Do You Consider Yourself a Prepper? Extreme or Just Slightly?

[Baymule]

I gotta tell ya'll a funny.......my 90 year old mom lives with us due to a stroke she had at 88. Even with her hearing aids, at best she only has less than 70% hearing. She absolutely adores Fox News and watches it all day long, reverberating the walls with commentaries.

We were at WalMart a couple of days ago, got our things and I headed for checkout. She said, "Shouldn't we get more?" Me-"More What?" She said, "Well, it's getting bad. We should get more." I told her go get what you want. She pushed her walker, this little 89 pound 5' tiny bundle of determination, over to the canned goods aisle. After much thought and scrutiny, (this once very sharp minded woman now has a difficult time making even the simplest decisions) she selected 2 cans of peaches and 2 cans of pineapple. She stocked up and felt satisfied. When we got home, she took her bounty and hid the cans somewhere in her room.

 

[mara1]

I gotta tell ya'll a funny.......my 90 year old mom lives with us due to a stroke she had at 88. Even with her hearing aids, at best she only has less than 70% hearing. She absolutely adores Fox News and watches it all day long, reverberating the walls with commentaries.

We were at WalMart a couple of days ago, got our things and I headed for checkout. She said, "Shouldn't we get more?" Me-"More What?" She said, "Well, it's getting bad. We should get more." I told her go get what you want. She pushed her walker, this little 89 pound 5' tiny bundle of determination, over to the canned goods aisle. After much thought and scrutiny, (this once very sharp minded woman now has a difficult time making even the simplest decisions) she selected 2 cans of peaches and 2 cans of pineapple. She stocked up and felt satisfied. When we got home, she took her bounty and hid the cans somewhere in her room.

my granny does some

things also but gotta love em

 

[newfoundland]

Where I live in remote Lincolnshire UK, we have been informed by the authorities that in the event of a natural emergency, such as being cut off by snow or flooding from the sea, we must expect no help for at least 3 to 4 days. In view of this each parish is expected to formulate an emergency plan to safeguard the residents. The parish council now holds a list of all 4 by 4 vehicles, generators, winching equipment, boats, ladders, chain saws, water pumps, first aiders, those who would need emergency generators because of medical conditions, all those who would need help being evacuated, children and other vulnerable people. As well as emergency foodstuffs people should consider making sure they have sufficient quantities of prescription medicine.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Prepper = No. Realist = Yes. I was asked this very same question a week ago by a co-worker and that was my reply.

I've been stuck in my house where I couldn't make it to the road for over a week. The last time - during Snowmageddon - we had my grown daughter and granddaughter with us and we also have two young adult children in our household. We had no power or running water for that week but we made it just fine as we were prepared.

We keep a stocked freezer, extra canned goods, powdered/canned milk, and stored water. If a storm is forecasted, we "run water" so that we have extra as we have to remember water for the dogs, cat, and chickens, too. And, of course, any "used" water - for bathing and such - is used to flush the toilet.

We have a wood stove and a stockpile of wood. I can cook most anything on that wood stove. We keep a camp stove handy, too. And our grills. Lot's of flashlights, batteries, oil lamps, lanterns.

Hurricane Isabel knocked out power for almost a week and that was rougher as it was really hot. We do have a camp shower that we can use and it's a lifesaver.

After 9/11 we got a small generator and it was our very best investment ever. It's only large enough to keep the computer, TV, and fridge running. It won't bring up water from the well. It's enough to keep us connected to the outside world and keep us from going stir crazy.

There is also one case of MRE's hidden under a bed "just in case". And we've got the ability to bag dinner out of the back yard if the freezer runs low.

I'm prepared for whatever is thrown our way, at least for a week. I'm sure we could stretch it if we had to. Thankfully, it's never lasted too much longer than that.

 

[Baymule]

Where I live in remote Lincolnshire UK, we have been informed by the authorities that in the event of a natural emergency, such as being cut off by snow or flooding from the sea, we must expect no help for at least 3 to 4 days. In view of this each parish is expected to formulate an emergency plan to safeguard the residents. The parish council now holds a list of all 4 by 4 vehicles, generators, winching equipment, boats, ladders, chain saws, water pumps, first aiders, those who would need emergency generators because of medical conditions, all those who would need help being evacuated, children and other vulnerable people. As well as emergency foodstuffs people should consider making sure they have sufficient quantities of prescription medicine.

That is a well thought out and organized plan. Pointing out keeping extras of prescription medicines is a good idea too.

 

[donrae]

Where I live in remote Lincolnshire UK, we have been informed by the authorities that in the event of a natural emergency, such as being cut off by snow or flooding from the sea, we must expect no help for at least 3 to 4 days. In view of this each parish is expected to formulate an emergency plan to safeguard the residents. The parish council now holds a list of all 4 by 4 vehicles, generators, winching equipment, boats, ladders, chain saws, water pumps, first aiders, those who would need emergency generators because of medical conditions, all those who would need help being evacuated, children and other vulnerable people. As well as emergency foodstuffs people should consider making sure they have sufficient quantities of prescription medicine.

Sounds good on the surface, but I guess I'm just a little too paranoid to have my government having a list of what I have as far as emergency supplies. I'm sure my family would be considered pretty low priority to them, and my stuff would be confiscated for others to use. Not that I'm that selfish and wouldn't help others, but I want it to be my decision and priorities, not some FEMA drone's. IMO if you'd need an emergency generator because of a medical condition, you'd darn well better start budgeting for that!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Sounds good on the surface, but I guess I'm just a little too paranoid to have my government having a list of what I have as far as emergency supplies. I'm sure my family would be considered pretty low priority to them, and my stuff would be confiscated for others to use. Not that I'm that selfish and wouldn't help others, but I want it to be my decision and priorities, not some FEMA drone's. IMO if you'd need an emergency generator because of a medical condition, you'd darn well better start budgeting for that!

Ok, relieved to find I'm not the only one that felt uncomfortable about that. I would not include what I have on a community list. In the event of a true emergency, you may find your equipment commandeered before you could actually take care of yourself and your immediate family. Oh, yes, we always help everyone but we have to take care of our own family first. Those generators would be accounted for in a heartbeat - as you say, if you need one for a medical reason you'd better have it and keep it to yourself.

If any government entity tells you they'll be around to help you in 3-4 days, you need to prepare to be on your own for at least 10. Not that they wouldn't want to assist you but it's my experience that such situations aren't always well organized nor do they anticipate the level of demands that they'll face in the event of a true emergency.

Just being realistic here. In a really bad emergency, relief persons are also trying to help their own families and aren't available to assist. The truth of the situation is that you're on your own.

 

[Baymule]

Donrae and Mt Laurel, I politely refrained from pointing out that the only reason we in the USA would not have such a list is because it would not be used for the benefit of our immediate neighbors in our own small towns.

All our stuff would be taken from us (bad, prepared, have too much already) to be redistributed to the people who did not have what we had, poor disadvantaged leeches laid back living off the sweat of OUR brows. All in the name of "fairness" shoved up our.............

Newfoundland, I think it is a wonderful thing if in fact, what you posted works for the good of the town. I don't think it would work so good here, just more government intrusion into our lives. We have a history of pulling together when catastrophes strike. Through churches, the Red Cross and other organizations other than government backed, Americans pitch in. What you are saying is the town leaders have an inventory of what individuals have for the good of all, to be used BEFORE help arrives.

When situations happen here in my area, we just jump in and take care of things. When hurricanes drop trees across roads, men with chainsaws just get out and clean up the neighborhood. In a flood, years ago a man swam his horse across waters to rescue others, one by one. A hurricane obliterated a small town that got no attention because of devastation in bigger towns. The volunteer fire department just hit the woods with rifles and shot wild hogs. The wives and other volunteers bar-b-cued the hogs, cooked beans, rice and whatever they had and kept the people of the town and surrounding area fed. They even delivered food to shut ins.

There are too many people in this country taking "free" handouts that the rest of us pay for and we are getting tired of it. There is almost more of "them" than there is of "us". When "they" outnumber "us" you can look for the real backbone, the hard working, average every day Americans, to break.

 

[donrae]

Baymule----


I like you.