How Can I Get My Neighbors To Be Prepared
Here is my dilemma: how can I get my neighbors to be prepared for the unexpected? I have mentioned to you before that I am asked to teach classes about food storage and emergency preparedness to churches, businesses, and subdivisions. Standing in front of groups, I can tell if they understand the importance of working together as a neighborhood. The looks in their eyes and the questions asked say a lot! Please note that I no longer teach classes.
Mark and I had dinner with friends last night, and we started talking about the importance of neighbors working together as a team if and when a disaster hits our neighborhood. About 15 years ago, I taught classes for one hour every Wednesday to whoever saw my sign outside that said “Food Storage Moms.”
I then sent out emails and posted my message about the FREE classes on Facebook. We also encouraged people to gather important documents and place them in a binder.
I charged a small fee for the binders at my cost. Mark and I provided the dividers, zippered bags, and paper protectors for pages to include in their binders. We shared food storage products by tasting the various freeze-dried fruits and vegetables for everyone who came to try them out.
Walkie Talkies
I had a few speakers from a search and rescue team come and talk about walkie-talkies. People must understand how to communicate when other options, like cell phones, don’t work. They suggested the ones we needed. Here are the ones they suggested at the time. Walkie Talkies
Well, two other families joined Mark and me on our quest to be connected by choosing channels on our walkie-talkies so we could check on each other after a disaster or pandemic. It’s frustrating for me not to be able to sell local churches and neighborhoods at my cost items as critical as these or my book, which has proven to help so many people willing to take the time to read it and apply the ideas presented.
Here’s the deal: I am not selling trinkets or frivolous items. I understand the tax issues, etc., but I am paying the taxes. So, for whatever excuses they have, very few were prepared in my old neighborhood. I’m grateful for those who are, but I can’t feed or hydrate the entire neighborhood.
I am writing this post to get ideas from you, my readers. I would love it if my neighborhood felt the need to be prepared. Do you sometimes wish you could shout from the rooftops, “Please store water, or how full is your pantry?” Is your gas tank partially full? Do you have flashlights with extra batteries, etc?
Maybe eight families in my old neighborhood were self-reliant or partially prepared. I know four families heeded my advice to get food storage and water.
People Living Paycheck To Paycheck
I realize some people live paycheck to paycheck, and I know that feeling—trust me. I decided to teach the world after conducting these meetings for a year.
If I can’t get more than a handful of my neighborhood to “get it,” I would try to teach whoever sees my blog.
New York Times
I will forever be grateful for being interviewed by The New York Times after six months of my blog going live. Then, I was honored to be asked to write a book called “Prepare Your Family For Survival.”
Then, I was interviewed by a group that helped gather information for Ted Koppel’s book Lights Out.
So today, I am asking for your help; how are you preparing your neighbors to work together as a team? Here are some things I have tried. I would love to add 50 ideas if you have them.
I realize that after a disaster like Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, people will “get it” after seeing the horrific water storms and empty grocery stores. Just in case, they may remember to fill their gas tanks to 3/4 full.
But what about three weeks from now or three months? Will they pick up an extra can of beans or a case of water? I need your help on this one today. Thank you so much for your attention and participation.
How Can I Get My Neighbors To Be Prepared
Team Members:
Decide who to invite to your neighborhood team. Or maybe they don’t have a team at all. Just hand out information when asked about it.
Emergency Contact Info:
We need to share family members’ phone numbers, emails, and addresses so they can be contacted in our family’s time of need.
72-Hour Kits:
Here is my long list, but have them pick and choose what fits their needs. 72-Hour Kits-Adult Size
Skills:
Ask what skills each person has to bring to the table if needed.
Tools:
What tools do the team players have, like chainsaws, if we need them after a disaster? That neighbor down the street may be your new best friend after a disaster.
First Aid Supplies:
Order first aid supplies in bulk and divide them as ordered, paid for in advance.
Food Storage:
Decide what food products people would like to purchase and save money by buying a case and splitting the cost.
Wheat Grinders:
Who has some electric ones, and who has hand-ground ones? Which neighbors have some hard wheat? Who knows how to make bread, biscuits, or crackers?
Water Storage:
Order high-capacity water tanks; you’ll save money and fill them with a Lead-free hose.
Order WaterBricks and split the cost if they are cheaper by purchasing eight to ten.
Decide what types of water containers people can store in their homes.
Order Water Preserver (you only need to rotate the water every five years). Water Preserver
Talk about how much water each family needs each day.
Solar Power Items:
Check Costco for a Roadshow for emergency preparedness items. Goal Zero has great prices when they come there. They have items needed for people who use CPAPs, Oxygen Concentrators, and nebulizers, to name just a few.
Paper Products:
Have everyone stock up on paper goods, like plates, paper towels, cups (hot and cold), and plastic silverware. Also, baby wipes, diapers, toilet paper, and Depends for those needing them.
Store black 33-gallon garbage bags; you will need many, trust me.
Fuel Storage:
Ask how much fuel each one has stored and what kind. Examples are propane, charcoal, lump charcoal, pine cones, raw wood, and butane canisters. Emergency Fuel To Store For Survival
Cooking Devices/Stoves:
See the kinds of outside cooking devices each family has, such as Camp Chef stoves/ovens, Volcano Stoves, Dax Stoves, and Butane stoves. Please practice with all cooking devices before you need them after a disaster.
Who has Dutch ovens and grills, how many, and what size?
Flashlights:
Flashlights are important! Ensure every family has several flashlights, batteries, and lanterns, to name a few items.
Large Equipment:
Who has access to a backhoe if needed?
