How Prepared Are You?

[shotgunshooter]

I ran across this on another forum. It put things in perspective for me. If you've got a minute take this quiz. https://www.sofmag.com/preparedness-pop-quiz-if-you-score-less-than-20-points-on-this-youre-probably-already-dead/

[btq96r]

Didn't take the quiz because I'm too tired to do basic arithmetic after a long day, but I found this part irrelevant:

+1 point if you have at least $500 in cash on hand right now.
+1 point if you own at least 100 oz. of silver or 5 oz. of gold and have it in your physical possession.
+1 point if you have substantial savings in any currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

If there is truly a SHTF moment and a breakdown of economy and government services, I can't see US currency or any foreign currency holding value past kindling.  Also, I still wonder what you can trade gold or silver for when people need bullets water or food more than anything else.  I know I'm only going to listen to barter offers that include things I would need.

[Mike.357]

I think I can hold my own for at least 90 days.  Water being an issue, but there is a spring near me and a few people with pools.   I might be able to persuade pool owners. Truly if SHTF it is game on.

 

The only stuff with value will be what you can eat or what you can use to get what you can eat.

 

Did the test, 23 points!!  Woot I will live a few days.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Mike.357

[shotgunshooter]

I don't agree with everything on the list but again I think it is a good tool for someone to gauge where they are.

[ehull20000]

37!  Heck just the firearms part should put most of us pretty high up.  

 

As previously noted, there are some questionable items on the list and the quantities are worth a discussion.  Still, a good read and fun if nothing else.  

 

Communications is my lowest score and I agree.  I have looked at the Motorola DTR410, but honestly right now it isn't a priority.  

 

Thanks for sharing the link.  

[Dolomite_supafly]

36 points

 

That list is geared towards people who are bugging out. If SHTF in a major way I am not going ANYWHERE. At your house is the most you will ever have, why leave with less or risk your life by leaving? There is only one situation I can think of where I would leave and that is if some sort of government troops are collecting people to be placed somewhere else. No one is more concerned about me than me and because of that I will never let anyone force me into a "camp". Now normal marauders running around I will stay hidden but fight if need be to protect my life saving items. I think my biggest risk is being caught in town that is 20 miles away and I can make it home.

 

Currency and precious metals are going to be useless until things settle down and by then some sort of government will be put in place. What people should have to barter is food, medicine or feel good items like alcohol. A person who is starving or sick isn't going to want silver or gold for what they have. If you look at alcohol sales it tends to go up as people begin to having a rough time. I remember an article where alcohol sales skyrocketed in the first years of the recession.

 

And as far as bartering ammunition I do not believe it will be as important to most as most tend to believe. People are not going to running around getting in gunfights every day and as far as hunting goes a bow is a much better tool. The reason is nothing says there is a human present like a gun shot and it will attract unwanted attention. The only way I would consider using a gun to hunt in a true life and death situation is if it has a silencer. With practice even a 22, with a silencer, can be effective at keeping people away without letting them know your location.

[CommsNBombs]

A Sergeant Major in 10th Group I knew used to buy a bottle of Jack Daniels, a log of dip and a 36 pack of water and toilet paper EVERY pay day.

He didnt drink or smoke, but if SHTF then simple things like sh!t tickets, booze and tobacco will be like gold.

Same reason why I dont support limiting yourself on calibers...your fancy .300BLK aint gonna do much at the end of the world...diversify calibers.

Dolo brings up the good point of meds...I got IFAKs with all my gear, saline locks, quick-clot (or other hemostatic dressings), IV kits, lactated ringers, compression dressings, ACE bandages, SAM splints, torniquets.

Comms is a must, guess im lucky in the Battalion CNR/RTO guy...but getting into VULOS and/or HF or NB propogation isnt hard...even if its simple walkie talkies...HF is preferred since you can homebrew antennas on the fly and if you have enough amplification you can bounce a sky wave across hemispheres.

Id never leave the house, unless I knew of this "Event" in advance, my family has a ORP setup in New Hampshire...Id adopt a Spartan society though, everyone pitches into the war machine or Im sawing your head off.

All these survival shows are too glam'ed out...you have to be ruthless.

Now I should prob take the quiz...

