May 4, 2013

ASSESS YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL




How badass of a survivalist are you??


























The following are questions that you can use to assess your chances of survival.  Some of these questions are accompanied with answers.  Some aren't.  I am planning on setting up a survey online using these questions and responses, so you can get scored.  In most cases, you'll be able to figure out what the best responses are.  In some cases, it might be confusing to you.  Usually the answers are in order from best to worst or from worst to best, but not always.  For example, you don't want to be so close to a water source that other people will come across you.  On the other hand, you don't want to be so far from a water source that it requires lots of energy on a daily basis.


As soon as I find good survey software, I will set up this survey online.  I'll affix scores to the responses and you'll be able to score yourself.  I was inspired by the "Get Your Prepper Score" survey on the Doomsday Preppers website.  However, I felt some of their reasoning was off and it wasn't a comprehensive survey.  This one will do much better.  Once I have the actual survey up and running, I'll post a link to it here.  In the meantime, read through these questions and ponder...

How many people are in your survival group that will live and work together?
What percent of your group is in their prime? (teenage through 50s)
100
75-100
50-75
25-50
0-25

What percent of your group is male?

What is the average physical health of your group?

How would you rate the mental strength of your group? (intelligence, general knowledge and street
smarts)

How would you rate the ability of your group to function under the stress of an emergency?

How would you rate the ability of your group to stick to the master plan after the collapse of society?
(ex. “I know we said it was just going to be our two families, but is it OK if I also bring my cousin's
family...and my neighbor's kids...and can we pick up my great Aunt Lucy on the way? We can stretch
our food rations right?”)

How often does your group drill for a SHTF scenario?

How well does your lifestyle now match up with how your lifestyle will be after the STHF?

----
Do you live at your main survival location or do you have to travel there when the shtf? (if you plan on
bugging in, then bugging out if necessary it is recommended to do this survey twice for each location)
I live there
I plan on bugging out as soon as I know it's gonna get ugly
I'll bug out when there is no other option

Do you have multiple bug out location possibilities?
Yes, multiple that are walking distance, multiple that are driving distance, and the ones that are driving
distance are in different directions from our home and miles apart from one another
Yes, I have multiple bug out locations, but they don't meet the criteria above
I just have one and I'll wing it from there
I don't have a bug out location

Do you know all the routes to get to your locations?
Yes, and I've got maps
Yeah basically
No, but I atleast know one route
I have no bug out location

Do you have a bug out vehicle?
Yes, and it's diesel fueled
yes
no

Does your bug out vehicle have well equipped defenses?
Yes, it's tricked out to the max and we'll be cocked and loaded
Well, it's dependable and should do the job
Umm, it's kinda slow and doesn't have 4 wheel drive

Are you able to get all your personnel and supplies to your bug out location in one trip or will it take
multiple trips?
One trip (or I'm already there)
2-3 trips
3 or more trips

Do you have enough fuel to get to your ultimate location?
Yes, I have enough fuel stored already to get me there and then some (or I'm already at my location)
Yes, only enough to get me there
I plan on filling up at first sign of distress before the gas stations run out of fuel
not quite

If automobiles aren't working, do you have an alternative plan for getting to your bug out location?
Yes (or I'm already there)
no

How far will you have to travel to get to your location?
10 miles or less
10-50 miles
50-200 miles
200-1000 miles
1000 miles or more

Will you have to travel through populated areas to reach your destination?
Yes, through lots of people
yes, but it's not very populated
no, it's pretty rural area

Where is your main survival location?
Urban
suburban outskirts of large city
mid-sized city
small town
rural (on a paved road)
rural (on a dirt road)
in the bush

How far are you from a major urban population center?
50 miles or less
50-100 miles
100-200 miles
200 miles or more

How far are you from the nearest population center of any size?
Less than 1 mile
1-3 miles
3-8 miles
8 miles or more

How far are you from the nearest paved road?

How far are you from the nearest dirt road?

How far are you from a major body of water?
I'm camping on it.
50-200 meters
200-500 meters
500-2000 meters
2000 or more meters

How far are you from the nearest body of water of any size?

