I accidentally posted this in the wrong forum (SHTF content)

[Neurosis13]

for those of you who stockpile in case SHTF: What do you expect to happen that might cause you to do such a thing? I'm not slagging anyone for their beliefs; I'm just very curious to hear the reasoning behind it.

[azhunter]

Stock pile what? Ammo? Food? Water? Spare clothing? First aid supplies? What stock pile are you asking about. :wink:

The "SHTF" means different thing to everyone. I don't think that I need to prepare for a huricane here in Arizona, so I don't worry about that just like people on the coasts arn't going to stock up in case a hard snow storm hits them, the chances just arn't there to require preparing IMO. Keeping a bug out bag (BOB) or a grab bag in your car is supose to be designed to keep you alive for a few days. It could be anything, that you would need. Taking a back road and you blow a tire, but your spare is also flat. That bag will suport you hopefully until someone else comes along, or to allow you to hike out if you feel you need to. Stock piling food is also a very good idea in my mind. Something like a black out would upset a lot of stores rendering them useless. The cash drawers run on electric, and sadly most people do not know how to add things up, get a total, add tax, then count your change back if you have cash on you to begin with! The ATM will also not work, and those plastic cards are also useless now. Having a nice supply of food and water will be great to support your family until everything gets back going again. Even though I live in town, I keep a hefty load of firewood on hand so that I can use the wood burning stove to heat a room, warm some water with and to cook on. As for ammo, you can never have enough ammo. Look at NewOrleans, that was a lawless city for a couple weeks, and even longer in some areas. What are you going to do when the looters decided that your stockpile (that you took the time, and money, and foresite to prepare) looks good to them, are you going to just let them take it out of your families hands? I know I'm not going to let them come into my home and take my supplies! The "Red Dawn" scenario isn't at the top of most people's lists, but the ones I just said above are some of my top ones that I think about.  Does that answer your question a little? :wink:

[Neurosis13]

Stock pile what? Ammo? Food? Water? Spare clothing? First aid supplies? What stock pile are you asking about. :wink:

The "SHTF" means different thing to everyone. I don't think that I need to prepare for a huricane here in Arizona, so I don't worry about that just like people on the coasts arn't going to stock up in case a hard snow storm hits them, the chances just arn't there to require preparing IMO. Keeping a bug out bag (BOB) or a grab bag in your car is supose to be designed to keep you alive for a few days. It could be anything, that you would need. Taking a back road and you blow a tire, but your spare is also flat. That bag will suport you hopefully until someone else comes along, or to allow you to hike out if you feel you need to. Stock piling food is also a very good idea in my mind. Something like a black out would upset a lot of stores rendering them useless. The cash drawers run on electric, and sadly most people do not know how to add things up, get a total, add tax, then count your change back if you have cash on you to begin with! The ATM will also not work, and those plastic cards are also useless now. Having a nice supply of food and water will be great to support your family until everything gets back going again. Even though I live in town, I keep a hefty load of firewood on hand so that I can use the wood burning stove to heat a room, warm some water with and to cook on. As for ammo, you can never have enough ammo. Look at NewOrleans, that was a lawless city for a couple weeks, and even longer in some areas. What are you going to do when the looters decided that your stockpile (that you took the time, and money, and foresite to prepare) looks good to them, are you going to just let them take it out of your families hands? I know I'm not going to let them come into my home and take my supplies! The "Red Dawn" scenario isn't at the top of most people's lists, but the ones I just said above are some of my top ones that I think about.  Does that answer your question a little? :wink:

It does. I was talking about stockpiling all of the aforementioned items. In SoCal, I can see having a ready supply of water and food in case of an earthquake. I was just wanting to see what people's definitions of SHTF are.

[azhunter]

Like I said each SHTF is different for each person. It doesn't have to be a full blown nuclear war next door, it can be no power for a few days. Or it can be anything else that disrupts your daily life. But being ready to handle it will make it much easier for you!

[Swamp Fox]

The SHTF that I actually lived through for a few weeks was living out in the country during a major regional ice storm.  Took out a lot of trees, closed off all road access to and from my house for weeks.  No power, no running water, no heat.

Shutting down of infrastructure and utilities for a few weeks at a time is one SHTF that I am preparing for.

Collapse of the economy for up to a few years on end is another.

[1952Sniper]

Even your own government is telling you to prepare for an avian bird flu outbreak.  I'm not so worried about the disease itself, but our government's reaction to it.  They have clearly indicated that if/when they discover an outbreak, they will use the military to quarantine the area.  You will not be free to travel.  You'd better be prepared to fend for yourself in terms of food, etc.  They're advising poeple to stock up on canned tuna and powdered milk (which I sincerely hope was just an example of a few items that people might need, and isn't all-inclusive ).

There are a million reasons to have a small stockpile of canned food, bottled water, batteries, portable radios, ammunition, etc.

[DRman]

In my area of the New England coast the most likely SHTF scenario is damaging ice storms or coastal hurricanes. Every year or two we lose power for 3-8 days. We always have enough food for that long, candles and oil lamps, batteries, kerosene heaters and 120 gallons of K1 for heating. I have a good shallow well you can use with a bucket for water and gas or wood for cooking. Of course we're armed. Our area can be isolated so it just pays to be ready. Several years ago we had a Feb. ice storm and did just fine for 5 days without power. It is really a matter of taking personal responsibility for your families welfare.

[TexSquirrel]

for those of you who stockpile in case SHTF: What do you expect to happen that might cause you to do such a thing? I'm not slagging anyone for their beliefs; I'm just very curious to hear the reasoning behind it.

For me it is mainly hurricanes and the subsequent loss of power and lack of food and water at the local stores.  See what was available at Wal-mart after Rita.   Wal-mart was out of most food supplies a couple of days before Rita got here.  

In recent CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training by Harris County[/b], Homeland Security, and FEMA it was suggested that we have supplies for Hurricane, terrorism, tornado, and an accident at the Baytown nuclear plant.  This was Houston specific.  We don't worry about war and earthquakes here.