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[CommsNBombs]

My 300 Blackout IS my SHTF caliber and 7.62x39 is my fighting caliber.. I can easily reload ammunition, cast my own bullets and shoot it with a silencer for when I want to be really quiet. And because it uses 5.56 cases are going to be easy to get if I ever run out of the 5K of 5.56 brass I already have. Now for someone who doesn't reload or cast their own bullets 300 Blackout is probably the worst SHTF caliber.

 

That's what I meant...I know I wasn't concise in my thoughts.

 

Reloading and casting is a HUGE advantage...especially since a lot of people use .223/5.56 that brass/ammo is easy to come across and you can feed .300BLK/6.8SPC easily 

 

Now if you DONT reload - I can see having some bolt guns in .30-06, .308 or .300 WinMag as a lot of hunters and hunting supply stores will stock that...and Joe Schmo running around only his PSA AR-15 he put together isn't going to last long

 

Granted - I am not sure in a SHTF scenario you'll be getting into six hour TICs lol.

[CommsNBombs]

My point exactly Dolo.

 

The way I figure it, if it is going to take you even an hour of sustained contact, whatever they have isn't worth taking at all. I wouldn't want to waste all those rounds just to take someone's beanie weanies, lol.

 

Hell, area denial and defensive postures almost deserve a thread of their own. Not that I reccomend "practicing" constructing IEDs in your backyard.

[ehull20000]

CommsNBombs, could you elaborate more about the radio system(s) you wrote about and maybe recommend some quality equipment for civilian use.  I'm not very smart in that category and would like to be more capable.  Ideally I would have a PRC-148 JEM with some preprogrammed groups and fills, but I don't think that is going to happen and as such would like to hear from an expert like yourself.  

 

I agree that leaving your home and community is probably a bad idea in most instances after an event has already occurred.  Today I was thinking about storing some plywood in my garage in an overhead shelf system in order to be able to board up the doors and windows in my house if any sort of societal collapse were occurring even if only for a few days.  Plywood doesn't really go bad and should slow people down enough to be persuaded to leave.  I am also very interested in forming a "neighborhood watch" as I don't feel right just helping myself and hoping my elderly neighbors are okay.  

[Grand Torino]

You never have enough. I suppose I'm prepared more than most but the trick is holding on to it.

[CommsNBombs]

CommsNBombs, could you elaborate more about the radio system(s) you wrote about and maybe recommend some quality equipment for civilian use.  I'm not very smart in that category and would like to be more capable.  Ideally I would have a PRC-148 JEM with some preprogrammed groups and fills, but I don't think that is going to happen and as such would like to hear from an expert like yourself.  

 

I agree that leaving your home and community is probably a bad idea in most instances after an event has already occurred.  Today I was thinking about storing some plywood in my garage in an overhead shelf system in order to be able to board up the doors and windows in my house if any sort of societal collapse were occurring even if only for a few days.  Plywood doesn't really go bad and should slow people down enough to be persuaded to leave.  I am also very interested in forming a "neighborhood watch" as I don't feel right just helping myself and hoping my elderly neighbors are okay.  

 

First thing - if you got your hands on a JEM or any other military equipment like that you need to turn that stuff in or burn it; that means someone took them. Granted if you find something old like a PRC-77, PRC-25 or PRC-104 they are old Vietnam era radios and those are probably okay. Granted batteries is something you will run into an issue with.

 

On that note military radios such as that aren't all they're cracked up too be -- especially the PRC-148 MBITR/JEM, to maximize it's potential you need Type 1 NSA encryption in form of COMSEC variables. Otherwise you'll be stuck with VHF and UHF bands. Those are okay, but they are LOS and with the 5W power that they come with you are never going to talk anywhere beyond 10 kilometers, and atmospheric elements, buildings and foliage will further degrade that. Not to mention to have them working they need a manufacturer's Type 3 COMSEC variable called a JOSEKI key - if you're battery dies for longer than 2 weeks then it will lose that key and you just have a paper weight.

 

As far as radio communications, if you're using like an inter-team or inter-neighborhood communications then a simple Motorola radio will work of any flavor, but for getting to HF and even the amateur band (400Khz to 1.9Mhz) I'd suggest doing some studying and getting your Ham Operator license.

 

If you can get an old military HF radio, I'd read into HF antenna and propagation theory, there are many different types of antennas and array setups as well as power amplification and ionospheric conditions that I wouldn't even be able to scratch the surface on.

