Misc If you had 30 days to prepare for the end of the modern world

[Charmer153]

9 years ago, I asked a similar question, but only gave 7 days. I got some good answers, but times have changed. A few of the answers said that 7 days probably would not be long enough to order some food, so I decided to give 30 days for this scenario. (I like 'what-if's'. I always learn something I did not know, or see it from a different point of view.)

Comments - If you knew, what would you do

If you KNEW, absolutely KNEW, that in 7 days time, all electricity more advanced then a flashlight would stop working and no one else believed you, (no more computers, no internet, no bank records, no police records, no TV, no working cars. A massive super EMP from a solar flare turned off all...

www.timebomb2000.com

Now I am again wondering, If you KNEW, 1,000% positive, KNEW that in 30 days all unshealded tech more advanced than a flashlight, would turn off—no more internet, no more electric cars, no more cell phones, no more credit card or police records, it all shuts down, how would you prepare?

Multiple global electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), caused by geomagnetic storms and generated by coronal mass ejections (CMEs),

You could max out your credit cards, and never have to pay for them. When the records are gone, you could buy a new car, and not have to pay it off, or get a bank loan to buy solar panels and not worry about having to pay for them (I've never tried to get a bank loan, does it take more than 30 days?). I doubt you could buy a lot of gold/silver since they would want it paid immediately.

Or would you do something totally different?

 

[Buick Electra]

I guess I'd cook up everything I have in my freezers, as well as all storage items like rice and beans since no more electricity in 30 days. Then I'd bury it in the yard to try and keep it cool. (The propane I have for my stove would only last so long so I'd rather use it sparingly to reheat food).

I wouldn't buy any more preps b/c it would be a mad max scenario, so why give the invaders even more of my preps?
I'm the only one here (no kids/grandkids), so defending myself against a group of 6-10-18 gang members would be a losing situation for me.

I'd buck up on as many candles I could afford as well as tobacco and rolling tubes. Not maxing out credit cards I know I couldn't pay because that is stealing.

I'd have my cats put down because I wouldn't want anyone to do harm to them or eat them.

I'd mail off my most valuable possessions to friends/relatives in other states whose numbers are bigger than mine in hopes it may help them survive.

Then I'd read; I have a LOT of books, but spending a good portion of my day in God's Word. I'd also journal as to what was going on locally.

I don't want to stay here to either be a slave or participate in the hunger games. I'd just rather go 'home' but it's God's decision as to when He wants me.

 

[kyrsyan]

Canning. Printing because a lot of the books I'd want are not necessarily available in print.

Solar panels if I could arrange it. At the least, panels that could charge small electronics. And a way to shield those panels and the small electronics.

The supplies to repair all the storm windows and get storm doors on front and back. Because without A/C the ability to get air flow becomes more important.

A wood stove and all the stuff to install it. Actually two. One for that main house side and one for the bedroom side. And a wood cook stove.

A root cellar. Goats and sheep, both for food and yard maintenance. I'd jump much faster on rabbits, quail, chickens, and ducks. And the med supplies for them.

And the planned water collection systems would have all the parts obtained.

If I could find a way, the supplies to fence the entire yard. And the garden fertilizer supplies. And any trees and plants that are in the planned pipeline to purchase.

If it was possible, a way to save my vehicle's electronics. If not, a cart and donkey/mules. And most likely two Rottweilers and two Doberman. Maybe even a Shepherd.

 

[ioujc]

I guess I'd cook up everything I have in my freezers, as well as all storage items like rice and beans since no more electricity in 30 days. Then I'd bury it in the yard to try and keep it cool. (The propane I have for my stove would only last so long so I'd rather use it sparingly to reheat food).

I wouldn't buy any more preps b/c it would be a mad max scenario, so why give the invaders even more of my preps?
I'm the only one here (no kids/grandkids), so defending myself against a group of 6-10-18 gang members would be a losing situation for me.

I'd buck up on as many candles I could afford as well as tobacco and rolling tubes. Not maxing out credit cards I know I couldn't pay because that is stealing.

