Are We Prepared?

DebateUSA ^ | 8/18/03 | Jon Alvarez

[jonalvy44]

Are We Prepared?

What's next? Many of us just survived the Blackout of 2003, an event that left us with many of the same feelings of shock we experienced after 9-11 and the dread preceding Y2K. It was another reminder of how vulnerable our free and open society truly is. We will now be forced to deal with and strengthen our aging energy infrastructure. Authorities have assured us that, despite our initial fears, this was not terrorist-related. Nonetheless, the feelings we experienced were as traumatic. Now may be the time to ask not only what is next, but also whether or not we are prepared for the next such crisis.

Many people have already forgotten the anxiety that gripped our country prior to Y2K. That was probably the first instance since the Cold War where Americans felt genuinely threatened. The Blackout of 2003 served as a reminder of how dependent upon energy and technology we all are in living our day-to-day lives. What if the blackout had been more severe? How would we cope? That is something we need to ask ourselves.

How prepared are we to deal with such calamities? Can we even imagine life without electricity? As crazy as that may sound, we must realize that things are different today. Anything can happen. The Cold War generation lived under fear of a nuclear attack. Like Y2K, this fear never materialized. The events of 9-11 made Americans realize that bad things can happen within our country. The threat of nuclear war has raised its ugly head once again with the recent news that N. Korea is a nuclear power and quite possibly Iran as well. Whether it is terrorists with nuclear weapons or a failing national power infrastructure, we could wake up one day and be without electricity and a whole lot more.

The Blackout of 2003 had a crippling effect on America for one day. Like 9-11, we saw good will rise above mankind's basic instincts towards selfishness and self-preservation. Were this to have been a more permanent crisis, how long would that goodwill last? What about many of the social services we all rely upon? What impact would such an extended crisis have on the ability of the police to maintain order? How would we obtain food? These are some basic questions of which we should all be asking ourselves. Ultimately, it is up to each and every one of us to be responsible for our own well being should such an occurrence take place. Like 9-11, we should learn something from this latest catastrophe.

Y2K laid the groundwork for people to realize that life, as we know it could radically change in an instant. No one was prepared for the catastrophe we experienced on 9-11. Likewise, the Blackout of 2003 caught many in this country completely off guard. How can our country continue its current pattern of growth and urban sprawl without adequately examining the resources needed to sustain such growth? Our country is at odds with itself over how to best handle this. How long could you survive were everything to shut down?

We should all have a personal plan of action to ensure our own survival should disaster once again visit itself upon this country. It's time to take a personal inventory, to determine what we are doing today to better prepare for tomorrow. Whether it is short or long-term, the point of the matter is that we should all be prepared. How many in America now own generators to provide electricity at home? What about a stockpile of supplies when the grocery stores are closed? Weapons to protect your family in case of anarchy? These are just some of the things considered necessary in order to survive in the uncertain world of tomorrow. Will you be prepared?

[atomic conspiracy]

On another string several posters and I have addressed the possibility that massive warfare, including nuclear warfare, could break out in the Middle East at any time. I brought up the need for psychological and physical preparedness in response to this.

If Israel loses patience and launches a genuine war of extermination against terrorists and their supporters, we will probably see terrorist attacks on our infra-structure, and some of these could possibly succeed on a massive scale. There are just too many points of vulnerability for every possibility to be covered.

Beyond that, the left-wing Fifth Column would go absolutely berserk in the event of a large-scale Israeli assault on the Islamo-fascists. During the Iraq war, we saw a lot of violence and disruption, and many attempts at outright sabotage, from the "peace movement".

The peace thugs took note when the media soft-peddled this treasonous conduct, and this would only incite them to much worse disruption and violence if, say, an Israeli nuclear strike destroys Iranian and Pakistani nuclear facilities, or if a very large number of Hizbollah are killed in a sudden assault on their Lebanese sanctuary.

Every Mumia-cong fantasist, anarchist wannabe, and pop-culture radical in the country would pour into the street in support of professional agitators; the mob mentality would take over, and we would have an extremely violent, if short-lived, insurrection on our hands.

This possibility, essentially domestic warfare, introduces a significant issue of personal security into the equation. Do you live in an area where rampaging anarchist mobs could become dangerous? Do you know how to protect yourself and your family if a rioting mob spills over into your neighborhood? Can you deal with blocked roads and massive sabotage of utilities? Do you know how to cope with fallout, and how dangerous it actually is, or is not, when it originates on the other side of the world?

There are a lot of resources on the web, and elsewhere, for these questions. My site, Nuclear Space, addresses some of the radiological questions. FAS and Global Security also have some excellent material on these issues, some of it quite surprising to those who are only familiar with the media (ie luddite panic-monger) line on radiological hazards. There are many general survival sites, varying in quality from rigorously scientific to certifiably insane. Learn to tell the difference, your life may depend on it.

[MiddleVillager]

Your absolutely correct. It seems that if low-lifes are patted on the back for exercising common sense and behaving in a lawful manner, the next time they'll be "wilding".

[bets]

Okay, well there is the one fella with the search light over his garage that lights up the neighborhood when someone walks by in the street. But, with no power, that problem's solved.

a nice sized rock will fix that

[netmilsmom]

You know, when I first started reading this thread, I felt the same way as you did. I thought, geez it could be worse. Now I think I will buy a coffee pot like yours and a few survival supplies. My girls are getting old enough to camp and it's all looking good!
Where did you get your pot? Is it just Army/Navy store type stuff?

[netmilsmom]

Thanks!
I guess survival stuff is just the same as camping supplies. Perhaps I need to get us all in the swing of things.

[7thson]

Several years ago - around Feb 1994 - the Washington, DC area suffered a severe ice storm. I was 36 at the time and still in the Navy. When the storm hit, I was able to drive in to work in the district - about 50 miles from where I live. After my 12 hour shift, I was unable to leave because both exits from the work site were up hill and I could not get the van up to the main road. So I stayed for 12 hours, then stood my second 12 hour shift. I then was off for 96 hours and was able to get out of the parking lot because by that time the powers that be scrapped it down and put salt on it. It took me about two hours to get home - driving very carefully. When I got home, my wifes son, his wife, and their two sons - one 2 1/2 years old and another 6 months old - arrived because power in their neighbood went out. We had power so we told them to come over. About two or three hours later, power went out to our place. Was out for 3 1/2 days. No electricity, no water - we are on a well system. Had phone power but who you gonna call?? We knew what the problem was. We did have a 1000 watt generator which we were able to use for the microwave for baby formula and such. We used our fireplace and slept in our clothes. Afterwards, we bought two 5000 watt generators and have gas on hand. It made me realize that we are not that far removed from the caves and trees. Better to be prepared.

[camle]

Wall-Mart. anybody can buy plastic camping cups and aluminum camping pots, but you really have to have the old western style blue speckled tin (or is it steel?) cups and pots when you camp.

We got our motorhome cheap about two years back. you can get a real nice one at a great ptice if you go now before things improve too much.

Of course tent camping is OK too, but when you get to be amy age, you need a folding cot.

[Centurion2000]

heh ... survivalism goes mainstream :)

[bets]

Another thing to consider is that FEMA (or Homeland Security or whomever) may not let you stay in your home during an emergency. You may WANT to stay in your home and tough out some disaster, but govmint officials may say otherwise, going door to door and making sure you evacuate.

In the case of forced evacuation, the situation will be either a) gas available for cars, or b) no gas available for cars. If you don't have gas at the pumps, then my suggestion is that all the supplies you need should be portable. ie generators and big plastic canisters for water won't do you much good if you're not going to be staying at your house. AND I believe there's a high probability that in a disaster, you won't be staying put or allowed to stay put.

It's best to plan for both scenarios - have the big stuff for if you can stay in your house, but also have portable more mobile stuff in case you need to take it on the road.

[Judith Anne]

We are very rural, and we are prepared. The house did get down to 45 degrees in some rooms, but others were fine at 65 with wood heat, no electricity. We had no problem with cooking, making coffee, etc.

We have a generator, but didn't have to use it--haven't ever had to, just have it hooked up and test it every year.

[Judith Anne]

That's true--some may be required by FEMA to move. It's my thought that will happen more in cities, than in rural areas...

There is an upside and a downside to being in involved with local FEMA and other authorities...on one hand, you know what's being planned, on the other hand, they know who you are...

[Vigilantcitizen]

I'll never forget this...

The morning after hurricane Opal, my wife and I drove through our town surveying the damage. Trees were down everywhere, and no one had power.

But the waffle house was open for business, making coffee and cooking food for a full house on it's gas range.

[jonalvy44]

good stuff...couldn't agree more. That's one reason why we moved from dreadfully hot and dry Texas to lovely Upstate NY for fear of a Y2K type event taking place, Texas would be unbearable...Lots of water and cooler climate in NY. Also, live in an area where there is a federal preserve behind us, so lots of open land with game, etc.

Many Americans aren't prepared for such an event as you describe. Another such scenario, imagine the 2004 campaign being contested as 2000 was...the anti-war nuts would again rise up, we'd see anarchy on a greater scale. Coupled with a terrorist event, could be too much for law enforcement to handle.

[bets]

Do you have individual backpacks in case you have to evacuate? Even if you throw things into a car to leave, think ahead and pack large camping backpacks in the car in case you run into a no-gas available situation. Think - what am I willing to carry on my back? In that case, you might pack a plastic cup instead of a metal camping cup. Little things like that add up in weight. You'd want some sleeping bags, a lightweight tent, some MRE's or dehydrated camping food, a water filter (since water to carry is heavy), etc......

Evacuation isn't too farfetched and neither is the possibility that gas for your car will be unavailable.

[bets]

God bless the waffle house - - there's one about a mile from my house, and it's always packed night and day.

[Judith Anne]

Yes, for several reasons, I carry several days supply of clothes and basic necessities.

For one thing, I drive a very long way (more than 35 miles) without seeing another car or reaching a small town (pop. 1200) when I go to work, which is a 65 mile one way trip. In case of bad weather, I might be stranded anywhere along the way. For another, in case of disaster, I may have to work a week or so without going home. So, yes, I have a duffel packed, including food and water.

[jonalvy44]

we did that as well. What else is there to do? LOL

[FreedomPoster]

Another suggestion for the house - blue polypropylene food-grade 55-gallon barrels for water. Fill them up, put in the appropriate amount of non-scented bleech, seal it up, and it will keep for years. Buy the little pump that screws into the top.

I need to deploy the second one I bought, first one is down in the crawl space all filled up. Less than $100 for the barrel and pump.

[bets]

Also, FEMA can make it illegal for you to be on the road. This is VERY LIKELY, that in order to control a situation they'll close off the roads. And if you're on the road, you're considered a looter, and will be arrested.

Those are two extremes: 1) you'll be forced to evacuate, or 2) you'll be forced to stay put, no vehicles on the road.

btw I evacuated during Hurricane Andrew - there were curfews to halt looters, and there were bans on driving after the hurricane actually hit.

[jonalvy44]

good points. Getting a hitch and extension added to my jeep for such a scenario