Something to think about...

iflylow74 · 03-11-2008, 12:32 PM

I've been thinking alot lately about possible SHTF scenarios in my local area and how others around me will react. I and my family will be prepared to last at least a month or so. But, many around me will not. Common sense says that those that are unprepared will do one of three things;
1.) Steal what they need, whether it be food, supplies or weapons.
2.) Wait for the guvment to save them.
3.) Throw themselves on the mercy of those that are prepared.

In my mind, the number 1 group is easy to deal with. If someone tries to steal from me and my family in a SHTF situation, I will deal with them appropriately. Number 2 folks will eventually gravitate to #1 or #3 if the guvment doesnt rescue them. The #3 people will be a little harder to deal with in my opinion. I know how to deal with a theif but it would be heartbreaking to deny food to someone especially if they are with kids or elderly. Make no mistake, I would deny them rather than let my family do without. I think its something that we should mentally prepare for. Its a hard thing to think about but it is very likely to happen. What do you guys think?

CrazyIvan · 03-11-2008, 01:48 PM

unless you tell your neighbors of your preparedness, how would they know to come to you to steal or beg...?

ArkansasHunter · 03-11-2008, 02:12 PM

C-I I beleive over time the neighbors will notice your doing better than they are.
If I were in a SHTF situation I would stay at home for as long as I could to guard what we own or to repel luttors.
I live in the country in what some people call a white flight area so I have neighbors and friends out here.
I have gave a lot of thought about how to handle them if they found out we had provided for ourselves when an event like a SHTF occures.
Being a Christian I would share what I have until it ran out and then I would hightail it to the land my Mother left me. Theres springs that flow out of the ground so I've got water and I guess if game became scarous I would be eatting bugs and leaves till the Fat Lady Sings....LOL...A.H

iflylow74 · 03-11-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

unless you tell your neighbors of your preparedness, how would they know to come to you to steal or beg...?

I think AH is right. Eventually, looters would probably go door to door to get what they wanted. I read that during the depression, people would do just that until they got a handout.

mos19k · 03-11-2008, 02:59 PM

If you're prepared your neighbor's know it. They see you taking your guns to the range or the family camping, it's not to hard to piece it together. Now with my neighbor's and my friend's I've given them lists of food items to buy and general items they should keep on hand. I don't mention weapons, unless they ask me about it. Everyone knows that my Wife and I are avid shooters and campers. Luckily due to hurricanes most of them are at least somewhat prepared.

Looters and thieves is an easy answer and we all know what that is. As for the refugees coming from the city and suburbs, I'd like to give the Christian answer that I would help them until I could help no more. Reality is, I'm going to take care of my family and those that are with me. At one time I thought of keeping small care packages with rice and beans in zip locked baggies I could give to those in need. If I did that, I'd have an ever growing mass of humanity looking for food that would eat my stores in no time. In the end all that would achieve is feeding them for a day or two and adding me and mine to their numbers. I would try to simply lay low until the majority of the refugees have migrated away from my AO. I don't want to delve into the possibilities of violence, God willing it won't come to that.

iflylow74 · 03-11-2008, 04:05 PM

As for neighbors, I have one good one that Im buddies with and who I would trust my life to and one that Im pretty much sworn enemies with. The bad one is your stereotypical white trailer trash with no job other than sucking the government tit. He and his family would rob and pillage at the first opportunity because Im sure he won't be prepared at all. They are the main ones I have to worry about. I also feel that since I live out in the boonies that if there is a mass exodus from the nearby city, many of them may end up coming out my way for me to deal with. I agree with what some of yall have said, I would help feed those who need it if I could but there comes a point where you have to take care of your own.

CrazyIvan · 03-11-2008, 04:32 PM

I live in a 1000 sq ft. apartment which I rent and there isn't anything in there I would want to stay and guard with my life. I do have a SHTF BO Bag which includes my SHTF rations and I keep my weapons in a place easy to take. I would probably stay home as long as I could, just for ease of staying hunkered down. But, if I noticed a lot of looters or beggars coming around a lot, I would retreat to a more secure location.

I've always thought about taking refuge in the top 2 or 3 floors of a high-rise. This offers limited access, protection from street-dwellers and ample room to move around with.

For guys who live in the suburbs or the country or people who have family, I am sure it is completely different. I'm just thinking about the city life where I live.