I'd have my cats put down because I wouldn't want anyone to do harm to them or eat them.

I'd mail off my most valuable possessions to friends/relatives in other states whose numbers are bigger than mine in hopes it may help them survive.

Then I'd read; I have a LOT of books, but spending a good portion of my day in God's Word. I'd also journal as to what was going on locally.

I don't want to stay here to either be a slave or participate in the hunger games. I'd just rather go 'home' but it's God's decision as to when He wants me.

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat on Sh!+ Creek BE!!

 

[Smoke]

Good question, probably get canning supplies, wood burning stove, and a means to secure firewood, solar panels would be a thought but charging controllers and such would need to be shielded, a way to shield my computers, even though the internet would be down, I have a lot of good information on them for such use plus entertainment. Will have to keep an eye on this thread for other information.

 

[West]

Would have to spend about $25k in booze, sugar, and propane.

 

[Kathy in FL]

A lot depends on whether anyone believed me or not and who is left alive in my family. I won't simply sit around and die but on the other hand, I can't save everyone either.

One, I would move everything movable to the BOL. My kids? It depends where they are. I'd try to get them to come with us but again, they are my kids but they are also adults and I have no clue whether they would believe me and getting Baker Acted would defeat my purposes. Don't have grandkids and I'm not sure that I will. Married daughter took the vax and she's also refusing to deal with bad eating habits she's developed her last year of college and she have become badly overweight. Both are disasters when it comes to getting pregnant. Her husband enables her and has his parents and an unmarried sister to think of. His mother is also a medication-dependent diabetic (no weight issue, but a health issue).

That leaves my two sons and my daughter that has a significant other of long standing. He would want to save his father. That side is problematic because I don't know them. I do know my daughter's SO will not leave her but I'm not certain if my daughter could wrap her head around "the end" and come with us.

My parents? My brother and his family? My parents, if they are alive, are frail and medication dependent. They'd come with me with as much of their meds as could be obtained but I'm realistic. They'd last a couple of months after "the end" at best. My first purchases would include comfort measures for them and a way to lay them to rest together. As for my brother, the biggest asset he brings to the table is his wife, but I absolutely cannot stand her kids and would likely kill her youngest. My brother has four types of arthritis, three of them crippling. He'd be in so much pain after a time that I'm not sure what could be done for him. I'm just being honest here folks. I'd likely wait to tell them and then present them with supplies and narcotics and tell them to shelter in place (they have chickens and are working on other stuff).

My freeze dryer would be going non-stop as would mom and I canning. I would branch out my purchasing to the entire area or I would risk too much notice. I would be spending a lot of time organizing everything we brought with us and securing what I could. Hubby would give every thing one last good mow and buy all of the herbicides and other chemicals needed to keep our orchard, fence line, and a garden going.

My husband would be building more faraday cages and finishing the water catchment (if it isn't already finished), and finishing the solar set up (if it isn't already finished), getting as much wood and building supplies laid in as possible.

I'd be laying in all of our favorite treats that aren't freeze-dryer-able in long and deep supplies. I'd be amping up and adding to any supplies (including first aid and ammo) that I can.

A lot of what I can do with a 30-day notice isn't really the question. It is what I am able to do and that is going to depend on how many other people also have the 30-day notice. You are talking about a near extinction level event ... which is not in my worldview. It makes for great fiction but that's about it.

 

[Lylythye]

Omg, 30 days of a lifetime of prep without any tech? First I would buy a farm with a house already built, then I would prepare fruit trees, heirloom seeds, animals within my price range and ability to keep such as: chickens, quails, ducks, fish... no animals that are large or difficult to keep.
With the rest of the time I would prepare myself with knowledge, I would learn new skills because the ones I have now would not be so useful.
Of course, this is what I can think of in the five minutes I read the topic and if they gave me more time I would make a much more complete preparation plan with even a spreadsheet to plan myself and compare my assets and what would be possible to do.

 

[Griz3752]

We both have mobility issues so we'd likely shelter in place.
We wouldn't likely need anything we don't already have; just more of it.

