How would you survive?

Question: If a major catastrophe struck the planet earth, and everything was in chaos, what would you do? How would you prepare?

Americans aren't built to handle that kind of stress. People would be committing suicide left and right.

What I would do is simple. I'd take myself back to Africa and live there because Africans can adapt to struggle easily. It's all they know.

First of all, I have already prepared, which is why (if I didn't get wiped out during the catastrophe) I WOULD survive.

My entire extended family has a plan.

1.) Stay well-stocked (drybox for staples; supply of water, etc.)
2.) Have an emergency meeting point (which should be away from any large city) Any large city, if supply lines are destroyed, is exactly about 72 hours from barbarism and straight-out chaos...basic survival instincts, and massive amounts of humans acting like animals. Not a place to be.
3.) Have a multiple route emergency evacuation plan to get to 2.) (and this should avoid ALL interstates if possible - remember, the interstate system belongs to military transportation in case of emergency)
4.) Make sure all members of your family know what to do (i.e. if you don't want them to try to make it home, make sure they know where to head, etc.)

P.S. Various forms of self-protection and lots of ammo for same.



[Edited on 16-8-2003 by Valhall]

I agree with you, Americans don't really know how to survive without electricity, running water, grochery stores ect.. But some of us could surprise you.

I would like to see an American go a week without internet, computer, and television.

ILLMATIC!!!!!

Hi! Nice to see your post.

This American-girl could do it. I've done it...almost every year since I was 10 years old. It's called a hunting trip and in Indian Territory it's the real deal. You don't have any amenities...including the detestable Texas ritual of baited game. (Those Texans are truly spoiled.)

Mine is

1. Stock up on food, examples are--seeds for growing, canned food, dried meat

2. Safe location, away from people in general

3. Water purification equipment

4. Ways of defending yourself

When you start preparing, you have to think worst case scenerio. What happens if we get nuked? The air would be toxic and the water also.

I would like to see an American go a week without internet, computer, and television.

Most of the western world would go insane if they didn't have access to internet,computers and televison. Most of our lives are built around technology and we are very dependent on them.
If we went a week without technology, we would be thrown into chaos. People wouldn't be able to cope without them. Sad as it seems, our lives depend of technology.

Well it's easy to do so if you are doing something else instead.

I could go a year without internet if I take a trip across the globe.

But when it came down to it, the average America will go insane in his/her house without electricity.


P.S- Yep, I'm back. I figured I'm in too deep with ATS anyway.

I thought about this a bit before finding ATS. check out www.survivalforum.com...

Even here people worry far more than they prepare. I've noticed here that people care more about what's going on rather than what they can do about it.

I'm going to make a bold statement: I bet 9 out of 10 ATS Mods and Admins don't have any backup food and water. Now please prove me wrong.

[edit - btw 8 people posted as i wrote this. Seems like a bit more people are storing food, etc. which is really good. Seems like the Mods, etc probably do store food.]

[Edited on 16-8-2003 by ktprktpr]

RIGHT ON Valhall!

We live a simple life also, we have plans in action now. We are able to live off the land (hunt, fish, grow our own food). I can give you over 100 ways to cook deer, fish, wild turkey, ect. My family has always been this way.

boogie on away from the immediate danger for starters,then stop and get my head together,figure out what needed to be done to guarantee that I would survive with a minimum waste of energy.
All the preparations may amount to naught if the catastrophe were that great.

Depending on the level of catastrophe, you would be amazed at how much time you WOULDN'T have on your hands.

For instance, let's take something as immense as a polar shift.

First off, little to none of us would probably survive the initial catastrophe. Those who did would quickly learn how much time is taken up by basic survival activities (finding food, or producing food; preparing food; keeping the damned fire lit to cook the food; trying to be some modicum of clean; trying to create and maintain a structure to stay out of the elements; clothing). To discuss the boredom of not having the internet shows that some of us may not have considered the true ramifications of certain catastrophes. Also, this discussion opens up theories of past civilizations and how all the knowledge can be instantly lost...you haven't got time to try to preserve knowledge when you're spending the better part of your day trying to stay alive.

I'm going to make a bold statement: I bet 9 out of 10 ATS Mods and Admins don't have any backup food and water. Now please prove me wrong.

We have been preparing for almost 3 years for what is to come. We have shelter, food ect. It's better to prepare now, than wait until the last minute.

Originally posted by Artemis
RIGHT ON Valhall!

We live a simple life also, we have plans in action now. We are able to live off the land (hunt, fish, grow our own food). I can give you over 100 ways to cook deer, fish, wild turkey, ect. My family has always been this way.

In college my American History teacher (who was old enough to have been a first-person witness to most of it) made one of the most profound statements I've ever heard in person.

We were discussing the Great Depression in the 1930's, and I asked the question "Were the people in rural areas as adversely affected as those in urban areas."

Here was her reply:

"No, they weren't. And it all stems from the fact that you can eat a squirrel a heck of a lot easier than you can eat a sidewalk."

I think watching the NYC event brought this home big time to me.

If any of you folks need directions to Indian Territory...we have a lot of wide open spaces out here that will accomodate you if you get yourself caught in a catastrophic situation.

Yes,

Some disasters are almost impossible or to great to prepare for. Like a pole shift. It would be catastrophic! The moment it happens, 2/3rds of all people would die, it's a horribale thought.

Valhall:
Hmm... sounds like it would be a good idea to get to know my local Native American tribe. Do you really think, though, that they would accept people running onto their land, even if I had food and water?

...that a gun and ammo would be a wise thing to have to fend off those who would steal your supplies.

It is really unfortunate that this is a reality,maybe the goodness in people would come out in a calamity,maybe not.

God,Gold,Guns,Grub.(no gold,I'm poor)

Originally posted by ktprktpr
Valhall:
Hmm... sounds like it would be a good idea to get to know my local Native American tribe. Do you really think, though, that they would accept people running onto their land, even if I had food and water?

LOL! I wouldn't try it!!!!

I live in the "former" Indian Territory of Oklahoma. That's what I was referring to...the state of Oklahoma. No, please, just leave the redman and his land alone. It probably wouldn't work out good for you...pale-face.

My grandma went through the great depression. She was a hard old woman, with tons of brilliance.

She lived in the Ozark Mountians, in a cabin, with a dirt floor, no electricity, no running water and no indoor bathroom. She raised 7 boys all by herself after my grandfather left her. She hunted the land, grew her own food, had to go to the stream to collect water ect. She used to tell me stories how to survive when you have NOTHING, but a pot to pee in.

The most amazing part is that 6 out of the 7 boys lived, grew up to become wonderful people, who passed this knowledge down.

The sad part is my grandmother died when I was in grade school but still I have Very fond memories of her.