E-Mail 'Planning For Success During And After The SHTF- Part 1, by Old Bobbert' To A Friend

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1. In consideration of the reality of today, yesterday and tomorrow according to Maslow’s hiearchy of needs, don’t expect the hungry horde to respect a hospital or any other source of food.

2. Try http://everythingunderthesunblog.blogspot.com/

3. WATER
   without it, you’re dead.
   So many articles on surviving SHTF neglect this.

4. While this is good information, might I also suggest the readers also read Patriots.

5. I live in a place where everyone in my church small group has their face in Facebook. They are oblivious to world problems. I have tried the local Tea Party and four different churches. I tried retirement and motorcycle groups. No one is on board and a number of times no one besides me has shown up to group meetings. Family is out of the question. Children live far away and the closest sibling has a drinking problem. I live in a rural area with no nearby neighbors. Where do I go to find these peers? I am open to suggestions.

   1. Good question. I have been down that same road. I am leaving a group now. Our leader believes he is Rambo.

6. To Marilyn: Try a local gun range. Find the County Extension Office and attend any classes they have on canning, gardening, etc. How about a community college with adult classes for any home skills. The Red Cross usually has classes on first aide and life saving techniques. Or you may see a church run a special seminar on end time events. Any of those might lead you to meet up with some like- minded people. Most people who are prepping are closed mouthed about what they are doing, so it may take awhile till you see clues as to what they are up to. Good luck to you.

7. To Marilyn,
   Janie is right, most people don’t understand or think this way. The few that do are tight lipped. Be patient, it’s a frustratingly slow process. While you’re searching for like minded individuals, prepare yourself and build your stockpile.

8. I would echo what others said about the difficulty in finding people to form a group. I have encountered Texas size egos and individuals who can’t stop talking long enough to hear. I’m quiet by nature and usually listen attentively but make a mental note of the braggers. It’s been a long four years to find peace and I may be breaking away to find members more in line with my spiritual views. Tough choices and more work but it has to be done.

9. I am in a similar place as Marilyn. I know no one locally who is interested in any of these topics. Or, perhaps, no one is talking. How to balance OpSec with finding like minded people? I like the suggestion of taking canning classes, first aid classes, etc.

10. I ask an innocent question, like: What would you do if an ice storm took out the power supply for a week? Other followup questions help me discern someone’s level of awareness. Still looking for folks who are paying attention. Although I have been able to find out several neighbors who have firearms.

11. This article got me thinking – which makes it good!

    The more I read and rationalize all that I have read (the facts and fiction) the more I believe in the skills of leadership.

    In our neighborhood, we likely have 5 of 30 that could assume a strong leadership role, the rest will follow and most will be able to contribute something, and a few will reguire our immediate support. If you are an avid reader of this and other blogs, then you and I will be called upon to lead – whether we are naturally borne for this role or forced to take on this role!

    Having a group of like minded and prepared individuals is critical and may not be easy to assemble in one location; more likely spread out across a community. Few people will want to abandon their castle, especially if their preps and family are housed in their castle. Familiarity with their surroundings will keep folks from pulling up stakes until the bitter end. Personally, have 3 families and friends that are like minded, well equipped with hands on experience, but not within 5-15 miles of our home.

    Assessing your neighborhood is a good first step. Are they or could they form a group that could be led to endure a worst case scenario (WCS)? What’s the skills of each family – neighbor? What tools, equipment and resources do they have? For instance, we have only one house with a pool – will be our source of water for non portable purposes – they just don’t see the pool for this purpose yet. I’ve gotten a good view from helping a few in home repairs or asking about a tool that I needed – will quickly tell you a lot about the person and their level of preparedness.

    Our homes are large and the neighborhood is in a cul de sac, surrounded by woods and ravines, with one way in/out. A good layout to slow/control the entry but not perfect. It’s located on the outskirts of a city populated by 250,000, and will attract the attention of marauders in the WCS. How will your neighborhood and families have to band together to thwart such marauders- be they one lone wolf or a gang of 10?

