April 6, 2013

THE SHTF AND YOU DIDN'T PREPARE...HERE'S WHAT TO DO



Even if you did prepare, you might still want to do this.

1. FILL THE BATH AND LARGE CONTAINERS WITH WATER

2. CONTACT YOUR LOVED ONES AND ESTABLISH A PLAN.  TELL THEM TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS AS WELL.

3. GET GAS

4. HIT THE ATM

5. GET FOOD AND SUPPLIES

6. TRY TO GET A TRAILER OR MOVING TRUCK

7. PRESERVE ALL YOUR FOOD

8. FIND A PLACE ON THE MAP TO BUG OUT

9. PACK EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU'LL NEED

10. LEAVE


Extended description:

1. FILL THE BATH AND LARGE CONTAINERS WITH WATER

Water is your most valuable resource.  You want to make sure you have some to start with.  Water could stop pumping at any moment.  Fill the bathtub and all large containers, even trash cans.

Assuming electricity is still working, you can do these next steps...

Grab all your money, some jewelry, and possible barter items before you leave the house.

2. CONTACT YOUR LOVED ONES AND ESTABLISH A PLAN.  TELL THEM TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS AS WELL.

On your way out the door to the gas station, call and explain to them what is happening and what is going to happen.  Tell them to follow these steps and if you are going to meet up with them, arrange plans for that.  Also, give them a fail-safe backup plan in case the meet-up plans don't work out.  For example, you can tell them that you will leave directions to your bug out location above the mirror in the front bathroom of your house.

3. GET GAS

You'll need gas to get to your bug out destination and do miscellaneous driving.  It won't be at the stations much longer.  Fill up your vehicle and fill up extra gas cans.  Get at least as much as you'll need to get to your destination.  If electricity and the pumps are not working, see if you can somehow work out a deal with the station owner to manually get gas.  You've got cash, some jewelry, and barter items to work with.

4. HIT THE ATM

Hopefully, there will still be enough faith in the Dollar that you can still buy stuff.  Get as much cash as you possibly can.  If electricity is out, see if you can go inside and get money from the teller.  Or, if things haven't gotten really crazy yet and you are ahead of the curve in terms of predicting the future, just go in and close out the account and get all your cash.  Keep it hidden and safe.

5. GET FOOD AND SUPPLIES

Go to these stores or similar ones:
Target/Walmart
Sporting Goods/Gun Store/Bait & Tackle
Grocery Store/Costco
Nursery
Home Depot/Lowes
Military Surplus
Pet Store
Other


I have put these stores in order of importance, but if certain ones are closer to you than others, you can adjust your route.  If you split up, you can get more stuff faster.  Also, if the people are already in a frenzy, consider going to smaller alternatives to these stores, like K-Mart or Ace Hardware.  If looting is already happening and you are 100% absolutely sure that society is going to collapse and will not come back, then join the party and try not to tick anyone off.  If you make a mistake about your prediction, just return the stuff later or pay for it.  Get the items in the Mad Rush Shopping List.

6. TRY TO GET A TRAILER OR MOVING TRUCK

You will want to bring more stuff with you than can fit in the back of your truck/car.  You will be leaving and never coming back, so take everything that will help in your upcoming lifestyle.  A close contained trailer is best (like uHaul) but get whatever you can find.  While you are at it, you might as well try to get a moving truck if they will still rent one out to you.  Maybe you can trade for one.  Give them one of your cars for their truck.  You will have better luck with a private business where the owner is on site rather than a franchise like UHaul.  However, I wouldn't be comfortable with a moving truck as my only vehicle.  I would be comfortable having it as one of my vehicles, but then I also have to think about gas mileage.  So, get a trailer or a moving truck.  Since it's fairly important, I would spend up to 6 hours trying to secure one.  If you don't get one and you know you will have to make multiple trips to get your gear to your bug out location, you can make a couple shuttle trips from your house to a secret location outside of town.  Then make the shuttle trips from that secret location to your bug out location.

7. PRESERVE ALL YOUR FOOD

Nationwide anarchy and riots won't start at the snap of a finger.  It will take a little time for things to get dangerous.  As long as your neighborhood and the streets along your bug out route are fairly safe, you can use that time to prepare for your exodus.  I wouldn't spend too many days in this phase though, maybe 2-3.  Preserve all your food.  Make jerky with all your meat.  You oven should be at 180 degrees round the clock.  Be canning food in jars at the same time.  If you have a dehydrator, use it.  If you have even more food to preserve, you can try to dry it over a fire or in a solar dehydrator.  If you still have more food, freeze it and try to keep it cold until you get to your bug out destination and then put it in a trash bag in cold water.  You want to have all food preserved within 48 hours.

8. FIND A PLACE ON THE MAP TO BUG OUT

Cities and even small towns will be dangerous, because starving people will do anything possible to stay alive, including stealing from you and killing you.  It's best to go to an uninhabited location that can sustain you.  Get away from roads.  Don't go to large bodies of water.  Choose small bodies of water to avoid people.  If possible, choose a campsite that is hidden, but at the same time offers good visibility of surrounding areas.  For more information on this, read Choosing a Bug Out Location.

9. PACK EVERYTHING YOU THINK YOU'LL NEED

Pack accordingly.  You're new lifestyle will be very different.  You may not have electricity.  When supplies run out, they will run out indefinitely.  Take items and replacement items that will last a loooong time.  Think sustainability.  The list I've provided is a good one.

10. LEAVE

Unless danger is imminent, you will probably spend a couple days preparing and packing.  Double check and brain storm to make sure you've got everything you'll need.  Now take the leap of faith and do it.  The longer you stay, the more likely you are to encounter danger.  Ambushes and traps could be established on the roads within a week, so leave quickly.  Tell a neighbor they can use any of the stuff you left behind.  They might be grateful for the water you left in the bathtub.

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