‘Modern survivalists’ dig in for disaster

Richmond Times - Dispatch ^ | May 2, 2009 | MELODY MCDONALD

[appleseed]

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Jack Spirko owns a media company, is married to a nurse and has a son in college. He has two dogs and lives in a nice house with a pool in a diversified neighborhood in suburban Arlington, Texas.

Spirko, 36, considers himself an average guy with a normal life.

But for the past few years, Spirko has been stockpiling food, water, gas, guns and ammunition. He also has a load of red wine, Starbucks coffee and deodorant stashed away.

"I refer to myself as a modern survivalist, which means I don't do without," Spirko explained. "I have a nice TV; I have nice furniture. We are not living in the sticks, but I take all of these things very seriously."

Spirko, an Army veteran and self-described "stark-raving-mad Libertarian," is part of a growing movement of people who are preparing for a disaster natural, economic or man-made. Referred to as "modern survivalists" or "preppers," they are taking steps to protect and provide for their families should something bad happen.

Theirs is a different breed of survivalist, far from the right-wing militants or religious extremists who hole up in bunkers, live off the land and wait for the apocalypse.

Preppers are regular people with regular jobs who decided after Sept. 11, after Hurricane Katrina or when their 401(k)s tanked that they can't rely on someone else to help them if something goes awry.

"We are normal people just like you," Spirko said. "We just understand that, sometimes, stuff goes wrong."

Donnie, 38, a McKinney resident who is an account executive with an international trade show organization, said Hurricane Katrina opened his eyes. He spent six weeks working as a paramedic in New Orleans.

[appleseed]

I posted a variation of this article a few weeks back. Is there a survivalist ping list? If not maybe we can start one. I'm not the best on the computer but if we need to start one I'll figure out how to do it.

Just thought I would post this link because it's an incredible must:

http://firesteel.com/

I have all 6 sizes and the scrapers they offer. I use them to light my charcoal grill. Also use them to start brush fires.

[appleseed]

[Rio]

I guess I am a Prepper. Better than being a Preppie.

[DuncanWaring]

I'm not the best on the computer but if we need to start one I'll figure out how to do it.

It's fairly straightforward.

Wait for people to tell you "On the list, please", or words to that effect, then put the names in a file somewhere. Whenever you find an appropriate article, copy those names to the "To" block, and "Post".

Some folks keep the list on their FR page, for handy access, anywhere.

Jack Black, for example, keeps his copy of the CWII Ping List on his FR page.

[John123]

He also has a load of red wine

Everyone is invited...

[omega4179]

I don’t think end of the world preps account for permanent socialism. Although the transition from freedom to socialism is painful.

[appleseed]

Water filtration system that I have used. It works great. A little expensive though. I add a few drops of bleach in the filtered water just in case.

[appleseed]

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/

[wafflehouse]

Is there a survivalist ping list? If not maybe we can start one

if you start one, would you put me on the list please?

[appleseed]

Thanks for the info.

[vladimir998]

What’s the name of the water filtration system in the photo?

[appleseed]

He’s also stocking up on Starbucks and other stuff that I don’t understand. Spirko is an Army Vet. and I trust he knows what he is doing in his area.

I live out in the sticks. I already have the hand tools needed when poop hits the fan. When gas hit almost $5 a gallon a while back, I went primative. Anyique stores have a great selection of stuff for going stone age.

[appleseed]

Berkey.

http://www.berkeyfilters.com/

[Misterioso]

"You turn on the news and only hear about job losses and the prospect that things are going to get worse than better," he said. "You see signals that the world is full of nasty things you need to avoid. You've engaged in this general sense of avoidance. You are trying to focus on safety concerns."

I wonder if the reporter glossed over comments her interviewee might have made about this issue. It's hard to imagine the "survivalist" hasn't projected a self-defense scenario wherein the have-nots come after the haves. You know, survival of the most armed?

[appleseed]

A good place to find stuff:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/

I recently ordered 2 canteens with covers, a bayonet for my AR-15 and a hundred P-38 can openers. Prices were decent.

[pbmaltzman]

If you are developing a ping list, please put my name on it. Thanks a lot.

[diamond6]

bttt

[Paved Paradise]

The only problems I see with this are: (1) the stuff will go bad unless you keep rotating it and if he’s stockpiled that much, rotation is going to be difficult; and (2) the Bible tells us not to horde. I know. I know. I know what you are probably thinking. Honestly, I have thought very seriously about this. Imagine you have been stockpiling, or what the Bible calls “hording” for the day of reckoning or whatever and now you have this huge cache of food; meanwhile someone is going to find out and come acalling for help - how do you turn people down? Really? Sure, you can point the muzzle of a gun at them and tell them to get off your property but what if it’s people you love - friends, relatives, etc. It’s a very unappealing position to put oneself in. Of course, the idea of starving is not very appealing either.

[Paved Paradise]

“horde” = “hoard” I know the difference.

[SIDENET]

He also has a load of red wine

Now yer talkin'.