Washing and Drying Clothes:
Who has clotheslines, washing buckets, and clothespins? Bleach is for safety measures.
Portable Potty:
Who has a portable potty with the necessary 10-gallon bags, with kitty litter or Portable Toilet Gel
Final Word
How can I get my neighbors to be prepared? It’s not if, but we must work together as a team when we have a disaster. Do you know your neighbors? Do you want to know your neighbors?
Survival Food Storage by Linda
Copyright Images: Friendly Neighborhood Depositphotos_11105899_S By Hannamariah, Residential Homes In A Row Depositphotos_648772330_S By Kzlobastov
Part of your preparations might need to be what to do with those that didn’t prepare. It’s much deeper than “can’t save everyone”.
OH Matt, great thought! I LOVE IT! Linda
thanks Linda. I am anxious to see others ideas. I have given a few classes to friends, they might get a new flashlight, but really don’t seem that interested. One tip is if you buy canned or store packaged good ALWAYS write the expiration date on the item as they don’t have long shelf life and you can rotate and add new item. I agree with Matt inOklahoma’s comment. We have a family member that thinks I am crazy for prepping but they will be first one at our door. I also do not tell a lot of people we do this.
Hi Libby, I love hearing you have taught classes to friends, great idea. It sounds like I better write a post on what to do with neighbors who do not prep. Thank you! Linda
Hi Linda, I add in my thoughts to the people I email about them being prepared. They don’t really say much about it but, with some I can tell they are taking heed. I also, every once in a while put some posts on Facebook how people should pay attention to what is going on in the world and ways they might want to prepare for any kind of disaster.
Hi Diane, great comment! I love hearing you are sharing posts on Facebook on paying attention to what’s going on in the world and they may want to be prepared. Love it, Linda
About a year or so ago, I watched a video about a post SHTF event that occurred in a neighborhood that had prepped. Well, mostly. One man was sorting out his preps and getting some feed for his chickens. A neighbor came up to him wanting to know if he could have some of the chickens and feed. The man sorting the preps asked the second man what happened to the chickens and feed he had already given him.
The moocher, said that he and his family ate them and that they needed more to survive. The first guy made some comments that he should have kept the chickens for their eggs and should only have eaten them when they got too old to lay eggs. He also said that the moocher should have rationed his supplies better.
The moocher didn’t like that response and threatened to go to the neighborhood survival group to complain. The first guy said go ahead. After the moocher left, the prepper got on his military field phone (need to add some of those to my preps) and warned the group about the trouble maker.
The point of this long diatribe is that no matter how much you try to get your neighbors to even think about prepping, there will be some who will wholeheartedly agree but will not do much (or anything) to prepare. They will expect the rest of the neighborhood to take care of them.
Hi Karl, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment! It reminds me of the saying about fish. Teach a man to fish and he will have food for a lifetime. Your thoughts are great, thank you so much! Linda
You can do a great job of sharing information on HOW to prepare for emergencies/disasters (& you do, Linda) and all the reasons that this is a good thing. But it is sort of like warning your children of potential pitfalls and poor judgement so they will have better more successful lives. Bottom line is that people are mostly in denial. Soom may see that there is potential for an emergency but “it has never happened TO ME” so maybe later. The Bible says “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3. You have helped me to prepare and I am grateful but there are some people who will have to learn the hard way and it may cost them their lives. You can’t do anything about those. There are so many voices literally screaming a message of preparedness it is hard to not be aware of the need and the crisis that very well may be ahead. I feel that to go to my high powered, military gun collecting neighbors with vicious dogs is a waste of effort. They think those 2 things make them prepared. I have in the past tried to talk to some of my friends about being prepared and their response was “we’ll just come to your house” (subdued laughter). My answer is not to prepare for them but to make up my mind that NO they aren’t! Noah provided a good answer to how to prepare one’s “neighbors”. He warned everyone (as you are doing) but he prepared for himself and his family. Setting limits is healthy.
HI Geni, great comment. I feel the need to teach people and I will continue to do so. We can only do what we can do and hope others heed what they are asked to do. Linda
I agree with Karl.
Last winter was pretty severe in our area with 2 1/2 feet of snow for several days. I didn’t feel sorry for my neighbors who didn’t prepare as we had 3 days notice. When someone asked me if I had bread to share, I told them that I could share some flour and yeast so they could make some bread (which I had already done for myself) but they turned their nose up at that. One woman even asked me where I was able to store my bread machine. I told her I used my arms! I don’t own a bread machine!
One thing that I would like to note about your list: first aid supplies are great but only the most basic supplies will be useful to someone with no knowledge of how to use more than just bandaids. I think it is critical to take a first aid and cpr class and keep up on the skill. Some things change over the years andit is important to know these things.
Having food/water/first aid supplies stored is great but knowledge is power. I
Hi Leanne, you are so right! Knowledge is power! Great comment! Linda
If you have “shared” your knowledge of prepping and SHTF with “neighbors” already, then you are DOOMED when SHTF, for the following reasons:
In any random group of neighbors, you have “slow” ones and “fast” ones, and a bunch in the middle.
The “middles” and the “slows” will NEVER be ready with their preps. The “fast” ones will be 95% ready, and you – the neighbor with the big mouth – will the the ONLY ONE ON THE BLOCK to be 100% ready. And EVERYONE will know that you are ready – because you have a big mouth – and will look for you to provide to them and everyone else, scarce stuff that they never stocked up on. And medical supplies. And bandages. And ammunition, etc. etc. Why did you reveal this now vital information? Because you wanted everyone to know that you were ready, and they were not. OK, you won! Now be ready to pay the price. If five or ten of you are still alive by this coming Spring, NONE OF YOU WILL BE ALIVE BY THE FOLLOWING SPRING!
Folks, we are talking life or death here! SHTF means TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIZATION! Your neighbors will be at your throat for your stuff within three weeks! They are ALL your enemies – every one! If you want to keep your Family alive, you must be prepared to keep your stuff private!
Hi The Wiseman, great food for thought! Thank you, Linda
I, like Linda, have shared my knowledge and abundance with friends and neighbors: NOT because I “have a big mouth”, but out of a sincere desire to help others. Just because we are generous people doesn’t mean that we aren’t ready, willing and able to protect what’s ours if it comes to that. Meanwhile, we are making a difference and not leading a bitter, paranoid life. Whether the SHTF or it doesn’t, we will rest easy knowing we loved our neighbors.
Hi Roxanne, you took the words right out of my mouth. You said it better than I could! Thank you, Linda
Hi Linda,
“Resting easy…” is not the problem here. The problem here is protecting and providing for your Family in the absolutely worst disaster that you or theY has ever faced. When SHTF, those “neighbors” will have turned from next door compatriots to competitors, from friends to enemies, from borrowers to thieves.
Every mouthful of food that you provide them could have kept your kids going for another day! Once that food is eaten, it will never return! Once you give it away to “neighbors”, it can not be given to sustain your kids!
That food, medicine, blanket, water, etc. that you give away belonged to your own Family! It is NOT YOURS TO GIVE TO “NEIGHBORS” IN ORDER TO SALVE YOUR PRE-SHTF EGO!
EXAMPLE: If the electric grid should go down in the USA through either enemy action or natural actions of our Sun, IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO RESTORE – IF EVER! Meanwhile, literally millions of Americans will – overnight! – have: no heat, no air conditioning, no incoming water, no outgoing sewerage, no lights, no power tools. No gasoline can be pumped. No oil can be refined. No trucks will visit your local supermarket, pharmacy, pizza parlor, etc.
No matter how much stuff you have stored away, it is FINITE! And – IT IS VULNERABLE! When you give it away to others, IT IS FOREVER GONE!
Linda, have you ever fed seagulls on the beach? Were you to bring along a trunk full of stale bread, they will NEVER BE FILLED! Next day, bring a pickup truck filled with stale bread, and start to hand it out to the gathering seagulls. THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ‘ENOUGH’! Next day, rent a semi-truck filled with tons of stale bread; start to hand it out – you can NEVER FILL UP THE WORLD’S SEAGULLS! Because the spread the word about the ‘…crazy lady handing out bread on the beach…!’ Tomorrow the sky will be dark with millions of seagulls!
That is how your SHTF is going to be, my dear Lady!
Linda, your initial question for this discussion was how to get neighbors to prepare…sadly, other than giving classes (to those who are already interested) seems to be the primary idea. I used to give beginner gardening classes but the people who came were already interested! Now, I did get some people interested by talking about gardening enthusiastically. Not by design, just sharing the fun I got from it. Not sure if this would work for prepping? Perhaps a neighborhood Street Party? When I lived in Mpls, we had a bad storm, took out our power for 6 days. Localized problem but it banded my little neighborhood together. We all were out in the street, talking about how to deal with this the first day after. I suggested we do a big block party. (Lol, we had city street signs from a previous one.) So we set up a tent with my roof tarmac, poles from a neighbor who planned to do a fence, a bunch of bbq grills, and a table where people could share candles and lights. I asked my next door neighbor to give a little speech from the podium (hastily built) about helping each other. This tiny real old lady had been an army captain in WW2. So, we cooked and smoked our refrig/freezer foods together, shared lighting sources (one young neighbor had a candle making company), set up a nightime watch group. Just this banding together changed how things went…we were the only neighborhood with no vandalism that week. Oh, and this was in the deep ‘hood, where crime is normal. So, my suggestion for in-town people is to maybe do Block Parties, before needing to band together. I’m sorry one of the commentators was very negative about sharing knowledge, skills. Even where I live now, very rural, us neighbors have a very good idea as to who can do what, has such and such. No man is totally self sufficient, at least not since caveman days. And even then, a group lived longer, lol. So a second suggestion might be to just stop in, pay a visit to neighbors, enthuse a bit about having things in case of a storm.
Yea, this got long, but working together seems more useful than trying to build a moat.
Hi Wendy, I love the idea of a street party. We have a street block party every Halloween which is really fun. I love your comment about how you did a nighttime watch group!!! I love it!! Oh, and the WW2 Captain, great comment!! I would hope all neighborhoods would band together as yours did. Talking about the hood and crime, makes you realize your neighbors were safe, that says a lot! Sometimes people make negative comments and I still publish them. If they are really bad I just delete them. I’m thankful my readers realize I’m here to help others, life is good. Great thoughts today, Linda
Linda, if we don’t help each other in good times,even in slightly hard times, civilization will be lost. Teaching others to ‘do’ is important. The ‘Wise Man’ isn’t wise at all. I’d rather have a lot of neighbors who each know ‘something’ than one who thinks they know ‘everything’, and, Lol, has everyThing for a disaster. Way more important to know neighbors skills, interests. On a side note, I have a young couple, plus maybe their friend, who will be wilderness camping at my place on Thursday. I’ve never met them. Is this a risk? Possibly, but probably not. It’s nice that I can offer this to others, to try something without a fee. And not far from cities. Who knows? Maybe they will become friends. Do more camping here, maybe even a garden? I believe in sharing my Lord’s bounty, even while not being a pushover.