Is your location within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant or within the fallout zone of a nuclear power
plant?
O crap, yes it is
no

Is there woods and vegetation around your location?
Yes and it's often dry
yes, but it's usually green
no

Is your location on the 4th floor or higher in a building?
Yes
no

Is your location in tornado territory?
No
yes, but we have a bunker
yes and we could get blown away

Is your location in hurricane territory?
No
yes, but we have a strong enough shelter and we'll avoid any rising tide
yes and we'll just pray for the best

Is your location flood prone?
No
no, but it is within the 100 year flood zone
yes

How often do blizzards occur in your area?
Never
rarely
now and then
often

Is your location earthquake prone?
No
somewhat
yes

Is your location in a tsunami danger zone?
Not possible
it's possible, but not likely
yes (Hawaii and parts of pacific northwest, near the shore of course. Unless La Palma drops into the
ocean, then the east coast will get messed up. Maybe parts of Alaska too, not sure.)

Is your location downstream from an earthen dam?

Is your location downstream from a concrete dam?

What state is your main survival location in? (this accounts for violent crime rate by state)
Low Crime Rate (Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiania, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montanta, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, RI, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY)
Middle Crime Rate (AZ, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MA, MI, MO, NM, OK, SC, TX)
High Crime Rate (AK, DE, DC, NV, TN)

Again, what state is your main survival location in? (this accounts for gang member ratio by state)
It's a threat (California, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Illinois)
A possible threat (Alaska, Washington, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Jersey, Maine)
Low threat (Oregon, Montana, Arizona, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, DC, Rhode Island,
Massachuesetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Hawaii)
Very Low Threat (Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania,
New York, Delaware, Connecticut)

Again, what state is your main survival location in? (this accounts for cross-border drug cartel
organized forces threat)
High Threat (CA, AZ, NM, TX)
Mid Threat (NV, UT, CO, OK, LA)
Low Threat (all others)

How far is your average visibility from your living quarters? (Are you surrounded by trees, houses,
buildings that allow people to sneak up on you? On the other hand, that is good cover, but that is the
next question.)
10 meters or less
about 25 meters
about 50 meters
about 100 meters
about 200 meters or more

How visible is your location from the outside?
Very visible
somewhat visible
not very visible
we're basically invisible to the outside world

How visible are your 'goods' to the outside? (garden, solar panels, wind mill, animals, storage tanks,
etc.)

Do you have a warning system?
Yes
no

Do you have a natural looking physical barrier around your property, which helps your defense and
hinders the attack of others?
Yes
partially
no

How sturdy is your living quarters?
It could withstand RPGs and TNT
It is bulletproof and you can't chop through the walls
As sturdy as a regular house
Not very sturdy
I will sleep under the stars, cuz I like to watch meteor showers, since there's no more light pollution.

Does your living quarters have protected doors?
Yes, metals doors, but there is still a way to see out somehow
yes, metal doors, but when shut, I can't see out
yes, bars are around the doors and they can be locked
extra locks on the door
regular door
there aren't really doors to my living quarters

Are your windows protected?
Yep, bulletproof shutters or equivalent
I got bars around them
All I can do is keep them locked and shut
there's no protection.
It's not applicable, since I don't have windows.

Do you have a bunker or safe room?
Yes, and it has a secret escape
yes, and it has multiple entrances
yes, one way in and one way out
no

How much food and water do you have stored in the bunker/safe room?
Over 10 years worth
between 5-10 years worth
between 1-5 years worth
less than 1 years worth
my supplies aren't stored in a bunker/safe room

Will you have someone on watch 24/7?

How many able-bodied men (or women) are in your group that can help defend your position?
Number list

How many guns do you have per person?

How much ammo do you have per gun?

Do you have a hunting rifle?
Yes with scope, suppressor, and night vision
yes with scope and night vision
yes with scope and suppressor
yes with scope only
yes with suppressor only
yes, but no attachments
no

Do you have a 22lr gun?
Yes with scope, suppressor, and night vision
yes with scope and night vision
yes with scope and suppressor
yes with scope only
yes with suppressor
yes, but no attachments
no

In case of a gun fight (fire fight) is your best weapon automatic?
Yes, Automatic
it's semi-automatic
no or I don't have any guns

Do you have a shotgun?
Yes and it has a suppressor as crazy as that sounds
yes
no

Do you have a handgun?
Yes with suppressor
yes
no

How many knives do you have per person?
3 or more
2
1 or less
0

Do you have a way of sharpening those knives?
Yes
no

Do you have night vision goggles?
Yes
no

Do you have body armor?
Yes
no

Do you have a guard dog?
Yes, and he's trained to mess some fools up if need be.
Yes
No

Do you have any defense tricks up your sleeve like IEDs, grenades, flash bangs, tear gas, pepper spray
grenades, booby traps, molotov cocktails, or flood lights?

