The more urban areas are going to be the places where destabilization happens first.

[OldBaldy1701E]

Because there are no contingencies for being self sufficient in the city. Only the most wealthy have the land/space to grow their own food. Same with the water. Urban water will degrade and become dangerous very quickly.

I have a big bin full of my camping gear. I could be a little self sufficient if needed, but not in the city. The buildings will become unusable due to lack of water pressure getting to the upper floors as well as the inevitable power losses. People will begin to panic. That will not go well at all. There will be no way to stem this panic. Why?

Call me crazy if you wish. I hope I am. Even if this scenario never happens, the fact that it is becoming more and more possible means the fallout from it will be people like me and mine. Too old/crippled to be useful. Too knowledgeable and experienced to be useful to any status quo, unless it was already damned near a utopia... the existence of which I have yet to be made aware of. Some of us are at the point where we are unable to forage, to hunt, to skin, to prepare, to build, to clear, to farm, etc. I am now in Minnesota. There is no 'hope this winter is not too bad'. At least down home, you could survive a winter. You seldom got too far below freezing. Up here, you either have the resources to survive, or you don't. If it comes to that, we won't, because we don't have shit.

I guess I never thought about the fact that I was going to be in that group. I have always just done what needed to be done. Don't know how? Learn how. Or, figure out a way to get it done. (I have been doing that for my entire life. That happens when you live as far out in the wilderness as I did. The closest town of over 2000 was 28 miles away. We were not exactly on the cutting edge of knowledge and progress.) Now, I am about to move to a place where I don't know if I can even keep my tools and stuff because of a lack of space. Without them, I cannot repair, improve, maintain my dwelling and my other items of life (car, bike, etc.). Without being able to store my camping stuff, We will be at the mercy of that scenario I described. BTW, getting a storage space or the like is out of the question when we are struggling to figure out how to budget our food for each month once we move into our new place.

I guess I have never been able to place myself completely at the mercy of outside elements when it comes to my life and my lifestyle. Now, I am being forced to, and it does not sit well with me. I mean, does one really think that the management of my building will be there working to keep the place operative once there are roaming gangs? Is that too far-fetched? I guess it depends on where one lives and how close to such a dystopia one is. Some of us are already living close to such a scenario. It is frustrating to have to hear from those who do not as they try to act as if I am exaggerating. As I said in another post, the rich will not have to suffer any of this due to their socioeconomic position. Even if reason finally wins the day, people like myself will not see it. We can't 'hold out while it all burns and then win the next election'. Not those who are already completely dependent and will have nothing to offer in return for goods and services.

And people wonder why I am a cynic. Heh.

[Kid Berwyn]

1. All that seems to be where we're headed.

As MAGA destroys the nation: Water, Food, Shelter, Law and all that make civilization will be up for grabs.

We the People need to stick together, prepared for what may come — and united against tyranny. That will depend on our thinking, not on arms, violence or enforcement. We need use all of our critical faculties and all our abilities as humans to remember the one idea Joe Biden said was the greatest ever considered: the Constitution.

[Ilsa]

2. They have a plan for the water supply?

Pleasee help me understand what is going on with that.

[OldBaldy1701E]

6. Oh, no plan that I am aware of.

But, the water infrastructure needs constant attention and adjustment. As they remove workers from government jobs to force them to work in the private sector, the entire water infrastructure will slowly start to lose pressure, and then stop flowing altogether.

The creeks and streams in any urban or suburban area are far too dangerous to drink from, so... ?

[Ilsa]

14. Thank you. Got it: "neglect". nt

[BannonsLiver]

3. Hoo boy.

[Bayard]

4. It's scary

We will probably hold up better than many in hunkering down. We have hens laying eggs, and a big vegetable garden I just finished putting in. I'm planning on canning most of it. We have a wood burning stove, with plenty of wood seasoning. We have a gas generator, but won't be any good if there's no gasoline. Water supply? That's a problem. Even if we had a well, you need electricity to draw it up.

