"Grid Down" Would Be Unthinkable!

[Peacemaker]

Anyway, regarding the topic of this thread, I'd venture to say that nearly 100% of our members would not make it past a true 'grid down' situation due to age, health, and fitness constraints.

I read Vince Flynn's (Kyle Mills) book "Total Power" last fall (#19 in the Mitch Rapp series) and it prompted me to do a bit of digging into what would actually happen if a large section of the United States had a true, continuous blackout. In summary, it's a pretty bleak situation. Most estimates put between 80% and 90% of people dying within a year. It would be absolutely catastrophic.

Very quickly, millions would die from a lack of fresh water and depending on the location and the time of the year, the weather. After that, lack of food is going to become problematic. Disease will spread quickly with dehydrated and underfed people. Crime is going to massively spike as people fight over resources.

Small groups will quickly come together and utilize force to take supplies. Many "preppers" will have their 'preps' taken from them, at best, and at worst will be killed over it.

It really doesn't matter how "hard" or "soft" people are. Geographic location is going to matter as will the ability to grow crops and keep fresh water long term. But in the end, nearly 100% of people are going to be completely screwed and will perish.

Preparing for a true long-term grid down situation isn't really feasible for most people, but maybe for some who live in pretty remote places.

This is a thoughtful post. Good consideration has been given to outlying circumstances.

 

[KDerekT83]

It's worth noting that we can't get through a simple discussion as to what it would take to survive, or what is needed to survive, from the comfort of our airconditioned homes or offices without bickering and fighting. You guys really think you will be able to navigate through a living hell like the world has never seen and magically everybody will come together?

Yea right.

This is the point, a really hard honest look needs to be given if you even want a slim chance at survival.

Some folks mention surviving in a group and I'm not so sure about that. I think you might be better alone. I think perhaps if you did survive 6 months or 12 months, whomever is still surviving might be a worthy teammate as by that time the individual ability to survive has been proven.

Agreed....

 

[Jstudz220]

It's worth noting that we can't get through a simple discussion as to what it would take to survive, or what is needed to survive, from the comfort of our airconditioned homes or offices without bickering and fighting. You guys really think you will be able to navigate through a living hell like the world has never seen and magically everybody will come together?

Yea right.

This is the point, a really hard honest look needs to be given if you even want a slim chance at survival.

Some folks mention surviving in a group and I'm not so sure about that. I think you might be better alone. I think perhaps if you did survive 6 months or 12 months, whomever is still surviving might be a worthy teammate as by that time the individual ability to survive has been proven.

I do apologize for your thread taking a spin. If you read what the vast majority said about the actual topic at hand and not the bickering we were all pretty much in agreement that it would be extremely difficult and most wouldn’t survive. Does that mean we shouldn’t try and talk about what we would do or form groups? Wasn’t that the point of this topic? Their was one individual calling people soft implying he’s the tough guy that would make it.

 

[Kraut]

My big worry is not so much struggling for myself, but having to marshal my wife and son through whatever circumstances come about. She's not outdoorsy, and my son is mildly autistic. They went to FL for Ida, and came back to power after a couple of relaxing days. If it was a serious collapse, and I was having to worry about them keeping up, it would be a pretty grim outlook.

I know how to fish, but haven't in years and don't have a good supply of gear on hand. I've never hunted or trapped, so that would be some hard lessons to come by while foraging berries and edible plants (and I don't eat salad, so I'd be supremely miserable). I don't have "country property" to run to and hole up, so we'd have to go nomadic and hope to find a quiet little corner of wilderness to carve out and build a hut or something. If we settled, it would still be tough, because I have zero farming skills and my wife has not a green thumb, but a black thumb of death. Or, I'd have to hire out my guns in exchange for a share from those who can grow food and raise livestock.

I've lived rough outdoors for weeks at a time in the military, but even then, it wasn't foraging to eat. We went to the field ready to be in the field as a unit, toting supplies or receiving drops, but I never did a serious survival course learning such woodsy skills as eating wild plants and setting snares, digging grubs, etc. We did head out occasionally with only water filters for refills, but that was with known water sources available in the AO, and knowing that the filters would last long enough for our exercises.

That show Doomsday Preppers turned into a joke real quick, but there were two profiles that I actually was impressed with. One guy had a somewhat remote homestead with LOTS of redundancy, such as large capacity water storage, a handpump well, and two nearby natural water sources he could draw from. He had solar power, wind turbines, and a wood gas unit (first I'd ever heard of or seen that, pretty snifty), and even had his truck converted to run on wood gas. He stored food, he grew food, he raised food, he hunted and fished food, he foraged food. This guy seemed REALLY competent, and his deal wasn't about "I'm prepared for the ultra-specific 'great earthquake' doomsday scenario," he was just downright capable. The other guy that impressed me was the guy that really did know all about foraging in the wild for edible plants. This guy could find stuff growing by the roadside and determine what was what and how to prepare it so it wouldn't make you ill. Nothing in his profile was about how he had any other survival capabilities, but that one particular skill that he had was enviable.

