Have you told your Family Yet?

I used to teach Disaster Preparedness in the Air Force and while I don't teach it anymore, I still actively have that mindset. I have told my family about some of the things I've done to prepare for Situation X, but only about 40%. For instance, I always tell them that I'm stockpiling items because we might have a prolonged ice storm that cuts out power, or an earthquake. I'm here in the Pacific Northwest, so both are possible, not really plausible in the near term. It's just what I tell them.

What have I really done, you ask? Well here's a run down of some of the things I've done, but as with the family, I'm not going to divulge all of the secrets. Just some.

1. Filled a 40 Gallon plastic drum with sealing plastic lid full of bags of beans and rice (including big containers of seasonings) and buried it in our big back yard. There's a big soup pot in the bottom of the barrel with a ladle and big wooden spoon as well.

2. Bought a medium sized igloo cooler on sale and filled it with a windup radio, map book of the State (with two compasses), a huge box of waterproof matches, four mess kits, three flashlights with batteries (they'll last a decade - though we all know we won't have to wait that long) two 10" hunting knives, a hatchet, a box of 16-penny nails, and a roll of black plastic. Yes, I got it all in there. I then closed the lid, and sealed the lid with wax from a candle (works well by the way). Buried it in another location in the back yard.

3. I got together a bunch of clothes, shoes, jackets, the works and put them all in a third 40 gallon barrel. It's buried out there as well.

4. There is a fourth box not in the yard, but in a location accessible and secure, with two .45 Semi-Auto Ruger's and 500 rounds of hollow-points. There is also cleaning kits for both, and two bear "foggers" as well. This box is sealed and buried.

That covers just some of the supplies I've gone to great lengths to conceal and none of them knows about it. I've covered shelters, clothing, food, and emergency navigation and lighting.

My vehicle has a fully equipped bug-out-bag and tools in case I need to get myself out of a ditch, or unstuck. They all know about those, but I get a roll of the eye when I tell them everything in the bag and why I have it. The way I see it, I would rather they not worry about things. I'm always worrying about it anyway, so I'll shoulder that and let them think about glass-half-full stuff. It's taken me years to get fully prepared. I'm ready for most things, but am always nervous we'll all get confronted with something I haven't planned thoroughly for.

Best of luck to you all by the way.

Thank you Branty very much for starting this thread. In fact this is such a cool topic that hit's home at the heart that I finally joined this site to respond to your post.

Me and my wife are very open about what's going on. We share it with our daughter too because she deserves an alternative view to the world other than the illusion that's packaged and sold to us by the corporate media. We don't ever force it on her however as we feel that she needs to have the independence to discard our words if she chooses because we believe in free will and personal destiny of choice.

My wife is from Russia by the way. She lived through the economical meltdowns of the 90s there and knows that a life-time of stability can vanish overnight leaving you with only your wits, basic essentials, and perseverance to survive. Having survived through that she no longer buys into the fairy tale of it can't happen here. In this respect I suppose I have a little bit of an advantage in that she's on board to being open to change and has no fantasies as to what governments are capable of.

As to what we've been doing in order to prepare for possible geopolitcal events or global weather catastrophes are concerned well... We've been doing many things that the other people here are talking about doing. We've (or I for the most part) have taken up raising chickens or a viable secondary food source. We've changed our financial assets. We've stockpiled essentials such as sugar, yeast, flour, water, beans, etc. We don't look at these measures as steps to the result of fear, but to th result of knowledge and sound down to earth, informed judgement. After all, where would Moses have been if he didn't take precautionary steps?

We are aware of Illuminati tricks now too. So we watch for them. You guys know the basics that I'm talking about such as "Lone nutter kills controversial political dissident, or UFOs can now be explained by atmospheric light sprites," You know, the basic BS they try and feed us.

We've also learned to network. This was something that was tried on the Project Camelot website forums before they went pay. Some of you readers know exactly what I'm talking about.

It is my hope that something like that gains momentum here if it has not already started. The more of us that band together, than the better our chances of retaining our independence as self aware humans which seems to be so discouraged by the powers that be for reasons that all of us already know or suspect.

Well enough of my soapbox speech. Thanks again for the thread Branty and remember that your not alone in your sentiments even if your wife isn't on board 100%. She'll come around eventually. I mean, we have to listen to them right? So every once in a while they'd better listen to us guys too!

[edit on 24-2-2009 by 3DPrisoner]

reply to post by bpg131313


Just out of curiousity - how much did all that run you?

More specifically the beans and rice idea - which was a damn good one, btw. I LOVE beans and rice - so they were my first pick for shtf situations in case I had to store food away.

What all do you have in your bug out bag for your vehicle?

I've tried to bring this stuff up, many times. My wife is always sick of hearing it, yet she's never let me say all of it.

She works hard all day, and this is the last thing she wants to think about when she gets home.

The other day, the conversation went like this:

Wife: Mike, how could you spend $250 on groceries, you know we need a new dishwasher.

That was the extent of the conversation, I didn't respond. And, for what it's worth, those groceries were all normal everyday type foods, with the exception of a pack of D cell and AA cell batteries.

I have been forced to hide any preparations I have made, and what angers me the most is the number of times in the past that she has, eventually, told me I was right. I hate to say it, but I'm right more often than I'm wrong. It's not hard, look at all the facts, think for a bit, and most people can usually predict the outcome of events.

My biggest concern, and if anyone has advice, I'm all ears.

In certain situations, when the 2 options are go to FEMA camps, where the wife might be fine going, after all, food, water, and "It's where they say we should go, dear", vs. making a run for it, I know which way I'm going, I don't know which way she's going, and then there's my son, Gabriel.

As the father of a 3 year old boy, how far do I go to make sure he is in the right situation, meaning, if I can't persuade the wife to follow me in that moment, how far do I go to make sure my son is not in some camp???

I personally prefer to be able to stay mobile. I don't have a family, kids, wife, or girl friend. I like to stay that way. The reasons are numerous. My life is just a whole lot easier that way. I used to be a solitary nomad and scavenger for a good chunk of my life. I've seen the entire country 7 or 8 times over. I've lived in at least 30 states and traveled though 49 out of 50 of them. It's what I know and what I do best. If SHTF I'll just go back to what I used to be and know very well.

This May I'll be going on a cross country vacation to see all my favorite places. I'll be doing it the way I used to. Sleep and bath at truck stops. Saves TONS of cash that way. Now I see being a nomad again as a freaking awsome vacation!

[edit on 24-2-2009 by Valkyr8]

I haven't read the rest of the thread but plan to tomarow, its late here and I'm about to go to bed, anyway..
I've told my husband and he's slowly coming around. He even got me some five gallon buckets and wants to get me some gamma lids that I asked for.
He's also been understanding about stocking up on bottled water and seemed receptive to building a rainwater storage thing
At first he was like 'we already have such and such' and didnt get that I wanted some to store. Now he's ok with it when we get things on sale. He likes that it saves us money as well on stuff I rotate out of our stash.

After slowly introducing my wife to the consequences of the economic crisis, we've started stocking up a little extra food. Neither of us are sure how Norway will be impacted by the crisis, but we're both ready for what's to come.

Some of my family members laughed at the whole scenario though. Blinded by goodness

Originally posted by mf_luder
reply to post by bpg131313

 

Just out of curiousity - how much did all that run you?

Without the firearms and ammo, the supplies cost me around $2000. I look for sales, making sure to do it a little at a time.

More specifically the beans and rice idea - which was a damn good one, btw. I LOVE beans and rice - so they were my first pick for shtf situations in case I had to store food away.

I have a Costco membership and buy the big bags from them. It's easy to fill the plastic drums that way. They also have the seasons & spices there. It's one thing to have the beans and rice, it's another to have the seasons to make them taste good! You can get 25 or 50 pound bags of each relatively inexpensively, but to be honest, I purchased those last year. I don't know what the prices are today.

What all do you have in your bug out bag for your vehicle?

Unfortunately I don't have a list readily available to cut and paste into this forum for you. There are several BOB lists out there, but I have always disagreed with most of them because they are general lists. I like more specifics to my personal needs. Some of the things I remember being in my BOB:
1. Map of area and compass
2. Flashlight & extra batteries
3. Water purification filter
4. A Nalgene Bottle filled with emergency whistle, waterproof matches, signaling mirror, emergency blanket, ten multi-vitamins, travel bottle of Tylenol.
5. Leather work gloves
6. Med-Kit (self filled) Put things you'll use in there rather than the stock ones. Get the best bandaids you can, neosporin, anti-itch cream, benedryl cream (and pills) ace bandages, scissors, medical gloves, med-tape, 4x4's, etc.
7. 50' of 1/2" rope, four carabiners, 20' of 1/2" webbing
8. Bivvy Bag
9. Hunting knife
10. Baby wipes & Hand sanitizer
11. Windup radio

I wish I could remember everything. I'm going to pull it out tomorrow and create a new list (I recently lost a hard drive, but that's a story I'd rather not remember).

reply to post by bpg131313


Yeah - that's good stuff man.

If you don't want to post on this thread, shoot me a U2U - I'd like to start compiling my own stuff now. I'm in South Korea and from here I'm going to Germany, but I'd like to think I'll be in the US when it goes down. You know?

Maybe not in the major cities, but at least in the US where things are "familiar."

