Preparedness in a Climate of Paranoia
How can we prepare to weather disaster as the world threatens to collapse around us? At the time I write this post, the Chinese novel coronavirus is dominating headlines. Early March has a reputation for stormy weather in the northern hemisphere. A new election cycle is under way, and not only are there are dire predictions from both sides should the other win in November, but also a potential for mob violence at various events. The US government is still rattling sabers at Iran and various other governments. The economy appears to be booming, but this may just be another bubble built on nothing. If one wants to find cause for fear, it's there. And government is not there to help you if things go bad.
I would like to moderate the tone here slightly. I could be wrong, but this coronavirus episode strikes me as similar to the bird flu, swine flu, and SARS scares. Sure, this may be the next Spanish Flu, but odds are this one is just another overhyped non-story in the grand scheme of things. Political unrest in the US tends to be localized. Storms are nothing new for many of us. However, it is still wise to prepare for potential disaster in advance. If you lose your job, or are in a locality subjected to a sudden riot, hurricane, snowstorm, or disease outbreak, it is too late to prepare after the disaster strikes. So take the time to prepare now. The worst-case outcome is having useful food and supplies on hand that you will need to use eventually anyway.
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Ideally, you have a hobby farm and are an experienced homesteader who cans produce and raises livestock to feed your family, but let's be honest, that life isn't for everyone. There are real advantages to more urban lifestyles. This post is for people who don't have the means to homestead, but want to be prepared for potential disasters.
Buy canned goods and start rotating your stock.
Take advantage of sales, bulk discounts, and warehouse stores to build a pantry of food. As you use it, replace it. Once set up, this can ensure anywhere from weeks to months worth of food is on hand should there be an infrastructure disruption.
Secure a Water Supply
This is a more urgent need than food in an emergency, and storing water can be difficult. in a Manhattan high-rise, you are in big trouble if water service is disrupted. In any case, if you have access to untreated water, filtration devices and purification chemicals are essential. You don't have the homesteader's spring water or well.
Have Tools and Weapons
If things go south, you need ways to fix stuff and ways to defend yourself. Hand tools are essential. Hammers, a brace and bit (hand drill), pliers, a crowbar, screwdrivers, wrenches, an axe, or other items you need in your situation can make a huge difference if you have them on hand in your toolbox. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, these could save lives.
If you need to defend your life or the lives of others, I can offer no definite answers. You need to decide for yourself whether you are willing and able to use lethal force to stop a lethal threat. If so, though, firearms are a superb technology. However, you still need to weigh the ever-present threat of government dictates against the potential threat of non-state aggressors, too. Their laws are illegitimaye, but that won't prevent them from robbing, kidnapping, and killong to enforce them. Weigh your own situation.
Information and Entertainment Needs
If the power is out, and you're stuck at home waiting out a blizzard or riot, you will need to know what is going on, and you will need something to occupy your time. An emergency radio can fill both roles if it has more than just the weather band. Our grandparents considered radio the height of entertainment, after all. Books are a reliable companion if there is any light to read by. If youbjave kids, a stash of coloring books and crayons may be a key component of your emergency supplies. Puzzles and board games can fill the time, too. Have some options to hand.
Miscellaneous
Batteries. Lumber. Gasoline. Medications. All the stuff that goes out of stock as soon as panic buying hits hurricane country. Have that on hand now, and you are prepared beyond most. Have a fire escape plan. Have an evacuation plan, and be ready to leave before any government commands are given. In general, don't rely on bureaucrats to plan for your safety, and instead take your security into your own hands.
Be safe out there whether this latest round of fearmongering and panic blows up in our faces or blows over. You own yourself. Act like it to the best of your abilities. No matter how feeble your efforts, this will place you ahead of the pack if you plan at all.
It's always nice to be prepared.
It's hard really. I know I don't even have everything for an extended period of time.
It might not be a bad idea to budget some money each week or month to stock up a little at a time. I know people who need face masks, and the coronavirus panic has completely depleted all suppliers. Get ahead of that sort of thing if you can for whatever you may need.
Budget is not an issue for me.
Space is quite another.
I hear ya there. I have had a small apartment. Consider the scale of the preparations you need, though. Zombie Apocalypse or a couple days of being shut in due to a storm?
My current stash can last me 2-3 weeks. But, you know, you could never be too prepared anyhow.
Here's something that is quite informative: The 100 items to disappear first in SHTF
Should we buy water pumps, filters, distillers, water wells, etc, for gathering river water, rain water, etc, for collecting water, storing water, as a backup system that can recycle itself?
That depends entirely on your situation. The idea behind this post is to spark the idea of finding individual solutions for whatever your unique circumstances might be, not a precise prescription to follow.
What do you think about solar power?
It has potential if you have a place to set it up. Costs have been trending lower over time, so it is much more affordable than it once was.
Good. I hope to have solar power someday. I use Ubuntu. We have a garden here. We filter and distill our water.
Here, the most probable power outages are due to snow storms. Solar is not a solution in a blizzard. But your mileage may vary. Portable generators and a 5 gallon gas can are the usual solutions in my neighborhood.
Why not use solar to charge up giant batteries, generators, etc? And then have a warehouse to store the generators, batteries, etc. And spend your time charging the batteries via solar panels whenever there is sun but rely on the batteries when there is no sun. I would try to increase my power options, the more the better. Solar power. Wind power. Water power. Gas power. The grid. Etc.
Because the site where I live is not ideal for solar or wind, batteries don't handle cold well, and I don't have interior space for a battery bank. Not all solutions suit every circumstance.