Surviving a Partial Collapse

Lets start by Categorizing Catastrophic Events to put them in perspective:

Level 10 - the entire planet earth is destroyed
Level  9 - 90% of the humans on planet earth are killed (Asteroid Strike)
Level  8 - 50% of the humans on planet earth are killed
Level  7 - 90% of the humans on a continent are killed (Nuclear Winter)
Level  6 - 50% of the humans on a continent are killed
Level  5 - 90% of the humans in a region are killed (EMP)
Level  4 - 50% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  3 - 10% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  2 -  5% of the humans in a region are killed
Level  1 - single digit % of the humans in a region are killed

An Asteroid Strike, Nuclear Winter,  EMP or a Solar Flare would likely cause a total collapse of our country civilization.  Such an event could be classified from Level 3 to Level 9, but a more likely scenario would be a temporary Partial Collapse that would be from an event in the Level 1 to Level 3 range and which might include things like:

1. Large scale natural like a Super Volcano
2. Man-made disaster or Terrorist Attack such as a small Iranian nuke in several US cities
3. A global economic recession and Hyper Inflation
4. Civil, political and religious unrest with Riots and Looting
5. A nation wide Pandemic <- Click on Links for more info

More common events like Winter Storms, Hurricanes, Floods and Power Outages can cause regional breakdowns, but help will soon be on the way.  These are Level 1 events.  Where the really serious problem starts is when the domestic "Help" is also incapacitated and won't be able to come.  This quickly escalates an event classification by one or more Levels.

Realistically, most Preppers can only afford to prepare for things in the Level 1 to Level 4 scale.  The preparations or these events are similar except for how long you need to prepare for, how much water and food you need and how much seed & land for longer term events. 

This is where our Step by Step Prepper Plan comes in handy. The more you follow the plan and repeat the cycle, the better prepared you are for longer and more serious events.  Once you get to the point where you have a 1 - 2 year supply of food, seed, tools for a Prepper Garden, Livestock and extra supplies to Barter then you are ready to start working on an underground shelter with Solar Power. There are a number of sources on this, and some group retreats have them included.  The more catastrophic Level 5 and higher events will likely require a substantial investment to survive underground.  Nuclear preparations are well documented and information is readily available and not expensive.  www.ki4u.com has lots of good nuclear info, products and links to even more.

Below is a picture showing the before (bottom) and after (top) effects of an 18 kilo tonne (kt) nuclear bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima Japan. The nuclear bomb sizes last published were 200,000 kt, or 11,000 times more powerful.  Likely nuclear targets for the US include Washington DC, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Chicago and Los Angles plus other large population centers.

 

The devastation is major but primarily on the surface.  Radioactive fall out is likely to kill just as many as the blast. 

After having your preps in order, getting to your retreat early is a key.  Recognizing the RED FLAG warnings that it is time to bug out is important.  Short term Level 1 events can be dealt with in the city, with a good Urban Plan.  Sustainable City Survival is possible if well prepared, but chances are lower than in the country.  Knowing what to expect in urban areas will help.  Country dwellers should expect to be swarmed with city gangs desperately seeking food and water. 

Once you are well stocked, you need a security plan to protect your supplies and loved ones.  Here are some links to read about security:

Night Vision vs Thermal Vision
Investing for Preppers (Financial Security)
The Best Gun
Best Handgun Selection Criteria

Group Security Drills
Urban Survival Perspective
Urban Survival Plan
The right amount of Ammo

Passive Layered Security
Communications
Actionable Intelligence
PVC Survival Tube

Using your garden for cover
Security Patrol Pack (or Bug Out pack)
Country Home Security Plan
Home Invasion Response Plan

Guns in plain sight
Situational Awareness
Intruder Detection
Riot Preparations

Double Barreled Defense
Modern Home Security
Sustainable City Survival
BB Gun

Top 5 Combat Rifles
Best Prepper Dog

For additional information see the following links:
Blog Table of Contents

See similar topics by clicking on the labels below

Power Outage Preps

 

Drinking water for an extended Power Outage is important. Our post on Emergency Water is very complete and informative with a water storage and rotation plan that would work for any home.

