Survival and Emergency Preparedness

So, more so than anything in our lives, Covid has probably been the greatest test run for a real region or greater level SHTF than anything. Irrational, hitting randomly, everywhere, information vague at best. Mild violence breaking out in spots at the end. Government response weak in every way imaginable.

The only real good thing was utilities kept running.

So - how does this now inform YOUR prepping? What lessons did you learn? Here are a few of mine...

#1Firearms NOT needed. What we saw was violence based on convenience, material acquisition, and other things. It was more than easy enough to stay away, go the other way, or not be involved in it if you wanted. Yeah - there were a few highway blocks...but again, unless you were unfortunately right there when it happened - avoidable, or at least able to stay out of the fight.
- That said; Carrying far more often now
- Likely to have additional weapons/ammo available
- I will expend ammo keeping skill up, just at a lower rate, but not zero. If I get down to just 1000k rounds of premium ammo....then I'll hold.

#2This made me really count my calories available. Yes - I was able to easily account for over 300-man days of food / water. It also pointed out that in a REAL lockdown with my son here, it would have only been 30 days.
- I am now paying strict attention to my days of food on hand.
-Current pantry, replacement pantry, freeze dried, long term package, buckets, plus MREs ALWAYS now

#3 Stocking up is not just about what I think I need. People are irrational and will run wild. The Toilet Paper Ft Phenomena. Whatever you think won't be a problem - may be.
- I am slowly but surely cleaning out crap in the garage, to add dry good consumables; Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Plastic Bags, paper plates, etc
- I am adding consumable meds with good shelf life; Pepto for when I eat crap, alcohol, etc...
- Getting ready to add meat to the storage freezer
- Dried Milk, salt, etc. to buckets

#4 Organization. More is more.
- I realized during my serious take stock, records and better labels would have helped! What is on the floor level off the pantry back there???

So I think those are the really big issues for me. Nothing earth shattering. 20 plus years of preparedness made me feel really good about this situation. But - always room for improvement!

good read...

made me go reorganize the storage items and go label more items with my sharpie for easy rotation.

PS added TP too
Also picked up 2 cases of baby wipes and a gallon of lysol concentrate... allows me to mix up lysol liquid and pour it into the wipes container to convert to lysol wipes when needed

As you pointed out, I re-evaluated some of the items and the quantity I keep on hand. Food and ammo, didn't change those. Other items, TP, paper towels, etc., we have increased those supplies on hand.

I have been grabbing extra cleaners when possible....

Bob wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:18 am So, more so than anything in our lives, Covid has probably been the greatest test run for a real region or greater level SHTF than anything.

I think that it would be appropriate to consider the two domestic terrorist organization (BLM and Antifa) into the mix as well as Covid. Covid with shut/lock downs and people freaking out over false information spewed by the MSM and domestic terrorism with the majority of the violence.

Bob wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:18 am #1Firearms NOT needed.

I think this mostly depends upon your location. For example, where Bob and I live (we're about 15 minutes away from each other) we were both fine. On the other hand, there were BLM riots in Tampa about 20 minutes away from my house and the mall across the street was locked down with an anticipation of violence. So was a firearm needed? No. Was it a prudent prep to have on hand due to a heightened possibility of violence? Yes. It's one thing to see riots on the news in some other far away city and state, it's quite another to see it on the news 20 minutes away in an area that you occasionally go shopping. Taking it further in that direction, if you were in one of those far away cities and states where it was happening right in your neighborhood or even outside your door, a firearm would most definitely be up the ladder on things you might want to have handy at that moment. And the amount of cities across the country that crap has sprung up is enough to make you put some thought into your defense plan.

To this end, I made the decision to formalize my HD platforms, look at my inventory of ammo and calibers. In 9mm I'm very comfortable in the number of platforms and available ammo. I only had one 40 S&W platform so I added two more platforms. I added two 357sig platforms. I added one 45acp platform. I added two 380acp platforms. Along with magazines and ammunition for each platform. Not all the platforms have the depth that I'd 'like' to have, but each is sufficient to be at a comfortable level. And now, with the exception of the 45acp, I have back ups to the back ups.

As far as ammunition, I have now chosen to diversify so that I have access to many different calibers for if/when ammo is more difficult and/or expensive to find. I will probably eventually get into reloading but now is not the time.

Bob wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:18 am #2This made me really count my calories available/#3 Stocking up

When we move to the new house, our available storage space is going to more than quadruple. Both for food stuffs as well as dry good consumables. We will take advantage of this increased storage space. Although we were already fine with products like TP and never in danger of running out, even when none was on the shelves, we have upped our count even more. This is prudent as we have seen what areas are likely to get hit hard and then increase in those areas.

I would like to increase food buckets beyond what they are now. More than likely it will be self-made buckets.

Bob wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:18 am#4 Organization.

I'm going to take a serious look at this area once we have the increased storage areas available. To increase the ability to rotate.

I will add a #5: alternate news sources. I do NOT rely on the MSM. I seek out multiple alternative news sources, vet those sources and then compare with what actually is happening. Accurate news is an essential as it can increase your situational awareness as well as preview potential issues to avoid or mitigate.

In case of a "real" emergency stock up on gas. Gas is relatively cheap right now currently <$2/gallon in my area. I filled every can I have when it was around $1/gallon earlier this summer and am keeping them full as I rotate the gas through my vehicles. Just a matter of time before the power goes out in a storm or (heaven forbid) the riots come to town which means the gas stations will be shut down.

I'm not saying you don't need a firearm - I'm just saying that an extensive armory beyond a hand gun and a couple hundred rounds and a shotgun and a few boxes was more than sufficient, as always. Having food to stay home > having ammo to fight off the mob. especially considering where the mobs show up. I don't live at the mall.

Yes - you should have weapons. But I have a stupid amount of guns/ammo considering.

Bob wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:18 pm I'm not saying you don't need a firearm - I'm just saying that an extensive armory beyond a hand gun and a couple hundred rounds and a shotgun and a few boxes was more than sufficient, as always.

Oh, no disagreement on that point. I've said many times that 99.9% of the time a good 6-shot revolver and a box of shells will suffice with ammo left over.

But it's not nearly as much fun...

Wave two coming through. Our area is shutting down again. Store shelves are starting to empty. I'm so tired of playing this game.

Bmyers wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:43 am Wave two coming through. Our area is shutting down again. Store shelves are starting to empty. I'm so tired of playing this game.

Nothing to worry about, it’s just the MSM trying to change the narrative away from the voter fraud coming out.