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Subculture of Americans prepares for civilization's collapse
Reuters ^ | Jan 21, 2012 | By Jim Forsyth

Posted on 01/21/2012 9:20:17 AM PST by Jet Jaguar

When Patty Tegeler looks out the window of her home overlooking the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia, she sees trouble on the horizon.

"In an instant, anything can happen," she told Reuters. "And I firmly believe that you have to be prepared."

Tegeler is among a growing subculture of Americans who refer to themselves informally as "preppers." Some are driven by a fear of imminent societal collapse, others are worried about terrorism, and many have a vague concern that an escalating series of natural disasters is leading to some type of environmental cataclysm.

They are following in the footsteps of hippies in the 1960s who set up communes to separate themselves from what they saw as a materialistic society, and the survivalists in the 1990s who were hoping to escape the dictates of what they perceived as an increasingly secular and oppressive government.

Preppers, though are, worried about no government.

Tegeler, 57, has turned her home in rural Virginia into a "survival center," complete with a large generator, portable heaters, water tanks, and a two-year supply of freeze-dried food that her sister recently gave her as a birthday present. She says that in case of emergency, she could survive indefinitely in her home. And she thinks that emergency could come soon.

"I think this economy is about to fall apart," she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: emergencyprep; getreadyhereitcomes; preparedness; prepperping; preppers; prepping; selfreliance; shtf; survivalping; thecomingdarkness
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To: matthew fuller

Yeah, I figured. But why ruin a fantasy about triplets, ya know? And besides, SHE can still survive. And stay at my place.


61 posted on 01/21/2012 12:26:52 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: mamelukesabre; ChildOfThe60s

anything more than 2 weeks of preparations is wacko
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***That is a meme instigated by the government in preparation for making anything more than 2 weeks illegal.***

I like to tell of my Brother-in-law whose parents had a ranch in West Texas during WWII. They kept lots of home canned food on hand for the help and themselves.

One day someone reported them for “hoarding food” and the government came out and confiscated every bit of food they had.

How did they survive? They had another cellar hid off in the hills.


62 posted on 01/21/2012 12:32:21 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( P!$$ on the Taliban. Issue MORE BEER!)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Nonsense. The hippies were not survivalists. they wanted a place for Sex and drugs. Their communes did not last long.


Even a cursory examination of the 60’s communes shows that they were founded on redistributionist principles. They failed because it was impossible to get more than 1 or 2 people, usually trustafarians or university professors, to work and contribute actual cash to the enterprise. The rest found a million excuses to not do the dishes,weed the garden or even clean the dwellings. More time was spent on meetings than anything else. The end game in all communes was a recruitment drive, looking for more poor suckers to come and do the scut work. A common trope of the times was :”I have more important things to do than work.”


63 posted on 01/21/2012 12:33:49 PM PST by reformedliberal
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To: tx_eggman; Oztrich Boy; Jet Jaguar; PzLdr; WyvernAK; knarf; Mortrey; cuban leaf; dagogo redux; ...
The 3 on the left might have a shot ...

They're either identical triplets or cloning software is involved!


64 posted on 01/21/2012 1:00:08 PM PST by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight he'll just kill you." John Steinbeck)
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To: jpsb

I lived in Houston for eight years and believe me, the zombies will find you. You might want to consider NE Texas or even Arkansas.


65 posted on 01/21/2012 1:14:18 PM PST by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: pepperdog
Got the answer in our neck of the woods in 2007, an ice storm crippled the State and the shelves in the city were empty in three days. Trucks couldn't get in because of the roads so people hit the stores like it was the end of the world. We got the last loaf of bread at Walmart. It was truly an eye opener.

We had the same thing happen to us in central Oklahoma a few years ago. I recently retired to a semi-rural area and a few weeks ago purchased a 10kw generator and had an electrician install a transfer switch. This spring we will be drilling a water well and building a greenhouse. I have been looking at aquaponics and hydroponics. And here I was wondering what I was going to do when I retired.

