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10:32 am
Instructor
June 9, 2009
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I was originally going to post this in the "Real World Self Defense" thread as I believe it to be inter-related but since the subject matter is somewhat different than simply force on force, I've decided to create a separate thread.
As martial artists we should be prepared for as many contingencies as possible. As protectors, those of us who find ourselves in a guard dog role, are compelled to prepare for worst case scenarios.
We have many brothers and friends from all corners of the world here at DCMMA, each of you have different contingencies to prepare for. Take for instance Japan right now. They've suffered a massive earthquake, Tsunami, and now nuclear meltdown and a general breakdown of day to day luxuries/necessities. I hear that grocery stores now have bare shelves, no food or water left. Fuel rationing has begun and electricity is spotty at best.
You may not live in a flood zone, or a coastal region open to Tsunami threats, but you should research your area and begin planning and preparing for whatever worst case scenarios may play out.
For me, this is the concern: http://geology.utah.gov/utahge…..qfault.htm
I live practically right on top of that fault line. And many of my fellow Utahn's do as well. I saw a video which got me really thinking:
Maybe the planetary alignments will have an effect on Wasatch Fault, maybe they won't. But it can't hurt to have supplies and a plan in place.
I think that any responsible plan, will have two phases, a short term plan and a long term plan. The long term plan should envolve the ability to become mobile. Many people understand the need for food storage, etc. But in a long term survival situation, you may need to be mobile and this will necessitate leaving a large store of supplies.
I don't have all the answers. I just want to start a dialog so that together we can help each other to wrap our minds around this enormous subject, and get ourselves into a position of action vs reation if any large scale catastrophy should happen in any of our immediate areas.
10:14 pm
Post Chaser
April 15, 2010
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I live in the Great Plains of Nebraska, just under a thousand miles from the nearest fault line (even that one is very small), and even farther from any kind of natural disasters besides tornadoes. Flooding may be a problem if things get catastrophic because I'm only about two hundred miles from the Missouri River, but we will know if anything threatening is going down long before it's too late.
The only real devastating threat that my neck of the woods is in, is that I am located right in the middle of the US Government's active nuclear warhead array. Hidden all over Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota are the US's big weapons, making us the prime target for any external threat if bombs start flying. My personal plan of escape is to grab my loved ones and head to Canada. Nothing ever happens in Canada.
Haha I'm just messing if there's any Canadians on here.
At home, I do have a rucksack loaded with survival equipment and other useful odds and ends allowing me to be prepared for mostly any disaster that could happen. This rucksack sits just around the corner of my bedroom door, fully prepared, and always ready to be put into use at a moments notice, just in case I ever need to high-tail it to a safer place and don't have time to grab everything. I have a well-planned, and durable kit already prepared.
One disaster that I know we are not prepared for, however, is the solar storm that NASA warned is going to hit us, more like smash us, within the next two years. Here's a quick explanation:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sci…..ONTHS.html
I did much more research and here it goes:
Basically, the sun has been eerily quiet and is about to build back up to the most extreme part of it's regular cycle. This max, as it's called, involves massive explosions on the sun's surface and monstrous releases of different kinds of charged particles that, when they reach earth, can take out satellites, power grids, and even possibly mess with electronics down to the starter on your car in size. NASA warned that we should prepare for power outages for up to two years. (That's the utterly worst-case scenario. If a black cat crosses your path as you walk under a ladder and drop the mirror you were carrying, prepare for that.) They said it's not a matter of 'if', but a matter of 'when' and 'how bad'.
This solar maximum will be so much more devastating than in the past for two reasons. One, compared to the last one just over ten years ago, we are much more dependent on electronics and satellite systems than before. (You may not even realize how much satellites affect your daily life.) Experts predict that, if the storm lives up to its potential, it could be literally 20x as devastating as Hurricane Katrina, bringing the grand total to almost $2 trillion.
Two, our galaxy is passing through an enormous, electrically-charged cloud, which is going to excite the sun, causing this solar max to be much more extreme than ever before.
