EBOLA Can you AFFORD to Shelter In Place? (Mortgage/rent/bills etc.)
- Thread starter R.Tist
- Start date
JDSeese
Veteran Member
Short answer, I guess, is NO.
Really, anyone can afford to shelter in place... for a while. Without a timeframe the question is hard to answer. If you suddenly had to quarantine in place, with no outside assistance, you would last until, in order of importance:
- you run out of water / water gets turned off
- you run out of consumable food
- you run out of heat / heat gets turned off
- you get forcibly evicted
- you get raided by zombies / looters
What other factors are there? In a true SHTF / TEOTWAWKI scenario, there may not be strong efforts to evict, so does being afford to pay the mortgage really matter? That's kind of what I'm banking on, no pun intended, as I do not currently have any savings laid up to pay the mortgage if I'm not working, sad to say. Even if they don't disconnect my utilities, they could collapse on their own anyway. So I am focusing on stockpiling food and water.
Really, anyone can afford to shelter in place... for a while. Without a timeframe the question is hard to answer. If you suddenly had to quarantine in place, with no outside assistance, you would last until, in order of importance:
- you run out of water / water gets turned off
- you run out of consumable food
- you run out of heat / heat gets turned off
- you get forcibly evicted
- you get raided by zombies / looters
What other factors are there? In a true SHTF / TEOTWAWKI scenario, there may not be strong efforts to evict, so does being afford to pay the mortgage really matter? That's kind of what I'm banking on, no pun intended, as I do not currently have any savings laid up to pay the mortgage if I'm not working, sad to say. Even if they don't disconnect my utilities, they could collapse on their own anyway. So I am focusing on stockpiling food and water.
Ravekid
Veteran Member
If Ebola is just a "concern," it is just that. Since I don't believe it is the end of the world as some, I've done what I can to limit my risk. I have hand sanitizer and have started to really wash my hands properly (soap and thirty full seconds under running water). I've tried to be aware of how many times I touch my head, as that is where there are entry points (eyes, nose, mouth, ears). I purchased some basic mask which can help with mental preps of "Don't touch your face." as well as actually keep someone from physically making contact with their nose and mouth.
I think if Ebola kills off just 1% of the population in the country, which would be 3,000,000 people more than normal, things could be worse than worrying about if one can pay to keep their home. The question is what is the magical % where everything just collapses? Once that happens, the worries are bigger than personal finances. People who are starving won't care if your home is paid off and if it is yours. They will launch relentless attacks to get your food, if they believe you have something, anything. Plus, if your home is paid off and you live well within the snow belt, I really hope one has a wood stove and plenty of wood for the entire winter. If collapse comes, there will be no natural gas, no electric either. Freezing temps won't care if one has their home paid off.
this
the trick is timing
stay in the game as long as its safe
finding that line is the real trick
Sam I Am
Inactive
Good point, thanks. You guys really make me think about this stuff, I need that!
We're right there with you, JD - stocking up on food and meds. (Water isn't much of a problem though.) We too are hoping we're not evicted. DH drives a taxi in a world renowned resort, so our line in the sand is when anyone in our province tests positive for Ebola.
Saying prayers for all preppers who've worked hard for years to prepare, only to have $hit happen!
Artie.
idum
Swamp Gas
Being raided would be the only one of the above things that would affect my sip.
Most people won't last long without preps - a couple of weeks at most before they're too weak to be aggressive, so one only has to SIP until the unprepared die of starvation. (BRUTAL, I know, but we're talking reality here.)
Three million people dead from Ebola would panic AND HALT the nation (primarily transportation/supply lines), and more people will die of starvation than from the disease itself, I believe. If you can hold out long enough for the panic to subside, you'll probably have a reasonable shot at survival.
If we cannot contain this virus, and that prospect is not looking good at the moment, then we'll lose a lot more than 1% of the population - IMHO.
Artie.
meandk0610
Veteran Member
Where do you have no property taxes? Or is that because of hubby's status?
meandk0610
Veteran Member
For me, if it got to that, some of my expenses would change, e.g. gas for the car would disappear and we drive about 2500 miles/month. Food would be OK. I think I could come up with money for electricity for several months, the house is paid off, but then I would have no job and no savings for things like future property taxes, and am not sure how I would feed our chickens/ducks to get eggs. I think if I had to just let them and the goats scrounge in the field most or all would survive, but egg production would probably fall and my losses to predators like hawks would go up. So I guess it depends on what happens AFTER the SIP is done. I'd hate to be set up and then have the county come take property because I couldn't come up with the taxes.
It depends on the state and the county. Our county in MD is pretty easy. A portfolio review at the end of the year. Everyone I know goes overboard, so I don't know that the "minimum" requirements are. One county in PA is reviewed from a private company, then a teacher team, then the guidance counselor, VP, Princ, Asst Super and Super.
But, to the question of "in place for 6 months" I dunno. Even if the $$ was there, and the bills could be paid online, and the food preps were adequate, and the internet and infrastructure was operating, we would have to find a new normal really fast. Keeping your family safe from ebola only to strangle them to death with your own hands is not a good option.