 

If you do have specific questions on radio communications and data/IT interfaces on the military and (not as knowledgable but) civilian systems feel free to shoot me a PM

[peejman]

I scored 30 +/- 2 depending on interpretation. Guess it was nice knowing you guys.

[bersaguy]

I have no intentions of leaving my home so this is were I live and this is were I will die if the SHTF comes. I have enough food and supplies and probably enough ammo to protect what I have for a while but  l am to run and was never one to run from a fight to begin with. Like Peejman said if the time comes it was an honor knowing ya'll.................. :up: :up:

Edited July 1, 2015 by bersaguy

[jgradyc]

Something else that is not part of the quiz, which is more important than anything else on the quiz, is being part of a group. Very few people have the means or skills to survive alone, especially if you plan on bugging out. 

 

Good point. Just look at Eugene on The Walking Dead.

[Caster]

39

 

I lost it on communication, money and fitness.  I got a messed up back and in the last few years, I just care as much as I used to.  And as far as precious metal, I'd rather have steel than silver.  I can make things outta steel.  Silver and gold suck for knives and repairs.  WTSHTF, precious metal won't be worth spit.  Now, a big hunk of metal, a basket of eggs and a deer shoulder taken to a guy like Spots or similar could work out a good trade for some forged repairs.  

[No_0ne]

Scored a 9.  Good thing I know all about zombie cures ...

[Ted S.]

Scored a 9.  Good thing I know all about zombie cures ...

 

The best cure for zombie is to not be a zombie.

[jgradyc]

Pretty lame test... I scored a 20. Lots of items didn't make sense. What good is a ham radio if you don't have AC? What good are 2-way radios after the batteries run down?

[Caster]

The batteries in mine will last for many years.  I bought some good rechargeables online and picked up a solar battery charger from Harbor freight.  With a little care and studious conservation I should get more than my post SHTF life expectancy out of them.

[glowdotGlock]

One advantage I think about is if I am not on the road in a SHTF situation I have my truck home with me. I always top off the fuel before I get home on Thursday night and it can hold 300 gallons. It also has a small 2 cylinder diesel generator (APU) behind the sleeper that gives me 8,000 watts of AC power. It only consumes about 1 gallon every 8-10 hours so with 300 gallons I would be set on power for a while. Edited July 2, 2015 by glowdotGlock

[Jonsaiga]

Scored a 42. Some of the stuff seems a little silly though and I completely disagree with the "if you scored less than 20 points then it's too late for you, you're going to die" comment after the quiz. The Food Rising Mini Farm while certainly a neat concept you are going to need an awful lot of those and a place to set them up. I can see them being useful in an urban environment like window, balcony and/or roof top gardens but they require a lot of water and I just see people taking the water out of desperation or not having water to add back to it as it evaporates off or is used by the plants.

I understand the idea of the padded bank account and storing some of your wealth in precious metals but given the scenario this guy lays out in end, it seems kinda moot to me. If you have the other stuff squared away you could barter for that stuff if you wanted precious metals. A can of beans is going to be worth more to a starving person than a pound of gold or silver.

JMHO

[Moped]

Well I have a "slim chance at survival" with a score of 28. Like most of you, I plan to "Bug In".  I finished reading Alas Babylon last night and one of the things that got me thinking that came up in that book was the importance of salt over an extended period of time. I notice that in this quiz, 100lbs of salt was mentioned.  I don't know anyone that has that kind of stockpile, but it is something I plan on stocking up on. Not sure it will be 100lbs though.  Let's face it, if I'm bugging in in a suburban setting, I am thinking that what ever has happened is not going to be a long term event like in Alas Babylon.

[Jonsaiga]

You can get a 50 pound block of salt(white not the dark colored mineral blocks) from most feed stores or your local tractor supply store for $6-10. Very easy and convenient to store it and a clean rasp file to take what you need when you need it. While the labels say "not for human consumption" it is perfectly safe, it just has to be labeled as such for legal reasons. 

[Moped]

You can get a 50 pound block of salt(white not the dark colored mineral blocks) from most feed stores or your local tractor supply store for $6-10. Very easy and convenient to store it and a clean rasp file to take what you need when you need it. While the labels say "not for human consumption" it is perfectly safe, it just has to be labeled as such for legal reasons. 

Excellent idea!  However be careful of the blocks.  Sometimes that add extra nutrients to the blocks that you don't need.