Emergency and after, have you stockpiled?

[Readyrod]

Well folks I'm in shtf right now as I type. I'm in Tokyo. The aftershocks have finally died down but I can't quite sleep yet. The number one thing we (wife, me, and two boys 3 and 5) needed when we got out of the apt was clothes cause it is darn cold standing outside for hours. Shoes too. After that snacks and water. No guns here but I did grab the big maglite. If this were a gun kind of place I would have definitely taken one but in my mind concealable would be the most important thing. I was the only person I saw with a bug out bag. Scary stuff.
RR

 

[Uteridge]

Not enough information. Among other things I do in the Marine Corps, I plan emergency preparedness for a number of DOD installations all around the country. The first question you have to ask is during an emergency is do I shelter in place or evacuate? In the case of a Tsunami you will be evacuating if you are in the affected area but not caught in the initial quake (i.e. Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa during this event). What you need if you evacuate is much different than what you need if you shelter in place. If I am evacuating then I am grabbing my "Go Bag" throwing it in the back seat of my truck and I am on the road. I will have enough food, water, medical supplies, and portable shelter to get me out of dodge. I will also have a rifle with 120 rounds of ammo in magazines, a pistol with 3 spare mags, and a revolver with several spare speed strips of ammo with both .357 and snakeshot.

If I was in the immediate area affected by the earthquake and survived the initial disaster then I am probably sheltering in place. That is where stockpiles of food, water, and ammo come in. Ammo is not as important as some people seem to think it is. Unless the end of the world comes you will never need 10,000 rounds of ammo for every gun you own. No one during Katrina that I am aware of went through more than 100 rounds for neighborhood defense (not even the guy in Algiers Point who supposedly shot 60 people). I'm not saying you shouldn't have more ammo than that on you but if you are preparing to go through 500 rounds a day for a month then you would be better served double checking your preparations for food, generators, fuel, and building supplies in case you need to make hasty repairs on your house.

 

[fallout mike]

I've got food and water for 3-4 months right now and adding more each week. I've got plenty of ammo also

 

[FC]

I prefer the lever actions over the semi-autos due to their simplicity. 'Course, in some calibers there are no lever actions available, like .308WIN. Yeah, yeah, I know, there are bolt actions in those calibers, but I don't particularly care for bolt actions. Maybe I need to get a third semi-auto in .308. Yup. I'm convinced!

How about a Browning BLR? They are available in .308 Winchester.

 

[X-Rap]

It surprises me that shtf threads like these are usually lock up when there is ample proof that it is a legitimate occurrence. Our own coast was under tsunami warnings as was most of one of our states. The idea that the big one, be it earthquake, volcano, or meteor is more of a when than what if and planning and discussion is as relevant as being mugged at the ATM.
I feel fortunate to live in a state that will allow me to defend myself and others as well as help reestablish order should we suffer some catastrophic event. I strive to have 30 days supply of food and have wells available for water supply, being an outdoors man I have ample shelter alternatives and supplies should moving be required but transport at that point will become an issue to maintain the same level of comfort as staying in place.
I support the idea of a common rifle and 6-10 mags per person at the minimum and ideally a common pistol with 3-5 mags. Having some good bolt guns and shotguns as well as a couple 22lr pistols and rifles round out the armory for my family and friends.
Ammo is something that is for the most part nonperishable if stored properly and in many cases can be recovered from a disaster so having plenty extra is no crime.
World events that are happening before our eyes like disaster, civil unrest, (Wis) civil war, (North Africa and the Mid East) and the specter of rouge states and WMD keep telling me to be prepared. In these areas there are many hungry, desperate people I don't wish to join them.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Me and my family have been through several earthquakes in Northern California and Washington state. My wife's first experience was the October 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which was an eye-opener for her. We lived on the 3rd floor of a three story apartment complex and I fully expected it to collapse at any moment during the violent temblor.

It struck at about 5 PM. We didn't get much sleep that night what with all the aftershocks. I had bug out gear ready to go at the door just in case. We "slept" in the living room near the front door. After the quake I moved our car from the parking lot under the apartment building to an open parking lot so we'd have something to live out of in the event a large aftershock made our home unliveable.

Night fell quickly. There was a lot of uncertainty about the extent of damage to the infrastructure in the area and the availability of government services. We'd seen news coverage about the Bay Bridge and Embarcadero freeway collapses, and when the power was lost at about 10 PM you could literally hear gasps of anxiety throughout the entire complex. The entire area was pitch black and eerily quiet. It immediately produced feelings of vulnerability.

 

[Hardware]

Water, water, water. I cannot stress that enough, 1 gallon/person day. The rule of 3's applies. You can last 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. If you can't get to a place with intact infrastructure in 3 weeks, you might have a use for those guns and ammo, at least one of each.

Next would be first aid kit. But a bug out bag for yourself or your truck should already have that. Finally, food. Depending on if you are going to shelter in place or bug out your calorie needs per day will vary greatly. As wide a gap as 1,200 to 4,800 calories per day depending on activity and weather.

Guns are dead last, and we already have plenty of threads on what to have for SHTF.

 

[X-Rap]

I bet those saying a gun has such little importance would trade some of that precious water for one once the veil of reality is lifted and they understand that they must provide for all of their needs including security.
The same thugs that plague us today will be out in spades come a catastrophic disaster.
Weapons like food and water can be cached for later and they keep much better. They are every bit as important as food, shelter, water when you consider the security aspect. It's written in the 2a for a reason.

 

[fallout mike]

Exactly, if you don't have a gun and the scumbags do then they will take whatever you have. I've heard somebody say before they weren't concerned with a stash of food and water bc they had guns and could use them to get all the other stuff that they needed.

 

[kingpin008]

It's written in the 2a for a reason.

Yes, for defense against an invading force. Not a disaster.

And before you go saying "same thing!" it's absolutely not. An invasion or war may share some of the same characteristics as a disaster, but there is a difference.

Also, there is a difference between keeping a few firearms and a reasonable amount of ammo in hand for a rainy day and stockpiling. There are very few situations where a stockpile of guns and ammo will be useful, and many where it will be a non-issue at best, and a liability at worst.

Those of us who are advocating for people to pay attention to more practical items first aren't against the use and preparation of firearms in an emergency situation - we're just of the mindset that they're not the miracle disaster cure-all that many seem to think they are.

 

[X-Rap]

The fact is, our humanity may be set back 100 or more years in a protracted event and being gracious to strangers will be finite and the needs of our own might take precedent to the point of doing wrong ourselves so I think it best to be prepared for such events as those you describe mike.

 

[X-Rap]

Yes, for defense against an invading force. Not a disaster.

I'm sure there will more disagreement to that statement than mine but my feeling on 2a has as much to do with self reliance and personal defence against many possibilities beside an invading force.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Well, so much for reasonable discussion without SHTF nonsense.