 

[Jeff Allen]

Considering every single time I've wasted brain cells believing "the end is near", it always turns out to be 100% wrong. I would do absolutely nothing differently. We are prepped as best as we can be and I'll take what comes.

J

 

[babysteps]

Hmmm. We would accelerate putting in the solar set up for the well.

We'd probably also enlarge the garden again. I'd get more seeds and lots of books on primitive living. Maybe see if I could get my hands on a few bee hives.

And we'd get as much fencing and building supplies as we could afford.


Maxing out the credit cards is just a big no in my book. We were careless with them early in our marriage and learned our lesson there. We have them to keep the credit score happy, we don't use them. Ever.

And realistically, there's very little I can think of that would be in my "Must Have - Can't Afford" category for the end of the world.

 

[raven]

It would depend on whether everyone knew it . . . or not.

If everyone knew . . . credit cards, money, bits of silver and gold . . . all worthless . . . because in 30 days all unshielded tech more advanced than a flashlight, would turn off—no more internet, no more electric cars, no more cell phones, no more credit card or police records.

money would be useless.

if the government knew it . . . they would not tell you because then the government could not motivate you with money.
if "I" knew it . . . I would not tell you or anyone else . . . not until all my money was gone and credit cards maxed out.

ok. now that you have that down. I would not worry about buying much of anything because without food and water a human can't survive more than 8-21 days. Without water . . . 3-7 days. Without food . . . 2 to 3 months.

You need enough to survive about 13 weeks. Water/Food/Defense.
After that you need a library of books on agriculture and animal husbandry.
And a good respirator and a fair supply of peppermint oil - because the dead are not going to be walking.

 

[nomifyle]

About the only thing I'd so is dehydrate as much as possible out of the freezers, I have enough jars to do that. I'm not really low on much of anything so no real shopping to do. My sons are 300 miles away and there is nothing I can do for them, and DH's children are mostly in Illinois. One of his sons is a prepper and lives in the woods in TN. His other children are clueless.

I might try to can some things or not.

 

[Southside]

Makin a list, checkin it twice,
Tryin to remember who was naughty, not nice......

There's 30 days left to deliver presents.

 

[bluelady]

I'd communicate a lot with family far away. Make, and distribute to family where appropriate, hard copies of important papers, and as many photos as possible. Print the most important stuff off my computer.

As far as preps, I'd can up what's in the freezer. Store up a *lot* more water. Try to sell off as much unneeded stuff as possible for funding stockups. Get a small solar setup with accessories for lights, charging, etc. No phone or internet, but could access stuff & run printer until devices die. Make our old trailer & camper livable for kids; still not enough space though. Finish the chicken area & get chicks. Convince dh that he has a month to start eating right to get off his diabetes meds (which would also save money!). Convert gas stove to propane & get a big tank full. Buy composting toilet (not necessary, but for convenience.) Stock up on a lot more canned meat.

That's not all, but it's already more than we could probably do in a month because we're so slow & tired. So mostly pray, I guess!!

 

[Czechsix]

I would be devoting time to adding to my library (even though I'm already at well over 5k books, been collecting them for fifty years now) and printing out necessary .pdf documents.
Contacting widely dispersed family members and putting plans into place to maintain contacts.
Add to medical supplies, visit a few docs for some bulk prescription orders, and talk to a good friend of mine that orders lots of meds from India, order bulk meds that way.
Making deals to purchase a couple of small, identical and old (pre-40's or thereabouts) tractors and appropriate small plot plowing, tilling and planting tools for them.
Visiting as many of the antique stores as possible and getting tools, books, a couple of wood stoves.
Adding to trapping supplies, fishing and hunting gear.
Buying as much .22 rimfire as I can find - maxing out cards. Likewise 12G, .410, 20G, 10G.
Buying more reloading supplies.
Buying modern and high quality hand tools, along with consumable supplies like drill bits, drill rod, abrasives, calcium carbide, propane, welding supplies, plumbing/electrical/carpentry/finishing supplies.
Buying a couple of pallets worth of alternator and generator wire for rewinding, commutator brushes, and the like (I'll rewind my own...and maybe do some business).
Adding to my stock of chainsaws, chains for them, and maintenance supplies.
Buying a lifetime supply of Silky Saws.
As much additional fencing as I can afford.
Making a huge order from Lehman's.
Networking new contacts between my local family members, and making deals for mutual aid and support.
Canning supplies maxed out.
Head over to Costco and get a few tons of rice and beans, stop by the butcher supply on the way back and pick up packing supplies for the rice and beans.