Do you have any non lethal weapons?

Do you have an escape route if you get overrun?

Can you pop smoke for cover?

Do you have an established randezvous point for your party if you have to leave in a hurry?

Do you have a hidden cache of your most important supplies somewhere away from your main
location?

Is your hidden cache protected from the elements, animals, and people that stumble upon it?

Do you have an established Plan B bug out location if you have to leave your main location?

Do you have an established Plan C bug out location if you have to leave your main location and your B
location?

Do you have a map of your main location?

Does your party have non verbal hand signal communications?

Does your party know morse code?

Does your party have coded talk or speak another language?

Do you have walkie talkies?

Do you have a system for long distance distress signals/communications like 3 gunshots, a flare gun,
bottle rockets, bullwhip cracks, signal fire ready to go, homing pigeons, emergency whistle, etc.?

Does anyone in your group have military training?

Does anyone in your group have law enforcement or security training?

Does anyone in your group have survivalist training?

Do you have something to write with and write on?

---
What is your primary water source?
Private well
rain catchment
hidden pipe running off a water source
melting snow
small stream or small pond
river or lake
visible pipe running off a water source
ocean
irrigation canal or reservoir
public well
our pool
hundreds of condensation traps
we have stored water, but no plan after that

If you are not currently at your location, do you have enough water stored to drink while you travel to
your bug out location?
Yes, or I'm currently at my location
I think so, but I also know of water sources along the way.
I think so.
No.

How do you plan on purifying your water?
Filter
boil
distill
chemical purifier
solar
bio filter
it's rain catchment, snow, fresh meltwater, or collected condensation that I don't plan on purifying
Actually, I like Giardia, Chryptosporidium, and Noro Virus

Will your water source be available year-round?
Yes, definitely
likely, but we have a lot of water storage capacity
likely, but we don't have a lot of water storage capacity
no, but we have plans of storing what we need
no and we don't have the ability to store the additional water we'll need

---
How much food do you have stored per person?

Do you have your food in multiple locations?
Yes, and a lot of it is hidden too
yes
no, but it's hidden
no

Are you or someone in your group a farmer or gardener?
Yes with plenty of experience
Yes with some experience
I've never grown, but I know the basics
No experience whatsoever. So, I put the seed in the ground, right?

How many seeds do you have?
More than a harvest yield to supply 20 years of food for everyone in my party
Enough for a harvest yield between10 and 20 years of food for everyone in my party
Enough for a harvest yeild between 5 and 10 years of food for everyone in my party
Enough for a harvest yield between 2 and 5 years of food for everyone in my party
Enough for a harvest yield between 1 and 2 years of food for everyone in my party
Less than a harvest yield of 1 year of food for everyone in my party
I don't have seeds

In what grow zone is your location?
Numbers list

How about a greenhouse and the climate?
The climate allows for year-round growing and we have seeds for it
I have a greenhouse to do year-round growing
we'll just grow food during normal seasons
we won't be growing food

Are there fruit and or nut trees in your location?
Yes, plenty
yes, some
I have some that I will transport to my location
I have seeds to start growing them
no plans for it

Do you or someone in your party have knowledge of wild edibles in your area?
Yes, I'm an eagle scout Xtreme
I have some knowledge
no

Can you or someone in your party trap?
Yes, I know I can
I know what to do and I'll try
no

Can you or someone in your party hunt?
Yes, I'm experienced
I know what to do and I'll try
no/no gun for it

Can you or someone in your party fish?
Yes, I'm experienced
I know what to do and I'll try
no/no gear

Can you or someone in your party trap fish?
Yes, I'm old school Native American like that
I know what to do and I'll try
no

Will you be able to farm fish?
Yes, I am an aquaponics master
I have some fish for it and I'll try
I'm gonna rush the local pond/pet store/asian food market and see if I can wing it
no

Will you have quickly reproducing animals to eat?
Yes
no

Will you have livestock?
Yes
no

What do your animals eat?
They'll eat local vegetation and bugs
animal feed, and I have years worth stored and ready for them
animal feed, and I have some of it stored for them
uh, I guess I'll just eat them right away cuz I have no feed for them

Are your animals noisy?
Yes, noisier than a jazz band at Mardi Gras (If you have roosters, this is you.)
A little noisy (goats, cows, pigs)
no, they're quiet

Do you have basic cookware like pots/pans?
Yes
no

Do you have mason jars and a can cooker?
Yes, over 150 jars per person
yes, less than 150 jars per person
no, mason what?

