Ever since I was a teenager there have been numerous times when I have “come to the rescue” in a situation. Not literally rescued someone but just had what was needed at the time.
One of the most memorable was when I was going to Winthrop College back in 1989 and Hurricane Hugo swept into town. Even as a teenager I was into preparedness. I awoke at 4:00am to the power out and incredible wind and rain. I was in my dormitory and walked into the hallway outside my room and people were trying to get news and check on people. Hardly anyone had a flashlight and as far as news there were no cell phones back then.
I went into the Army footlocker I had brought to school with me and fetched a radio along with a couple of flashlights and several cyalume light sticks. I passed the extra items out.
I was not surprised by the lack of preparation. I had seen it all before.
Another example was a storm rolled through the South and killed power in my area. I cranked up my generator and plugged in my fridge and freezer – along with a box fan, cell phone chargers and a TV/DVD.
My neighbor was talking to my wife, saying that they didn’t know what they were going to do as the power was supposed to be out up to 4 days. I told my wife to run ONE extension cord over there and to make sure that ONLY the fridge was plugged in. I didn’t want to overload the genny.
There have been numerous other situations where the power went out, a band-aid or first aid kit was needed, someone needed some rope – whatever. Point is and not trying to pat myself on the back but I come through because I am prepared.
So – is preparedness common sense or craziness?
I have been in likewise situations over the years caused by various scenarios. I have passed out rations gathered during my service years, knives, eating utensils, drinking vessels and in some cases water. I generally tried to keep my water to myself unless it was a situation where replenishment was easy to accomplish. The total ingratitude I experienced with only the occasional person even uttering a thank you caused me to just keep everything to myself unless there are little children or babies involved.
If you really want to get “frustrated”, try doing this for years in the South with the “entitlement people”, who will never, ever be prepared for anything, no matter what you do to coach them, to help them – the gooberment will always come to the rescue, right? Wrong! And all they have to do is use the magic words and they will get “everything they are entitled to”, right? We can thank the lies and half-truths being spread outside the south for that one. OK, don’t get that soapbox out!
But I must say the majority of people I dealt with were very thankful for every little thing we did for them; but maybe because it is the south, and we have not thrown all civility and common sense out the door, not yet, anyway.
The fool ignores the warning. The wise man (woman) prepares.
Unfortunately one of the largest “entitlement” groups are church members. Served in the ministry for MANY years (wifey…a lady preacher? Yikes! LOL) and still am sometimes just down right discusted at how people in the church often are the most “needy” people in the world. It seems they never consider the idea that they need to stop melting down the golden calf for jewelry and set something back to take care of their own “tent”.
Well, stop me if you’ve heard this one before…
I recently encouraged a new acquaintance to attend church, as she had been out of church for quite some time. She ended the conversation with an unsolicited promise to attend her church the next Sunday. She apparently then called the church secretary and asked the church secretary to give her a call so she could be sure and make it to church on time!
My brothers have been in the ministry for 30 and 40 years; I thought I’d heard it all. But, not!
Hugo.
Ah yes, I remember him well.
We even named a bug after him.
comingstorm –
A bug? I didn’t know that. Which one?
Rourke
The problem with the word preparedness is, like many other words, when it goes mainstream the most prepared person for the very worst scenario imaginable becomes the stereotype AND at some level, any person with the term attached to them becomes vilified.
Most people born prior to “The Sixties” had flashlights, an extra blanket or two, at least several days of food in the kitchen cupboard and a first aid kit if not a fully stocked medicine cabinet. This was standard practice, the way homes were set up. Now days those ‘just starting out’ seem more concerned with entertainment devices.
Your question: “So – is preparedness common sense or craziness?”
Answer: It depends on what the definition of “IS” is.
If our children and grandchildren did what our parents and grandparents normally did at their age, they would be considered fringe element.
Abnormal becomes normal because it’s common.
Dang, Pam, I hate it when you’re so practical – and so right! But, hey! Good news! We’re catching on!