...and the ever popular more.

It's a fun thought exercise.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

We live on an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean 4K miles from just about anywhere. There is nowhere to go. I could put by what food we have or can get. Any mainland family is on their own.

If it's just reverting to 1910 tech? We might have a chance. Nice thing is we don't have to worry about heat or AC. One problem is fire. Our home and many others here are made of wood and without modern fire protection they would be very vulnerable.

Water? It falls from the sky pretty regular and we can filter it.

Food is an issue. A lot of former farmland on the island is covered with vacation homes, also: invasive trees, grass and weeds are going to pain in the ʻōkole to eradicate. Some park land could be turned into gardens like was done on parts of the mainland during the Great Depression and WWII. Tree huggers will pass a pineapple but it would be interesting to see how long their principals stand up to an empty belly. Much of the reef on the island has been fished out. The PTB also let a game fish called roi loose that is busy gobbling up what fish are left. Roi carry a disease that can be fatal it humans if eaten. People eat it anyway. Wild pig, we got. Wild chickens are everywhere and currently seen as a nuisance. Other islands have wild goats and deer, also seen as a nuisance.

The wild cards would be the military and government reactions. It would be possible for the military to provide some power from nuclear powered vessel(s). Could they? Yes. Would they? Don't know. Even if they did it here, they might not be able to for the other islands. Pearl is the main port due to it's ability to provide protection from the ocean and anchorage.

 

[Lake Lili]

I relate to the @Old Gray Mare. We live on an island the is an 8-hour ride from the Mainland. It is a place that has always been food dependant on the Mainland. We are currently food self sufficient for five... count 'em 5-days after the ferries stop running. This place is very very family oriented and we are related to no one. When push comes to shove, we are easily removed and our assets reallocated. So do we stay where there are some 20,000 people (105,000 in total across the 3 regions that make up Western Newfoundland) or do we return to Ontario with it's millions...

I vote to stay... so we need a cabin on a good sized pond for fresh water and fish, with good moose and caribou hunting. Guns and ammo for hunting moose/caribou, grouse, rabbit... New fishing gear and a couple canoes to fish from... Land that can be cleared for a garden and seeds, jars to can it... Get live chickens, and geese... if I'd had more warning I'd have got a freshened Shorthorn milking cow and a Halflinger mares, and a couple riding horses who can also pull a plow and haul timber out of the woods... So we'd need a meadow for them and feed to keep them all fed... We need a good birch forest, hatchett and axes... will the chain saw and log splitter work? Regardless manual log and kindling splitters with mallets... Upgrade the wood stove to a cook stove... Upgrade the cookware from stainless to cast iron... Add insullation under the floor and in the attic... Storm windows and shutters for the outside...

New comforters, duvets, sheets, pillows, towels, mattresses with toppers, lined drapes - and time to wash them all... Winter coats, snow pants, rain gear, boots - winter, rain, work, hike... New jeans, more sweatshirts, wool sweaters, t-shirts, underwear, many many pairs of socks, running shoes... hats, winter gloves and work gloves of all grades...

Steel garbage cans to store flour, sugar, rice... the debate will rage if its worth the time to make the 7-hour drive to the CostCo in St John's for food or stock-up based on what is available here... I say make the drive and rent a cube van coming back... A big outdoor raised hearth with an A-frame spit...

If nothing else, I would contact family and friends and ask for updated pictures... none will ever show-up but a wall full of faces that have mattered is a balm to the spirit. All the books I've every wanted to read, puzzles, board games, volley ball net, badminton/tennis raquets, roquet mallets and balls, books, pens, pencils, paints - the nights are long come winter...