Do you have reusable mason jar lids and gaskets?
Yes, I'm pro like that
No, but I have over ten years' supply of them
no

Do you have a dehydrator or drying racks?
Yes
no

Do you have mylar storage bags?
Yes
No, but I have another form of air tight bags/containers
no

Do you have oxygen absorbers?
Yes, thousands upon thousands of them
yes
no

Is your climate cold enough to preserve food naturally or have you rigged a makeshift refrigerator
using cold water or a cellar or you're a boss and still have electricity and a working refrigerator?
Yes
no

Do you have lots of salt?
Yes
no

– - -
Do you have horses?
Yes
no

Do you have a bicycle?
Yes and with spare parts
yes
no

Do you have a large backpack or other transport bag?
Yes
no

Do you have extra ammo for barter?
Yes
no

Do you have other items for barter?
Yes
no

Do you have go away kits?
Yes
no

What methods of starting a fire do you have?
Magnesium fire starter
regular fire starter
lighters
waterproof matches
matches
friction method, and I've successfully done it before
friction method, I've never done it successfully before
other method (MacGyver is my hero)

Given your supplies, how many fires will you be able to start (not including friction method)?
Over 4,000
between 2,000-4,000
between 500-2,000
between 100-500
less than 100
none, I'm just relying on friction and dumb luck

What about fuel for cooking?
I will use wood and there's plenty of it around to collect.
I will use propane and I have more than a 10 year supply
I will use propane and I have a 5-10 year supply
I will use propane and I have a 1-5 year supply
I will use propane and I have less than a year supply
I like to eat things raw

Which sources to generate electricity do you have?
hydro
solar panels
thin film (foldable) solar
wind
crank
thermo
gas
stocked up on batteries
other
none

How long will you be able to generate electricity?
More than 10 years
between 5-10 years
between 1-5 years
less than a year
I have no sources

Is your shelter and important infrastructure water proof?
Yes
no

Do you reasonably believe your shelter will remain heated/cooled as necessary if the electrical grid is
down?
Yes, no doubt
I think so
It will get rough at times, but we'll live
Heat stroke or hypothermia will be a serious factor

How long can it remain heated/cooled?
Indefinitely
more than 10 years
between 5-10 years
between 1-5 years
less than 1 year
it won't

What bands can you pick up on your radio?
AM
FM
NOAA
short wave
other bands
I don't have a radio

Given your supplies and the power source, how long will your radio work when using it 30 min/day, if
it doesn't break?
More than 10 years
between 5-10 years
between 1-5 years
less than 1 year
I don't have a radio

How well does your Plan B bug out location meet the standards of this survey?

How well does your Plan C bug out location meet the standards of this survey?

- - - - -
How much soap do you have?
Over 10 year supply or I can make my own
between 5-10 year supply
between 1-5 year supply
less than 1 year supply
I dont' have soap and I don't know how to make it

How much toothpaste or toothpaste substitute do you have?
Enough to last me indefinitely
more than 10 years worth
5-10 years worth
1-5 years worth
less than 1 year worth
I don't have any

How much dental floss do you have?
more than 10 years worth
5-10 years worth
1-5 years worth
less than 1 year worth
I don't have any

Can you keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, I have mosquito nets
I have multiple years worth supply of mosquito repellant
I have some mosquito repellant
There aren't any mosquitoes

Do you have antibiotics?
Yes, a lot
yes, some
no

Do you have bandages?
Yes, a lot
yes, some
no

How much other medical supplies do you have?
A lifetime supply per person or more
probably as much as we'll need
some
none

Do you have doctor's tools?

Do you have dentist's tools and supplies?

Are you or someone in your group medically trained?
Yes, doctor
yes, nurse or equivalent
some medical training
no

Are you or someone in your group trained in first aid?
Yes
no

Do you or someone in your group know CPR?
Yes
no


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