Hi Wendy, I think it’s wonderful you are sharing the Lord’s bounty with others. I wish more people would do the same. Life is so good, why not help others, we sure could have used some help when we were first married and struggling. Although we didn’t know we were poor at the time, speaking about Mark and I! Lol! It’s all good, Linda
People learn important info in many different ways. Some will realize what information you offer is very important. Others will think they can resolve the dilemma of a SHTF event when it happens. But for your own well being, you should let all your students know, in no uncertain terms in a SHTF event that your family takes priority in supplies you have stored and your duties for your family’s survival. Yes it may be cold hearted, but life can do that sometimes. Also, be prepared for those who will steal what you don’t give freely.
Hi Mark #2, great comment! You are so right, I will have to be cold-hearted. My family does take priority! I love your thoughts! Thank you, Linda
Good Afternoon Linda, it 96 degrees in Brooklyn, New York. I just went back and re-read your post on “Getting Your Neighbors Ready For a Disaster” 2019, and realize how blessed we are not to have a “BLACLOUT” yet, although some parts of Queens have had. I live in a small (15) apartment building and know that maybe 5 families are prepared for whatever happens.
I taught a preparedness class one Sunday during Church service and everyone “WANTED” my bag. I gave them the website to go on and even registered several of them for the class. Guess what, 3 people attended. Their excuse, Oh I Forgot, I Didn’t Have Time, It’s Not Important.” The City was sponsoring this classes that Gov. Cuomo started after Hurricane Sandy, although they are not having any in-person classes now because of Covid. I attended as many of the classes as I could and you were given a backpack of supplies at the end of the training. I had so many bags that when my Son moved back to Virginia, I gave him one and my Granddaughter when she moved into her first apartment. She told me that was the best gift she ever got. I am checking my supplies and realize I need batteries. That’s it. I have my meds and diabetic supplies in a gallon baggie that I can grab if I have to evacuate. It just disturbs me as I read some of the replies that people are not taking this stuff seriously, it is going to get worse before it gets better. Get those supplies while you can although some supplies are not as plentiful as before. Sorry for the rant, but I hope those who are not prepared take heed, GET READY NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!! Be safe!
Hi Mildred, oh I totally agree with what you are saying. I need to go back and read the comments on that post. What a blessing to have been given those “bags’ after attending those classes. Here in Utah, we couldn’t get more than 1-2 people to attend our preparedness classes. It was such a shame that the people didn’t realize what we had planned to teach them. I love hearing you gave one to your son and one to your granddaughter. The best gift ever!!! If all you need is batteries, my friend you are in good shape. It makes me so happy to hear you say that!! Life is good! Linda I forgot one more thing, only 5 families out of 15 realize preparedness is important. That is sad. We can only do so much!
I think that the true dilemma lies in how to get your neighbors prepared without letting them know you are. Humans are lazy and have a tendency to put things off as long as possible. If you approach your neighbor to talk about his preparing for a SHTF, he will probably nod in agreement and do nothing more than think, if things go sideways I know who to go see for supplies.
Your neighbors, close friends, and even close family members can turn into wild animals when faced with hunger, thirst, or a serious medical emergency.
Use care when discussing the topic of preparedness and consider that it might be best to not bring up the subject but prepare to take in a few key members into your tribe once the game is on.
Hi OutOfTime, great advice, I love your comment. You nailed it when you said “Your neighbors, close friends, and even close family members can turn into wild animals when faced with hunger, thirst, or a serious medical emergency.” I totally agree, and I believe things will go sideways sooner than most people realize. God help those who know better and have not prepared to take of their families. The government does not deliver food, water, or medical supplies. Or at lease for days, weeks or months IF you are lucky. Great wisdom, thank you, Linda
I have pondered this for many years. I also used to teach classes, did group food orders, and started a local CERT group. Over a decade ago I realized that things were simply getting too scary out there to continue – that I was now putting my family at risk by flagging us as preppers. I have to agree that most people don’t care and aren’t going to prepare no matter how hard you try to teach them.
I can’t believe people I was trying to teach would openly declare “I’m coming to your house!” Really how rude is that to say to someone? “I’m not preparing but I expect you to pay for and give me supplies”? You do need to be very clear if someone says that to say your supplies are for your family and you can’t supply everyone. If you don’t speak up they think you are agreeing and it affirms their plan to go to your house.
I’m too old for CERT now but the neighborhood group is still active and that will help in a disaster. I found organizing a CERT group also shows you who is interested in emergency preparedness. We naturally talked about it during and after the classes.
I did teach a gardening class a few years ago and I help anyone who wants to learn or has questions. My garden is visible and will be wiped out anyway so teaching gardening helps the best I can.
In my opinion it’s time to batten down the hatches. The time to persuade others is over and it only puts you at risk. Things are getting very ugly in the world.