At the end of the day, 30-days to prepare is insufficient... if nothing the lists that each of us make is nothing more than a blue print of what we know we should be doing anyways

 

[wab54]

Whatever you do, it is best to stay under the radar of your neighbors. Let NOBODY know what you are doing and what you have. They need to think you are in the same boat as them. Then you MIGHT be safer.

WAB

 

[Old Gray Mare]

... a Halflinger mares, and a couple riding horses who can also pull a plow and haul timber out of the woods... So we'd need a meadow for them and feed to keep them all fed... We need a good birch forest, hatchett and axes... will the chain saw and log splitter work? Regardless manual log and kindling splitters with mallets... Upgrade the wood stove to a cook stove... Upgrade the cookware from stainless to cast iron...

Thanks for the hat tip.

Just some thoughts....
A lot of folk think horses as the only choice for draft animals. Why not oxen? They can happily eat stuff that will literally kill a horse. They're not for riding but will probably out work most riding horses. At our age I'd be thinking goats for milk and meat. They're smaller, remain fresh for a long time, don't produce more milk than many house holds can easily use in a day and don't hurt near as much when they kick, butt or stomp on you. They also easier to butcher and you don't get inundated with a huge amount of meat that needs to be processed ASAP. They're also easier to house and hide if needed. Goats and dogs were also used to pull carts.

Either way hay will still be needed for winter forage. Cutting it with a scythe and bailing with a box and twine would be a major effort if fuel and farm equipment is unavailable.

The thought of attempting to heating with wood without a chainsaw and log splitter makes me cringe. Much prefer to have it delivered split and only have to stack it!

Also, it's nice to have canning jars and yes they are harder to get and more expensive. Having a good supply of lids on hand could be important. Having an idea on how to safely do fermentation might be good to. I found the book below to have some useful information on the subject.

Stillroom Cookery: The Art of Preserving Foods Naturally, With Recipes, Menus, and Metric Measures by Grace Firth​

Fair use. - Has anyone used one of these?

Kindling Cracker Firewood Splitter​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7qMn3xWnt4

run time 8:46

 

[raven]

I started last year.
Lost 65 pounds - weight is ideal. Reduced cholesterol to normal. Glucose normal. A1C normal. Blood Pressure is ideal. Pulse Ox is normal. 45 minutes on treadmill with heart rate remaining in target range. started working on the Bowflex.

And 68 and no meds.

Another 30 days and I'll be Atlas . . . Shrugged.

 

[workhorse]

I would probably do nothing but get ready. My kids have all gone separate ways and don’t even try to connect with me unless they can’t reach their mother. My wife would just say Jesus will take care of everything you can’t change anything.Our landlord sold the house we were living in and had to move in to a much smaller place with no place for storage even if I wanted to get more preps. Had to even put all my tools in storage. But know I will not go quietly in to the dark I will do what I can to keep them from going after you right away. Yes it’s been a rough week.

 

[moldy]

Again, depends if only a few know or everyone knows. If only a few, shopping first, including a milk cow (already bred). By the time I finish shopping, lots more people will know (because very few people keep their mouths shut) and persuading mom and kiddos to come to the farm will be less work.

 

[DIMDAL]

Pest free storage. I know of quite a few people who pick up mid sized, used chest freezers, with locks, super clean them and store grain etc in them.
One friend turned an upright freezer into a gun safe.
IF I had time I would pack up as much as I could and move to another State. Food security sucks here. Where we live, seasons are harsh and water collection is difficult.

 

[Wildwood]

A month is not long. The first thing I'd do is place an order with All Day Chemist on the chance it would get here in time and also try to get in to see my dentist and get some small repairs done. I'd can more meat and a lot of the dried beans I have in storage, top off my preps like I usually do every month or two and wash every sheet, blanket, etc. I'd clean out my freezers and maybe try to get more solar in place. DH would have a small list too that I'm sure would involve fire power and fuel.

