Thread: Doomsday Preppers.

I kind of laugh at them, but then I have to admit that I somewhat subconsciously/ semi-consciously do think about preparedness for things like a major natural disaster.

I have thought about how I could use my camping gear, Landrover etc to be able to comfortably get through a couple of weeks without power and services. This is not so far fetched my parents had no power or phone for over a week in the last Brisbane Floods. People in major cities have been faced with these situations in a number of countries due to natural disasters.

I am conscious to keep the long range tank in my D3 full and with a dual battery kit I can use my car as a generator to keep my two fridges and lights running for quite some time. and I have some long leads with Anderson plugs so I could use the D3 to bring power into the house for LED camping lights and fridges. My Camper trailer also has a large solar array and another deep cycle battery. I have enough jerry cans to store and carry 180 litres of water and I have two rainwater tanks on the house as and I always have a lifestraw and some water purification tablets around.

I also am conscious to keep some gas bottles full. I will usually have two 4 kilo gas bottles and at least 1 of my two 9kilo bottles full as well as some butane cartridges so cooking and heating is ok. I have flints in the car for fire and several first aid kits.

I also keep a couple of tubs of camping canned and packet food around so we can go camping at short notice but also good for a disaster, and we also always buy extra rice, pasta and canned food etc so we could eat basics for at least a week or so.

If we have to get out then most of this could be packed into the D3 and camper trailer and taken with us.

Between gas, diesel, and solar we could easily be self sufficient for at least a week probably 2 without power or services either at home or out bush. Much longer if we can access or find/hunt food.

I think its some of the funniest stuff on telly the episode i watched the other day, the first ones were concerned with Americas debt to china and belived china were going to take over. they even had home made bombs hidden under rocks . the second couple were preparing for the end of the world in 2012, they were converting all their spare cash into gold and silver because they belive thats what will be tradable. Funny thing was they were showing everyone where they buried it. i wonder if they look back on the show and what they think about it now or have they moved on to another doomsday?

That mind set reminds me of the Cold War.

In the early 1960s, the American publication "Popular Mechanics" approached someone who had written a few articles for them and asked if they were prepared to take part in an experiment.

When the family agreed, they were told to imagine that the nuclear war that people feared then had happened. They were then told that they had 10 minutes to pack everything they needed to survive for a couple of weeks into their station wagon.

They knew of a spot they had camped before, so they packed and left and survived for the few weeks that people thought then would be enough to survive after a nuclear war with Russia.

I was a young teenager at the time and i still remember two fairly useless pieces of information from the article. They said that if they had to do it again they would take more coffee because reboiled grounds didn't make very good coffee.

They also said they would ensure that the hooks on all the coat hangers in the wardrobe faced the same way. That way they could save precious seconds when they grabbed a bundle of clothes.

People took the threat of nuclear war fairly seriously then. Even though it didn't happen, it was probably a more likely scenario than some of the things modern doomsday preppers worry about.

Some things come up which are useful to consider - the way we depend on the electric grid, because without it;

Credit cards are switched off.
Petrol Station bowser pumps stop in a blackout (some bush ones may have a generator but 99pc...) So a manual pump or lotsa full jerrys would be a great asset. But how long does petrol or diesel last in a jerry? I may have to look that up.
And air compressors? Better have your own.
And google maps is no substitute for real maps.
Get a CB, mobile cell towers are hooked up to the power grid also.

Plus..
First Aid kits have to be worth the name. And with a guide book.

But this sort of common sense stuff on the show is overshadowed by all the over-the-top weapons stashing and ammo supplies etc. "My 8 year old can strip and re-assemble a M16 in the dark" stuff.

Their is being prepared for natural disasters then their are the Doom day preppers - in my opinion two different kettle of fish and just confirms my opinion that americans are afraid of themselves, and do not trust their neighbour.

Live in Darwin and you will see what prepping really means. See the shelves empty rapidly at the slightest hint of a cyclone hit. Even if not direct hit, the rail and roads often get washed out, leading to shortages. No riots yet...too hot!

I find the nut jobs hilarious but have stopped watching it as I feel sorry for the kids whose loony parents make them home school and prepare for the end of the world instead of letting them be kids.

Originally Posted by gusthedog

I find the nut jobs hilarious but have stopped watching it as I feel sorry for the kids whose loony parents make them home school and prepare for the end of the world instead of letting them be kids.

There was a mention in the news somewhere yesterday about the apocalyptic-indocrinated yanks who worry about... everything.... as having PTSD ((Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder)).