    We’ve got 15 families – most without kids at home – most are upper income boomers or semi-retired. Several specialty medical professionals but none carry a bag with advanced first aid gear or medications – have one thinking about putting one together for the neighborhood, including his assessment of my gear – which he expressed great surprise when I showed him my kit. With my supplies and his medical expertise, we are well prepared in this area.

    Few gun owners (a shotgun or deer rifle here and there that haven’t been shot in years), and I’m the only reloader (in 223, 9mm, 300 blackout, and 30-06 calibers) for my personal armory.

    A few have a good assortment of tools and knowledge to use them, most are only equipped to mow the lawn and do minor household repairs. Four generators – two of which I own. No solar PVC’s, except for my 6 – 100 watt panels, charger and three inverters, with 500 amp hour battery bank – all stored away. No radio communication but for my ARES UHF/VHF & HF gear.

    Four have had military duty long ago. Several have health conditions requiring long term prescriptions – so they will struggle in the worse case scenarios. A few are in generally poor physical condition – not likely to be able to lift 25 lbs and carry it for more than 50 feet.

    Most are conservative, libertarians, and have core Christian values – all good qualities, but will need more if faced with the WCS.

    No gardens but have farm fields adjoining the neighborhood but likely few seeds (I have some stored away for a 1 acre garden) or known advanced gardening skills – hoping a few can leverage their farm family heritage when called upon – don’t like to rely on hope, but all I got for now.

    Food reserves – no one talks about much other than what’s in their pantry and fridge – my fear is that they are all living week to week on shopping at the local grocery stores. – I’ve observed that upper income families, unless they have a few kids, are heavily relying on just in time food supplies (have several that use mail order meal delivery services that says it all), which is scary given our food distribution business models. No canners on the street but some grew up canning, but no such supplies to do so now or source of food to can. Certainly a gap in my plans.

    What do you do then if you’ve got food for four for 12 months, and they have nothing? Willing to share my water from my water purification gear if needed but not sure how much to share if faced with a severe WCS – this will be a major conundrum for my family.

    There’s no doubt that if you’ve not carefully considered all of the aspects of proper preparation, then you are ill prepared. But if you have, which this article so well touched upon, you have to assess what’s around you, how you will make very hard choices and decisions, and what leadership role you will take – you can’t be a loner for long in a WCS.

    Thanks for getting us to think about this topic.

12. I’ll be blunt. Your first “Rule”, #1 is the most valuable. Saying that, I will add that anything you think you need, will be lost, fail, break-down, degrade and/or be taken from you. I’ve had it to “here’ (hand flat about a foot above my head) with all who clutch their current life-style ‘needs’ as if important. If you cannot breath without assistance, you’ll die. If you cannot drink water due to it be unavailable or not potable, you’ll die. If you cannot move without assistance – of any kind – you’ll die. If you have not the means to stay warm if need-be or to cool down – you’ll die. If you’re hurt beyond what you can do for yourself, you’ll die or at the minimum find a way to survive long enough that someone might just take mercy on you and help. If you cannot win – not just defend – yourself in a fight, you’ll most likely die. If you think otherwise on any of these counts….. you’re only fooling yourself. And last – to all the boys and girls who think that today’s rules apply when it all comes down…… I recommend considering a change of mind. It ain’t going to be a homesteader’s dream, a bugging out to the woods making like a modern-day Euell Gibbons or Jeremiah Johnson. Your food will be most likely eaten by others, your property confiscated and used by others…. all your painstakingly acquired and fine-tuned prep put-aways… ; and if you’re lucky, that ‘food’ won’t be you and your loved ones. Sorry, calling it like it will be. Last, don’t turn to the Lord for help. The Creator expects you to fight to the end. Funny how most all good Christians forget the primary purpose of prayer is to acknowledge God; not, ask a favor.

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