Hi Kay, oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment! I feel exactly the same. I did the CERT classes and learned quite a bit. But now that I’m 74, I will bug in and take care of my self and my husband. I can’t take care of everyone, the “I will come to your house” is stated in groups many times. Good luck with that whoever thinks they will get past my doorway. Gardening is a great skill, I can’t wait until I can at least grow salad stuff indoors. We hope to be in our house by July 4th, it’s been 3 years in October we moved back here. I’m worn out. You are so right things are getting ugly in the world. Nailed it! Linda
Linda, those walkie talkies are still a good idea, but then so are HAM radios. Most of the members of my MAG are close neighbors. I simply led by example and got the ball rolling by sharing produce from my gardens and fruit from my trees. I eased into the subject of Preparedness (not wanting to get a reputation as the neighborhood crazy) by asking if they had ever been in the boy or girl scouts, then we talked about our experiences there and in the military (many of my neighbors are retired military). Eventually, I gave them copies of my book, “Bugging IN: What To Do When TSHTF and You Live in Suburbia.” As they read it they’d ask questions or come see how I’d solved a particular problem. Eventually they saw the benefits of being in a Mutual Assistance Group. All have started gardens, and two could afford to put in wells. Myself and three others have enough solar electric capacity to share power. I also do presentations on growing, cloning and transplanting for our local Master Gardener’s Group–and they also have periodic veggie and fruit swap events.
Now, that said, I”m lucky in that I live in Kingman, AZ, where conservative political though and distrust of government is common–therefore fertile ground for such “radical” ideas as being prepared for emergencies and helping your neighbors out. Even so, it has taken me 14 years to build a MAG of dependable people. It’s a process that should NOT be rushed. Every member should have valuable skills, commodities, or knowledge to contribute. Every member should have integrity and share your love of freedom (and America).
By engaging your neighbors in relatively harmless discussions you’ll soon be able to determine if they are Prepper material or not.
One thing to keep in mind is you can’t save everyone. Some will simply refuse to accept the wisdom of being prepared.
Hi Ray, oh man I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment! I bought the book 12-15 years ago and was going to get my Ham Radio License, it’s on my bucket list but not sure I can do it. Your strategy to find those who fit the kind of mold we all need to survive is excellent. I love your thought about not rushing to find those we could build a community with. It will take time and patience. You are so right we cannot save everyone. Great comment, Linda
Our whole small island just hosted neighbourhood block parties yesterday for the express purpose of getting to know your neighbours and being prepared for emergencies. It was a good start and hopefully will lead to better cooperation in case of natural disasters and other situations where mutual aid is beneficial. Total breakdown of civil society is a whole other ball game but there are many emergencies where working together is the only sensible way to get things done. Like any other “village” type groupings there are squabbles and minor nastiness but in a real emergency you need to be able to put that aside for the well being of the group. Having good information about who might need extra help, who has useful skills and equipment and what kind of attitude you might expect in various situations is valuable knowledge.
HI Alice, way to go my friend! Hosting a neighborhood block party is awesome! I totally agree with you about a total break down of civil society is a whole other ball game. Every village may have squabbles but you soon learn who you want to hang out with and work with. Great comment, Linda
I consider myself very mindful of being prepared for anything. I live in Florida and with the Hurricane’s we should know to be prepared. I went through many hurricanes here and in 2004 Charley left us without electricity for almost 2 weeks in August. Very hot and just plain miserable unless you had a generator but gasoline doesn’t last forever. I don’t here many people talking about water. You can only live 3 days without it. I’ve also talked to people and close friends but they just shrug it off, it’s called Cognitive Dissonance. These people know I’m prepared and so will be coming a knockin. They say in the big cities 90% of the people will be dead in a month and with the decisiveness in this country it will be like Mad Max. I even talk to Christian people and my pastor but most say the Lord will take care of me. I’m a Christian and will try to help sincere people but in a crisis, who knows.
Hi Tom, now I need to go watch Mad Max, if I can find it. Great comment about Christians and your Pastor, we can only do so much. God takes care of those who take care of themselves (not sure who said that). Great comment, people need to listen to whats going on in America and the World, there shouldn’t be any surprises….watch the news or read reliable sources. And get with it people, okay, I will get off my soap box! Linda
Ok…NONE of you are going to like what I have to say. I’m typical of emergency services and military who have been in the trenches. Realistic. I have been IN 20+ hurricanes. 5 were strong Cat 5. I was a police sergeant in Miami during Andrew (Cat 5)in 1992. Was responsible for a field force of officers who had to flee our collapsing shelter…..and was a command post supervisor in the after action. I went to work in August and came out of the command post after Christmas. We dealt with hundreds of thousands of people who were in S. Dade AND ultimately the 21,000 assorted people down there to help. Military, police, fire, churches and so on.
We now live on a barrier island in S Florida. Hurricane Charley (Cat 5)was interesting, but Ian was worse than Charley and Andrew combined.
In 50+ years in Florida, the weather guessers have yet to get one forecast right on hurricanes. They can tell you one is coming. That’s about it.
We are less than 2 years out from Ian and almost NOBODY seems to have learned a darn thing. We just had major flooding in S Florida and people were out driving (thousands of cars flooded) and acting surprised that their homes flooded AGAIN.
There is a financial reason storms are not classified as Cat 5 until well after the storms. It has to do with insurance companies and pay outs. They have now come up with a Cat 6, So, I suspect it will need to be a Cat 6 now in order to get the benefits formerly attributed to Cat 5. I live in a Cat 6 ICF home that is on piers. Our neighborhood is all stilt type homes. We watched the flood waters come in under the houses. 90% of the neighbors were not ready for Ian. Most left at the last minute (very dangerous) 90% of them are not ready for the storm season we are now in. And this is folks who live on a barrier island. Those on the mainland are mostly stupid.. Yup. That’s it. And you cannot fix “stupid.”
Evacuation is only viable if you have a place to go (room reservations will not be held generally) and you get out in time. Many days before. We came back from a camping trip in Canada to get my truck off the island when Wilma was coming. I-75 was backed up, full stop, no gas available anywhere, accidents, no exits generally available from Naples to north of Ocala. That’s a 5 hour drive at 70mph. We had an open road heading into the diaster and a self contained camper behind the truck. We can evacutate though no need to anymore for anything. The camper is now where we can live with a/c on the generator.