I am about 7-12 minutes drive from downtown from both work and home. I'd probably hunker down at home until the immediate panic slowed then I would make my way to one of these tall buildings.

My other thought was to escape to a ranch and offer myself as an armed guard to keep looters and the like from the land/animals as well as a general hand in exchange for food and a place to sleep.

MEXBARBARIAN · 03-12-2008, 02:58 AM

when shtf i dont think you can trust neighbors because what it boils down to humans will do what ever it takes to survive and if that means turning on each other they will i hate to believe that but i feel that it is realalistic so heres a question if SHTF and you were out in the woods living in a little shelter you built for your family and self and seen other ppl approaching what would you do A) neutralize them B) Help and trust them and maybe they can help you or C) let them pass ???

nathangdad · 03-12-2008, 05:38 AM

Be prepared for mass psychological breakdown if our society begins to crumble. Hunker down in the most defensive position possible while millions of people irrationally go to their demise. Then be ready for a world where rapid movement will be the key to locating people and resources needed to survive.

This isn't a pretty scenario but realistically what do you think will happen in large cities when the immediate food supply runs out and the water becomes impure? Where can they go when the gasoline no longer pumps?
Who will clear the massive vehicular pileups?

The idea of having a month's worth of food and water and medicine, if needed, is a good strategy as most Americans will not last 30 days.

Big Dog · 03-12-2008, 06:03 AM

If something truly SHTF-scale happens, the grocery stores will be empty in three days, tops. Most food items will be gone sooner.
Then, the riots begin. Looting gets out of hand.The shooting starts.
In two weeks, it'll quiet down.
1) Many of the starving will be dead - not knowing how to get clean water, haven't eaten in days, so they are weak, can't fight the resulting disease.
2) Many more have been taken to the Government run 'shelters' and camps. They'll be given 'jobs' to do to earn their keep - hauling bodies, clearing roads.
3) Others will form bandit bands - looting homes, fighting each other for scraps.
4) The truly far-sighted will be hunkered down, supplies secured, guns loaded - approach their AO very carefully!

In a month or so, the survivors and preppers will begin ranging out to form alliances and helping to bring order back to their little piece of the world.
This has been played out throughout human history.

No neighbors know of my prepping. I load & unload my guns behind my privacy fence. The biggest danger is a savvy FedUPS driver knowing who he delivered certain items of interest to.
Any unwanted visitors will get to speak with my Spanish Lady. 'Nuff said . . .

smokey · 03-12-2008, 09:09 PM

In a real SHTF situation,the country people want have to worry about many of the city people flooding out to take what they want.A couple weeks will thin them out to a more manageable number. Most of them will sit in their homes waiting on the goverment to help them,and when help dont come,they will kill each other off untill they'er aint many left. The country people will survive.

Country Bumpkin · 03-14-2008, 12:02 PM

My plan is heading to the Arkansas Ozarks and preparing there for what is about to happen. No offense but I think the most possible SHTF scenario will be when Obama gets in(I hate it but you know it will happen), and there will be race riots. which might cause, more than likely, a Racial War, or so I believe.

However, I know that most people in a SHTF scenario will be waiting for FEMA, Killing for supplies, and just plain crazy.
I will be ready locked, loaded, full stomached, and will be waiting.

AKHunter · 03-14-2008, 01:04 PM

The frotunate thing about alaska is there is so much counrty to get "lost" in. I would seperate myself from urbania and go to a remote cabin up north. Stay put for awhile and let everything get settled down. If I had a need, or heard of a favorable change of events. Then I would venture out and collect what was needed and investigate.

tlarkin · 03-14-2008, 01:47 PM

I think Katrina should be a prime example of what people and our government will do in a time like that.

Deersniper · 03-14-2008, 02:08 PM

It will be dire indeed. What did the passengers of the plane that crashed in the mountains do? They finally resorted to cannibalism. The best protection will be a remote location away from the sweeps by FEMA to round up everything. We are prepared to stay here with our food stores. Trying to get through govt checkpoints could be a nightmare. Most of my neighbors are retired so they MIGHT have income coming in. Yes the neighborhood alliances would be good. We will have to make painful choices. We want to be the ones who emerge from the tribulation to start anew. The elite will be underground, still calling alot of the shots, but LEO's [God help them] will have to attend to their families first, so it will leave us to defend ourselves. Every night I pray that every member of this forum and my family makes it.. We need to have regional meetings SOON, and develop a system of identifying one another. We will be all we've got. We will wait not on the govt, but divine intervention to save us. God calls all armies of the world dust in the bucket, and will destroy them all.

