Gazrok
A True Doomsday Prepper
Obviously, most of us are not going to be living (pre SHTF) in a fortified castle (maybe some are, but likely not many), but will have to shift gears some after it becomes apparent that the grid is down, and isn't coming back up anytime soon.
So, what kinds of things would change for you? I realize OPSEC and all that, but for those who want to share (and feel free to keep some cards close to the vest), what kinds of things will kick in place after it all goes to hell?
For me, there are a lot of things that will immediately happen......
1. We have a house on a carved out lot of our ranch area (about 2 additional acres). It is officially a separate property, but we share a fence in one place, and her open gate would lead to our inner gate and fence. She's elderly, and her house is about as large as ours. We've had discussions about it, and basically, she's cool using her house to house others as long as she is protected and provided for. This will allow those that are planning to come here, the ability to have their own room, and a good quality of life. Later on, we may even buy her house if we can, when she passes. This also gives us another well to use.
2. Downing trees and power poles leading to the access roads. (preventing vehicle access, except for maybe one known path (and that one being pretty obtuse, trapped, and guarded).
3. Quick reach out to neighbors for mutual alerts and defense. We've helped each other clean up after storms before, but not with all neighbors, so I'm hoping to keep fostering those relationships. They can either be our best allies, or worst enemies in a SHTF situation, so have to keep it in check.
4. Installing posts outside of main fence (to prevent vehicles crashing through the fence). I keep these posts onhand mostly for fence repairs, but building up enough to do this task as well.
5. Dig out the planter boxes to become sentry posts. I'm in the process of building these in key positions around the house and property. Pre SHTF, they are planters, but made with the idea of digging out the plants and dirt, and becoming concrete pillbox firing positions/sentry positions.
6. Concrete block wall around the well pump. (I keep extra cinder blocks, rebar, and concrete mix onhand for repairs, and increasing for these kinds of projects).
7. Massively increasing the garden area. Going from little garden to using one of the pastures as another garden (one that isn't visible from the road, like existing garden area is hidden).
8. Appropriating the large pasture behind us for use (assuming we can easily do so). Nobody has used it for ages, though someone owns it.
9. When working outside, folks to wear bulletproof vests. Yes, I know these aren't full-proof, and they are heavy, and they could always get shot elsewhere, but the hope is that this would prevent the hit and fade tactic that a smart raider would use on such a compound. Post SHTF, it will be imperative to do this, I feel. I just hope I can get all of the vests before anything happens. At about $100 per (and this is used, and second hand usually), it's an expensive prep with no real immediate benefit. (though I'll gladly throw one on to investigate a noise in the night).
10. Lots of hunting, trapping, fishing. This is where extra people could come in handy (in addition to working in the gardens, and defense).
Of course, a major factor too, is getting the rest of our group here. I can see us occasionally using some power to watch a DVD, playing board games or pen and paper RPGs, reading by oil lamps, canning our veggies and fruits, etc.
So what kinds of things do you guys plan for right after everything goes south? How will your life change?
So, what kinds of things would change for you? I realize OPSEC and all that, but for those who want to share (and feel free to keep some cards close to the vest), what kinds of things will kick in place after it all goes to hell?
For me, there are a lot of things that will immediately happen......
1. We have a house on a carved out lot of our ranch area (about 2 additional acres). It is officially a separate property, but we share a fence in one place, and her open gate would lead to our inner gate and fence. She's elderly, and her house is about as large as ours. We've had discussions about it, and basically, she's cool using her house to house others as long as she is protected and provided for. This will allow those that are planning to come here, the ability to have their own room, and a good quality of life. Later on, we may even buy her house if we can, when she passes. This also gives us another well to use.
2. Downing trees and power poles leading to the access roads. (preventing vehicle access, except for maybe one known path (and that one being pretty obtuse, trapped, and guarded).
3. Quick reach out to neighbors for mutual alerts and defense. We've helped each other clean up after storms before, but not with all neighbors, so I'm hoping to keep fostering those relationships. They can either be our best allies, or worst enemies in a SHTF situation, so have to keep it in check.
4. Installing posts outside of main fence (to prevent vehicles crashing through the fence). I keep these posts onhand mostly for fence repairs, but building up enough to do this task as well.
5. Dig out the planter boxes to become sentry posts. I'm in the process of building these in key positions around the house and property. Pre SHTF, they are planters, but made with the idea of digging out the plants and dirt, and becoming concrete pillbox firing positions/sentry positions.
6. Concrete block wall around the well pump. (I keep extra cinder blocks, rebar, and concrete mix onhand for repairs, and increasing for these kinds of projects).
7. Massively increasing the garden area. Going from little garden to using one of the pastures as another garden (one that isn't visible from the road, like existing garden area is hidden).
8. Appropriating the large pasture behind us for use (assuming we can easily do so). Nobody has used it for ages, though someone owns it.
9. When working outside, folks to wear bulletproof vests. Yes, I know these aren't full-proof, and they are heavy, and they could always get shot elsewhere, but the hope is that this would prevent the hit and fade tactic that a smart raider would use on such a compound. Post SHTF, it will be imperative to do this, I feel. I just hope I can get all of the vests before anything happens. At about $100 per (and this is used, and second hand usually), it's an expensive prep with no real immediate benefit. (though I'll gladly throw one on to investigate a noise in the night).
10. Lots of hunting, trapping, fishing. This is where extra people could come in handy (in addition to working in the gardens, and defense).
Of course, a major factor too, is getting the rest of our group here. I can see us occasionally using some power to watch a DVD, playing board games or pen and paper RPGs, reading by oil lamps, canning our veggies and fruits, etc.
So what kinds of things do you guys plan for right after everything goes south? How will your life change?
