"American Blackout" thread

[WCH]

I disagree. I lived it one year ago to the very day and the biggest danger are people like you who panic.

I didn't have a bug out plan, multiple freezers full of dehydrated food, water tanks, machine guns to ward off any zombies or any of that other stuff. What I had was enough sense to light a few candles, uncork a few bottles of wine, and invite my friends and neighbors over. So when your panicking wanes and you're able to think straight, feel free to stop by my house for a glass of wine and good company because I'm the guy who is actually prepared.

So how did you feed yourself for two weeks? How did you keep your food frozen? ETC?

BTW: There's no panic here, only preparedness.

 

[CRUE CAB]

True. I was in Nassau County, and the City for Sandy for over 8 months. There were limited pockets, but the event wasn't as destructive there as it was in other events, like Katrina, or the North Ridge Earthquake and others. And it also had a lot to do with the hardened Yankee people that live through blizzards and the like on a normal basis so they were better prepared mentally to deal with it.

We are not talking about massive natural disasters but the grid going down. 6ft of water in my neighborhood would suck, as Iam only 6ft tall.
But just the lights going out? We will find a way.

 

[ARealConservative]

I disagree. I lived it one year ago to the very day and the biggest danger are people like you who panic.

I didn't have a bug out plan, multiple freezers full of dehydrated food, water tanks, machine guns to ward off any zombies or any of that other stuff. What I had was enough sense to light a few candles, uncork a few bottles of wine, and invite my friends and neighbors over. So when your panicking wanes and you're able to think straight, feel free to stop by my house for a glass of wine and good company because I'm the guy who is actually prepared.

Nonsense. Having freeze dried food and a generator isn’t a sign of panic. Depending on where you live, you would be stupid to not have those things.

A bottle of wine isn’t going to help when the water supply ends for any length of time What did you have for water? Hopefully something other than alcohol. I suggest you welcome yourself to adult hood, and at the very minimum, buy some iodine tablets every four years.

 

[CallasDowboys]

True. I was in Nassau County, and the City for Sandy for over 8 months. There were limited pockets, but the event wasn't as destructive there as it was in other events, like Katrina, or the North Ridge Earthquake and others. And it also had a lot to do with the hardened Yankee people that live through blizzards and the like on a normal basis so they were better prepared mentally to deal with it.

There just isn't much to deal with. The lights went off and there was a gasoline shortage but since there wasn't anywhere to go that didn't really matter too much. I was extremely fortunate that I didn't have to evacuate my home and I was very much in the minority for my neighborhood but those that did made do. The best thing anyone can do in any emergency situation is to remain calm. Short of that keep some cash in your house, a clean credit card, and a friendly relationship with your neighbors and you'll come out ahead.

 

[Ray410]

If the thread is digressing into societal breakdown survival suggestions, here are my thoughts.

I hate to be negative, but I'm not convinced that there's a lot of chance for long or even mid-term survival. Perhaps sixty years ago when there was a cooperational commonality of culture, but not now with a Balkanized nation of warring tribes and cultures, filled with hate and mistrust. The fact of both being human has never served to bond anybody in history. Your child needs my food to survive, I understand that.

Compare the sufficiency of your compound to an infantry platoon, 20-40 well trained young men in good physical condition, armed with semi-automatic rifles, pistols, several machine guns, grenades and grenade launchers, Claymores, well supplied with food, artillery on call, gunships on call, jets with Napalm on call. No familial relationships to get in the way when serious trouble starts. In continuous adversity, over a period of time, they're often decimated. Snipers, fires, suicide attacks, overrun. How many of your people will stop shooting to help one wounded person? You see cohesiveness start to break down over simple things such as when you tell your life long friend that his wife can't smoke anymore because the sight or smell will give away your location.

Just do the best you can. Forget about anything you have that requires gasoline or diesel. Not only will that resource be gone first, but the sound of a generator will reveal your location for miles around. Don't rely on your house to be there for long.

Be ready to quickly slip away with guns and ammunition, in the night if you have to, with the right shoes and warm clothing. You must be willing and able to move. If your circumstances are that you cannot, or don't wish to, then just do the best you can. The rules and conventions are gone.

Next time you're at the store, buy a couple gallons of good whiskey. Even if you don't drink now, you'll be glad later. Run all prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers out as long as you can and preserve the extras for later. Start driving right now on the top half of your tank so you're not immediately stuck with an empty tank. Always have a good pair of shoes or boots. Say your prayers.

 

[Beaudreaux]

We are not talking about massive natural disasters but the grid going down. 6ft of water in my neighborhood would suck, as Iam only 6ft tall.
But just the lights going out? We will find a way.

I see your point. But that's not the problem alone.

With no electricity, grocery stores close, gas stations close, doctors offices and pharmacies close, schools close, the places everyone works close (no pay checks), credit cards and debit cards don't work, ATM's close, etc.

What we're talking about here is not a situation where the power plants are okay and only the lines are down like in a hurricane or ice storm or other natural disaster, and it gets fixed quickly where people start getting power back in phases and all do within a week or two or even three.

What we're talking about is total loss of the entire grid, including the generation plants. Power could be out for months, or a year, or longer in certain areas. Major difference.

 

[Bodi]

If you're planning to visit my neighborhood, get right with your maker beforehand.

