brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 0:34:07 GMT 10
I have wanted to do a series of threads to see what people would do in different situations, mainly to get people thinking about what preps they have and are they prepared for different situations. I know there are some scenarios already on here however I wanted to throw in a couple of extra situations and also some material that may assist with preps. So for this one, Power out! The situation is this: This isn't a normal power out, there has been major cyclones in the area and also around the country destroying most of the power stations, petrol stations, shops and to make matters worse the towns dam burst during the storm. It has been 2 days without power and the radio stations are saying there is no chance of the power coming back for at least 6 months for some areas, longer for others. Your preps: You have no car, and all your preps you have so far to date (so this will be different for everyone). Next door left town already and have left their second car behind. Things are getting pretty bad as there is no waste system so people are having to dump their sewage in the back yard, no running water or store to go and buy supplies. What do you do? To help here are some books: The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook - Piven and Bordenicht.pdf www.dropbox.com/s/mjplgc43bzkk9ta/The%20Worst%20Case%20Scenario%20Survival%20Handbook%20-%20Piven%20and%20Bordenicht.pdf?dl=0The above book is pretty insane, he tells you have to fend off a shark through to hot wiring a car, there are some pretty extreme "how to's" in this book (cant see myself landing a plane however you never know). Just in Case How to be Self-Sufficient when the Unexpected Happens.pdf www.dropbox.com/s/k8mt9kvy4ikbu1i/Just%20in%20Case%20How%20to%20be%20Self-Sufficient%20when%20the%20Unexpected%20Happens.pdf?dl=0 |
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Post by Nighthawk on Aug 27, 2014 10:26:43 GMT 10
If the power is out nation wide, how are the radio stations still broadcasting?  |
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 10:51:32 GMT 10
First we are in Australia, so location for this worse case sounds like coastal Queensland... (Most radio stations have back up generators, the ABC radio network is quite solid, (AM) so chances are you will get radio information
My location, flooding (direct) not a issue
But I will be cut off with no "safe" way out for at least a week (going worse case)
I have no choice, bug in, check equipment, maintain receiving the am signal, stay informed
Fortify/secure my home from attack, start watch, be ready just in case, I'm well set up to last a few months (hopefully) just water systems need more work...
Is what it is, will be a struggle, but its survivable
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overlord
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Post by overlord on Aug 27, 2014 14:02:57 GMT 10
Depending on the location, each one of us would have a different reaction due to the difference in factors although the commonality is the loss of power over a minimum period of 6 months.
Am from the Philippines and we have had power outages in the Metro for about a week during a major Storm (Typhoon Milenyo in 2007). Those in the provinces have had it longer reaching the period of months.
- Sewage here is not controlled electrically. We have sewage tanks that clean and ferment the waste before it is flowed into a gravity-based drain system.
- Water here is usually rationed during such events and if it is during the rainy season, we would have a lot of rain and a rain catchment system can be built in a jiff. Although actual water supply would be very limited.
- Even during power outages, we would have supplies from stores since a lot of the raw stuff can be purchased from the local market freshly slaughtered.
- Fuel is handcranked at the pumps although it would be rationed after a period of time.
I am not saying that I would be relying on the infrastructure but rather the impact wouldn't be that great UNLESS there would be major flooding and damage to the infrastructure like what happened during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 (where we had practically no access to the outside for about 2 weeks and no power for practically the same period). This was in the province of San Mateo, Rizal and not in the city where I live now.
I would bug in and stay at my current location using my power preps to give me access to information, communication, and some comfort (like a small fan). I will be getting a portable solar system soon in preparation for next year (we will be having rotating 4-6 hour brownouts then)
Unless our location is compromised by damage and not because of the power outage, that would be the time I would really consider bugging out.
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brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 17:40:41 GMT 10
The idea of this is for your local area and based on your current preps so you can see if you have enough for each situation. This situation has a couple of different issues and can test your basic preps and plans you may already have in an event.
If you don't have current plans for some events this is hopefully going to give you some things to research and prep for.
For example in this situation you would need a battery (or wind up)radio, sounds silly however some people may not have one yet. So if you go through your preps and tick off one by one as in:
Radio - check
Water - check
Skills to hot wire a car - check if not read one of the attachments to learn how
Exit plan for this type of situation - check. If not do you think it is worth having a plan for this type of event.