People actually think “the government” will be there for them. Well, IF it is an isolated storm and not too bad, maybe you will see someone in 2+ weeks. That’s the advanced team to see what is up. Hurricane Andrew took more than a month to see any Federal presence. Remember I was in THE police command post in S. Miami-Dade. Churches were and are the best help. A group I call “the Baptist Men” are superior. They got their start after Andrew.
We had one neighbor who stayed for Ian in 2022 and had ONE day of food, maybe. He mooched off one neighbor who allowed it and he knew a bad storm was coming. The causeways and roads washed out to the islands with bridges. All were totally cut off.
When the Feds finally started bringing in the Big Chinook helicopters, they deliberately came in empty. NO supplies. They tried to get us to leave our homes. The helicopters were only to take people off the islands. We all refused and all who could were openly carrying. And the signs “you loot, we shoot – crabs have to eat, too” were deadly serious.
So, the Feds are not your friends. They brought in virutally no help. Governor DeSantis and the local Sheriffs – and faith based organizations- were the only help.
We have had people say they plan to come to our house. I tell them that I am not assuming liability for anyone I don’t know well…and I will turn them away from the door. And, I will. I spent 27 years risking my life for stupid people and am done with it.
It will get ugly faster now than before. And, there will be less help. Look at all the disasters of this year. ALL of those people are still in desperate situations and they are on their own.
Our electric grid is fragile. There has been no rebuilding of our system in S Florida. Only repairs as transformers that were submerged in salt water break. Routine parts have a 2-3 year lead time. This is from a friend who is CEO of a power company. Each of those towns destroyed by tornadoes needs complete rebuilding. Look at the major transmission towers down in Texas. Lead times will get longer. China makes most parts. Supply chain is nearly broken.
Nobody can save the world. In extreme conditions you are lucky to save yourself and those close to you. That is a fact. Ugly as it sounds to “good” people, you best believe and plan for that.
I recommend everyone read Light’s Out and One second After. My experience is in islolated disasters, but they were big. With the way the world is now, you have maybe 72 hours before things get ugly.
Until 2 years ago we lived 6-9 months off the grid each year for 22 years. In the out islands of the Bahamas, if you don’t have it, you can’t get it. Same for 500 miles north of the Arctic circle in the camper. Until a few years ago, there was also no communication, TV or radio. Certainly no way to call for help. We have camped from -30 to +110. 12v and propane.
Walking the dog required a long gun because of griz or other predators in some places.
I am swinging around to being more a fan of propane than gas generators. We have both. A bottle of propane will keep our camper’s fridge/freezer and stove going for a month 24/7. Don’t depend on one modality for power. The camper also has solar and I have a 100w folding solar panel for things like batteries. Those solar generators are like EV cars. They take a ton of time to recharge and you would need some seriously big batteries (that’s all they are) and plenty of solar panels. Reduce your need rather than thinking you will live normally.
If there is no power, you don’t have phones.
So, educate people? Maybe 1 in 100 will prepare. The others figure “someone” will take care of them. If you broadcast your knowledge and that you are a prepper, then they will be at your door…the “someone.”
Desperate people will do desperate things. Are you prepared to use lethal force to save yourself? THESE are the questions to ask. People (mostly women) say they are going to “get a gun.” I reply – ” Can you UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES put that gun in MY face and blow my head off?” They always blink their eyes, hesitate, and say they aren’t sure. I reply that in the time it takes them to hesitate, I will get their gun and use it on them. Self defense. Byrna launchers are something to consider. But, sometimes lethal is the only option.
By the way I am a small female who survived the streets of Miami Dade during the big drug years.
I started my prepping journey when the Covid thing started. But, I routinely provisioned a boat for 4+ months, so I knew what I needed. I went looking online for information and found sites like yours.
Linda, I found you and others will as well. Something will happen in their life that will guide them to ask the questions. You will then have a willing student anxious to learn. Make that your mission and you will save many lives. Nobody can fix, broken, stupid or crazy people.
Governments around the world want control of their people. Convincing the population that they will take care of them is part of how they roll. People want to believe the easy way works. It seldom does. “Take a pill” is not superior to illness prevention, but it does make a lot of money. “We will take care of you” means that few will be able to care for themselves.
I have 2 stories that I tell people that do more to convince than any preaching I could do. TRUE stories
My Dad’s people were desperately poor in the 1920s. Grandfather was a party boy. Grandma had 5 hungry kids. They ate out of soup kitchens often. I asked my Aunt whether they even noticed that the Depression had hit? She quietly said, “yes. the soup kitchens closed.”
My mother’s family were very comfortable. Mom/Dad did not live in the same area. Mom’s Dad came home that fateful Friday for lunch. His mother lived with them in the old Victorian pre-civil war home. He asked his mother “Mama, how much money do you have?” Oh, Glenn, do you need money? Get my purse I’ll write you a check. “No Mama, how much actual money do you have?” She got her purse. She had $0.38. Thirty eight cents. “Mama, that’s all the money you have. The banks have closed.”
So, people I ask HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE? What you have in the Bank and brokerage house is ELECTRONS. So are your gold EFTs. Electrons. You need to have STUFF.
By the way, ammo can be used as currency. I know who have used it that way for years.
Linda- keep up the good work. Your word is spreading. Have faith that it is even if you don’t see it.
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that I liked “Live, love, and laugh. If that doesn’t work Ready, aim, fire.” We are in those times.