A fella in my church who, only 2 years ago, thought I was “scary”, now preps – and, guess what? His new boss is a prepper!
It’s all good.
I’m sometimes surprised by just HOW ill-prepared most people really are.
Last summer, I went on a 3-day ‘easy’ camping trip with a couple friends. I expected that the young lady of the pair would have a hard time of it- she had never been camping before, so to be expected. The gentleman assured me that he was an “experienced outdoorsman”.
I was a bit appalled to discover that neither had thought to bring a hat, and that the only knife they had packed along was from a package of plastic picnic cutlery.
This was a planned outdoor trip. Hard to imagine “something bad happening”
Yup. And they think we’re “missing something”!!!!!
I think I originally got the preparedness gene from my grandparents, who grew up in the Depression. So I’ve always maintained a well stocked pantry. but now that I live in an area where the electric goes out regularly…as a matter of fact,we just went out for a sec just now…it is a matter of life…so it is common sense to me, and has been for my whole life. I can and am working on doing better, but I am confident that we are secure short term, working on longer term
Lee – you wouldn’t happen to know something about off-grid power systems that work, would you?
unfortunately @ServantHeart I am not. It is an aspect of my prepping that I need to work on. My positives are medical knowledge/prep and food prep. I need to work on water and energy, not to mention protection. I have always had a well stocked pantry, and am working on the rest.
havent listened to the whole podcast, but might have some helpful info on backup energy here
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/calls-6-28-13#comments
Lee –
Thanks for commenting. You are doing something so many do not even consider – to the benefit of your family.
Keep it up.
Rourke
Thank you Rourke, we are working on it! I feel I am not sufficiently prepared, but have a leg up on those who have not even considered it.
Being prepared means a personal SHTF incident can become just an inconvenience. Two people had new cars. My daughter had insurance and good relationships with us so we could come to her aid very promptly after a car crash that wrote off her vehicle. She suffered inconvenience and irritation plus upset on the day. The other driver is going to be upset for years as he didn’t have insurance and the car wasn’t paid for.
Its also the little things. The buckle on my shoe broke when I was away from home. The tools and materials I had in the car meant I could fix it well enough in about 10 minutes to take me through the rest of the day. Without those preps I’d have had to go and buy some new shoes in order to finish the work I had to do.
I came across a diabetic who needed some sugar to get her home. I had 2 choices: some peppermints and a small can of fruit. She chose the peppermints but she could have easily have chosen the can as I had a spoon and an opener.
I think that it is amazing that so many people just don’t think that problems can happen to them – or its too big for them to comprehend just how much they need to do to get a basic level of preparedness – having to find the money for house, car and contents insurance plus prepping stuff can be a bridge too far.
Now I need to go out the back and finish emptying out my two water containers – its that time of the year when I need to put fresh water into them.
Well said, Harriet!
Isn’t it amazing how those of us who think ahead to “what if” and prepare for “what if” are crazy, while the ones who charge full speed ahead with no thought for the “what ifs” of life are somehow “normal”?
Good to hear from you; here’s hoping all is well with you and yours.
Blessings,
Amen Harriet! With frequent electric outages in the area, after living here a couple years, I put my foot down and got a generator. If nothing else, being prepared does make a short term SHTF more an inconvenience!
Family has quit thinking of me as crazy, but think of me as the free supply store
That’s what worries me, Harold. I’m the grocery store when my kids are short…but they have also been campers from early days and have some basic survival skills.
You are all so wise .I enjoy reading these blogs. I wanted to share a few books that are helpful about the coming storms of life- SHTF .
The Long Emergency by James H Kunstler. He also wrote Home from Nowhere remaking our world and The Geography of NOwhere and Too Much Magic (dependence on technology)
Surviving the Apocalypse in the suburbs by Wendy Brown
Design for Water by Heather Levario
Extreme weather Hits Home
I have ordered a few of these from my library. I have read Kunstlers books-very good.
Prepping is now a way of life. Sending you all best wishes for a Blessed 4th of July. Arlene