Americans stock up to be ready for end of the world

[katty]

more:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/americans-prepare-for-apocalyptic-disaster

Recession and the constant threat of terrorist attacks have given new life to the ingrained survivalist instinct
Paul Harris in New York The Observer, Sunday 14 February 2010

EXCERPT:

"I feel safe and more secure. I have taken personal responsibility for the safety of myself and of my family," Pennington said. "We have decided to be prepared. There all kinds of disasters that can happen, natural and man-made."

Pennington is a "prepper", a growing social movement that has been dubbed Survivalism Lite. Preppers believe that it is better to be safe than sorry and that preparing for disaster – be it a hurricane or the end of civilisation – makes sense.

Unlike the 1990s survivalists, preppers come from all backgrounds and live all over America. They are just as likely to be found in a suburb or downtown loft as a remote ranch in the mountains. Prepping networks, which have sprung up all over the country in the past few years, provide advice on how to prepare food reserves, how to grow crops in your garden, how to hunt and how to defend yourself. There are prepping books, online shops, radio shows, countless blogs, prepping courses and prepping conferences.

John Milandred runs a website called Pioneer Living, which is one of the main forums for discussing prepping.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. A years worth of basic food needs can be stored for as little as $200

For about $400 you can round the nutrition a little better for a basic 1yr supply of food.
Below is a chart of cheap staple foods and a sample 1600 cal diet.
Handheld water filters are only about $150 and filter up to 6000L of water - enough for 5years/person.

This would keep one alive until federal aid or some help arrives up to a year or until it's safe to migrate.
Lay in some other basic tools and seeds and learn to survive and cope with the new system you live in.

[Hoopla Phil]

24. Thank you for that chart. Do you have any recommendations for

where to get some of that and how to secure it for long term storage?

[Dappleganger]

36. When we lived in VA we used to buy in bulk at a Mennonite (like Amish) store...

they'd have various sizes for sale and if you needed larger you just put in an order. Co-ops are a good place to look as well.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

41. Yes, see post:

Water and oxygen and temperature fluctuation... those are the enemies of food. Vacuum heat sealed bags are ideal. Alternatively, using 5gal buckets with mylar bags inside is effective. Toss a few O2 absorbing packs (cheap) and silica gel packs (cheap) into the mylar bags. Keep in a cool, dry, temperature stable place. Anything with high fats or oils will not keep as long as lean dry foods (notice the oils and Ramen and that the powdered milk is SKIM).

Grains like white rice, wheat, oats, corn, & beans will keep for 20+ easily with no oxygen or moisture present. They MUST be kept whole - ground or cracked grains will spoil relatively quickly even when stored ideally. This is because oils and enzymes in the hull/bran of the grains mixes with the center and breakdown occurs. Obviously, a hand grain grinder (~$30-$500+) or stone mortar/pestle ($30-$100) would be needed to grind the grain before consumption. Beans MUST be cooked before consumption otherwise they can be poisonous as must the dent corn (the complex starches need broken up to digest). Always keep in mind the cooking effort for different foods - some are easy and others are difficult.

As you've noticed, dent corn is by far the cheapest item on the chart and one of the more nutritious staples. If you are wondering what dent corn is... it's field corn - like farm feed. There is no difference other than extra cleaning between sweet corn (what you get in the store) and dent/feed corn. In fact cornmeal, polenta & grits are made from dent corn and popcorn is a special type of dried corn. Dent corn can be had at farm supply/feed stores across the midwest for $5-$8 for a 50# sack. It may also be called "deer corn". The rest of the grains are pretty self explanatory.

Alot of the grains and powdered milk can be purchased online or at bulk stores like Costco and GFS. Ramen is actually cheaper at my local supermarket ($0.15/ea) than online or at costco. Look for sales though at bulk stores because they go on sale occasionally for like 10c/ea. Instead of "whole wheat" search for "wheat berries" - it's a much more accurate search term. I can get rice pretty cheap in the chinese aisle at the grocery store in 10# bags... but I hear costco has it SUPER cheap. You can go for much more nutritious brown rice, but the nutrient rich rice hulls will spoil the rice much more quickly than plain white. Pasta is pretty much $.90-$1.00 whether you get it in bulk or individually. BuyBulkWhey.com has very inexpensive powdered protein that could substitute for the milk for about 1/4 of the price (if drinking chalky mud is your kind of thing). Powdered eggs are another good substitute for the quality proteins the milk provides. The cooking "extras" can be had at the supermarket. Extras might not be worth getting in bulk or online unless you're supplying for a whole family. Yeast can substitute for the baking powder, but yeast is a living thing and even frozen has somewhat limited shelf life.

MOST IMPORTANT... you need nutrients. A diverse diet can supply this but eating a dozen items does not.
A year supply of Centrum or One-A-Day is like $15 and provides 100% of everything you need.
I'm convinced you could survive on whey and corn for <$100/yr if you had clean water and multivitamins.

[Hoopla Phil]

45. Thank you again. Bookmarking for future reference.

[CreekDog]

38. You think if you have a year's worth of food and all your neighbors don't, that you'll keep it?

If so, I've got a bridge to sell you.

It's not wrong to prepare, but if you have something nobody else has, you are just envisioning a Mad Max scenario --and not much of a plan for getting out of it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

44. You think I'll advertise my secret stash? HELL NO.

I'll stand in the bread lines with all of the unprepared sheep getting my free handouts too.
I won't even joke about having dogfood they could try to steal.
If anyone comes snooping around my place and they're likely to get shot by one of several residents.
Water, food, defense, shelter. Those are the necessities.

And let's be honest, if a "mob" comes to take your food you're pretty much hosed.
So your choices are:
1) Don't prepare, face possible starvation
2a) Prepare, no mobs find you. You survive.
2b) Prepare, get all your shit stolen by a hungry mob.
I choose to prepare. A few hundred dollars is cheap life insurance. It might pan out, it might not... at least I tried.

[MercutioATC]

2. Excellent!

Granted, prepping (as anything) can be taken to an extreme, but preparedness is responsible.

The good thing about prepping "for the end of the world" is that you'll likely be covered for things like power outages, blizzards, hurricanes and the like.

[Burma Jones]

3. After losing electricity and heat for two days, and three feet of snow, and single digit temps......

I was glad to be a gear head backpacker and was also glad to have two fireplaces and a cord of oak. Wife and three kids (11, 9 and 3) and I ate well and stayed warm......

We are going to put a wood stove insert into one of the fireplaces.

Anyway, this doesn't seem crazy to me....a little self reliance is a good thing. I've been reading Mother Earth News for over 20 years now and buy into an off-grid philosophy as much as possible.

[leftofcool]

6. +1

[cutlassmama]

4. Prepped and ready for the onslaught of whatever happens. There are sites

out there selling stuff for a year that cost 2-3 thousand dollars. People are being ripped off.

[katty]

8. yes, they are-we are quite prepped - just want to add a few

more items to the prep.

[MercutioATC]

9. Yes and no.

A lot of sites ARE ripping people off, but specialized preps ARE more expensive.

A year's worth of rice and beans? Cheap.

A year's worth of Mountain House? Pricey...but you get the advantage of having completely prepared meals with a virtually unlimited shelf life.


Even if you're not getting taken advantage of, some preps just cost more money.

[gateley]

5. Check this out: (from the article)

Even government officials have accepted that the financial crisis posed a threat to social order. In recent testimony before Congress, treasury secretary Tim Geithner admitted that top-level talks had been held on whether the US could enforce law and order in the wake of a collapse of the financial system.

[Political Heretic]

7. It's just smart to be prepared - something I really should do but currently cant afford

[Echo In Light]

10. To an extent I agree

[Urban Prairie]

11. Likewise

So I may have to join a brutal, savage, and sadistic post-apocalypse horde ala the one in the movie "The Road Warrior" to steal what I need to survive by any means necessary. (j/k)

[proudohioan]

15. Me either! But it's a good idea anyhow. n/t

[MercutioATC]

16. Do this:

Spend an extra $3 every time you go grocery shopping and buy something that 1) has a 3+ month shelf life and 2) you eat on a regular basis (peanut butter, ramen, pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, rice, beans, spaghettios, soup...whatever).

Just rotate that food through your normal eating habits (don't store it away, eat it and replace it the next time you go shopping.

In a few months, you'll be well on your way.


For non-food items, budget a few dollars a week and buy things on sale (candles, Ziploc bags, a flashlight, etc.).


Many people see prepping as an insurmountable goal, but it's completely feasible if you just build slowly.

[Dappleganger]

37. Good suggestions. nt

[CreekDog]

39. Prepare for a week, maybe two

People who prepare for a year are probably foolish.