I hate thieves.

Hate all you like... Won't stop me from taking what I need to survive.

 

[TacticalEvilDan]

Wanna bet?
But then again anyone that is not just going to sit tight and wait for the gubmint to come save us all is paranoid and a scaredy cat.
But, I always have a couple gallons of water, full pantry, gas and yes. Plenty of ammo and weapons.

I'd bet on a scared and hungry majority eating a well-prepared minority alive any day of the week.

 

[Beaudreaux]

There just isn't much to deal with. The lights went off and there was a gasoline shortage but since there wasn't anywhere to go that didn't really matter too much. I was extremely fortunate that I didn't have to evacuate my home and I was very much in the minority for my neighborhood but those that did made do. The best thing anyone can do in any emergency situation is to remain calm. Short of that keep some cash in your house, a clean credit card, and a friendly relationship with your neighbors and you'll come out ahead.

All that was true. And I'm glad to hear you did fine. Yet in a total loss of the entire grid, the stores that were still open will not be under those conditions. Read my response to Crue Crab about this.

We were all lucky on LI during Sandy. I worked at Long Beach and still can't believe no one died since almost no one evacuated. There were large pockets of areas where the power was still on, so we could still get supplies. My hotel didn't have power, but WalMart next door did, so I was able to resupply after a few weeks. In the scenario we're discussing, no one would have power for a long, long time.

 

[ARealConservative]

Hate all you like... Won't stop me from taking what I need to survive.

you mean won't stop you from trying.

since you failed to provide the basics, I doubt you are prepared to actually act on your tough guy act on an internet forum.

 

[Bodi]

you mean won't stop you from trying.

since you failed to provide the basics, I doubt you are prepared to actually act on your tough guy act on an internet forum.

How would you know? For all I know I have what I need to survive and then take and he has done nothing to prevent it and his is the tough guy routine in hopes that he may be left alone. ROAR! Like that...

 

[Ray410]

How would you know? For all I know I have what I need to survive and then take and he has done nothing to prevent it and his is the tough guy routine in hopes that he may be left alone. ROAR! Like that...

Sometimes threads like this provide advice people can use, certainly the threads are generally begun with good intentions, to inform and to educate, to gather diverse opinions.

Why begin annoying and infuriating posts to simply divert attention to self, change the subject and destroy the thread for others?

 

[ARealConservative]

How would you know? For all I know I have what I need to survive and then take and he has done nothing to prevent it and his is the tough guy routine in hopes that he may be left alone. ROAR! Like that...

I can't possibly know, but what kind of asshole preps to be the person prepared to steal from everyone else in a calamity.

easier to pose then prepare, which I suspect is closer to the truth.

 

[Goshin]

Moderator's Warning:

Easy folks. Let's not get overly personal.

 

[Bodi]

I can't possibly know, but what kind of asshole preps to be the person prepared to steal from everyone else in a calamity..

That is a really good question...

 

[Bodi]

Sometimes threads like this provide advice people can use, certainly the threads are generally begun with good intentions, to inform and to educate, to gather diverse opinions.

Why begin annoying and infuriating posts to simply divert attention to self, change the subject and destroy the thread for others?

I am learning a lot from these posts... thank you all.

 

[lizzie]

I can't possibly know, but what kind of asshole preps to be the person prepared to steal from everyone else in a calamity.
easier to pose then prepare, which I suspect is closer to the truth.

The same asshole who goes around thinking he is invincible, and never gives a second thought to how he even manages to live and survive. He doesn't prepare for anything. Just responds to a crisis like an asshole would do.

 

[CRUE CAB]

I'd bet on a scared and hungry majority eating a well-prepared minority alive any day of the week.

Not if us well prepped minority start killing said majority as soon as they start stepping out of line.

 

[CRUE CAB]

I see your point. But that's not the problem alone.

With no electricity, grocery stores close, gas stations close, doctors offices and pharmacies close, schools close, the places everyone works close (no pay checks), credit cards and debit cards don't work, ATM's close, etc.

What we're talking about here is not a situation where the power plants are okay and only the lines are down like in a hurricane or ice storm or other natural disaster, and it gets fixed quickly where people start getting power back in phases and all do within a week or two or even three.

What we're talking about is total loss of the entire grid, including the generation plants. Power could be out for months, or a year, or longer in certain areas. Major difference.

Well I can only speak for the area that I live in, and with the ocean right there. Like less than a mile or so away, we should never starve. That and two intercoastal rivers, many well stocked lakes and Gators out the ying yang.
We be eatin' good.

 

[ChezC3]

Fear. It's what's for dinner...

 

[WCH]

Hate all you like... Won't stop me from taking what I need to survive.

Suits me if you want your life to end suddenly. I have no qualms about helping that happen.

 

[Harshaw]

Not if us well prepped minority start killing said majority as soon as they start stepping out of line.

:roll: And what would constitute "stepping out of line"?

 

[Bodi]

Suits me if you want your life to end suddenly. I have no qualms about helping that happen.

You can't stay alert all the time... nor is any system 100%.

 

[ChezC3]

:roll: And what would constitute "stepping out of line"?

You take what's mine, you die.

Force. That's the only thing that makes your property, yours.

 

[ChezC3]

You can't stay alert all the time... nor is any system 100%.

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.