The challenge, I guess for me, is to push myself to learn these skills when I'd rather be relaxing and catching up on some Netflix series. You never think it will be in your time, but the citizens of Pompei didn't think so, either.

 

[T-boy]

I do apologize for your thread taking a spin. If you read what the vast majority said about the actual topic at hand and not the bickering we were all pretty much in agreement that it would be extremely difficult and most wouldn’t survive. Does that mean we shouldn’t try and talk about what we would do or form groups? Wasn’t that the point of this topic? Their was one individual calling people soft implying he’s the tough guy that would make it.

Yet I don't see folks flocking to join his "team"....

 

[Peacemaker]

I do apologize for your thread taking a spin. If you read what the vast majority said about the actual topic at hand and not the bickering we were all pretty much in agreement that it would be extremely difficult and most wouldn’t survive. Does that mean we shouldn’t try and talk about what we would do or form groups? Wasn’t that the point of this topic? Their was one individual calling people soft implying he’s the tough guy that would make it.

We should absolutely talk about it. That's the point of the thread. I was without power for more than a week. I was sleeping in my truck for I believe a total of 8 nights, I said 7 but I think it was 8, anyway more than I wanted. While in that situation I looked around and wondered what it would really be like with a total "Grid Down" situation and what it would be like if there was nothing to look forward to.

Think about that, you wouldn't know what happened or if it would ever get back to the way it was. That in itself would be more than most people could handle. I think people need to take an honest no ******** look a mentally prepare for what will happen in an event like that.

If anyone here has learned anything from our special forces groups, Seals, Green Berets, Marine Recon, Army Rangers, they all say the same thing, physical ability is good and is needed but what is absolutely needed is being mentally prepared.

I believe being mentally prepared for these challenges might be the only preps that actually get you through.

 

[Jstudz220]

We should absolutely talk about it. That's the point of the thread. I was without power for more than a week. I was sleeping in my truck for I believe a total of 8 nights, I said 7 but I think it was 8, anyway more than I wanted. While in that situation I looked around and wondered what it would really be like with a total "Grid Down" situation and what it would be like if there was nothing to look forward to.

Think about that, you wouldn't know what happened or if it would ever get back to the way it was. That in itself would be more than most people could handle. I think people need to take an honest no ******** look a mentally prepare for what will happen in an event like that.

If anyone here has learned anything from our special forces groups, Seals, Green Berets, Marine Recon, Army Rangers, they all say the same thing, physical ability is good and is needed but what is absolutely needed is being mentally prepared.

I believe being mentally prepared for these challenges might be the only preps that actually get you through.

I totally agree with you my man. Just in case you missed it this was my original post on the topic..

It would absolutely be terrible. A hurricane is just a small piece of what great times would look like. In a hurricane scenario it’s a lot easier knowing eventually help is on the way and eventually life will get back to normal and even that’s not easy. A hurricane scenario is a walk in the park compared to what things would look like. I’m sure most would die off fairly quickly. It’s not something I’d ever want to experience. I’d like to think I’m a strong minded individual but thinking about a situation like that is almost hopeless. It would be hard enough to survive on the land not to mention in a scenario like that you can rest assure people would turn into savages and start murdering people for any and every reason imaginable.

 

[MOTOR51]

I had no power til yesterday afternoon and I was just fine, but I prolly have something you guys don’t. I have a detailed map of all the preppers in the area…so…

Bingo, that’s my whole EOTWAWKI plan. It’s fool proof and cheap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[vr1967]

I know several that live in the city, and don’t have the option, but we (family) have a several hundred acre parcel with the Amite River and 2 good springs on it. It is over 2 miles from anything remotely called a black top rd. Family meets there to camp/swim, etc.

My father in law and i have already walked from the gate in, to figure defensive positions. Several of us got into a pretty indepth conversation about it if things go sour.
My idea is, EVERYBODY, has to contribute. Hunting, farming, defence, scavaging, etc etc., but several in the family are lazy, and want to let everyone else do. I have my thoughts on that, but don’t see how a colony will survive if only a few contribute (much like America is heading)

Wife and I raise livestock, fish, hunt, garden when we can, etc, but i feel if things go bad, you will need a group to help, as i have 3 daughters and one son in law (who had no father figure in his life, so I’m having to train him). My job is to provide for them and protect them, but one man can only do so much, even though my daughters hunt, fish and know their way around firearms very well.