Basically if you go through your preps and you think you can survive at home or if you would have to leave to your bug out location, will you have enough or if there some more prepping you have to do.
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overlord
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Post by overlord on Aug 27, 2014 18:32:31 GMT 10
Radios - I have 3 different types. 2 units of transistor radios that use 2 x AA batteries, 1 unit of mini-component radio running on 4 x AA batteries, and I crank radio
Power source - Crank Radio, Solar kit (to be purchased next month)
Water - 40L in storage, 40L rotating, Water filtration systems
Food - Good for about 3-4 months (estimate) although will be continually sourcing through the event. Panic buying would not be occurring due to this but rather due to the damage to residence and community by the storms
Bugging out Plan for this scenario: like I mentioned, unless there is massive damage to my home and community, we will bug-in. Power outages are something we encounter here from time to time. Being wiped out by a typhoon like Yolanda is another story since there is infrastructure damage to home, supply, etc.
Bugging in Plan for this scenario: Yes, and it is go about life as it normally would.
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 19:55:28 GMT 10
You can't hotwire modern cars!! The ignition has a encoded receiver, without the programmed key... You may start it, but you won't get far
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Res-Q
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Post by Res-Q on Aug 27, 2014 20:03:52 GMT 10
Thanks for the Pdf links Brad  |
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brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 20:14:24 GMT 10
No probs res-q. I saw another post wanting to know about things like hot wiring a car and some other things so thought I would add some docs on that.
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Post by graynomad on Aug 27, 2014 20:31:18 GMT 10
Sorry to be boring but apart from - not going into town for fresh fruit/veggies
- not going to Bunnings for building materials (that would be a nice change)
- not spending all night on the web (that would be a major disaster)
I doubt this scenario would be noticed by me very much, I would change my daily activities to things I can do without the above-mentioned building materials, ie bushwalking and track making. Oh and my security level would be upped, but that's another story  |
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brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 20:36:12 GMT 10
 (click to enlarge) Here is my plan if I am in Brisbane at the time of this type of event. Brisbane is close to some major forest areas that go for miles, I would head for the hills if I was not able to hot wire a car walking or riding a bike would be my mode of transport. I would find a place that has a solid stream of water from Lake Wivenhoe so a I had a good water source if I believed it was going to be more of a long term thing, short term I would be looking at somewhere close to Mt Coot-Tha. Not knowing how long the situation would last I would start to plant some seeds for food. I have seeds for a large variety of vegetables and the fasted to grow take about 6 weeks before I can harvest, so I would be relying on my preps until then. Shelter would be easy to make in this environment and there is enough wooded area to reduce the risk of having someone stumble upon me camp. Benefits of these locations are: Mt Coot-Tha: Close to town, in a potential short term situation I am close to the radio and TV towers so reception would be an issue. There are good viewing points so I can see first hand what is going on in the surrounding areas. If the situation gets better I am close enough to go back into town and also close enough to get help if required. If things got worse I would look to move to another location however not before see what supplies I could get from the TV stations first, there area canteens and restaurants there, plenty of battery packs for the cameras and lots of other goodies that would go to waste or someone else in a long term situation. Lake Wivenhoe: Good water source for longer term bug outs, lots of resources in the area so shelter, farming and general living will be easy. There are a lot of farms in the area so barter is also possible at a later date. 6 months in this environment would be easy to survive and if things got worse you could go further out. Vehicle issues would restrict the distance I could travel however being in a farming area obtaining a horse could be a possibility. The biggest issue a lot of preppers may have are the usual should I stay or should I go. There have been so many "this is it" moments it is hard for some people to make the call. At the end of the day, if everything was back to normal quickly it just means you have had some fun camping and testing your preps. If it turns out things only get worse you are in a good situation to move on and put further plans into action. |
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brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 20:40:23 GMT 10
Good point graynomad, it shows that you are really living the best lifestyle already. Just have to sort out the fruit and vegies part, start your own bunnings and download a shit load of porn now so there is no issues when the internet goes out.
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 21:11:38 GMT 10
Good point graynomad, it shows that you are really living the best lifestyle already. Just have to sort out the fruit and vegies part, start your own bunnings and download a shit load of porn now so there is no issues when the internet goes out. Lmao on porn... Note to self, purchase a portable DVD player and decent porn for trade, would make a mint!!! |
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 21:34:57 GMT 10
Yea brad I know the areas, but you may not have much of a choice in bugging on or out, something this "bad" would swell all the waterways so likely cutting you off for a few days to weeks....