But, we are in the heart of MAGAt country. I have stopped trying to sell some of our goats--I've had too many people wanting to buy, "the whole herd." That says to me that they want to eat them. They are little dairy goats! I'm afraid of what will happen to our goats, chickens, and geese if people get really hungry. Hell, I'd even be afraid for the horses if, "roaming gangs," become a thing. I remember a book I read as a kid. Part of it was about people in WWII trying to save the horses at the State Stud in Poland. They were afraid if the starving Russian troops got there first, they would eat these national treasures. Thankfully, General Patton, (horse lover,) came in and saved the day.

[stillcool]

5. We humans adapt

all the time, and life will go on until it doesn't. Fear has been more destructive than any catastrophe I've lived through.

[OldBaldy1701E]

8. As things stand, the only humans that would have a chance in the scenario that I described would be the rich.

They will literally suck anything of merit from this country and then just move away.

Is that what you want? I sure don't. (I don't mind the second part, but the first part is unacceptable.)

So far, fear has not been the cause of any of my problems in this life. Being forced to struggle just to survive while spoiled brats rage around trying to prove how awesome they are and ruining society so that people like me cannot get a break has been. Being looked down on for my sexuality has been. Not being a good little robot has been. Everything that is happening now is just more of that same crap.

[Jit423]

7. Actually, I think just the opposite.

I believe urban areas will do ok. Survival is what they do best.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. Only because the urban areas have infrastructure in place.

That infrastructure will slowly disappear if things continue. Then, it will be every person for himself.

It will really come down to a simple question:

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Don't think so. Where there's more people, there's more assets, more capabilities to handle shortages, use substitutes,

etc. As one who's lived in a highly urbanized area, I'm stocked up to the 'Ts' w/ a full pantry, could live for at least six or more months w/o worries. Also, more highly urbanized areas will have more support infrastructure available in case of power outages, and/or other types of infrastructure issues.

[OldBaldy1701E]

15. For whom?

Just as low rent areas don't get 'sound barriers' when a freeway gets built among their houses, poorer areas are not going to get what you mention. You are stocked? Awesome. I am glad you had the resources to stock up on things. A lot of us don't have that.

Also, how are you going to survive winter without power and the means to burn anything for heat? Most of us live in such places. There is no way to remain in a state like Minnesota when you have no power and no fireplace. And, what about the ability to go find food? If the local store is out of food, then what?

That infrastructure comes from public services that come from local governments. What are they going to do when resources run out? Minneapolis has a population of almost a half a million people living in it. Do you think the area is capable of supporting that many people on its own for longer than a day or three?

They cannot keep everyone fed and housed now and this is after what was supposed to be one of the greatest economies we have ever posted.

[GenThePerservering]

11. About every 8 to 10 years there's a seige of books

about "Preparing for the Next [catastrophic event]" written in hyperbolic terms.

And we just muddle on.

My own 'preparedness' is being resilient and participating in community. That's going to be different for different people.

[madville]

12. Focus on the basics

I want to make sure I have water, food, medicine, and protection covered first. I have a couple of water sources including a 20 ft deep hand pump well I installed that can at least bring up groundwater to purify. A good ceramic/silver water filter setup, like a Berkey or on a budget a Purewell or homemade, is a must. Also life straws and purification tablets and chlorine bleach.

I have about 90 days of freeze dried food that has a 30 year shelf life and a few cases of vegetarian humanitarian MREs that are budget friendly. Also a good supply of salt and vinegar. I need to get back in the chicken game too.

I also hoard my prescriptions and have built up a little stockpile, could also cut the dose in half or every other day, I’d live. Have a good first aid supply too.

Also have plenty of ammo for my hunting rifles/shotguns and my handguns.

Have a good stockpile of rechargeable batteries, a solar station and panels, flashlights, a couple of generators, about 40 gallons of gas and 20 gallons of diesel.

Im about 7 miles outside the city limits on 7 acres, I imagine if things completely fell apart in town the city dwellers would start venturing out here to the rural areas foraging and maybe worse. I’m also in prime hurricane country, about 10 miles from the coast, go without power sometimes for 2-4 days when there is a storm so that’s really why I prepped well more than anything.

[OldBaldy1701E]

16. I hear that.

I was born and raised in hurricane country. Being prepared is a necessity, not a privilege.

[Marcuse]

13. Not looking forward to it.

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. Bartertown will become a thing, won't it? (n/t)