[Dappleganger]

40. We prepared for 6 months, that got us through one layoff.

We don't have that now but this thread has inspired me to get back on it. Dh is a contractor and has no job security, plus we have less $$ than a year ago with MUCH fewer prospects.

[CreekDog]

46. I don't mean having savings for 6 months or a year

I meant the apocalyptic preparation of food for a year.

[Dappleganger]

48. I'm talking about food and life-sustaining materials as well. nt

nt

[DCBob]

12. False sense of security.. if shit really hits the fan then nobody is safe.

Better add these items to the list -- guns, ammo, flak jacket, bullet proof windows. If you have food you will be a target of the hungry mobs.. who likely will be well armed.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DCBob]

17. Yeah, I guess that would be cool...

live like a Hobbit. :)

[KonaKane]

34. Yeah, and die of hunger, thirst or disease inside.

That is unless you venture out, and the roaming vigilantes cut your throat.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[elocs]

20. Don't be deluded if you believe that you will indefinitely protect yourself from hungry mobs.

Bullets eventually run out and the vast majority of the population will never be psychologically prepared to endure or anticipate a perpetual state of siege. A few well aimed torches at your house will easily take care of the armed preparation.

[old mark]

14. We lived in an old farmhouse about 15 years ago and were isolated for 10 days in a

blizzard. We had heat and power, but were not able to access the road-or find the cars-for that time. we always have a well-stocked supply of non-perishable food on hand, and a propane grill to cook if need be.

We were very lucky, but you can not count on luck.

mark

[Earth_First]

18. I've been doing this for over a year now...

Slowly, a little at a time for hardgoods and small extras every week
at the grocery store.

For a small amount ($50/month) you can be well on your way.

I keep an eye on several outdoor supply companies online and have
picked up many items for 70+% off.

[Don Caballero]

19. Nutcases pure and simple

These people are really making America look bad.

[Earth_First]

28. Really?

I'm a nutball for hoping for the best and planning for the worst?

[Don Caballero]

32. We cannot allow a paranoia to grasp ahold of our nation

This will only embolden the racist teabaggers.

[elocs]

21. Practical preparation is responsible. Paranoid preparation is not.

Having basic preparations to survive for a week, a few months, or even a year is a great idea for natural disasters or even economic upheavals.

If its a EOTWAWKI situation, what will happen after a year when the food runs out or when the ammo runs out? There will be major die-offs from all the people who need medications in order to survive such as diabetics who need insulin. There is no way to paint this situation as some kind of an uber camp-out, pioneer experience. It will be deadly serious.

[depakid]

22. Gets to be expensive, too

Then again, everyone needs a hobby. :)

[catzies]

23. Last week thre was a story about atheists taking pets whose owners were Raptured

"Caring for Pets Left Behind by the Rapture
For a fee, this service will place your dog or cat in the home of a caring atheist on Judgment Day"

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_08/b4167070046047.htm?campaign_id=rss_null

So, "preppers," can I have your cat? :rofl:

[Hoopla Phil]

25. IIRC it was after 9-11 that the .gov changed their recommendations

of keeping 3 days of food and water at home to 3 WEEKS.

[Mari333]

26. I wouldnt want to survive. nt.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

27. I don't have the space

to store that much stuff and not really financially able to get into a place to store that much stuff. If this happens, I'll just become a zombie or something. They don't have to eat right? :)

[Swamp Rat]

30. LOL!

Zombies of the world UNITE!!! :D

[Mike 03]

29. This sort of preparation has become an obsession with me, probably

not all that healthy.

But every week I see some evidence that it is wise to put aside food and water, and I go over the top, and then hate myself for doing it (the potential waste), and then see something new that makes me happy I am doing this, if not just for me than for the other six members of my family who think little of even preparing to go a week without food and water.

Maybe it will come in handy. If not, the cans of food can go to the food bank, I guess.

[pipi_k]

31. If an asteroid the size of Manhattan hits, we're all pretty much screwed anyway...

just saying...

[JVS]

33. It's not crazy to keep some things around in case there is an interruption to the normal routine.

[Dappleganger]

35. We should all 'prep' for impending disasters (Haiti), job loss and

being able to give to others in need. Farmers used to do this by stocking up root cellars so that when they had a bad season, there was something to fall back on.

Our consumer-driven society needs to start thinking in the long-term.

[thelordofhell]

42. And make sure you have plenty of Duct Tape and Plastic Sheets

:nuke: :hide:

[NNN0LHI]

43. And a case of canned Tuna Fish under the bed