But we must have a way to prepare food. The charcoal allows you to cook food as would an inexpensive cook stove like the one below.

  

 
Our post on Food Preparation & Preservation covers more detail on this topic.

Another nice item are these solar powered lights. 

With some inexpensive hardware, or a flower vase, you can spread them around your home to provide light.  

 

The quality ones use rechargeable AA or AAA batteries and can be used as a solar powered charger.  They are also brighter and last longer. Having a set of each (AA and AAA) is ideal so you can charge all your small batteries.

When you are not using these for lighting or to charge your batteries, they make attractive lights for your yard and provide an added measure of Home Security.  

For more information:
Blog Table of Contents
Power Outage Preps
Power Outage Heater
DIY Solar System 
The SHTF Day One
Survive a 2 week Power Outage
Complete Sustainable Living Plan 

Flood Bugout Bag

What should you have packed and ready to go in the event of a flood or hurricane?  

Here is a good list, but put each individual item in a water proof bag or case:

1. Water resistant backpack
2. Medicines, glasses, contacts, important documents, cash, and a First Aid kit
3. Rain poncho, rain boots, umbrella, children's floats or life vests (wear/carry these)
4. Change of clothes, & a blanket in a water proof bag (typical on all items)
5. Drinking water (stainless steel bottle, camel-back, refillable containers)
6. Dry foods, raisins, beef jerky, MRE's, cooked easy open can foods
7. Fully charged cell phone in a water proof case
8. Hand crank radio / flashlight / signal light in a water proof bag
9. Hand held MURS Communications Radios in a water proof bag
10. Chargers, cords and extra batteries in a water proof bag
11. Folding knife, fire starter, Bic lighter & waterproof matches
12. Area Map (waterproof) & compass in a water proof bag
13. Good handgun in a good moisture resistant holster & ammo in water proof bag
14. An inflatable raft, pool, float or wagon to carry some of your items

 For more information see:

Blog Table of Contents
Emergency Water Supply
Modern Home Security
Survive a 2 week power outage
Sustainable Lighting  

Riot & Looting Preparations
Natural & Man Made Disaster Preparation
Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparations  
Urban Security Plan

Hurricanes 

Beginner Prepper List   
Wilderness Survival Pack (Video) 
Wilderness Survival
Delivering Babies
Global Climate Facts

Emergency Essentials Disaster Preparedness

 

The above link provides useful information that is free to learn on the following topics and more.

Flood
Fires
Economic
Earthquake
Winter Storm
Tornado
Drought
Hurricane
Power Failure

For additional information see the following links:  
Blog Table of Contents

Surviving an Asteroid Impact

Earth is hit every day by a small (<16') meteor that disintegrates before reaching the surface. The threat of a potentially hazardous Asteroid hitting the earth is real enough that several governments were concerned enough to take action. 

The International Asteroid Warning Network was formed in 2013 at the request of the United Nations, to monitor "Near Earth Objects."  Also, NASA is developing a craft called the Asteroid Redirect Mission and a robot to be sent to a near-Earth Asteroid. 

Granted the likelihood of this occurring in our life time is low (< 1 in 10,000), but the consequences if it does are catastrophic.  A small asteroid exploded in the in Siberia in 1908 and 20 years later the area was still devastated. At this point, some are saying, yea, but that was long ago, but a strike this size occurs about every 10 to 20 years, usually in the ocean or an unpopulated area.  The power of this is about 1,000 times more powerful than the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan in 1945.

On February 15, 2013, an undetected asteroid 17 meters in diameter exploded 17 miles above Chelyabinsk, Russia. The energy from the air blast of the explosion measured the equivalent to 470 kilotons of TNT. The falling meteors from the explosion damaged buildings, shattered windows and injured nearly one thousand people.

