The Preppers Next Door

The New York Times ^ | January 26, 2013 | ALAN FEUER

[EXCH54FE]

A couple of weeks ago, on a leisurely Sunday afternoon, 40 people gathered at a church in Washington Heights for a show-and-tell session sponsored by the New York City Preppers Network. One by one, they stood in front of the room and exhibited their “bug-out bags,” meticulously packed receptacles filled with equipment meant to see them through the collapse of civilization.

Onto a folding table came a breathtaking array of disaster swag: compasses and iodine pills, hand-cranked radios and solar-powered flashlights, magnesium fire-starters and a fully charged Kindle with digital road maps of the tristate region. Many of the items on display went far beyond the “10 Basic Pillars of Bug-Out Gear” that Jason Charles, the network’s leader, had passed out in advance through the Internet. A good number were tweaked to fit their owners’ needs and interests. A locksmith in the group had a lock-picking set. A vegetarian had a stash of homemade dehydrated lentils. One man had a condom designed to serve as an emergency canteen; another had a rat trap — to catch and eat the rats.

After showing off his own bag (parachute cord, a bivy sack, a two-week supply of Meals Ready to Eat), Mr. Charles, a New York City firefighter, told the group that he had just bought a dog. “So now I have to implement his plan, too,” he said a little worriedly. With a pause and a sheepish look, he added, “That’s weird, right?”

[GeronL]

why would you tell anyone?

especially the NY Times!!

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

A very entertaining little movie is called “Lockpicking In The New Millenium”, and while you may not want to pick locks, it does have some very common sense information about all sorts of things used to secure and protect things.

[EXCH54FE]

You Know they just love “Show and Tell”

The man who reads nothing at all is better than educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. Thomas Jefferson

MOLON LABE

[BobL]

“why would you tell anyone? especially the NY Times!!”

There are two reasons that come to my mind. The first one is the obvious one, being that they want their 15 minutes of fame and could care less how they get it.

The second one is that they feel they’re doing a service by informing others (although they don’t realized just how stupid-looking the media is making them). In that one, I have some sympathy. Back when my kids were young, they were an average of 6 years ahead of their age in math and reading. So I bragged about it and expected others to copy what I did (not really hard to do, just have them study home school stuff and not play video games). But no, I became a kook, and those people pretty much wanted nothing to do with me (other than a Russian immigrant, but then one would expect interest from an immigrant, especially a Russian). It was a no-win for me, so I just shut up and let my kids have the run of the field (kind of like being academic Michael Jordan’s) - while their kids can bounce around, well into their 20s.

[GeronL]

Preppers talking to preppers is fine, I guess. But the media?? NEVER a good idea.

[GeronL]

bump

[PeteB570]

“..........but Dr. Redlener said that “gaps” existed during “mega-disasters,” hours, even days, when there might not be an official response. ..........”

He’s one of the Feds? The dude needs to listen to the Governors of NC. Dem or Repub - they all say if a Hurricane hits you’re on your own for three days.

[PeteB570]

“..........but Dr. Redlener said that “gaps” existed during “mega-disasters,” hours, even days, when there might not be an official response. ..........”

He’s one of the Feds? The dude needs to listen to the Governors of NC. Dem or Repub - they all say if a Hurricane hits you’re on your own for three days.

[redheadtoo]

The Red Cross suggests that every one have three days of supplies and a bag packed.

I didn’t have either but I had planned in my mind what I would grab if I had to flee for my life.

A week ago an arsonist set my apartment building on fire. I grabbed my shoes and ran out in my stocking feet. I left everything of importance and value behind, even my medication.

So much for my planning

[wbill]

Why would you use a Kindle when paper maps don’t need to be recharged?

Some of these people are real 2nd stringers, I think.

[familyop]

"...another had a rat trap — to catch and eat the rats."

We've noted suburban livestock: chihuahuas, bred for catching rats. I would guess that rats themselves are prime urban livestock.

[Hildy]

Did your apartment burn down? What happened?????

[Hildy]

Did your apartment burn down? What happened?????

[backwoods-engineer]

Why would you use a Kindle when paper maps don’t need to be recharged?

Because a paper map can't store an addition 3,000 books, including a dozen different versions of the Bible, the entire published writings of the Founding Fathers, and every useful military manual?

And because a Kindle can be charged in less than an hour off a hand-crank generator, but doesn't lose any books even if the battery runs down?

Some of these people are real 2nd stringers, I think.

I guess I'm a 2nd stringer, too. I use technology as well as printed paper.

[Lurker]

Your plan didn’t fail. You failed to plan.

[Capt.Michaels]

Well, I posted something on another thread about this.Here for you or anyone else. The long sleepless hours of my time used to research viable options. All you need is shelter, food, water, protection, planning, and conditioning. Doesn’t mean you have to live in a hole. Live life, but make a little extra time to prepare. There are several ways to prepare, but there is NOT a silver bullet. Like in the great outdoors and protection from the elements. It’s done in layers. So look into more than one option if your primary on fails. I know you have your main prep in mind that will meet your need, but something to supplement that.

http://practicalpreppers.com/
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50048-60-Watt-Solar-Charging/dp/B000CIADLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354631366&sr=8-1&keywords=Sunforce
http://www.nitro-pak.com/deluxe-solar-powered-battery-charger-with-meter
http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/store/rees.htm
http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/store_us.htm
http://www.directive21.com/products/emergency-seed-bank/
http://www.preppster.com/2011/09/13/prepping-for-beginners-water-storage/
http://www.waterbrick.org/products.php
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?sku=18686724&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CPTq8Yb_gLQCFQinPAodFD4AIQ
http://www.rei.com/search?query=katadyn
http://www.armyuniverse.com/black-metal-lensatic-compass-p-263.html
http://www.buy.com/prod/sog-specialty-f01t-tactical-tomahawk-axe/216768608.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BAOFENG-UV-5R-PORTABLE-TWO-WAY-RADIO-VHF-UHF-/251216161490?pt=US_Ham_Radio_Transceivers&hash=item3a7da66ad2

[plsjr]

Hun,

for your (and my) perusal

Love,
Lee<><

[VanShuyten]

The comments were an interesting read. They ranged from those that said there wouldn't be any kind of civilizational collapse, but if there was, they'd either kill themselves or depend on some kind of communal organization of like-minded people (!), to more rational ones that recognized some lesser sort of disaster and prepared for it. There were a few "Doomsday Preppers", ala NatGeo, and those who laughed at them. However, the biggest impression I got was the willfull disbelief of most of the posters that anything bad could happen to them, in spite of the examples given by others.

A few of the most cogent posts pointed out that, historically, civilizational collapse happens slowly, "a collapsed bridge here...(and then a ridiculous global warming scenario)...", and that after a few years, people get used to "the new normal". A big event hastens the collapse, but the collapse was already underway. The other rational posts had to do with making reasonable preparations so that you don't become a burden to others, and in fact, could help others in time of need.

Much more interesting than the article itself.

[redheadtoo]

Thanks for your concern. I was one of the lucky ones, my apartment did not suffer any damage. Two days after the fire, after the water and electricity was restored, I moved back home.

But there was a lot of damage and about twenty apartments were destroyed. They caught the arsonist who set the fire. He wanted to create a distraction so he could rob a few apartments. Turns out he did this before.

There had to be a hundred people at home that night. There could have been dozens of deaths. But thank God, no one was injured.