Awareness and Getting Involved

[theGinsue]

The plan and practice for actually bugging out have to consider the very real possibility of traffic clogged roads, roads closed and or controlled by BG's, etc. How will you get to where you want to be? How will you get away quick enough to avoid whatever it is you are leaving to avoid? If you have family, do you have rally locations identified (primary and alternates)?

What if your route is downwind from a chemical/biological/nuclear event? Do you have alt routes or know alternate paths if you have already started on your route?

Do you realize that you probably won't be able to rely on your cell phone for communication? Even if the whole "the government has a plan to disable/take over voice comm's in the event of a serious disaster" is an urban legend, you can at least expect the lines to be clogged (anyone remember trying to make a call - especially a long distance call as 9/11 unfolded?).

I know that Jerry is looking to or has started a communications thead so this side of things will be addressed there, but....

[KevDen2005]

Do you realize that you probably won't be able to rely on your cell phone for communication?

Does HAM Radio still work? I am very uneducated in the matter.

[KevDen2005]

Also food for thought is having a number of different maps prepared for your primary and alternate locations. There were a few places I would go that I could not find a map at REI or similar stores so I found on the USGS website you can have maps made. I had a few maps made, scale 1/24,000, which works pretty well with a military grid protractor (which is 1/25,000).

Keeping in mind of a previous post about possible chemical or nuclear agents a person may want to be aware of where the refineries and things like that are in their area (i.e. Commerce City). I for instance have an alternate location in Kansas, although not my ideal location it is separated from those types of things and not really easy to get to, unless you know exactly where you are going and what you are doing.

[theGinsue]

Do you realize that you probably won't be able to rely on your cell phone for communication?

Does HAM Radio still work? I am very uneducated in the matter.

Who can say for sure, but I suspect that this is a mode of communication that should remian available.

[BigBear]

HAM should still work as it is a direct connection... from one radio to another.

Cell phones rely on satellite and powered towers. Same with computers, etc. Even some brands on handheld "all purpose" walky-talkies and CB's use the cell towers without a direct link transmission...

So if SHTF, SW/HAM and it's descendants may be the only way to communicate long distance... unless we use smoke signals, HAHA.

[trlcavscout]

Use the situation currently going on in the D.C./East Coast area.

A major storm occurs. Are you prepared to be home-bound for an extended stay or will you be trying to brave it through the snow/ice/etc. to get essentials?

The power went out. Do you have anything to keep you warm and/or provide you with light?

The water main broke leaving you without water. Do you have any water stored to give you something to drink or allow basic hygiene cleansing?


Perhaps we should store up a few items "just in case".



Does that help?

That is the way to go right there. My wife almost has a panick attack when she thinks of this stuff. Unfortunately she is part of the majority that would rather wait till it happens and then panick then to just prepare a lil bit. PPPPPP!!! I cant get here to take a plan seriously, but I have one ready and precise details for her in case I am out of town or at work when it happens.

If your loved ones arent willing to prepare, all you can do is modify your plan to help them. All others are on there own.

[jerrymrc]

from today's news.

In the capital, government workers jostled with other residents in supermarket check-out lines, often 30-people long, to stock up on whatever staples were still available. Delivery trucks had trouble reaching many area supermarkets, leaving customers seeking cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables and even Diet Coke staring at empty shelves.
David Fiore, 49, an employee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, said he had gone to four stores looking for milk on Monday, with no success. By Tuesday morning, his local supermarket had restocked and he left with a 1 gallon (3 liters) of milk, more than he usually buys.

Like has been said. If you are having trouble starting ya need to hammer this home. My being prepared was nothing more than the outgrowth of how I grew up. I think the longest we ever went was 10-12 days without power. We also had no way of getting out due to all the trees brought down by the ice storm.

[Irving]

What kind of dummy goes to four different stores looking for milk? That would be the same as driving to four different stores to find donuts.

[esaabye]

OK for Beer, but for Milk?

[mutt]

So now to the meat of things... My fiance isn't thrilled about this whole preparedness/survival thing. She's okay with shooting my guns (mostly my AR-15), but she isn't terribly excited about it. Along the same lines, she is okay with the idea of me carrying concealed, but she doesn't want to really consider it for herself.

Much of my family and many of my friends show a similar front: They are accepting of my "hobbies" but they don't want to get their hands dirty.

What is the best way to introduce these people to ideas like keeping a few weeks of extra food in the house and having a "Bug out Bag"? They probably think I go to sleep at night with my tinfoil hat on, so how do I show them that being prepared is a good idea? (I like to call it "being prepared"... they would probably call it "being paranoid".)

Luckily my Wife is totally on board with the need to prepare for the worst. She doesn't think it's weird I stockpile food and supplies. She understands my desire to learn how to live without civilization. She's not a gun enthusiast, but she totally gets the need to keep and be proficient with firearms. However, like you, I just wish the others in my life were more aware and proactive. Bringing the subject up always begets that funny look...

I've come to the conclusion that most people don't want to be aware or prepared. They actually feel better trusting their lives to a false belief that government is going to take care of them if something happens. And of course the government is more than happy to reinforce that belief to further their own agenda. I know I fell into that blind herd mentality in another life. Thankfully I woke up before it was too late.

I think in the end all one can do is be a messenger, set a good example and teach those who are willing. And you have to accept that some, probably most, just don't want to save themselves...