What do you think could/will happen?

[jackandjill 683]

If you are interested in shtf, long term shtf or concerned about survival,  its VERY important to actually go, see and live couple of months (or more) in some of the world's poor, remote places.  Nothing can buy you that experience and things you will naturally learn.

 

Land, natural water source, goats, chicken, donkey/pony, low key life...

[Guest]

civil unrest with the flames being fanned by the feds and lamestream media. Combine that with ISIS and the want-a-be terrorist all over this Country and things aren't looking too good ATM...

[AVB-AMG 530]

I agree with many of the previous comments, and in particular those by Dear Leader and illig.
In northern NJ we have lost electrical power, land-line telephone, most cell phone service and cable tv/telephone, several times in the past 18 years primarily due to strong wind, ice and snow storms. The worst by far was Storm Sandy where our outage lasted 13 days and, like for many here, that was our “wake up call”.

Precautions: Ideally, after this type of event resulting in an emergency scenerio, we would be able to stay in our home and ride it out for approximately two weeks. Our “lesson learned” is that we now have a minimum of 2 weeks worth of unrefrigerated canned food and water, along with an alternative food cooking/heating option. When the weather report indicates a possible strong storm approaching our area I will fill up all of our vehicles gasoline tanks and a 5 gallon gas jug, as well as a 10 gallon water container and get a sufficient amount of cash from our bank’s ATM. In the worst case scenario, we also have firearms, ammunition and the knowledge and practice on how to properly and safely store them and if need be, to use them effectively for self defense.  In this relatively short scenerio, we would help our friends and neighbors to the best of our ability, taking a "we are all in this together" attitude.
 
Stay or Leave?:  If we cannot or chose not to stay in our home and/or evacuation is required, we have a Plan A and a Plan B on where we would go, or at least try to go. This begins with having one vehicle, fully fueled with all-wheel drive and good tires with room for us and key items. We have prepared key survival items in “Go Bags”, along with a list of items to take in case we need to evacuate our home. The degree of the emergency will be predicated on the extent and severity of the power outage or unexpected situation. Is it limited to being local in our neighborhood or town, or just in our county, or is it broader, i.e. state-wide or say the northeast U.S. or the entire country…? That reality will certainly influence one’s “bugging out” options and whether realistically it makes sense to attempt to leave your home to attempt to go someplace eles. Keep in mind that we are living in New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the country. So assume all roads will be experiencing very heavy traffic that will be crawling along or clogged with many others in their vehicles with the same idea.  What happens when you run out of gas?  Will you possibly be worse off in that scenerio, if you have yet to reach your desired destination?  A rational weighing of the options, chances for success and all of the various possibilities will be necessary to make the best possible chioce of what to do.
 
After 2 weeks:   Ultimately, I think most of us should be fine for up to two weeks without electricity. During that second week, let alone beyond, the main concern will be for obtaining food and potable water and people, primarily city-dwellers who do not have the space to stock up and store an adequate supply of both will be the first to panic. They will run out sooner and when they become desperate they will start by looting local stores and then things will rapidly deteriorate and general respect for civil and law-abiding society will crumble.  This will result in gang rampages through apartment buildings, targeting the elderly and defenseless first to rob whatever food and supplies they can get. While we in suburbia think we are far enough away from this mob scene, we may be kidding ourselves. Not everyone is predeposed to preparing in advance or has the physical and financial resources to prepare for these “what if” scenarios and they will become equally desperate, just as fast as their urban brethren and may be knocking on your door, or worse, sooner than you think.
 
Type of disaster:  I am concerned that the combination of natural and man-made carbon dioxide and methane gas being released into our atmosphere is contributing to the acceleration of global climate change and what that may mean for the frequency and severity of our weather systems and events.  Also, disaster can occur from not just Mother Nature, but from a terrorist-generated event, either physical or cyber, affecting our power grid, water supply and communications systems. Or it could be a health pandemic that rapidly spreads, forcing people to stay at home. In addition, a national and/or international economic crisis could also perpetuate a rapid downward spiral of our society, pushing us into another Great Depression with grave consequences for all of us. If the inequality of the classes continues to broaden, it could eventually lead to progressively worse protests, demonstrations, riots and escalating civil disobedience and unrest that may potentially become something much worse for the existance of our country as we know it. Finally, I am just now starting to become aware of and understanding the potential negative effects of the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) in our society and what that could mean for mankind…
 
Bigger Questions:  As far as the extreme “preppers” seen in these silly television programs, I always ask myself what are they going to do once they eventually run out of their incredible stock of supplies in 6,9, 12 or 18 months? If our society breaks down to such a degree that our population is in a mass panic, with chaotic disorder being the norm, where rule of law has disappeared and civilization as we have come to know it no longer exists, who would want to live in that type of world?  What’s the point?  Survival for what purpose?  At that point, let’s all enjoy each other’s companionship, both intimate, social and intellectual, augmented by some of the finer man-made luxuries, such as some fine liquor, non-spoiled food, cigars and other selected pharmaceuticals and make what little time left in this world as pleasant as possible.
 
As others have stated, I also believe it is prudent that we all prepare for surviving and protecting our respective families for a reasonable amount of time after some form of disaster.  But I also strongly believe that it is important that we not live our lives in a state of perpetual paranoia and fear, dread or depression, due to thinking about "what bad things could possibly happen", while the odds them happening anytime soon are quite small.  I try to remind myself that I along with my family are much better off than many others in our world, partly due to the "circumstances of birth", as well as a solid upbringing by caring parents and relatives, much hard work and some prudent choices along the way of what to do and what not to do.  Also, to be most thankful for what we have worked hard to achieve and obtain, and most importantly, to appreciate waking up every day realzing that it is another opportunity to learn and enjoy ourselves and others while we are alive and, if possible, contribute something that in some way is or will be beneficial to our society that will last once we are gone.
 
AVB-AMG

[TheWind 17]

Natural disaster, high prices and shortages, and civil unrest come to mind

[JohnnyB 4,325]

Natural disaster, high prices and shortages, and civil unrest come to mind

Natural disaster of a great magnitude could be a problem. Civil unrest would be most likely localized and be put down, not long term!

Loss of the power grid say on the entire East coast would be a long term SHTF situation say 6 months or better! A terrorist attack on our grid

is probably the most likely scenario we could  face at any time IMHO!

[Lecky 1]

Do you think there will be charging stations along the route for my kids electronics? Haaaaaaaaaa

[1LtCAP 4,263]

Do you think there will be charging stations along the route for my kids electronics? Haaaaaaaaaa

solar panels.

[TheWind 17]

I have provisions to charge in my truck. 3 power outlets in my center console, I keep charging cables for our cells, ipads and ipods. I also have a battery pack that will charge in the truck and charge my cells. As for the little SHTFs Food shortages and rising prices are going to occur more often, Food Storage, home gardens (before they are registered or banned) will be the norm for anyone with sense. I grew up with  a lot of depression era  adults around. They kept pantries and the hold over of the Victory gardens.

 

As for civil disorder, I fear the cities will not be nice places. I have some buffer zones between their populations and us. Obama seems to want to move more of them out in to the suburbs. During one of the hurricanes they brought the populations of the AC Rescue  Mission to Galloway Township.... crime went up, they looted the people that took them in.