One thing that I read as I was researching that seemed even more alarming to me, was that they are not sure if these bombardments of solar radiation will affect the Earth's core or magnetic poles….if anyone has seen the movie 2012, that is the Earth's core after three Red Bulls and some crystal meth. Realistically, the Earth's core were to get excited, it would just mean an increase in the number and magnitude of earthquakes and a number of volcanoes blowing their tops. For the magnetic pole idea, (the incident in Japan has already shifted the poles slightly) it would just mean compasses and the navigation systems in airplanes and satellites being thrown off.
Solar maxes, like the upcoming one that NASA said we should be worried about, have happened before.
In the '60s there was a solar max that knocked out telephone systems in Illinois for a short while.
In the '80s there was a max that knocked out electricity in Canada for a few days and caused an explosion on a Russian oil pipeline.
In the mid 1800's there was a max that was so extreme, it excited telegraph wires, sending charges through the wires that cause numerous fires from the sparks caused the the sudden overcharge in the wires, resulting in several buidlings being burned down and a pasture or two catching fire.
The most recent is a medium-sized solar flare up that crippled South Africa's power supply by taking out 14 transformers on the power grid.
Not sure what to completley think about it, but the Washington Post says it could potentially knock us back, technologically speaking, 150 years.
10:20 pm
Post Chaser
April 15, 2010
Offline
Breaking News, I was just glancing over the news on Google and two things caught my eye:
One – Experts are predicting that a solar flare up will supercharge Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) and cause it to be able to be seen as far south as Wyoming and as far east as New York.
Two – Russian scientists are theorizing a possible link between the Japan incident and a solar flare that impacted Earth shortly before the earthquakes began. There was apparantly also a medium-sized solar energy release right before the Chilean earthquakes, also.
I'm not a pessimist, I just think that we are in for some major changes soon.
12:44 am
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
Gas prices are another potential problem for a self reliance prepper. The moment it costs shipping companies more to fill up their trucks than they can make by shipping food etc. The corner grocery is going to get real empty real fast.
1:21 pm
Post Chaser
April 15, 2010
Offline
I sometimes wonder how outrageous people are going to get when it grows closer to December 21, 2012. That's the mystical date that the Mayans' calendar ends. (Although there are other Mayan material that talks about after 2012. Personally, I feel they just thought, "Eh, 3000 years is enough for a calendar.")
I imagine some stupid people doing some very stupid things because 'the world's going to end,' meaning they won't have to pay for their actions. Looters, etc.
When the time grows near to that hyped up day, stay alert and safe everyone.
3:06 pm
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
Dickey said:
I sometimes wonder how outrageous people are going to get when it grows closer to December 21, 2012. That's the mystical date that the Mayans' calendar ends. (Although there are other Mayan material that talks about after 2012. Personally, I feel they just thought, "Eh, 3000 years is enough for a calendar.")
I imagine some stupid people doing some very stupid things because 'the world's going to end,' meaning they won't have to pay for their actions. Looters, etc.
When the time grows near to that hyped up day, stay alert and safe everyone.
Our lazy society only sees fit to create 12 month calendars before we make new ones.
8:11 pm
Post Chaser
April 15, 2010
Offline
Good observation. The Mayans also used foot messengers who basically ran marathons over mountains, daily, before they reached the next messenger to relay the message. We type a few letters and hit send.
12:43 am
April 16, 2011
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This post got me thinking about the show "The Colony." That was a cool show an interesting experiment. If you've never heard of it you should look it up.
I'm huge into minimalist camping and survival. In my last job, I experienced a few real time survival situations in third world countries where I was very glad to have been prepared. The whole doomsday thing just has too many what ifs and other variables for me to worry about a certain date. I'd have to live 7 times to merely scratch the surface of everything I want to do. If I knew that day was around the corner, I'd worry like a mofo. Then when that day passed I'd be upset because I wasted my time worrying when I could have been living my life. I feel the best thing to do is be prepared but live your life.
If you get waxed you won't have to worry anymore because you're gone. If you survive whatever catastrophy then improvise, adapt, overcome….or die. What else are you going to do?
10:35 am
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
The Canadian family has equipped their children with Bug Out Bags. Hell yeah!
