General Discussion

ProgressiveProfessor

(22,144 posts)

31. Many ways

Thu May 17, 2012, 10:27 AM

May 2012

Most of the preppers I know are not political, do not believe the end is at hand, or even consider TEOTAWAKI. They do split into two major groups...long term and short term. I am the latter.

Long term people are preparing for years. Their focus is living off the land and farming. The ability to be self sufficient is paramount. They are the ones the TV shows are being made about and indeed some of those have odd politics

Short term preppers are concerned with things less than a year, most less than 90 days. The focus is earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, or other localized disruption. The goal is to survive until help gets there and things get reestablished. Few in this category are political. That means food, water, medical, and gear that can fit in a closet. No bunkers here.

I live in in SoCal. The big one is coming. Not sure when, but being able to get by while things are being sorted out is a smart idea. That is my version of prepping.

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Is "Prepping" Practical Or Paranoia? [View all] NNN0LHI May 2012 OP

72 hours. rrneck May 2012 #1

I prefer having enough supplies for a month. Johnny Rico May 2012 #51

Or if we have another "Brownie" running FEMA. nt rrneck May 2012 #65

I would go a bit longer than that 4th law of robotics May 2012 #67

You really should have more than 72 hours. TheWraith May 2012 #123

Yep, get 'em now! RKP5637 May 2012 #2

EMPs is among Gingrich's favorite scams. immoderate May 2012 #3

Hate to break it to you B2G May 2012 #22

Really? From whom? immoderate May 2012 #30

From whomever has the ability to explode a nuke over our heads B2G May 2012 #32

Will that prevent us from vaporizing the culprit? immoderate May 2012 #35

The idea is B2G May 2012 #39

Have you read "One Second After" by William R. Forstchen? Johnny Rico May 2012 #53

I have... B2G May 2012 #59

My sister is listening to the audio version right now. Johnny Rico May 2012 #64

+1 4th law of robotics May 2012 #74

We have the nuclear subs! immoderate May 2012 #60

and I'm will to bet that B2G May 2012 #66

Yeah, and look how that brought about the end of the world. progressoid May 2012 #101

Why wouldn't they just nuke us? Because an EMP attack could kill far more Americans. Johnny Rico May 2012 #75

Not only that... B2G May 2012 #77

Although cities, once they aren't cared for, fall apart *quickly*. Johnny Rico May 2012 #91

You could still strip it for copper wiring 4th law of robotics May 2012 #104

Of course, with electronics disabled and 90% of the population dead NoPasaran May 2012 #135

I doubt that it would be that successful. TheWraith May 2012 #132

The big question is whether or not an EMP attack would kill the power grid & all transportation. Johnny Rico May 2012 #137

Funny thing about being able to retaliate . . . 4th law of robotics May 2012 #76

So should we nuke them first -- based on science fiction? immoderate May 2012 #92

Love your tagline...so appropriate. B2G May 2012 #93

No, we should employ our tragically poor reading skills to completely misinterpret the response 4th law of robotics May 2012 #102

My main idea is an EMP attack is ridiculous. No one will attempt it. immoderate May 2012 #118

Crashing a plane in to a building is ridiculous. No one will attempt it. 4th law of robotics May 2012 #119

Post removed Post removed May 2012 #122

"if a bunch of camel jockeys can hijack some planes" 4th law of robotics May 2012 #127

We know electromagnetic pulses happen and work because of science. TheWraith May 2012 #124

I didn't say impossible. I said ridiculous. immoderate May 2012 #125

It was "unpredictable" in 1962 when we didn't know anything about it. TheWraith May 2012 #126

I think the poster you are responding to is profoundly ignorant on this subject 4th law of robotics May 2012 #128

I think you're correct. TheWraith May 2012 #131

The economic damage of 9/11 was tremendous 4th law of robotics May 2012 #136

This message was self-deleted by its author rppper May 2012 #114

If you had read the link I provided B2G May 2012 #62

LOL, so are aliens and 9.0 earthquakes and super flu outbreaks! Logical May 2012 #80

As others have said and EMP is a real phenomenon 4th law of robotics May 2012 #68

I think it's a good idea to keep a store of food, water and other necessities Marrah_G May 2012 #4

I could see some of these folks making sure an EMP happens Taverner May 2012 #5

These idiots will be sitting ducks to roving bands of starving brigands. Odin2005 May 2012 #6

Most of those idiots have more guns than some small countries. nt NickB79 May 2012 #14

Except you can't eat or drink guns. FSogol May 2012 #19

+1... Javaman May 2012 #21

And the economic situation we find ourselves in now - rising prises, cuts to safety net programs - jwirr May 2012 #71

No - but food and water doesn't block bullets dmallind May 2012 #38

Spare me your masturbatory gun fantasies. FSogol May 2012 #41

Speaking of plows and guns... Johnny Rico May 2012 #63

"our long term survival requires working knowledge of the plow, not the sword (or gun)." 4th law of robotics May 2012 #70

Since I know how to garden etc. we will make a deal. You can hunt and protect us and we will feed jwirr May 2012 #72

If the "rule of law" is the only thing that keeps you from killing your neighbors ... surrealAmerican May 2012 #108

Most of the well armed preppers are rural ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #52

These people tend to stockpile both food and guns 4th law of robotics May 2012 #69

I keep six months or so worth in my pantry of short and long storage items. Mojorabbit May 2012 #7

Well, the Sun could do it RobertEarl May 2012 #8

I knew I had read some articles on it earlier.Thanks for the links. nt Mojorabbit May 2012 #43