 

[Jstudz220]

@Kraut that’s also my biggest worry. I have twin 3 year old boys and a wife who doesn’t care much for outdoors. I was always told in the military your only as strong as your weakest link. My wife is a strong minded woman so we have that going for us but being strong minded in the comfort of every day living opposed to a grid down scenario are two totally different things in my opinion.

My father wasn’t big on outdoors. As a child I remember asking him to go fishing and he would jokingly say sure we can go to Win Dixie and you can pick out whatever fish you’d like to eat. He was a great father in every aspect I just wish he would have taught me more about outdoors other than how to chuck a pig skin or smack a liner.
I plan on teaching my sons everything I know and some. Any interest they may have that I’m not into we will learn together. When they turn 5 if I feel they are ready I will teach them how to shoot starting with a bolt action 22. I’m going to encourage them to get outdoors and teach them to hunt and fish. I’m sure they will want to play sports they are already in love with football and baseball which I love I just hope it doesn’t stop their. One thing I learned growing up with 4 brothers is I won’t force them to do anything. It’s safe to say we ruined sports for my youngest brother forcing him to come outside and play full contact sports with us. It toughened him up for sure but he had no interest in sports once he got to high school.

 

[DBMJR1]

I'm a Bestbanker.


I could do a month without the grid.

I've got solar on my truck, and a small refrigerator. It'd run my CPAP to keep me going.

After about a decade or so, my pacemaker battery would die, and my heart would stop at night. One morning I wouldn't wake up.


Other than that, I can fish, hunt, farm.

My wife's carcass would provide enough meat for a month or more.

I'll eat anything but coconut to survive.

 

[machinedrummer]

I'm a Bestbanker.


I could do a month without the grid.

I've got solar on my truck, and a small refrigerator. It'd run my CPAP to keep me going.

After about a decade or so, my pacemaker battery would die, and my heart would stop at night. One morning I wouldn't wake up.


Other than that, I can fish, hunt, farm.

My wife's carcass would provide enough meat for a month or more.

I'll eat anything but coconut to survive.

I have a feeling if your wife happen to read this post you may not wake up tomorrow but not due to a battery failure. Lol

 

[Jstudz220]

I'm a Bestbanker.


I could do a month without the grid.

I've got solar on my truck, and a small refrigerator. It'd run my CPAP to keep me going.

After about a decade or so, my pacemaker battery would die, and my heart would stop at night. One morning I wouldn't wake up.


Other than that, I can fish, hunt, farm.

My wife's carcass would provide enough meat for a month or more.

I'll eat anything but coconut to survive.

well I think you make six now but it’s safe to say we won’t be voting you in charge of the food situation.
I busted out laughing when I read that everyone around me is looking at me like I’m crazy now lmao

 

[Emperor]

If it happens, I am heading to where the politicians live that put us in that situation! They go first!

 

[dantheman]

All of you that think you're going to go live at your camp and hunt , fish and farm for the rest of your life are probably mistaken . You might make it for a while . Some longer than others , but eventually life will catch up with you . No fuel for your vehicles , tractors , generator , etc. No fertilizer , pesticides , you name it . No medications or healthcare other than the basics for a while . No surgery or obstetrics , no batteries for your pacemaker , and on and on . No parts to repair your tools or equipment or vehicles . I could babble on and on but face it , it's not going to be like the Discovery Channel . That **** will get really miserable , really quick .

 

[Xeon64]

I know of a natural aquifer than can supply me with all of my drinking water needs. It can be access without a well. That is where I would be headed with lots of ammunition and fishing gear. There is plenty of game in the area. I have done this type of survival before intentionally. You can get by. The biggest threat is other people coming try to take what you have because they can not survive on their own.

 

[flyboy]

The biggest threat is other people coming try to take what you have because they can not survive on their own.

^^^^^This!^^^^^

 

[Jstudz220]

Has anyone here had the opportunity to do SERE training? Typically only special forces do the training with the exception of personnel taking an IA billet or going TAD.

 

[Peacemaker]

If it happens, I am heading to where the politicians live that put us in that situation! They go first!

No doubt! Unfortunately for us they have the hidden bunkers built and paid for by us. They'll be in the lap of luxury while our world totally unravels. The more I think about what their incompetence costs us (The American Patriot), the madder I get.

 

[Fordfella]

Another Westbanker here! And in the fallen grid situation I would have access to drugs with knowledge of what it's used for and proper dosing!

It's been 20 years since I've lived on the Westbank. Back then EVERYONE on the Westbank had access to drugs. The store on the corner sold what was called a "starter kit" which consisted of a Brillo pad, a lighter, and a crack pipe.