11:44 pm
April 16, 2011
Offline
Yeah my wife makes fun of me because I keep my "go bag" near the door and usually put it in my car when I go somewhere. I told her it's like the fire extinguisher in the kitchen. We've never had to use it so why do we have it? Oh, in case of a fire? I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
10:48 am
September 30, 2010
Offline
Yeah, friday night/saturday morning I was with my church's youth group who was doing an all nighter. I liked to be prepared so I brought some stuff you know like Ace's, Knee braces, ibprofen etc etc. Always be prepared! It turned out that stuff was usefull! Oneof the guys dislocated his shoulder (Who knows how) and I had him bite my BJJ belt (I had my gear for class in the morning) while I popped it back into place, then I made a compression bandage/sling with an Ace. I try and make a habit of being prepared, people tend to laugh at me for having such a random asortment of equipment, but it has proved itself useful. I will continue to pack bags of knee braces, ibprofen, ace's and whatever else I think I might possibly need in whatever situation. 
11:54 am
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
I don't want to come off as an alarmist. I don't feel alarmed and I don't feel that we need to freak out about anything. But by the same token, I feel that the potential for disaster is a lot closer to us than the general public would like to think.
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=150290…..mp;nid=149
Probably nothing to worry about, but good to be aware of.
Check your areas for the nearest Nuke Energy Plant or Radioactive Waste Storage Facility. Also look into the routes that the Radioactive matrerial travels to get to said storage facility. Here, it travels the same roads that I and everyone else use to get to and from work everyday. I've seen the trucks and even driven behind them. It's a statistical inevitability that one will be involved in an accident.
Again, probably nothing to really get that concerned about, but like the dude who walks into the resturant with a long black trench coat in the middle of summer, something to take note of and be ready for.
11:58 am
September 30, 2010
Offline
BTW the type of raidiation that is in the water dies out within 5 days of being introduced. I can't site a source for that but I read it or heard it somewhere credible, I just thought that would be good to know.
12:14 pm
September 30, 2010
Offline
Excuse me, not the raidiation itself (because it has a set half life) but it is spread so thin by the time it reaches us that its effects will be non existant. At least to the extent that we do not already have. As well as we take in naturally (Not counting man made sources such as microwaves, cellphones, radon painted watches etc etc.) about 240 REM's (2.4 mSv) of radiation per year. It takes only 500 Rad's (absorbtion of radiation related to rem's I believe) to kill a human being. http://www.iaea.org/Publicatio…..dlife.html I really don't think panic is due here. Your are probably most likely to die from the Radiation Sickness pills than actual radiation.
11:28 pm
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
Sorry guys, I might be a little in and out as of late. My home town just suffered about a day and a half of Catagory 2 Hurricain Winds. Power is touch and go at best.
Managed to update members area with:
Head Scissors Sweep Escape from 69
Take the Back from bottom 69
Phew… removing a swingset from roof.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?n…..thern-utah
5:02 pm
May 22, 2011
Offline
Sorry to hear that Dr. Sick. Best wishes t you and hang in there.
5:27 am
Post Leader
July 9, 2009
Offline
Thats terrible, Hope you and all your friends and family are safe and well. Don't worry about updating the members area, we have loads to work on. Make sure you're home situation is sorted first. Take care. I hope there's no more to come for you guys!
5:37 am
Post Leader
July 9, 2009
Offline
I saw this programme on National Geographic channel and it blew me away. Some of these people are ingenious! if you haven't seen it try to track it down. Some amazing survival concepts. Truly brilliant.
http://natgeotv.com/uk/doomsda…..nd-of-days
7:15 am
May 22, 2011
Offline
Do any of you have a "go bag"? If so what have equipped it with. I have 50 rounds of 40 cal ammo with Beretta sidearm, 2 small flashlights, small first aide kt, leather man tool, vitamins and water purification tablets, some MRE's, 25 feet of climbing rope and gloves.
If anyone is interested I also have numerous pdf's on survival that ranges from dumpster diving to natural medicine and how to survive. I even have a survival pdf on how to build weapons. It's crazy it has the schematics for a flame thrower lol,
10:47 am
Instructor
June 9, 2009
Offline
We're all fine over here. Family is good, house is good. Lots of debris but luckily we live in a really cool community where everyone has helped each other. Things were almost back to normal in about 48 hours which was amazing! In about 3 miles worth of real estate I saw at least 10 giant trees on top of live downed powerlines. The power company said they estimated about 48 hours before people would have power restored. I though to myself, no way. We're going to be at least 4 to 5 days without power with as much damage as I saw in that small cross section of highway and resi, and considering how long it took to restore power to the guys on the East Coast when they had their heavy winter storm earlier this year.