Scary stuff, eh? RobertEarl May 2012 #45

He Does ProfessorGAC May 2012 #54

That's cute RobertEarl May 2012 #56

Snarkiness Has No Effect On Me ProfessorGAC May 2012 #94

While solar flares are real, that article is fantasy. TheWraith May 2012 #129

I trust Truthout more than a Wraith RobertEarl May 2012 #133

"TEOTWAWKI"... -..__... May 2012 #9

We try to keep ourselves ready for an earthquake abelenkpe May 2012 #10

Yeah, Northridge did suck. I was living in Burbank when it hit... Javaman May 2012 #23

Loma Prieta was no picnic either B2G May 2012 #28

I think the PNW is considered a pretty safe bet... progressivebydesign May 2012 #86

I should keep an extra stash of goods in the wintertime, ZombieHorde May 2012 #11

There are of course scam artists out to take advantage of people jp11 May 2012 #12

Prepping is total sanity. napoleon_in_rags May 2012 #13

This message was self-deleted by its author napoleon_in_rags May 2012 #100

If you follow the environmental/ecological news, it is only a matter of time before hardships set in NickB79 May 2012 #15

+1 Javaman May 2012 #24

+1 good post. napoleon_in_rags May 2012 #111

Here in the earthquake district of Southern California, JDPriestly May 2012 #16

If civilization collapses any preparation is likely delaying the inevitable. TexasProgresive May 2012 #17

My plan for all of the above... Javaman May 2012 #27

Who needs those headaches? My plan: patronize a saloon :) - n/t coalition_unwilling May 2012 #78

LOL that would work in my area!!!! jwirr May 2012 #81

Yes to all the above Mojorabbit May 2012 #47

Your point is well taken - we know how to do 1-3 but have never had to deal with 4. Ready but jwirr May 2012 #79

I scored 4 for 4. What do I win? NickB79 May 2012 #96

How are these guys different from "survivalists"? JHB May 2012 #18

Many ways ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #31

Ok. Different definitions, then JHB May 2012 #34

"the ones who are Waiting for Mad Max." Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #37

all chaps are assless belcffub May 2012 #110

I separate the survivalists from the preppers of either stripe ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #55

I have been the driving force behind my families prepping for the long term. We all got to know my jwirr May 2012 #83

I'm not a prepper or survivalist... and I don't support them. Hassin Bin Sober May 2012 #61

I live in tornado country... Javaman May 2012 #20

There was a series done on dailykos.com a few years ago adigal May 2012 #49

Just remember the rule of "3's"... Javaman May 2012 #57

Like many things melm00se May 2012 #25

I live where there is a significant probability of a major earthquake with widespread damage. slackmaster May 2012 #26

Quake prep site from State of CA...lots of good information Bluenorthwest May 2012 #48

Its a good place to start ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #58

It makes sense, to a point ProgressiveProfessor May 2012 #29

I think of it as another form of insurance Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #36

Lover Boy is a "semi-prepper" Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #33

Here's the CDC on the Zombie Apocalypse Bluenorthwest May 2012 #46

I am not preparing. sendero May 2012 #40

Your last sentence discribes the freedom that my parents demonstrated to all of us their entire life jwirr May 2012 #89

I have a month worth of food and water in the house at all times. sarcasmo May 2012 #42

If you do not prep for disasters that are actual potentials where you live, you are nuts.... Bluenorthwest May 2012 #44

Practical. I have a month's worth of food and water stored. Johnny Rico May 2012 #50

It's like any generally good idea: some people take it to unhealthy extremes 4th law of robotics May 2012 #73

there are two types of preppers, and within that there are people with mental disorders. progressivebydesign May 2012 #88

There are scams, but being prepared for 72 hrs, 2 wks or 1 mth emergencies is not unreasonable. aikoaiko May 2012 #82

Timely. My GlennBeckite neighbors are in FULL panic mode right now... progressivebydesign May 2012 #84

The tower will not allow your neighbor to listen in on your hard wired phone calls NNN0LHI May 2012 #90

If you get RF interference in any electronic system in your house, you can alert the FCC. Ikonoklast May 2012 #121

if you get RF interference in any electronic system in your house, you can alert the FCC wa0auu Mar 2013 #138

It's always wise to be prepared. You need three simple things: Zalatix May 2012 #85

youtube is prepper land! Some of them are preparing years of preps. search youtube = prepper, shtf Liberal_in_LA May 2012 #87

what exactly we are talking about happening? Proud Liberal Dem May 2012 #95

It depends on the level of "prepping" involved. Johnny Rico May 2012 #97

Past the 72-hour thing most of my "prep" is limited to reading alien space bat novels. (nt) Posteritatis May 2012 #98

Have you read Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling? Johnny Rico May 2012 #99

I'm actually reading the third book in that series right now. (nt) Posteritatis May 2012 #103

I liked the first few books in his "dies the fire" series 4th law of robotics May 2012 #105

I agree. His "Island in the Sea of Time" series is indirectly connected to "Dies the Fire". Johnny Rico May 2012 #106

I've read all the draka series 4th law of robotics May 2012 #115

I agree. As a general rule, one "gimme" per story. Johnny Rico May 2012 #116

Yep, it's also 4th law of robotics May 2012 #117

I think prepping can be done for both practical reasons and paranoid reasons. nt ZombieHorde May 2012 #107

It's a fine line kudzu22 May 2012 #109

People have been "prepping" for all of human history, it seems. HuckleB May 2012 #112

Prepping is Paranoia.... TLM May 2012 #113

I'm "planning" for....... Amaril May 2012 #120

More dystopian post-apocalyptic pre-pubescent fantasies LanternWaste May 2012 #130

We always have something for a few days in case of natural disaster... cynatnite May 2012 #134