What's the timeline?

[Kid Stanislaus]

So, if I have my guns and ammo up to snuff, and my food & water is adequate, how long should I have to wait until it becomes obvious the SHTF situation is not going to happen. Can I start eating my freeze dried meal in 1year, 2 years, 5 years? How long do we have to wait until we can safely assume the US economy is not going to implode? Inquiring minds want to know.

[blakdawg]

TS will not HTF until you use up your supplies.

[gratefuldog]

I follow this part of the forum kind of irregularly, and only practice semi-preparedness... so far. But I guess the best answer, (as so many answers are,) is another question: What kind of SHTF are you prepping for? True, the economy might not collapse in 3 months, but we might have a major earthquake in September. I think the wisest thing to do is to cycle (use and replace) your perishable supplies, but never "un-prepare!"

[Ripon83]

Eat and Buy

Wouldn't you start eating your stored goods then replace them with new stuff? I do that with stuff that isn't extremely long term for storage...even water.

So, if I have my guns and ammo up to snuff, and my food & water is adequate, how long should I have to wait until it becomes obvious the SHTF situation is not going to happen. Can I start eating my freeze dried meal in 1year, 2 years, 5 years? How long do we have to wait until we can safely assume the US economy is not going to implode? Inquiring minds want to know.

[eville]

This S might never hit a fan. But I'm prepared in case some **** hits a fan sometime. Fire. EArthquake. Eotwawki. Etc.

[EmptySkuLL]

Thats why I stock my supplies with stuff that I eat either regularly or wouldnt mind eating for a change of pace. Your best bet is to rotate out your supplies.

But yeah, blakdawg is right: Sh1t wont hit the fan till you use up your supplies. Friggin murphy and his f'ing law...

[IEShooter]

Preparedness

There seem to be more than a few people who sit around just hoping that society will collapse. I have no idea why they wish for such a thing, but if history is any indicator, there will always be people like this. The world didn't end for them on 5/21, so they'll just pick another date in the future to get themselves all lathered up. That date will also pass, etc....

In my view, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that any of us or our children will ever have to experience a societal collapse. Others feel differently, which is fine with me.

Personally, I prepare for what I feel is a realistic scenario of a moderate to major earthquake here on SoCal. Disaster Preparedness/Business Contunuity is one of my roles at work and we have done quite a lot of work and planning around that, including medical training, stock piling, awareness training for employees, table top exercises, etc.

If you look at the short term consequences of a major disaster such as a large quake, you will discover that emergency services will NOT be able to respond to your 911 calls for quite some time (think days) as they will be 100% dedicated to their pre-planned roles.

Water lines may be compromised and depending on where you live in relation to the quake, it could literally be weeks or even a few months before potable tap water is restored to your home and business.

That's a long time, so here in semi-airid SoCal, water is your first priority, then food, medical training and supplies, primary and secondary shelter, etc..

One of my greatest fears in a disaster is that one of my kids will be injured and suffering without EMS being available. Since I refuse to be helpless and unable to take care of them, emergency medical training has become one of my priorities. We all have different needs to assess. This is something for you to think about.

I agree with the folks who say to never just use up or toss out your water and emergency supplies. You should consider buying extra of the same foods you normally eat, then rotate them and use them up in your normal course of cooking. No reason to ever toss anything away if you do this.

Some folks stockpile water and food that would literally last them for years. I don't see a need for this and instead prepare for 3-4 months of a very comfortable existance that could be stretched if necessary. This is a bit longer than I will ever need, but I also plan on being able to assist my friends, family and neighbors if they need it.

That's my .02

[Bizcuits]

If your honestly worried about the economy, I'd recommend reading up on Argentines 2001 collapse. People weren't hiding in their homes eating a years supply of saved spam.

People still want to work, stores were still open, bills were still due and the government still wanted taxes. The crime just sky rocketed, police became a strictly post-response force (after the fact), public utilities were always on and off, families moved into the same house to save money as well as provide protection, home invasions and car jacking were common in fact so common after dark no one would stop at red lights or stop signs, everyone had a vegetable garden and every empty lot or field turned into a flea market.

[problemchild]

I follow this part of the forum kind of irregularly, and only practice semi-preparedness... so far. But I guess the best answer, (as so many answers are,) is another question: What kind of SHTF are you prepping for? True, the economy might not collapse in 3 months, but we might have a major earthquake in September. I think the wisest thing to do is to cycle (use and replace) your perishable supplies, but never "un-prepare!"

+1.0

[problemchild]

If your honestly worried about the economy, I'd recommend reading up on Argentines 2001 collapse. People weren't hiding in their homes eating a years supply of saved spam.

People still want to work, stores were still open, bills were still due and the government still wanted taxes. The crime just sky rocketed, police became a strictly post-response force (after the fact), public utilities were always on and off, families moved into the same house to save money as well as provide protection, home invasions and car jacking were common in fact so common after dark no one would stop at red lights or stop signs, everyone had a vegetable garden and every empty lot or field turned into a flea market.

I find "other" countries will tolerate a lot more crap then we will here. I think you would see neighborhood platoons sprout up. I dont think, and I could be wrong, we would become like Argentina. But hell I could be 1000% wrong on this.

[sammy]

So when the power goes out I assume you have a generator to run your freezer. Not a good idea when your neighbors are hungry and you are the only one with the lights on.

We are headded for a major collapse. It is just a matter of time. Research the petrol dollar. The only reason we have not seen a major collapse is becuse we are the reserve currency but it will not last. When reserve currency status ends 6 TRILLION dollars will find its way back to the United States. That is the end game.

Watch the crash course. Chris Martensen explains it much better than I can. Very much worth the time http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse

[Kid Stanislaus]

Watch the crash course. Chris Martensen explains it much better than I can. Very much worth the time http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse

Pretty frigg'n scary to say the least.

[Ripon83]

Peak Oil

His energy assumptions and that of peak oil do not account for even immediate advances in energy. Oil simply has not become expensive enough for us tp pursue alternatives, but they are there. Otherwise I feel he is right about our debts and the dollar.

I just buy a little extra on each trip to Wally Mart. I feel like my pantry is in great shape....now if people would leave me some of that 16.97 per 50 box of federal 45's there once a week I'd feel even better.

Pretty frigg'n scary to say the least.

[crazy]

So, if I have my guns and ammo up to snuff, and my food & water is adequate, how long should I have to wait until it becomes obvious the SHTF situation is not going to happen. Can I start eating my freeze dried meal in 1year, 2 years, 5 years? How long do we have to wait until we can safely assume the US economy is not going to implode? Inquiring minds want to know.

It's all a false alarm. You can eat your food now. Seriously, you are asking us if the S is going HTF? What makes you think we will know before you do?

[Lionsfeast]

My two cents.
I was in Argentina during the crisis. More than anything people were angry and stressed, but I didn't feel my life was in any sort of jeopardy. Today I live in South Los Angeles. I'll tell you one thing: this part of town will explode in a similar scenario . I'm getting out first signs of anything. Unlike the US, Argentina had (back then) less problems with violent crime. In my part of town there's not a wall that isn't tagged with gang stuff or a night without sirens. The garbage of humanity will use any excuse to go ape-sh*t. There are 10 million people in our county alone (a third the population of all Argentina). I expect people will go to work and shop and all that stuff AFTER a few weeks of SHTF chaos, and after the national guard comes in, like in the 90's riots.