Martinhouse
Deceased
I believe I could shelter in place indefinitely. I am elderly, and by the time I would be too infirm to gather firewood or draw water, I would likely be dead from something else.
I am concerned by the present situation, but not extremely worried, since I have no need to go anywhere and expose myself to anything.
Carol
I am concerned by the present situation, but not extremely worried, since I have no need to go anywhere and expose myself to anything.
Carol
Yes. The home place is near paid off, and the money is in the bank - I'm just trying to figure the most opportune time to do it, between retirement, severance and income taxes.
A good piece of farmland should pay it's own land payments and property taxes. Thank God this place always did - a huge help. Then as Terri and Ain't said, a careful, frugal lifestyle and forgo the flash.
Those with kids in school - it's an issue. But a lot of States have approved online schooling options (I know Minnesota does) and that could become mainstream if there is a big pandemic scare. Those who must go to work, I'd suggest trying to get by with just one parent in the work force and some kind of partial quarantine at home for the one going out every day. Helen said she's converting the shed out back for the relatives - something like that (or a camper) for the employed family member. A small sacrifice to ensure the health of the rest of the family.
But have your supplies in order real soon. I'm not concerned about the virus, I'm concerned about public reaction.
A good piece of farmland should pay it's own land payments and property taxes. Thank God this place always did - a huge help. Then as Terri and Ain't said, a careful, frugal lifestyle and forgo the flash.
Those with kids in school - it's an issue. But a lot of States have approved online schooling options (I know Minnesota does) and that could become mainstream if there is a big pandemic scare. Those who must go to work, I'd suggest trying to get by with just one parent in the work force and some kind of partial quarantine at home for the one going out every day. Helen said she's converting the shed out back for the relatives - something like that (or a camper) for the employed family member. A small sacrifice to ensure the health of the rest of the family.
But have your supplies in order real soon. I'm not concerned about the virus, I'm concerned about public reaction.
Nope, no bugging out here. Sometimes I wonder about the bugging out thing. What are we so afraid of? Dying yes but what if we bug out and we are the only people left on earth and we were not any help at all to anybody, is our single life that precious? What will we have gained? We are all going to die someday anyway.
Tennessee gal
Veteran Member
I'm like Hacker, I think it depends. A paid off house is great, but there is still property taxes, house insurance, car insurance, health insurance besides utilities, etc. A lot depends on the economy, if the dollar tanks, or if SS doesn't go out then all bets are off.
I'm retired, in average health, but there is still many variables that could be a game changer. The bottom line is we do what we can and then we leave the rest in God's hands.
I'm retired, in average health, but there is still many variables that could be a game changer. The bottom line is we do what we can and then we leave the rest in God's hands.
I think it's more of an issue when y'have kids at home, Trend. All our kids live far away - and NONE of them are preppers.
So, as it stands at the moment, if DH were to contract Ebola, we have enough in the way of meds to check out on our own terms. (We'd never live through it anyway at our age and stage and state of health.) So, if DH brings it home, I don't want to live without him. We wouldn't be visiting any hospitals, that's for sure, and no one comes to visit here so we wouldn't be endangering anyone. A note in the window should suffice for someone to find when it's all over.
Artie.
Mulder
Contributing Member
Assuming that much is pretty dicey. If the panic get bad enough that everybody attempts to shelter in place, then the likelihood that your utilities will last that long is extremely unlikely. And yes, I would think that cabin fever would begin to set-in within days.
No
Am on city water and electric and not enough house lot to grow anything other than flowers
Walking distance to stores but that would totally invalidate quarantine shelter
But no jobs = no income = no dog food and being a person not of color we dont qualify for early retirement or disabilities or EBTs or handouts.
Am on city water and electric and not enough house lot to grow anything other than flowers
Walking distance to stores but that would totally invalidate quarantine shelter
But no jobs = no income = no dog food and being a person not of color we dont qualify for early retirement or disabilities or EBTs or handouts.
lectrickitty
Great Great Grandma!
I'm pretty sure I can. House is paid for. I have wood heat and a pile of wood so I could go a while with no heat expense. I'd probably lose electric after 40 days, but I can live without it (undependable power company has trained us well! 
). I don't use checks or credit cards so payment of bills would be impossible without a trip to the post office. If they want their money, they'll have to come get it. 
It might not be comfortable, but survivable. Heating water over a fire instead of a stove is not fun, but doable, same with cooking. I've often wished my cook stove was propane so I could use it when the power is out, but I have 4 other alternatives so I can get by.
I have backups for my backups so I think I'd do okay as long as I can go out to the barn for milk, eggs, and meat, also to the pump for water. In a worst case scenario, I'd put a milk goat, hens, and rabbits in the basement for the duration. THAT would make life almost unbearable.
IF a quarantine was forced because of ebola, I doubt anyone would be showing up from the bank to repo when mortgages are not paid on time. If they are that anxious to get their money, they will probably be out and about, then drop dead so they won't be a threat.