C
CAddison: This is the best comment of multitudes I have ever read on a prepper site! I loved what you had to say. It was real, practical, and is what people need to hear. As someone who has been in this prepper world for decades – what CAddison, WiseMan, me and others are trying to tell you is we are no longer prepping for a someday maybe event. Multiple events have and are happening and will happen. It’s a slow burn we didn’t expect. We are there and it is going to get much worse. If it isn’t there for you then thank God and keep preparing because it WILL BE HERE FOR YOU SOMEDAY. The world’s governments are trying to destroy our freedom and even outright kill us to reduce the population. People are more wicked than the days of Noah and many things are no longer safe. Be wise! This website is perfect and thanks to Linda for all she does to try to teach and prepare people. It’s called the destruction before the Second Coming of Christ (read Revelations if you need a refresher). Thank you so much CAddison for taking the time to write this. I have a friend in south FL thinking of moving due to the increasing hurricanes – I sent her your comment. Time to get out of Dodge.
well, where is it that is better than wherever you are?…assuming you are in a relatively safe from humans place. People talk about bugging out. We traveled all the backwoods and remote areas that are drivable in Canada and most of the northern US. Now days there are no places to hide. Someone will get there and take your stuff!
I’ll take a hurricane over a tornado any day. Been in both. Very few people die or get seriously injured during a hurricane. It is afterward- CO poisoning, ladders, chain saws. Ian with the drownings was a big exception.
Some are fleeing S Florida because of insurance, but it’s a nationwide problem.
When I retired, I told people I was now afraid of the Federal Government. Now even more. But, if there is a big melt down, they can’t be everywhere and most won’t want to shoot fellow Americans. Local police still believe in the Constitution. Sheriffs are very powerful and now well armed.
We used to do deep winter camping. As we age, snow/winter gets harder. We won’t freeze here. Moving because of fear is not a good thing. Don’t “leave” a place. “Go” to a place. Preparation for everything alleviates fear. Once you do what you can, sit back and enjoy life.
Most people writing about “prepping” imagine how it would be. I know what it is. If you don’t have “it” you can’t get it. And I also know about things like gun fights.
Read the book “Make your Bed.” Most of you are the diplomats. We need diplomats, but when you fail, stand aside for the warriors. And, NEVER ring the bell.
When I was diagnosed with cancer years ago I was really bummed. Then I heard “In the end everything is ok. If it isn’t ok, it isn’t the end.”
Life is good.
C
Dearest Linda, You know how much I love and enjoy you (and yes, Mark, you also!) Now we can add CAddison to the list of people that I admire. There aren’t too many on that list.
I’m an “old Army wife” with 3 tours in Germany, SC, NC, WA, (from NJ) and now retired living in AZ. Temp is currently 98 degrees outside. I have two scraggly tomato plants and one sad & pitiful pepper plant. Cactus grow very well here! We have nowhere to store propane or gasoline. Living in a “Senior” development ALL things must conform to the “ambiance” of the neighborhood. (!)
We are still keeping up with our preps. Biggest problem I can anticipate is if we lose power. We are on a sewer system. Gee, where is “everything” going to go if there is no power at the Sewer company? Daughter told me the lowest access point in our homes is in the dishwasher. Oh. Ick.
So Goal Zeros, Aero Gardens, fans and appliances that run on batteries, etc. all tucked away.
But we’ve got a really nice couple we enjoy spending time with. Fun & pleasant. The wife is quite aware of EMP and concerned. She has learned a few things from casual mention by yours truly. We are rather “out there” so the supply chain will break down quickly in case of an emergency. Her husband, on the other hand, is one of the “The Lord will provide” and “I’m coming to your house” group. I may have come across as a cranky old broad but I told him flat out “Don’t bother. That is why we put up the serious security doors on the house. You won’t get in.” *sigh*
We also have another neighbor who didn’t take too much prodding. He asked if we were worried about the end of the world. I asked him what would happen if the trucks couldn’t get to the Wal-Mart? Just a few days later he dropped by and told me instead of buying two cans of Chili he bought three, and he also picked up a few pouches of tuna, and an extra package of toilet paper! Woohoo!
So one small victory but not many other neighbors (out of 300 homes) seems to be quite so amenable to taking care of themselves. Oh, they all have motor homes, 2 motorcycles, a truck and a car, fancy grills on their patios. Well, I suppose the grill might come in handy, but what do they plan on cooking on it after everything in the freezer melts?
Okay, I’ll step off my soap box too.
Hug Mark, the daughters, the son-in-law, and all those marvelous grandbabies!
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, thank you for your kind words, you made my day! I got the giggles over the security door, that couple soon realized you meant business. I LOVE this! Hug you family as well, life is good when we can take care of ourselves. I’m on oxygen now so I need to get more serious about a generator, but want something solar. I have a large solar unit, hopefully it still works. This house has taken almost 3 years to build. (1-1/2 years to get the permits). I have large solar panels, life is getting tricky when you need oxygen 24/7. I have never smoked or vaped in my entire life and my heart and lungs are damaged. Life can change so quickly, stay safe and safe well. Linda
Linda,
YOU need decent solar and battery storage. Our camper and boat both have decent solar panels. Both also have 2 large storage batteries. I’m not sure, but that system seems a good solution to the electric problem. Less expensive than those fancy “solar generators.”
We lived off the grid for a long time with that system. Not sure how winter would affect that, though. When we winter camp, we don’t use the solar. Boaters and campers have used them for 20 years or more. Our batteries are always charged by the end of the day even on cloudy days. Our lighting is LED.
