Anyone still active here?

[Looking44ever]

I never realized this post existed until today! I actually wrote and self-published a book about surviving a conflict in America as an "innocent bystander." I study disaster preparedness and survival and have experience in the military and private military/security industry. I am really interested in this topic and am always up for chatting or teaching if anyone is interested!

[kryssi01]

I'm curious about it. To be honest our home is not prepared at all for any type of disaster. I cant even get my autistic children to understand a basic fire exit plan. 

Edited April 4 by kryssi01

[shadowrider]

On 3/25/2025 at 11:42 AM, Looking44ever said:

I never realized this post existed until today! I actually wrote and self-published a book about surviving a conflict in America as an "innocent bystander." I study disaster preparedness and survival and have experience in the military and private military/security industry. I am really interested in this topic and am always up for chatting or teaching if anyone is interested!

We have a couple people that work in emergency fields but are always open to people sharing their knowledge to help others in times of crisis. Share away.

[Aikko]

Woohoo! A fellow disaster and emergency nut! Welcome in, it’s definitely still active. I’ve been working on typing out a new thread on staying calm and relaying info to a 911 dispatcher. Another I’m working on is wildfire and fire exit safety tips. 😁 

Edited April 8 by Aikko

[waguy762]

Currently making the jump into ham radio for my next “prep”. Took some solid medical refreshers last year and am continuing on my requal for firearms and stuff for work. 

[shadowrider]

On 7/28/2025 at 7:18 PM, waguy762 said:

Currently making the jump into ham radio for my next “prep”. Took some solid medical refreshers last year and am continuing on my requal for firearms and stuff for work. 

Medical and firearms refreshers are always a good idea. 

You need a license for HAM don't you ? Grew up on CBs but never made the jump to HAM.

What do you know about the new "unlimited range" walkie talkies ?

[Aikko]

HAM was the last resort communication method in the event of an emergency for PA. It was pretty cool cuz there were only 2 certified operators for the entire state. And the device itself was in a building within the building in an RFID cage that also prevented EMPs. Pretty freakin neat!

[waguy762]

On 7/30/2025 at 7:55 AM, shadowrider said:

Medical and firearms refreshers are always a good idea. 

You need a license for HAM don't you ? Grew up on CBs but never made the jump to HAM.

What do you know about the new "unlimited range" walkie talkies ?

The “unlimited range” radios are still dependent on cell networks. I looked at them but you don’t gain much, ham is a license but it’s not a bad test at all. My state has a pretty robust GMRS repeater population so honestly ham will be after that for my comms.  

[SaltyChindit]

I'm a Brit; firearms are available here (not to the extent that people in the US have but there are a surprising number of options, not that I have exercised them; I'm curious about getting into black powder weapons as a hobby) but I've always been of the view that in any degradation of society that unless you are part of an insane secluded sex/doomsday cult who are able to be self sufficient and off the grid you should be looking to foster good relationships with your neighbours or people near to you. I grew up in a town in Scotland where we were pretty much cut off for a week or so during a particularly harsh snowstorm in the 90's.

I live in a pretty rural area, small town with maybe 1000 people living here. We have some nasty weather but don't and aren't likely to suffer from any damaging extreme weather events; the worst is likely to be a couple of old/poorly maintained roofs losing a couple of tiles (for now). I've always tried to maintain a couple of weeks worth of stable food for myself. I have the ability to purify water for that amount of time.

In the run up to COVID I did a bit more meal prepping and batch cooking in case I ended up catching it (which I did, wasn't terrible but it was nice to crawl out of my bed and just reheat something decent). Preparing for an eventuality doesn't make you a 'prepper'; but without a good relationship with one's local community the idea that you can ride out a civil war or societal collapse sat alone in your homestead with a rifle fighting off raiders like some sort of frontier pioneer seems a bit silly.

If you want me to get a little bit silly... were I to get a big lottery win or an inheritance from a long dead great aunt I would definitely try to build a relatively self sustaining community and keeping old school farming/trade/construction skills alive; one of those living history museums where people could just come and learn stuff for a couple of months and move on or stay if they wanted (but definitely not a sex/doomsday cult). 

[shadowrider]

On 8/5/2025 at 3:39 PM, SaltyChindit said:

If you want me to get a little bit silly... were I to get a big lottery win or an inheritance from a long dead great aunt I would definitely try to build a relatively self sustaining community and keeping old school farming/trade/construction skills alive; one of those living history museums where people could just come and learn stuff for a couple of months and move on or stay if they wanted (but definitely not a sex/doomsday cult). 

 I mean if I hit the lottery I'd buy a small island and bring a select group of people with me along with everything we would need to farm and raise animals the old ways. But I agree on skipping the sex/doomsday cult part, not really my thing.

 For quite a few years I have been working on learning the ways our ancestors did things because I hate to see the old ways die. The languages and customs have all but disappeared but we can always try to save a part of it. And that is more heritage preservation than prepping to me.

 I do have a group near me that are mostly ex military and leo that were supposed to be setting up some kind of neighborhood watch type thing where we all look out for one another. Haven't heard from them in a while so maybe I'm not a good fit for their ideals, who knows.

 My main focus is being ready for the storm related power outages and downed trees thanks to hurricanes here. Also keeping the propane tanks full for the camp stove and fireplace. I wouldn't mind a radio though because the cell signals get sketchy out here on good days. I think I'll look into a couple GMRS setups.

[TheStitchPumpkinPsychopath]

On 3/25/2025 at 12:42 PM, Looking44ever said:

I never realized this post existed until today! I actually wrote and self-published a book about surviving a conflict in America as an "innocent bystander." I study disaster preparedness and survival and have experience in the military and private military/security industry. I am really interested in this topic and am always up for chatting or teaching if anyone is interested!

Where do you keep your gun and ammo in your oh shoot bag for stuff. I have a little hiking bag in my trunk with woods stuff and wanna get a Sig or Glock to bring with me but idk if I should carry it or hide it away because I'm Little, usually. What if I keep it in the mesh side but then what if it falls out?