I can't see bugging out a option... Untill the waters receed
As this is a multi level disaster that will need to be planned...
Bug out may simply not be possible for a few days, and camping after a major disaster on its own may also not be possible...
BUT things like this has me reassessing my plans, as something like this will put me in harms way with minimal escape routes...
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Aug 27, 2014 21:35:10 GMT 10
Good scenario Brad. Difficult choice between bugging in or out.
If bugging out I could "scavenge" the neighbours car (after checking they have sufficient fuel) and maybe get to one of my BOLs, a couple of hours away in a small town with family, large amounts of tank water, chooks and a couple of excellent vege gardens.
Bugging in we could do OK, but would start to struggle after a month or two as we don't have months worth of food at the moment. Water is OK, have tanks but food would start to run low meaning some scavenging may be required. Would also be able to protect our property from the possibility of looters
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 21:54:23 GMT 10
But to hijack... The foreseeable levels to this disaster Multiple cyclones, @ high cat so will have warning to the disaster (bug out maybe possible at this stage??) High winds, this alone will cause massive damage, blocking roads, damaging homes High level flooding from rain + storm surge (low lying areas are stuffed & water over road issue) Then the grid down Immediately transportation to area is affected Rescue/recovery will be focused in capital cities (Brisbane and the 11 floods) First few weeks outside localised looting... I can't see major unrest outside at evac centres (gov won't admit power will be out for longer) About now all s$% will break loose, no Facebook for 2 weeks will upset a lot of people Also within this time, storms will be common Anything else anyone wants to add?? Or something i missed?? Just establishing a expected timeline/series of events in response to the sceniro?? I know within 72 hours evac centres will be operational, also extra police will be deployed and militry to maintain order and emergency powers activated.... |
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brad
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Post by brad on Aug 27, 2014 22:21:06 GMT 10
I can see where you are coming from PH however remember this is just a scenario for you to check your preps and see if you have got what you need to get out of this situation.
Roads for the locations I have if I am in Brisbane are no issues if there is a flood, 2011 floods gave me a good chance to look for ways through.
There are no right or wrong answers as the scenario is based on your area/state and only you would know if your current preps would last or be suitable for this type of situation.
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Aug 27, 2014 22:30:02 GMT 10
Wouldn't be a huge deal for me. Love close enough to a river and have enough spare bottles that we coukd go collect plenty, got fishing gear and a bow, dead tree up the road would make for an ideal fire. If not there's p.p's friends c**p we were holding for him that would burn nicely. Lol. Big dog at the back so security would be the same. Oh and a few heifers up the road, could easily make one of them go "missing" and keep my neighbors quiet with part of the meat we "found" lol.
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Aug 27, 2014 22:30:37 GMT 10
Oh plus the rice and pasta I already have hoarded lol
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Post by pheniox17 on Aug 27, 2014 22:51:38 GMT 10
I can see where you are coming from PH however remember this is just a scenario for you to check your preps and see if you have got what you need to get out of this situation. Roads for the locations I have if I am in Brisbane are no issues if there is a flood, 2011 floods gave me a good chance to look for ways through. There are no right or wrong answers as the scenario is based on your area/state and only you would know if your current preps would last or be suitable for this type of situation. Exactly, one of my most important preps is planning and foresight, and that's always the first assessed in these type of things, then gear, then stockpiles... Its very important for me to work out this before the unlikely chance it happens, being put what's expected in conditions, understanding this is worse case (that's also important) adjusts plans, eg bug out right after event yet all escape routes are blocked one way or another, the waterlogged campsite, and the lack of wild meat all being possibles would that not change bug out asap to bug out 2/3 days later when conditions slightly improve?? All things worth thinking/talking about if we were to go in depth, there is no right or wrong (I may come across a little different but that's a attempt to understand logic) but still need to avoid the fantasy, and with power cut for 6 months + (we won't be told that at the time) its one hell of a disaster... Even bugging in needs further thought, in the what ifs (home destroyed by wind for example) Even bug out plans i would wait on this one for a day, as this event will cause so much shock you actually have some time before danger by zombies will be a issue... Its worth the thought (so dont misunderstand, picking plans like this apart has benifits, otherwise whats the point of running scaniros?? This way not only are the plans assessed, they can evolve) |
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