66 posted on 01/21/2012 1:24:11 PM PST by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: chris_bdba

Too strange. I just spent two hours trying to find sites on canning and where to buy supplies. Thanks


67 posted on 01/21/2012 1:52:33 PM PST by Donnafrflorida (Thru HIM all things are possible.)
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To: chris_bdba

Too strange. I just spent two hours trying to find sites on canning and where to buy supplies. Thanks


68 posted on 01/21/2012 1:52:45 PM PST by Donnafrflorida (Thru HIM all things are possible.)
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To: marron
It doesn’t take anything out of a science-fiction novel to put your world upside down.
A Katrina, an earthquake, a mid-west-sized flood can take down normal supply lines and utility lines for even weeks.

We've had numerous power outages; after being out of power for over a week I bought a heavy-duty generator that can tie into the house wiring. It sucks having no fridge or power. When we had the quake in 1989 in SF, it was a wake-up call to get prepared. No power, no street lights, no gas stations, no cell phone service, closed stores, etc. We knew things would be okay after a couple weeks. But if the SHTF in 2012 it won't be okay for 6 months or more. The zombies will roam.

69 posted on 01/21/2012 1:55:57 PM PST by roadcat
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To: matthew fuller

“Alas Babylon” may not have been the first postatomic novel but it is certainly the best known. cxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxgy(my cat just walked across the keyboard LOL)

That the setting is rural Florida panhandle rather than the major cities (which get nuked in the novel) has always fascinated me or when a car’s resale value is based on how much gas is left in the tank. JMO but a lot of the early survival manuals were basically fur-fish-game books about survival in the wilderness rather than how to survive in the midst of societal breakdown.

Pat Frank also recommended buying bricks of .22 ammo to be used for barter. Lately some of those posting on this topic say they are stocking up on cases of vodka pints for the same purpose.

The spot price of gold has fallen somewhat so that’s a good sign I guess but ammo & gun sales are still through the roof. Not related, but U.S. citizens are well armed compared to anywhere else so we won’t see the Islamic jihadis take over at least not without heavy infidel-related casualties.

Best to be prepared.


70 posted on 01/21/2012 1:57:56 PM PST by elcid1970 ("Deport all Muslims. Nuke Mecca now. Death to Islam means freedom for all mankind.")
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To: matthew fuller

“Alas Babylon” may not have been the first postatomic novel but it is certainly the best known. cxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxgy(my cat just walked across the keyboard LOL)

That the setting is rural Florida panhandle rather than the major cities (which get nuked in the novel) has always fascinated me or when a car’s resale value is based on how much gas is left in the tank. JMO but a lot of the early survival manuals were basically fur-fish-game books about survival in the wilderness rather than how to survive in the midst of societal breakdown.

Pat Frank also recommended buying bricks of .22 ammo to be used for barter. Lately some of those posting on this topic say they are stocking up on cases of vodka pints for the same purpose.

The spot price of gold has fallen somewhat so that’s a good sign I guess but ammo & gun sales are still through the roof. Not related, but U.S. citizens are well armed compared to anywhere else so we won’t see the Islamic jihadis take over at least not without heavy infidel-related casualties.

Best to be prepared.


71 posted on 01/21/2012 1:57:56 PM PST by elcid1970 ("Deport all Muslims. Nuke Mecca now. Death to Islam means freedom for all mankind.")
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To: elcid1970

In 2004 we had four hurricanes inside of a few weeks. I am prepping for either a hurricane or economic collapse. Potassium iodine is on my list for next month. One thing checked off each week.


72 posted on 01/21/2012 2:04:27 PM PST by Donnafrflorida (Thru HIM all things are possible.)
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To: elcid1970

In 2004 we had four hurricanes inside of a few weeks. I am prepping for either a hurricane or economic collapse. Potassium iodine is on my list for next month. One thing checked off each week.