I'd stock up on supplements and order every book in my favorite book series along with some new readers. I can read a book over and over if it's a really good one.

Edited to add...I'd order more seeds, buy blueberry bushes and maybe more garden tools and fertilizer. I'd probably be broke at this point cause DH just thought of more stuff he'd need lol.

 

[momma_soapmaker]

I'd have a water well drilled on our property.

 

[MMWW]

Unfortunately, I probably would not last very long. I would liquidate and aid my children.

 

[larry_minn]

I would have to think. 100% sure? Could i convince others? What shielding should protect? I am on needed meds. I keep a minimum of 3 month extra on hand. Dr has suggested I COULD reduce dosage 50%. As $.35 a day. I have not. I would go from every 12 hours to every 18 hours, right now I have +6 months supply at full rate. I of course would get as much more as possible.
Wife pre diabetic. I would get diabetic pills, the few long term not cooled shots. (I am not up on that stuff, I would research) to get that covered as much as possible. Test strips the old color coded ones.
I used to have livestock. I would get 20 hens, a bred cow, two heifers, bull calves at least.
If I could get family convinced. More. Buy dozen 1000 LP tanks, fill them in shed. (Open one side, lots of air exchange) I have a non electric diesel tractor. Move loaded tank near house, dump empty off. Firewood, coal. Get a few Safety vent heaters. (No electric piezo bending metal controls how much heat)
new septic gets a down hill gravity drain field added. (Like old WORKING one had) I can pump from shallow well by hand. But at least two spare units with 3 parts kits each. 3 manual deep well pumps, +3 parts kits (I assume) never pulled water 80’ by hand.
A few more axes, saws, tools.
Of course boots, shoes, socks, clothing slightly smaller. (I figure I would finally lose weight). Winter clothing. Of course some ammo. Couple suppressors. (Not likely but extra cash I might get them)
I would try shielding a few things Honda inverter, Coleman generator. Honda likely more sensitive, Coleman more robust…

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I figure we got what we got. With the dock workers strike we could be getting an operation test of this particular hypothetical challenge.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat on Sh!+ Creek BE!!

I think it's important to remember that the Lord took care of Elijah by sending ravens to feed him morning and evening. He had no preps or tribe, but God was all he needed.

 

[raven]

You called for ravens.
LOL
thats dangerous.

we’ve had 5 quarters . . . Since Russia invaded.
and 9 quarters . . . Since Biden inauguration.
and 13 quarters . . . Since COVID lockdown.

need another month . . . Sure, go ahead and take it.
LOL

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I think it's important to remember that the Lord took care of Elijah by sending ravens to feed him morning and evening. He had no preps or tribe, but God was all he needed.

I believe in the Lord God but if I'm looking for a helping hand? First place I look is at the end of my arm.

 

[Charmer153]

A month is not long. The first thing I'd do is place an order with All Day Chemist on the chance it would get here in time and also try to get in to see my dentist and get some small repairs done. I'd can more meat and a lot of the dried beans I have in storage, top off my preps like I usually do every month or two and wash every sheet, blanket, etc. I'd clean out my freezers and maybe try to get more solar in place. DH would have a small list too that I'm sure would involve fire power and fuel.

I'd stock up on supplements and order every book in my favorite book series along with some new readers. I can read a book over and over if it's a really good one.

Edited to add...I'd order more seeds, buy blueberry bushes and maybe more garden tools and fertilizer. I'd probably be broke at this point cause DH just thought of more stuff he'd need lol.

If 30 day is not long enough, maybe I will extend it to 90 days next time I ask.
Maybe in another 9 years...

 

[John Deere Girl]

I believe in the Lord God but if I'm looking for a helping hand? First place I look is at the end of my arm.

Absolutely! I guess my post probably came across as using this story of Elijah as an excuse not to prep, and that's not the case. I definitely think being prepared for life changing events is a very wise thing to do, and I work hard to be able to take care of my family and friends, but not everyone has the ability, physically/financially to do so. Sometimes, I think we all need to remember that no matter what circumstances we face, God is in control and will take care of us.

 

[L.A.B.]