304REP! · 03-16-2008, 03:30 PM

IMO the most vulnerable with be the subburbs. I'm saying that because ive lived in the city, country,and the suburbs. The country people will have wilderness expernce and will be prepared for what ever may happen. The city folks will do whatever is nessecary (Im talking about the inner city) to survive, and the suburbs they'll beg and try to get handouts. but thats just in my opion

mos19k · 03-16-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 304REP!

IMO the most vulnerable with be the subburbs. I'm saying that because ive lived in the city, country,and the suburbs. The country people will have wilderness expernce and will be prepared for what ever may happen. The city folks will do whatever is nessecary (Im talking about the inner city) to survive, and the suburbs they'll beg and try to get handouts. but thats just in my opion

I have to disagree with you, folks in the city will be hit the hardest and the fastest. Most inner city dwellers are poor and many are subsidized or fully reliant on government programs. Your typical suburbanite is of middle to upper middle class, depending on the area, many will have food supplies and optional water supplies. Again this will vary from area to area. The country is the best off. Although you have the full range of monetary class, most have at least some form of food production on hand and tight knit communities. The country isn't completely self reliant, most animal feeds and crop seeds come from outside the immediate area. In some cases water is also controlled through government provided pump houses and wells. This to will vary from area to area. Given a choice I would prefer to be in the country, currently I'm in the suburbs but hopefully will have that rectified shortly.

LiveToShoot · 03-16-2008, 06:41 PM

Guess it's up to us who can to prepare the best we can, and then prepare to share...

As mentioned, there are many who are unable to prepare and it will benefit them greatly if we prepare the best we can and then still manage to care and share...even possible barter for/with what others can share.

Times are getting tough, and several predictions being floated around warn us in graphic clear reality terms that it's going to get very tough: Greg Evensen -- The Implosion is Accelerating, Prepare While You Can.

Long Shanks · 03-17-2008, 05:08 PM

Please excuse my ignorance, I'm new to this forum. What is SHTF? Thanks

304REP! · 03-18-2008, 06:14 AM

$h!+ Hits The Fan ~ That is for Long Sharks.

But as far as I know me and my brother will be prepared! And my other family could probably last I'd say about 3-5 days without help.

03-11-2008, 01:48 PM	#2
CrazyIvan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,561	unless you tell your neighbors of your preparedness, how would they know to come to you to steal or beg...? __________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me

03-11-2008, 04:05 PM	#6
iflylow74 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bizzaroworld Posts: 1,064 Blog Entries: 11	As for neighbors, I have one good one that Im buddies with and who I would trust my life to and one that Im pretty much sworn enemies with. The bad one is your stereotypical white trailer trash with no job other than sucking the government tit. He and his family would rob and pillage at the first opportunity because Im sure he won't be prepared at all. They are the main ones I have to worry about. I also feel that since I live out in the boonies that if there is a mass exodus from the nearby city, many of them may end up coming out my way for me to deal with. I agree with what some of yall have said, I would help feed those who need it if I could but there comes a point where you have to take care of your own. __________________ Just because you can't win doesn't mean you shouldn't fight. Last edited by iflylow74; 03-11-2008 at 04:08 PM.

03-11-2008, 04:32 PM	#7
CrazyIvan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,561	I live in a 1000 sq ft. apartment which I rent and there isn't anything in there I would want to stay and guard with my life. I do have a SHTF BO Bag which includes my SHTF rations and I keep my weapons in a place easy to take. I would probably stay home as long as I could, just for ease of staying hunkered down. But, if I noticed a lot of looters or beggars coming around a lot, I would retreat to a more secure location. I've always thought about taking refuge in the top 2 or 3 floors of a high-rise. This offers limited access, protection from street-dwellers and ample room to move around with. For guys who live in the suburbs or the country or people who have family, I am sure it is completely different. I'm just thinking about the city life where I live. I am about 7-12 minutes drive from downtown from both work and home. I'd probably hunker down at home until the immediate panic slowed then I would make my way to one of these tall buildings. My other thought was to escape to a ranch and offer myself as an armed guard to keep looters and the like from the land/animals as well as a general hand in exchange for food and a place to sleep. __________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me