73 posted on 01/21/2012 2:04:39 PM PST by Donnafrflorida (Thru HIM all things are possible.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Ominous black clouds of doom cover the edge of the horizon, the lightening is flashing and there is the distant sound of thunder! The storm flags are going up, who you heed them?

I think that at best we are in for a collapse much like that of Argentina. A excellent 12 part documentary on the economic collapse of Argentina can be see on YouTube with part one here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH6_i8zuffs

I am very aware that if it’s the great end as foretold in the Bible that there is nothing I can do to stop or change it, but history is full of instances and times when man or nature have caused such a calamity that people have cried out and begged God to end it all.

The bible has many verse such as this:

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

This verse and others are there for a reason and I urge all to take heed of them, because we are clearly on the edge. Everyday there is a new story about the ‘Yutes’ who grow more restless everyday and when you add the fact that because of the economy people are already on edge it won’t take much to set things off.

Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Siege of AR-558 (#7.8)” (1998)
Quark: Let me tell you something about Hew-mons, Nephew. They’re a wonderful, friendly people, as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same friendly, intelligent, wonderful people... will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don’t believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes.

Today we have ‘yutes’ who roam our streets who are with out morals, without respect for law or life itself. They will look are you with the same ‘doll eyes’ a shark does before he eats you and they will feel no more compassion than the shark does.

That will be the test of many. Most preppers I know are Christian people and they will hesitate to do what they might have to do to stop the ‘yutes’. On the other hand the ‘yutes’ won’t think twice nor lose a minute of sleep, in fact they will smile and laugh about it.

For those who are just starting or are old hands at prepping you may find my Preparedness Manual helpfull. You can download it at:

http://www.tomeaker.com/kart/preparedness1i.pdf

(NOTE THIS DOWNLOAD IS FREE AND I DO NOT MAKE A DIME OFF OF IT. ALSO NOTE THAT THE MANUAL IS CLEARLY MARKED AS NOT BEING FOR SALE. I PUT TOGETHER THIS MANUAL FOR ONLY ONE PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO HELP FELLOW PATRIOTS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS COMING.)

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, a extra couple changes of oil and filters for your car, tools, things you buy everyday start buying two and put one up.

Though I believe that the collapse we face will be much like that of Argentina I also believe that ours will be much more violent and there will be what I call ‘Pocket Progoms’ which will be very violent and life for some will quickly become much more like that of Bosina.

For a somber, yet realistic look at what SHFT in Bosina was like I urge you to read some of a Bosinian name Selco’s posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2798007/posts

If you like to read more about what SHTF in Bosnia was like take a look at this post on Bosnia War Survivor Selco’s Blog at:

http://shtfschool.com/

“There is no greater disaster than to underestimate danger. Underestimation can be fatal.”

As the LDS say “When the emergency is upon us the time for preparedness has past.”


74 posted on 01/21/2012 2:06:21 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Jet Jaguar; appalachian_dweller; OldPossum; DuncanWaring; VirginiaMom; CodeToad; goosie; kalee; ...

Preppers PING!


75 posted on 01/21/2012 2:07:44 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Donnafrflorida

If you are on Facebook there is avery active group there:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2261906796/ if not then check out http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm has a lot of information on it and how tops.


76 posted on 01/21/2012 2:09:18 PM PST by chris_bdba
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To: Donnafrflorida

If you are on Facebook there is avery active group there:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2261906796/ if not then check out http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm has a lot of information on it and how to’s.


77 posted on 01/21/2012 2:09:32 PM PST by chris_bdba
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

“The day will come when the taxes on a pound of tobacco is more than the taxes on a pound of gold.”


78 posted on 01/21/2012 2:10:50 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Oztrich Boy

I think plenty of preppers would take the triplets in.


79 posted on 01/21/2012 2:20:09 PM PST by Hugin ("Most time a man'll tell you his bad intentions if you listen and let yourself hear"--Open Range)
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To: Jet Jaguar
Southern Europe Permanently Crippled, The Only Tool Left Is Hyper Inflation
80 posted on 01/21/2012 2:23:41 PM PST by blam
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