). I don't use checks or credit cards so payment of bills would be impossible without a trip to the post office. If they want their money, they'll have to come get it. It might not be comfortable, but survivable. Heating water over a fire instead of a stove is not fun, but doable, same with cooking. I've often wished my cook stove was propane so I could use it when the power is out, but I have 4 other alternatives so I can get by.
I have backups for my backups so I think I'd do okay as long as I can go out to the barn for milk, eggs, and meat, also to the pump for water. In a worst case scenario, I'd put a milk goat, hens, and rabbits in the basement for the duration. THAT would make life almost unbearable.
IF a quarantine was forced because of ebola, I doubt anyone would be showing up from the bank to repo when mortgages are not paid on time. If they are that anxious to get their money, they will probably be out and about, then drop dead so they won't be a threat.
Many if not most states exempt 100% disabled vets from property tax.
TxGal
Day by day
Texas really does a lot for their veterans. Texas Vets has wonderful programs, especially the Texas Vets Land Program.
- you run out of water / water gets turned off
In Florida if you did down a few feet you will find water. I have a spring fed lake 1 mile from my home. I have a couple of water barrels, some 7 gallon aquatainers, a Big Berkey and a couple of portable filters. Get some kind of large storage container at home so you don't need to go get water every day. A few 7 gallon containers will allow you to go to any public water source such as a spring, a lake or even a faucet in a park to get water.
- you run out of consumable food
With rice and beans and wheat , sugar and salt, and other basic long term storage foods being so cheap, there is no reason why even folks on a very limited budget can't have a years worth of food stored at home.
- you run out of heat / heat gets turned off
Living in Florida there are many years when my heat is never turned on. In southern areas of the US one can get by with only occasional heat in the winter. Small wood stove or other heat source is usually sufficient. Up North, wood can work, but it's hard work and if you can't do it you are screwed. A small rocket stove that burns twigs, even a home built one, will allow you to boil water and cook without electricity.
- you get forcibly evicted
If you own your own home this isn't a worry.
If you don't, people are still unlikely to get evicted if SHTF truly happens. With little or no prospects of selling or renting an empty home and high prospects of getting it vandalized, a lot of landlords would prefer to keep the house occupied instead of empty.
- you get raided by zombies / looters
Not a lot of gangs running around if everybody is afraid of getting Ebola from everybody else.
Ferfal talked about economic collapse in Argentina. Home invasions by gangs was mainly a problem out in the isolated country where nobody could help the people attacked. The problem in cities was robbery on the street and kidnapping for ransom. You aren't going to travel around town with a rifle or shotgun because the police or military will stop you, but nobody sees a pistol.
Besides, in real shtf, most people aren't going to be running around. They will be at home unless they are fortunate to still have a job or there is a damn good reason for going out.
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WildDaisy
God has a plan, Trust it!
Yes. Our number one prep was to become debt free, have an emergency fund set up and preps to carry us through.
For us, our "disaster" came early. Both of us are out of work now as of two weeks ago. But we will be fine for quite a while with everything planned for in this "personal disaster".
How we would fare if the whole country was living it is a different story. I don't think we would make it half as long, even providing we don't get sick.
For us, our "disaster" came early. Both of us are out of work now as of two weeks ago. But we will be fine for quite a while with everything planned for in this "personal disaster".
How we would fare if the whole country was living it is a different story. I don't think we would make it half as long, even providing we don't get sick.
Jubilee on Earth
Veteran Member
Nope, I can't. But I have been insanely blessed with a job where I work from home. I do have to travel occasionally -- I have two business trips (flying) in the next 3 weeks, but after that I have nothing until spring. So I'm praying for protection while on these two trips, and then after that I'm good. I live way out in the country, and have preps. If I shop for perishables when I get back, I should be good for a while. The problem is, I was really looking forward to going down to the city (Detroit) to see my family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are a couple of parties and things I was looking forward to. Bummer to miss those, but it's not worth the risk...
wintery_storm
Veteran Member
Yes, we are retired with a mortgage but can pay that with our retirement pension. We live in the Country, have a good amount of food reserve, firewood for heat and other necessary items for protection.
O2BNOK
Veteran Member
Yes
This has been planned for years ago. (Thanks in part to TB2K)
ditto.
ssbn sailor
Senior Member
Yes on a short term epidemic. If it was an extended epidemic, that would be a little dicier.
The Ebola outbreak in Africa has been going on since sometime around October, 2013. In the last few months, it started to really fire up and become exponential, and I fear sheltering in place would turn out to be a long term proposition based on what I am seeing over there at this point. it could be a one to two year proposition, from my estimations, instead of a 60 day proposition.
The Ebola outbreak in Africa has been going on since sometime around October, 2013. In the last few months, it started to really fire up and become exponential, and I fear sheltering in place would turn out to be a long term proposition based on what I am seeing over there at this point. it could be a one to two year proposition, from my estimations, instead of a 60 day proposition.