But low and behold, we had power up by the days end.
We've just recieved warning of a second storm with high winds coming through tonight. The concern is that the storm will blow debris from the first storm into houses, cars and people. The landfills are said to have a 3 – 4 hour wait from those cleaning up after the first storm so we're currently trying to figure out what to do with our refuse to secure it.
Better start work on that flamethrower.
As far as go bags are concerned, I have 3 live ones (2 large, extended term packs [Large Alice - Army Surplus] and 1 smaller, short term, camping/48 hour pack [Mountain Smith External Frame Pack]) and 1 super light pack purchased (Condor Urban Go Pack) but it's only equiped with a new solar/gyro flashlight.
Loads are as follows:
3 MRE's (Large Packs Only)
Energy Bars
Light Work Gloves
Solar, Gyro, Battery Powered Flashlights
Lighters, Sterno, Dryer Lint, Magnesium Rods, Lip Balm
Telescoping Fly Fishing Rod (Small Pack Only… All packs have a supply of flies)
Hand Sanitizer and Body Wipes
2 x 1 liter bottles of water (1 set for Small Pack, 1 set for Large Pack… 4 total should have more but all things in due time)
Water Filtration Systems
1 liter Titanium Pot (Small Pack Only)
Wool Blankets
8' x 10' Tarps
Polymer Hand Shovel
35' 550 Paracord
SOG Jungle Primitive Machete (Small Pack Only)
REI Quarterdome T2+ 3 Season Tent
Emergency Thermal Blankets 2 taped together so that they can also be used as lightweight overhead shelter
2' of Duct Tape
Painters Masks (for light airborn particles/dust – Large Packs Only)
Rubber Exam Gloves (Large Packs Only)
Large First Aid Kit (Large Packs Only… They contain larger quantities than the small First Aid Kits, for extended durations and trading stock if necessary)
Small First Aid Kit (Small Packs and Car Kits reduced in size for weight considerations)
Stainless Steel Cup (Small Pack Only)
Wistles
Compasses
Emergency Ponchos
First Aid Kits Include:
Iodine
Isopropyl
Hydrogen Peroxide
Potassium Permanganate (Large Packs Only)
Glycerine (Large Packs Only)
Gauze of various sorts for blood absoption (Pads, strips, etc.)
Ibuprofin
Asperine
Insect Repellent
Sun Block
Bacitracin
Neosporine
Alcohol Prep Wipes
Anti-Bacterial Wipes
Thermometers
Hemostats
Scissors
Sucher Kit
Quick Clot
Mole Skin
Burn Free
Gatorade (and Rehydration Salts)
Under Wrap
Althletic Tape
Steri Strips
Bandaids
Super Glue
Telfa
I've found that the First Aid Kits have been extremely useful so far and have thus begun to build dedicated kits for each vehicle and each pack. It's expensive so it's a long term project. But I love them and am kind of addicted to building them.
I'm very happy so far with my preparations but as a result of two recent incidents I've realized there are a few things I'd like to have but don't yet.
4 to 6 sheets (or more) of OSB Particle Board (in case you want to secure your window areas for whatever reason). During this last windstorm, I was looking out of my sliding glass door watching my fence blow away and the glass bowed under the pressure of the wind and actually touched my nose.
4 to 6 (or more) lengths of 2'x4'
general purpose screws.
We'll be going out and picking these things up in a few hours.
I'm also not satisfied with my alternative communications schemes. I've been researching walkie talkies but haven't pulled the trigger on purchasing them yet because in urban environments they are said to only have 2 miles of range. Not useful for contacting friends and loved ones working across a 50 mile radius. I don't need something that will reach that far but at least something that we can use to leap frog information from one person to another across that distance.
People have suggested ham radios but I haven't had the time to pick up my license yet.
What's in your guy's kits and preparations?
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