Posted on 03/08/2022 8:35:44 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
Last night was our monthly prepping zoom call with preppers from all around the country participating. This group consists of about 300 preppers ranging from complete novices to grizzled veterans. Of course the subject of Ukraine/Russia conflict was the main point of discussion. The first speaker is a well-established prepper in the group who has family ties back to Ukraine. His report was sobering. He has family in various parts of Ukraine that he has managed to stay in touch with you during this almost 2 week crisis. It is his take that people that are in the cities are in deep trouble. The Russians have indiscriminately shelled probably 100 urban areas ranging from smaller towns up to the Capitol itself. I was aware of that but I was not prepared to hear his assessment of how bad the damages. Many of these towns and cities have been basically leveled. Destroying the preps of many people in situ. If anything is recoverable it will take time and energy in a lot of effort. He then went on to comment that the countryside is full of refugees trying to get across the border anywhere that is safe. They have swamped and overwhelmed the country areas in large parts of the country. Very little aid is making it past the border into Ukraine at this time. Many of these refugees have nothing except for the clothes on their back.
According to the original post, prepping didn't do much for Ukrainians: Many of these towns and cities have been basically leveled. Destroying the preps of many people in situ.. A basic kit as you suggest that is easy to grab and go is probably best.
There are many resources online for prepping including FEMA.
https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/FEMA_Red-Cross_Emergency_Preparedness_Checklist.pdf
Prepping on a budget can be done!
Russians know their Government lies to them—They have a long used and developed sh*t detector. We Americans blindly believe our media as telling us the Gospel Truth—Only now we have discovered we need that sh*t detector and that little of what we see and hear is true—maybe 20%. Russians are being Russian. They do not care about civilians the way we do—But recall all those building we bombed into ruins in Nazi Germany? We were targeting civilians to make them “War Weary”. All it did was make them fight harder. No, level a town, chaise out and kill the people. That is how they win. Brutal, ugly, mean. Is all this worth NATO Membership>?
Russians know their Government lies to them—They have a long used and developed sh*t detector. We Americans blindly believe our media as telling us the Gospel Truth—Only now we have discovered we need that sh*t detector and that little of what we see and hear is true—maybe 20%. Russians are being Russian. They do not care about civilians the way we do—But recall all those building we bombed into ruins in Nazi Germany? We were targeting civilians to make them “War Weary”. All it did was make them fight harder. No, level a town, chaise out and kill the people. That is how they win. Brutal, ugly, mean. Is all this worth NATO Membership>?
generally a “Bug-out-bag does little other then provide a few days of comfort while you become a refugee with the other million people seeking safety. In a time of war all bets are off. Can you but out? Can you bug in and stay on your own land eating your stash without soldiers raiding and killing you? Prep for likely situations like a train derailing which was carrying toxic chemicals. Prep for storms and droughts. Prep for food shortages. But when war is declared and there is an invading army at your door step... There’s not much you can do. Maybe you can stay put and become a “Gray Man.” One who just blends in. Get a safety vest, a hard hat, and a clip board and assume the role of a utility worker.
“Our gardening skills suck and our soil isn’t the great. We live on a small savings and fixed income. Do you really think this war in Ukraine is going to become world wide and we will be in deep trouble here? How can we prep?”
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If there is any chance you can do something to increase your income stream start doing it now.
As far as prepping there are 100s of youtubes to watch some good some stupid. Think of the basic necessities you will need in a 3 or 4 day power outage. Food, water and comfort supplies. Then build from there.
How and what you prep is somewhat dependent on your circumstances obviously. I live in a rural area so no need for us to bug out we are staying put. For the home you need some kind of heat if the power is out. We have a portable generator that has a transfer switch and about 100 gallons of fuel which due to shelf life needs to be managed. I think by running it a few hours/day I could get it to last a month or more while we consume everything in our refrig/freezers. It will also run our water pump.
An alternate heat source we have wood heating and kerosene heaters and plenty of fuel. Plus kerosene lanterns.
Flashlights lots of batteries and battery operated radio, and basic tools, batteries and supplies.
We are on a strict household budget, we have a good income but are very close to debt free and have a good emergency cash fund. We buy only what we need but every trip to the grocery store include something for the prep bunker, bags of rice, beans, pasta and so forth, something we eat but also is shelf stable. You would be surprised if you are careful how low cost some food items are. I think a goal of at least 3 months supplies is a good start.
You want to make sure you have the basic food groups covered. But always always always, every trip to the grocery store put something in the cart for the bunker. We shop mostly at Aldi and Walmart (Costco and SamsClub also), buy walmart (store) brand foods. Also have ample supplies for the dog and cats. Plus items for barter, alcohol medical supplies prescription drugs. Some kind of food storage system bins, buckets vacuum sealers, mason jars, pantry shelves. Make shopping lists and keep inventory of what you have. None of this has to be fancy ours isn’t.
You do not need to loose your mind over this but you should start prepping now, as in today. If nothing happens you can still eat what you have in your bunker. Do it you will sleep a lot better. For us the hardest part was untangling our messy personal finances. The rest, collecting all the stuff is actually fun. We have been at it for over a year. What looked like a lot of food when we started looks like nothing today.
Buy cheap, stack it deep.
Prepping does not work when it is in range of artillery. So, that means diversify. Have 2 or 3 geographically separated locations. This provides for a higher liklihood of one or more stashes surviving. My 2 cents.
Pray you dont live in our neighborhood. 😆
Kill the adults, keep the kids locked in a crawl space until your resh food runs out like that movie with Viggo Mortensen, The Road.
That’s not even close to being funny, and if that truly is your attitude, you will be receiving only more ammo in return.
The folks you think are prepped that you expect to raid will be expecting it and ready for you.
You'll be among the first to die if that is truly your plan.
I live in my bugout location so I have a GHB in my truck.
Good input!
Thanks so much for your advice. We do have an RV that we keep gassed up and it has a generator built in and we keep the fresh water tank full. We have a above ground pool full of water also. The RV came in handy when we got a hurricane a couple years ago! That’s a start right?
“According to the original post, prepping didn’t do much for Ukrainians: Many of these towns and cities have been basically leveled. Destroying the preps of many people in situ.. A basic kit as you suggest that is easy to grab and go is probably best.”
A part of prepping is to have locations identified that one can flee to in case staying in place is not an option. My goal and preference is to stay in place and I’m concentrating on that. Once that’s completed, I’ll put time and resources into putting together a comprehensive bug out plan.
I do spend some time thinking about the bug out plan from time to time and doing some reading on the internet but that’s about it for now until I’m satisfied that my primary goal, to be able to hunker down at home for months, is achieved.
“Prepping does not work when it is in range of artillery. So, that means diversify. Have 2 or 3 geographically separated locations. This provides for a higher liklihood of one or more stashes surviving. My 2 cents.”
Prepping includes having several geographically separated locations to bug out to in case of an emergency.
Nice!
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