I'm lucky. My wife recognized the need to start stockpiling after 911. We went about pretty much hit or miss for awhile, be we've gotten serious. Stockpiling food and water, bought a generator(after the ice storm) bought a propane heater. Probably will get a camping stove, as well, just in case I can't get gas for the generator.
She doesn't flinch when I walk into a store and ask for four or five hundred rounds of ammunition.
As far as storage, I've got one bedroom that I use as a library. With some careful planning I can use it as a storage room for all the staples as well as the tent and sleeping bag.
My wife actually helps me by keeping her eyes out for any survival gear we might need. If she's unsure, she checks with me. But most of the time she follows her instincts. (She actually came home with a flint and steel. I raised my eyebrows a little. She just said "What if the damned lighter runs out of fuel or gets wet. I plan to stay warm, and well fed.)
I just said yes ma'm.
I would like to know where I can lay my hands on some 5 gallon buckets and lids. I'd hate for mice to get into my supplies.

reply to post by mf_luder


Hey Mf_luder, check out the Zombie Squad forums in my signature. You can get alot of good information from that website.

fill me in guys, what is with all this paranoia in the states, why all the stockpiling ???

and what does a science fiction movie like the matrix have to do with it

I tell everyone I know about things that are coming and explain how they should begin to prepare, after all the problem is going to be, when it happens and your unprepared you're outta luck!

I've even gone as far as to build a Survival website to help those who are not soo keen on putting together the things they'll need for not only *basic* survival, but advanced survival so that life will be very comfortable for them.

Since I've lived in South Florida nearly all my life, summertime means "hurricanes" and for those up north who have never been through one, it gives you a pretty good idea of what happens to society when the normal routine is disrupted. The only difference in what I'm talking about is that things are going to stay broke for a VERY long time!

So, prepare now...or worry later.

reply to post by Tentickles


I signed up for that and have access to the forums - I just access that site from work (which it seems I'm at more than home these days... ) But I did sign up - lol. Waiting on my membership badge as we speak.

reply to post by mf_luder


Awesome!
Welcome to the [ZS] Community!

reply to post by Tentickles


Thanks!

Not a one liner.

Originally posted by spender
fill me in guys, what is with all this paranoia in the states, why all the stockpiling ???

and what does a science fiction movie like the matrix have to do with it

Well there is much happeneing.... The US is in chaos. Financially the entire country is screwed and getting worse. Forclosures, unemployment, and things of this nature are at a record high since the great depression in the early 1900's. Also there are 6 Extinction Level Events getting ready to pop. 3 Of them orginate or centrally affect North America. The 1st is Yellowstone National Park Caldera. This is other wise known as a Super Volcano. Its one of 6 or 7 on the planet. The 2nd is the coming ice age. During the last one much of North America was covered by ice. The 3rd is the Canary Island Tsunami. This will be caused the a huge chunk of one of the Canary Islands sliding into the Atlantic Ocean triggering a Tsunami larger than any other in recorded history. The Eastern Coast of the US is in direct fire from this. Say bye bye to most of the largest cities in the US!

The other 3 are:
4. Stellar Shift-- our sun will undergo a natural shift from 2012-2014. This can already be seen with the 100% lack of sunspots. The bottom line is this can disrupt and destroy our electronic devices of any and all sizes.

5. Magnetic Reversal of the Poles-- Our planet's magnetic poles are over due to shift by 100 years or more. This one is predicted to knock Earth on it's side like the planet Uranus.

6. Solar System Wobble-- Our solar system is not exactly 100% part of the Milky Way. It wobble through the galactic arm once in a while. It has been seen in geological history that when this happens E.L.E.'s also happen as does explosions in evolution.

Here is another one that I forgot..... Galactic collision. Our galaxy is presently being hit and merging with 2 others. Unfortunatly I can't remember their names, I'm way tired. But no one has a clue as to what could happen to us down the line because of this.....

[edit on 25-2-2009 by Valkyr8]

Whenever there is a family get-together or something and subjects come up regarding things one might find information about on ATS, I try to say my piece. But many of the people outside my immediate family you could call to be religious, so anything I tell them they usually disregard and try to turn it around as if trying to prove me wrong. You can try and tell family, friends, whoever, but in the end if their choice if they want to pay any attention.

reply to post by elston


Keep up the good work people. No harm in being prepared folks. Don't rely on the government to come to our rescue when things turn sour.
I was browsing through my local outdoors store over the weekend and came across and little gem of an item that would be most invaluable. It is an Ultra Violet water steriliser. Place the U.V light in the water and it kills 99.9% of most bacteria etc. Not cheap though they retail for around $ 245 New Zealand dollars.

interesting post. nice to hear ATS users are getting prepared.

i have tried waking my parents up. my dad is probably already awake but is very bitter about it. i think he knows that the truth is subject to ridicule and he may also think i'm turning too much into an activist and this is slowing my career progress.

i tackle things very matter-of-fact-ly. i don't actually care about aliens/ufos so i'm not too unbelievable. the second dodgy thing to talk about is the occultic past times of the illuminati, so i don't really talk about that.

an issue i address, but extremely carefully, is the issue of population reduction. it's very hard to accept. and i state this. but i simply can't repress the truth about fluoride, aspartame, gmo and the like.

but usually i'll just talk about economics and politics... and false flag terror and illegal wars. there is no excuse for not addressing these issues.

my mum who has bought every lie ever told is finally starting to get it.

i would also advise to take care and not talk too much bad news. people can get very hurt by the truth. so be carefulll!!!