Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

To: Oshkalaboomboom

You aren’t paying attention to the subject under discussion in the article. It is survival.

In survival mode, a high-fat diet is a very good thing. More calories per pound and per unit volume.

Anywho, in a true urban survival crisis of the type he mentions, the survivors will be thinning down remarkably quickly.

I thought the author’s notion of rebounding animal populations in the city was hilarious. While no doubt true on a long time span (as in multiple years), it will be of absolutely no value in surviving the critical first few months.

Let us assume a large city cut off from outside assistance. (In a scenario with outside assistance, its quality and quantity becomes the relevant factor. All others disappear in the rounding errors.)

Stocks of food in restaurants, warehouses, stores, etc. will last only a few days. A very few people such as the author may have personal stocks that will last them a few weeks or months. All animals that don’t do a very good job of hiding will be eaten within the first two weeks (making their population boom something that occurs only after essentially all humans in the city have died and animals colonize the city from surrounding areas.)

Cannibalism will start probably in two to three weeks and continue until only the toughest, smartest and meanest are still alive. Even they will soon die unless outside aid becomes available. Especially as massive epidemics will be raging throughout this period.

This whole subject is covered in remarkable and highly unpleasant detail in SM Stirling’s “Dies the Fire” series.


30 posted on 07/14/2011 10:22:29 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies ]


To: Sherman Logan

bookmark


164 posted on 07/15/2011 4:40:02 PM PDT by arkady_renko
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson