dug a 5’ deep hole with post hole diggers and not even pulled out damp dirt.

In my previous life I was a civil engineer and had to make sure to run calcs on anything we burried, like wet wells for lift stations.

[IMR 4350]

Around here, depending on the time of the year, people can put in a fiberglass septic tank and not put water in it to weight it down, the next morning it will be popped up out of the ground.

Same with swimming pools. Drain them completely, leave it over night, and it’s a good bet it will have floated up out of the ground a foot or two the next morning.

[Kartographer]

Jack Burton: "When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

[Bookwoman]

Put me on the ping list! I won’t get the pings, but it’s the spirit of it that matters!

[Mad Dawgg]

"Put me on the ping list!"

wish/command etc.

"So let it be written. So let it be done."

The List: mitch5501; Rocky; Pajamajan; Mad Dawgg; hoosiermama; SE Mom; null and void; BenLurkin; bigheadfred; redhead; berdie; Old Sarge; wyokostur; GeronL; TheOldLady; ducttape45; Gefn; IYellAtMyTV; Redcitizen; LonePalm; garandgal; Fiddlstix; bt_dooftlook; liberalh8ter; Mercier; Truth29; PA Engineer; citizen; bleach; Greetings_Puny_Humans; TangoLimaSierra; Chickensoup; rexiesmom; FourtySeven; RinaseaofDs; RikaStrom; ozarkgirl; Grimmy; Jet Jaguar; silverleaf; tcrlaf; Red Badger; mumblypeg; LadyBuck; Bookwoman

You may now "make your time" (zig...)

[napscoordinator]

This is sad to me. It totally means that people are not trusting in God. If God wants me to go by astroid or terror attack then fine. I’d rather go in my sleep but I trust God implicitly. These people obviously don’t.

[Kartographer]

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. NIV Proverbs 22:3

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8

[napscoordinator]

hmmmm.....gosh the Bible has everything. lol.....It is seriously like a guide to life. Interesting. I am a church going person but the Bible is lacking a bit. Thanks for those passages. I find that interesting.

[Kartographer]

Do you lock your doors of you house and car at night? You do so because it is prudent it is not a sign that you don’t trust the Lord. If you live in a huricane zone and you haven’t made provisions for your family isn’t that a bit foolish? Haven’t you fail to take prudent precautions? Even at their most obedient do you think that the Israelites did not set a watch? Store grain? Have a standing army?

This reminds me of this joke:

A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him. He had a vision in his head of God’s hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. The water started to rise in his house. His neighbour urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.” The neighbour drove off in his pick-up truck.

Flood
The man continued to pray and hold on to his vision. As the water began rising in his house, he had to climb up to the roof. A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.

The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The flood waters continued to rise. A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left. The flooding water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.

When he reached heaven and asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?” God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?”

[bgill]

A lot more than half will come to a standstill. More like 85%.

[napscoordinator]

lol. That was hilarious. Great joke. Point made.

[Lurker]

That’s a very old map. Mpower went bankrupt over a decade ago.

L

[Roos_Girl]

That’s a bad thing to find at your construction site when you get there in the morning.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Plus, if the pre-1980s car has a carburetor, it’s more likely to survive EMP — not that the gasoline supply would last very long.

[CGASMIA68]

Load it with descant too

[mumblypeg]

I’ve just acquired a CB radio. Will it work if I have no gas?
Also, where can I find a translator? Everybody on CB sounds like that guy on King of the Hill...

[IMR 4350]

Glued up right and descants it’s as dry as a bone.

[mumblypeg]

Have you considered a zeer? No electricity needed. Works by evaporative cooling. I’m trying to get hold of one.