03-12-2008, 05:38 AM	#9
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,832	Psychological breakdown Be prepared for mass psychological breakdown if our society begins to crumble. Hunker down in the most defensive position possible while millions of people irrationally go to their demise. Then be ready for a world where rapid movement will be the key to locating people and resources needed to survive. This isn't a pretty scenario but realistically what do you think will happen in large cities when the immediate food supply runs out and the water becomes impure? Where can they go when the gasoline no longer pumps? Who will clear the massive vehicular pileups? The idea of having a month's worth of food and water and medicine, if needed, is a good strategy as most Americans will not last 30 days.

03-12-2008, 06:03 AM	#10
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,361	If something truly SHTF-scale happens, the grocery stores will be empty in three days, tops. Most food items will be gone sooner. Then, the riots begin. Looting gets out of hand.The shooting starts. In two weeks, it'll quiet down. 1) Many of the starving will be dead - not knowing how to get clean water, haven't eaten in days, so they are weak, can't fight the resulting disease. 2) Many more have been taken to the Government run 'shelters' and camps. They'll be given 'jobs' to do to earn their keep - hauling bodies, clearing roads. 3) Others will form bandit bands - looting homes, fighting each other for scraps. 4) The truly far-sighted will be hunkered down, supplies secured, guns loaded - approach their AO very carefully! In a month or so, the survivors and preppers will begin ranging out to form alliances and helping to bring order back to their little piece of the world. This has been played out throughout human history. No neighbors know of my prepping. I load & unload my guns behind my privacy fence. The biggest danger is a savvy FedUPS driver knowing who he delivered certain items of interest to. Any unwanted visitors will get to speak with my Spanish Lady. 'Nuff said . . . __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

03-11-2008, 12:32 PM	#1
iflylow74 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bizzaroworld Posts: 1,064 Blog Entries: 11	Something to think about... I've been thinking alot lately about possible SHTF scenarios in my local area and how others around me will react. I and my family will be prepared to last at least a month or so. But, many around me will not. Common sense says that those that are unprepared will do one of three things; 1.) Steal what they need, whether it be food, supplies or weapons. 2.) Wait for the guvment to save them. 3.) Throw themselves on the mercy of those that are prepared. In my mind, the number 1 group is easy to deal with. If someone tries to steal from me and my family in a SHTF situation, I will deal with them appropriately. Number 2 folks will eventually gravitate to #1 or #3 if the guvment doesnt rescue them. The #3 people will be a little harder to deal with in my opinion. I know how to deal with a theif but it would be heartbreaking to deny food to someone especially if they are with kids or elderly. Make no mistake, I would deny them rather than let my family do without. I think its something that we should mentally prepare for. Its a hard thing to think about but it is very likely to happen. What do you guys think? __________________ Just because you can't win doesn't mean you shouldn't fight.

03-11-2008, 02:12 PM	#3
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,935	C-I I beleive over time the neighbors will notice your doing better than they are. If I were in a SHTF situation I would stay at home for as long as I could to guard what we own or to repel luttors. I live in the country in what some people call a white flight area so I have neighbors and friends out here. I have gave a lot of thought about how to handle them if they found out we had provided for ourselves when an event like a SHTF occures. Being a Christian I would share what I have until it ran out and then I would hightail it to the land my Mother left me. Theres springs that flow out of the ground so I've got water and I guess if game became scarous I would be eatting bugs and leaves till the Fat Lady Sings....LOL...A.H

03-11-2008, 02:59 PM	#5
mos19k Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 331	If you're prepared your neighbor's know it. They see you taking your guns to the range or the family camping, it's not to hard to piece it together. Now with my neighbor's and my friend's I've given them lists of food items to buy and general items they should keep on hand. I don't mention weapons, unless they ask me about it. Everyone knows that my Wife and I are avid shooters and campers. Luckily due to hurricanes most of them are at least somewhat prepared. Looters and thieves is an easy answer and we all know what that is. As for the refugees coming from the city and suburbs, I'd like to give the Christian answer that I would help them until I could help no more. Reality is, I'm going to take care of my family and those that are with me. At one time I thought of keeping small care packages with rice and beans in zip locked baggies I could give to those in need. If I did that, I'd have an ever growing mass of humanity looking for food that would eat my stores in no time. In the end all that would achieve is feeding them for a day or two and adding me and mine to their numbers. I would try to simply lay low until the majority of the refugees have migrated away from my AO. I don't want to delve into the possibilities of violence, God willing it won't come to that.