With T-minus 30 days and counting…

I’d test my new twig rocket stove cooking up meals, distilling water, and generally pi$$ing off the Eco-Green Corporate Infra-red Satellite systems.

ETA- I didn’t want to leave my OP - OSINT info on the main. Hence the post reworked, Old Gray Mare.

 

[All-in]

Started in Chicago and Indy, but now I live 2.5 miles down a dirt road on 60 acres in a rural area (I'm the third house when turning on the road). Not something I'd recommend doing quickly and probably not in 30 days. You've got to acclimate. Population density is really low. We are all used to fending for ourselves. I've put away supplies to last a while and would assist any of my neighbors if they needed help as they would for me. We call neighbors before the police if we have issues. I have a remote job to cover bills, a home based LLC wife runs for extras, and farm for taxes, but all that would be gone in less than 30 days. I've got some cattle and a garden that works for Summer, but would add a green house for winter. I'd put solar on my well pump, but have a 10 acre pond, pool shock for a few hundred thousand gallons, and filters for water. I'd probably add chickens if I had 30 days left, but have a few thousand equivalent freeze dried eggs to get me through for a bit. I do need thermal and NV independent from security cameras. I've stored up antibiotics and other RX meds and medical supplies, have a colloidal silver generator, and vitamin supplements with long shelf-life for health. If you don't have any, get activated charcoal. It is really versatile and cheap. Great for insect bites (especially if you live where brown recluse/black widow prevalent), digestive issues and poisoning, drug ODs, snake bite, etc. My 80 year old in-laws live 2 miles away on 360 acres and have more cattle if necessary.

I put things in place to give me time to not have to panic, make measured moves, assess, adapt, and form a plan if something happens. TIME is your friend. My opinion is to invest in whatever will buy yourself time to make it another day given your environment. In the time I bought myself, I would imagine a 60-70% die-off would occur. I have a EMP resistant vehicle that I may be able to scavenge with at that point.

There are wrenches that may conflict my plan. I made my long term food storage plan with 2 in mind. Got re-married and now have a big family and they'd all come to the "family farm", so stored food wouldn't last as long as planned (can't turn away young family that are just getting started and don't have much means to set aside supplies). Upside is 2 of 4 step-kids and myself were in the military and Son-IL is LT in the police TAC unit, so we could set up a pretty good protection grid. DILs, step daughter hunt and can handle firearms as well. Downside is more mouths to feed. Zombie hoards could inflict damage to our group. Disease beyond means to treat. Nothing else to do but ask God to help me survive and assist as many as possible.

I've done the best I can to set up a plan to give me a chance to survive one more day. Lots of people have never been tested and will give up hope when adversity hits. You've just got to survive one more day. TIME is your friend! If you've only got 30 days to plan ... invest in what will buy yourself time.

 

[John Deere Girl]

If I had 30 days to prepare, I'd try to talk our oldest and her little family into coming home to the farm, top off our livestock feed and minerals, buy some more canning supplies, get more clothing and shoes for our littles,, possibly buy 2 years of hay and straw, and add a few more livestock to our farm. I'd check our seed storage, fertilizer, ag lime, and livestock wormer. I would probably top off our groceries and fuel too. However, if anything crazy like that happens, we won't have 30 days notice, I seriously doubt we'd even have 24 hours.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I’d pre-stage supplies in remote watershed.

We recently did Diamond Head and we've hiked some of the easy trails on the island. Remote watershed? We may have to work up to that. At the moment? Don't think it'll happening soon.

 

[Wildwood]

If 30 day is not long enough, maybe I will extend it to 90 days next time I ask.
Maybe in another 9 years...

I probably shouldn't have said that wasn't much time. In the real world, it's more than we could hope for. Three days would probably be optimistic. You've motivated me to go ahead and get that order in to All Day Chemist. A little motivation is good for those of us that have been at it for years...sometimes we get a little too comfy. Great thread!

 

[larry_minn]

To KNOW SHTF the time. And have 30 days with the world at large not knowing. That would be a huge gift/curse.