" Deliberate physical attack and sabotage of the grid are also major threats (has already happened).
But perhaps the biggest danger would be an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) created by detonation of a nuclear device above the atmosphere (Already threatened by the Norks).
And yet we wonder why Russia has already underground facilities to house, feed, and maintain millions of their population .
If you have miles and acres of food, but if you don't have the fuel/energy to get it where it is needed, it doesn't really matter, because it will spoil in the fields, or on the docks.
H/T to DuncanWaring, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, and bitt
The vast majority of Americans have lost touch with how their food is produced at the most basic level. There are at at least two generations that have grown up on nothing but industrialized, pre-cooked, pre-packaged “food” loaded down with chemical additives for the sole purpose to enhance shelf life and keep products sellable on the shelves- all of which is transport and stocked in a 72 hour “just in time” logistics chain.
One of the more fascinating counter approaches to this system is the growing trend to have fresh food and ingredients delivered to your doorstep with step by step instructions on how to cook your own “fresh” meal. It’s rather comical, but in a sad way. At least people learn to cook by this approach, but it’s bothersome that many people in their 20s and 30s require hand holding on acquiring such basic skills.
Loss of Convenience is going to be a big killer when the lights go out and the trucks don’t run- especially in the high density urban areas. You can’t grow, cook and store food from the ground or breed livestock from the pen fast enough to keep from starving at that point even if you do know what you’re doing unless you are already doing it.
Thanks, TIK!
if you have miles and acres of food, but if you don’t have the fuel/energy to get it where it is needed, it doesn’t really matter, because it will spoil in the fields, or on the docks.
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Without fuel to supply the tractors there won’t be acres and acres of food.
The key to a disaster is personal preparedness and not preparedness by the government. In Puerto Rico it has already been two weeks and people are not getting the assistance that has been delivered.
In many cases, perhaps the majority of people no longer have livable homes. These people are poor and worried more about having NetFlix and cable TV than they did sturdy homes. They may still have their I-Phones but they don’t have anywhere to plug them in.
My home in Florida just went thru the eye of the Irma. I did sustain a little damage, I lost my favorite Coca Nut Tree that produced wonderful, tasty Coca Nuts, I lost some trim on the house but not a single shingle. To me that is amazing. I expected to lose the house when I saw the path of the Hurricane but it is still there, in fact some of the clean-up volunteers that went to help people in the area used my house for a place to sleep while there.
I’m not a rich guy. I’m not poor either but I can’t afford Cable, I drive cars that are several years old and I bought them used.
I have generators at both my homes and solar power in Kentucky. I’m in Kentucky where we have tornadoes and high wind storms in the spring. We don’t get much ice and snow so when it hits it is a disaster breaking trees that down power lines.
I have food and water in the basement that will last a long time, much more than a couple weeks.
I have a very heavy safe in the basement with a little money for emergencies and plenty of ammo for the same reason.
I live on the top of the highest point in my area, I don’t have to worry about flooding.
Ok, there is much more I could say about my preparedness but I’m trying to make a point. We make decisions and sometimes they are not wise. To me having a safe with a little money for emergencies is more important than having cable. For me making a car payment is stupid if you don’t make a lot more money than me and if you do why not just pay for it and be done with it.
I don’t trust government to take care of me, I don’t trust the Red Cross to take care of me or my next door neighbors. Perhaps in a disaster I will be able to offer limited help to oothers, I hope so.
My home in a hurricane prone area was built to withstand at least a category 3 hurricane, it did and did it well. Others could do the same if they weren’t worried about having the coolest tattoo or newest car, phone or you name it. If you make poor decisions about these things and never have the storm you are ahead but when you don’t prepare don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.
In the 50s and 60s, the government had plans and provisions for civil defense/shelters and food stock piles.
Now, they just stock for the continuity of Government, and the American Citizen’s welfare is low priority for an event such as =battery operated, solar or crank recharge.
I would like to get a mechanism to be able to operate the well pump with a flip to the alternate power source. Hubby says he wire something up if needed, so no need to worry about it. So one of these days, I’m just going to hire someone to do it, if I can’t get him to do it.