Just figure out what your unit needs and guage appropriately. If you are not going to need mobility, then why not just hook the batteries up or use the batteries you already have if you are off the grid.
Most of those solar “generators” are pretty low watt and the ones that have decent wattage are really expensive. Our boat and camper batteries are heavy. Nothing portable about them.
If you want an emergency gasoline generator, one of the Honda’s 1000 or 2000 are great and very portable.
Hope I’m not insulting you with information you already know. It’s just that so few have actually lived off the grid with no other option.
Hi C, you would never insult me, I have never had to depend on solar power to save my life. My concentrator only uses 350 watts so it’s not too bad. I can get a pretty small unit. Honda is a great name, thank you, I will look at having both gas and solar. My life depends on it now. Thank you so much. I’ve used my solar ones for fans, heaters, Bosch bread mixer, etc. But this has changed my life forever. THANK YOU! LINDA
Hi Cheryl,
You can probably get away with having a couple extra 20 pound propane tanks. A 20 pound tank will work for a long time on a BBQ grill. I’m pretty sure water barrels are not allowed, but now there are some great decorative devices that are really water barrels. Also, if you have a hot water tank, you have some water storage in that. Just use it sparingly.
We survive on 3 gallons of water/day when we are on the sailboat. Toilets flush with salt water. As for your plumbing situation…look up some of the bucket toilets now out. They work pretty well. I think they use kitty litter. That’s another way to fool the HOA.
We have an idea of who preps on our island, but nobody talks about it. When we couldn’t get off the island for a month it became pretty obvious who had what they needed. The others left.
Not to sound grim, but there will be a lot of deaths in a big disaster. Those poor people will leave a lot behind. Nothing you can do about it except be a survivor.
Have what you need to remain healthy and clean.
Hi C, great comment, thank you! Linda
Oh! Forgot to tell you! I mentioned to Linda ages ago that we had kept the bedside commode we purchased for my Mother when she was in hospice care. I’m going to try to find some of the gel you can use in those (we don’t use Amazon).
The rain barrels? Yes, we had 3 50 gallon ones up in WA. We don’t have “gutters” such as we did before. We have “scuppers”. Pipes that stick out from the one side of the house (flat roof) and the water just gushes from them in a real storm. We would have to get an “architectural permit” to put gutters on the scuppers. Some homes here have them and then we could disguise water barrels as planters. *sigh* Always something.
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, the bedside commode is the best! I’m glad you kept it! Oh, the “architectural permit” is such a pain. YO are so right, there is always something. Life is good! Linda
I don’t know if we are better off now, or before we moved. In our other home our pantry was in good shape but other needs may have been lacking….BUT we knew our neighbors and when we lost power for a week, we shared, supplies etc. Now, after downsizing and moving, I am better prepared following your wisdom, but we don’t really know our neighbors, short of a hello and a wave. We do have a natural gas generator, but it’s not something to hide. Most are in their 70s and 80s. I just don’t know.
Hi Chris, I understand what you are saying, I think. I will now be living in a backyard with zero visible neighbors. I will see some of my family occasionally. We built in my daughters backyard. Hopefully, we will be in by July 4th, I will set off fireworks (In my mind) LOL! I will be so excited. But I have to concentrate on Mark and me. Thats’s it. Most of my family doesn’t realize whats going on in the world. I keep my mouth shut (LOL! I call it duct tape) because no one wants to hear anything negative about the economy, gas prices, food prices. Politics are off limits we totally think differently. We will stay in our house…..and enjoy knowing we have food and water. Linda
I do admit to finding such peace and safety in our home. Even after rides in the country during the pandemic, pulling into the garage and closing the door behind us made me feel safe. You and your readers have helped us be as well prepared as we can be. We are in line with family politically, although not all are as prepared as I would like. I will share with family.
Hi Chris, I feel the same way when I am home. We will not have an attached garage, but we will have a one stall which will help store most of my outdoor preps and a car. You are blessed to be on the same page politically. There are two things we cannot discuss in our family, depending on which child/spouse, religion and politics. Things had changed when we moved down south and now we’re back up north. It makes me sad, but we’re all different. I wish we had not moved up here, I’m on oxygen 24/7 and the lower altitude would have been better for me. It’s too late now. Life is still good, just different. Linda
Hi CAddison! We have considered having propane in the garage. Hang on a minute – let me go look. Umm…probably shouldn’t put propane out there. It is currently 7:09 pm. The temperature outside is still 94 degrees. The garage door faces south, the “long” side of the house faces south, and the west side gets all the afternoon sun. It is currently 87 degrees out in the garage. The house was built in 2005, unfortunately there is no insulation in the walls, just framing and stucco over MDF sheets. We do our best to go out in the early morning, home by 9ish, and it will be 92 degrees in the garage.
We have a decent collection of things that will run on rechargeable batteries (i.e. Ryobi), Goal Zeros, etc., the solar panels for the Goal Zeros are new enough that they will charge on UV rays so direct sunlight isn’t totally necessary.
We are learning to live with this much sun & heat, the altitude isn’t helping either. Being in a one level house makes life much simpler. In WA our house was a tri-level – I never stopped to count how many times I fell going up the stairs. Yes, I’m one of those talented folks who can fall UP the stairs. Haven’t fallen yet here. (YET)
I firmly believe we have got to care for ourselves. No counting on the government. Maybe a few neighbors but many of the people here really think everything will be just fine. No problems. I suppose you just never know what tomorrow will bring.
Hugs to all!
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, a single story home is so much easier. Yay! Yes, no propane in the garage, too dangerous. Hugs to you! Linda