If you are not convinced that the risk is real, here is some additional reading on the subject:

The 2015 PDC Hypothetical Asteroid Impact Scenario

How to Prepare For an Asteroid Impact September 2015

The Niburu Planet X System and Its Potential Impacts on Our Solar System
History Channel video
History Channel Article
1908 Mystery in Tunguska, Russia. Meteorite  
Asteroid devastation could even be worse than feared

Evidence found of 'impact winter' after asteroid that killed dinosaurs

For those who are convinced and would like to be prepare, here is some food for thought.  Many of the preps for this Event are the same as for other events.

An Asteroid Impact with Earth (or limited nuclear exchange) would destroy everything for potentially hundreds of miles, sending up enough dust into the atmosphere to block the sun for years, causing drastically cooler conditions.  Earth could literally enter a man-made Ice Age.  The EMP from a nuclear exchange could destroy all electronics that are not shielded, but that is another disaster for another post. Also, a Nuclear Winter would likely be less severe than an Asteroid Impact Winter.

Humans have survived an Ice Age before, but not during a time when our survival skills and preparations were so low.



Such Preparations would fall in two categories:   

1) Surviving a 3-10 year winter, tidal waves, fire storms and acid rain.  Within 20 days, the global average temperature would drop from 58 degrees (F) Fahrenheit to 35 F, recovering about 10 degrees after a year or two.  By this time, 1/3 or more of the northern hemisphere (all of Canada and Northern US) would be covered year-round by snow.  The entire earth would experience freezing in the winter, and only the darkest red areas would not be frozen year-round.

 2) surviving the "break out" after the sky clears, and the weather warms enough to begin life outside again.  The risk of unusually high ultraviolet exposure exists as the skies clear after being scorched. Disease from the fatalities decaying is a serious risk.

1) Surviving a 3-10 year winter

It could happen without any warning with only a matter of days to react.  So a high level of preparation and readiness is important. What should we prepare for?

• Living underground where the earths temperature is more constant may be required.  If not, a well-insulated shelter with a large supply of firewood, diesel or propane would be required making an "Event" like this, one of the most difficult to be prepared for.  Note that an underground shelter also protects from radiation as well as severe storms and cold.  See: Concrete Bunkers
• A ten year supply of long shelf life foods, water & warm clothing.  See the post:

Building your food stores the right way

Identifying nearby food warehouses, school cafeterias and other such places that feed large numbers might be a place to salvage food.  Animals that survive will likely be underground, underwater or able to withstand cold and eat grasses under the snow or bark and twigs of trees like goats, rabbits & deer.

• Green House to maintain your seed supply over such a long time and provide a small amount of food.
• Security plans with a large supply of Ammo to protect what you have. Here a few links:

                 Passive Layered Security

                 Urban Security

2)  Surviving the beak out

Nothing would be worse than surviving the extended winter and then not being prepared to survive the new world.  Here is what you might need and some of this could be salvaged from hardware and farm supply stores.

• Extensive Farming and Ranching supplies, including seeds, plants, livestock, feed, tillers, seeders, garden tools like shovels, hoes, and rakes.  Chickens, dogs, goats, pigeons, and rabbits are good animals to have.
• Green House to grow foods year-round.
• Hand tools like saws, axes, drills, nails, water pumps & barrels.
• Farming and Ranching Skills
• Security is still important as it will be easy to let your guard down at this point and be caught unprepared.
• Reproductive age adults for human re-population.
• Substantial loss of land based animals; large bodies of water may be a key source of natural food supply.  
• Snow melting will cause flooding, even in normally dry places.  
• Decaying animals may result in high amounts of airborne disease.

At this point, common long-term survival preparations are needed in addition to those to handle cooler and more erratic weather and shorter growing seasons.  There is a tremendous amount of detail regarding a long-term sustainable meal plan that is important. How much do I need to plant and how many animals do I need to raise.  The Prepper Handbook by JR Ray on Amazon covers all of this in great detail so we will not duplicate it here. 

For additional information click on the link below:

Blog Table of Contents

  

Here is what another site says about an Asteroid Impact