03-12-2008, 02:58 AM	#8
MEXBARBARIAN Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: AMERICA Posts: 19	when shtf i dont think you can trust neighbors because what it boils down to humans will do what ever it takes to survive and if that means turning on each other they will i hate to believe that but i feel that it is realalistic so heres a question if SHTF and you were out in the woods living in a little shelter you built for your family and self and seen other ppl approaching what would you do A) neutralize them B) Help and trust them and maybe they can help you or C) let them pass ???

03-12-2008, 09:09 PM	#11
smokey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 109	In a real SHTF situation,the country people want have to worry about many of the city people flooding out to take what they want.A couple weeks will thin them out to a more manageable number. Most of them will sit in their homes waiting on the goverment to help them,and when help dont come,they will kill each other off untill they'er aint many left. The country people will survive.

03-14-2008, 12:02 PM	#12
Country Bumpkin Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 11	My plan is heading to the Arkansas Ozarks and preparing there for what is about to happen. No offense but I think the most possible SHTF scenario will be when Obama gets in(I hate it but you know it will happen), and there will be race riots. which might cause, more than likely, a Racial War, or so I believe. However, I know that most people in a SHTF scenario will be waiting for FEMA, Killing for supplies, and just plain crazy. I will be ready locked, loaded, full stomached, and will be waiting.

03-14-2008, 01:04 PM	#13
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	The frotunate thing about alaska is there is so much counrty to get "lost" in. I would seperate myself from urbania and go to a remote cabin up north. Stay put for awhile and let everything get settled down. If I had a need, or heard of a favorable change of events. Then I would venture out and collect what was needed and investigate.

03-14-2008, 01:47 PM	#14
tlarkin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,927	I think Katrina should be a prime example of what people and our government will do in a time like that.

03-14-2008, 02:08 PM	#15
Deersniper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,874	SHTF It will be dire indeed. What did the passengers of the plane that crashed in the mountains do? They finally resorted to cannibalism. The best protection will be a remote location away from the sweeps by FEMA to round up everything. We are prepared to stay here with our food stores. Trying to get through govt checkpoints could be a nightmare. Most of my neighbors are retired so they MIGHT have income coming in. Yes the neighborhood alliances would be good. We will have to make painful choices. We want to be the ones who emerge from the tribulation to start anew. The elite will be underground, still calling alot of the shots, but LEO's [God help them] will have to attend to their families first, so it will leave us to defend ourselves. Every night I pray that every member of this forum and my family makes it.. We need to have regional meetings SOON, and develop a system of identifying one another. We will be all we've got. We will wait not on the govt, but divine intervention to save us. God calls all armies of the world dust in the bucket, and will destroy them all.

03-16-2008, 03:30 PM	#16
304REP! Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: west virginia Posts: 29	IMO the most vulnerable with be the subburbs. I'm saying that because ive lived in the city, country,and the suburbs. The country people will have wilderness expernce and will be prepared for what ever may happen. The city folks will do whatever is nessecary (Im talking about the inner city) to survive, and the suburbs they'll beg and try to get handouts. but thats just in my opion

03-16-2008, 06:41 PM	#18
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,536	Guess it's up to us who can to prepare the best we can, and then prepare to share... As mentioned, there are many who are unable to prepare and it will benefit them greatly if we prepare the best we can and then still manage to care and share...even possible barter for/with what others can share. Times are getting tough, and several predictions being floated around warn us in graphic clear reality terms that it's going to get very tough: Greg Evensen -- The Implosion is Accelerating, Prepare While You Can. __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

03-17-2008, 05:08 PM	#19
Long Shanks Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 141	Please excuse my ignorance, I'm new to this forum. What is SHTF? Thanks

03-18-2008, 06:14 AM	#20
304REP! Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: west virginia Posts: 29	$h!+ Hits The Fan ~ That is for Long Sharks. But as far as I know me and my brother will be prepared! And my other family could probably last I'd say about 3-5 days without help.