Doomsday Preppers

[undercoverbrother]

I have been catching a show in National Geographic, called Doomsday Preppers.

It's all about people that think the world is going to end, or be changed by an event.

Anyone else watch this?

There are some interesting mind sets out there.

A couple of the folks have been from Calgary.

[Hockeyguy15]

I've seen a couple episodes, some seem plausible and some seem out in right field.

One guy was from NYC and was sure a super volcano was going to errupt in Yellowstone and that ash was going to cover NYC and kill people off. At the end it said the likelyhood of that happening was like 2% or something small.

What was the one from Calgary?

[Table 5]

Is that the one where experts evaluate how successful they would be, and give them tips on where to improve? If that's the one I saw, it was pretty entertaining.

[undercoverbrother]

I've seen a couple episodes, some seem plausible and some seem out in right field.

One guy was from NYC and was sure a super volcano was going to errupt in Yellowstone and that ash was going to cover NYC and kill people off. At the end it said the likelyhood of that happening was like 2% or something small.

What was the one from Calgary?

Calgary one was a couple with one child. Their belief was that something bad was going to happen. They did not say what, just that the wife had dreams and in the dreams she had the feeling something bad was going to happen. Showed them going to the range (the shooting edge) with their daughter. NYC guy was way off. Did you see the girl in Dallas that believes cooking fish reduces the nutrients and as such eats raw fish.

[undercoverbrother]

Is that the one where experts evaluate how successful they would be, and give them tips on where to improve? If that's the one I saw, it was pretty entertaining.

yep that's the one.

[Hockeyguy15]

Calgary one was a couple with one child. Their belief was that something bad was going to happen. They did not say what, just that the wife had dreams and in the dreams she had the feeling something bad was going to happen. Showed them going to the range (the shooting edge) with their daughter. NYC guy was way off. Did you see the girl in Dallas that believes cooking fish reduces the nutrients and as such eats raw fish.

I saw the Calgary one too then.

I think the funniest one I saw was some guy out with his kids in desert training with the guns, the gun he was using "misfired" and shot him in his thumb. They showed pictures and it was pretty mangled, they had to amputate part of it so now he is missing the middle knuckle.

Then later on at the dinner table he said to his son "You were right, never put anything infront of the barrel you don't want to lose".

His plan was to buy a bunch of shipping containers and bury them in the desert, and that would be where they lived when an EMP went off.

[undercoverbrother]

I saw the Calgary one too then.

I think the funniest one I saw was some guy out with his kids in desert training with the guns, the gun he was using "misfired" and shot him in his thumb. They showed pictures and it was pretty mangled, they had to amputate part of it so now he is missing the middle knuckle.

Then later on at the dinner table he said to his son "You were right, never put anything infront of the barrel you don't want to lose".

His plan was to buy a bunch of shipping containers and bury them in the desert, and that would be where they lived when an EMP went off.


I liked when the younger kid said "his dad was tuff", the dad agreed and then the older boy called the dad out for "passing out".....haha

[Hockeyguy15]

Really though I don't think an EMP is your problem. I don't think I have seen one realistic fear yet.

One thing I did learn that was interesting was that fish tank cleaner can be used as an antibiotic.

[undercoverbrother]

Really though I don't think an EMP is your problem. I don't think I have seen one realistic fear yet.

One thing I did learn that was interesting was that fish tank cleaner can be used as an antibiotic.

It is a very interesting mindset these people have. It's the likelyhood portion that interest me. Often the likelyhood of the event happening is very low.

I would wager that a place like CP has at least on prepper.

[Knalus]

Really though I don't think an EMP is your problem. I don't think I have seen one realistic fear yet.

One thing I did learn that was interesting was that fish tank cleaner can be used as an antibiotic.

I did see one realistic fear - the woman outside Helena who believed that nuclear weapons would target the military installments near her town, and that any refugees would come there. She was getting ready for that.

Of course, then she shows HOW she prepares when her husband disapproves, and showed exactly why she's crazy.

[Mass_nerder]

I saw one with some lady who was afraid of an epidemic (legitimate concern).
The way the lady was preparing though was ridiculous...she was loading up on medical gear (masks, gloves, protective suits, hand sanitizer etc...) but she had no food or water supplies stockpiled.
Then she was running her family through timed drills to get into protective gear (suits, gloves, masks, goggles) like epidemics just sneak up and leave you with mere minutes to protect yourself before you're dead.

[Slava]

It is a very interesting mindset these people have. It's the likelyhood portion that interest me. Often the likelyhood of the event happening is very low.

I would wager that a place like CP has at least on prepper.

Moncton golden flames is my guess.

I did see one realistic fear - the woman outside Helena who believed that nuclear weapons would target the military installments near her town, and that any refugees would come there. She was getting ready for that.

Of course, then she shows HOW she prepares when her husband disapproves, and showed exactly why she's crazy.

I saw that, and one other one. Its an entertaining show, but people are afraid of some pretty unlikely events in my opinion. Not only that, but the two people I saw couldn't possibly defend themselves and their stash if anything actually happened.

[Komskies]

Came in expecting a thread about Doomsday Peppers, a pepper hotter than the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper @ over 2 million Scoville units.

Leaving disappointed because apparantly I can't read.

[moncton golden flames]

It is a very interesting mindset these people have. It's the likelyhood portion that interest me. Often the likelyhood of the event happening is very low.

I would wager that a place like CP has at least on prepper.

i guess you could call me a prepper, of sorts.

i guess everybody has a different view and definition of what a prepper is. my definition, if i even have one, would surely not be off the deep end like some people on the show, but there are lots of great ideas they bring forth and i try to learn from that.

i'm a prepper, ask me anything! haha!

[moncton golden flames]

Moncton golden flames is my guess.

not sure if i should be flattered or embarrased about this.....

[ken0042]

Its an entertaining show, but people are afraid of some pretty unlikely events in my opinion.

I think that is the flaw with most of the people on the show- they are preparing for just one event; not covering a few different bases. There was one guy preparing for a solar flare wiping out everything electrical; why not also prepare for a nuclear attack and a virus outbreak?

The lady in Helena said she thought to prepare after a train accident cut off access to her town. However she is preparing for a nuclear war instead of another train accident.

[Wormius]

Just from what I've seen on Nova and various reading, the Yellowstone supervolcano is the only realistic concern, since we're really not that far from it in Calgary.

[moncton golden flames]

Just from what I've seen on Nova and various reading, the Yellowstone supervolcano is the only realistic concern, since we're really not that far from it in Calgary.

it seems like the single largest plausible event that could severely threaten us in calgary. trying to predict when something like this will happen is next to impossible, but does that mean you should not be prepared for it?

what if the power grid goes down for an extended period similar to what just happened in washington dc a few weeks ago. here are some major things that dc'ers now realize;

a - the grid is very vulnerable to disruptions or failures.
b - without electricity, acquiring food and water is a difficult task.
c - most people are not prepared for any problems and worsen a crisis.
d - many people don't know what to do in an emergency.
e - modern cities are built on systems with little redundancy.

anyway, one of my big eye openers was when i found out that without our ground level transportation system running, there is only about 3 days worth of food in any particular region, like southern alberta. no food = tough times.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I think that is the flaw with most of the people on the show- they are preparing for just one event; not covering a few different bases. There was one guy preparing for a solar flare wiping out everything electrical; why not also prepare for a nuclear attack and a virus outbreak?

The lady in Helena said she thought to prepare after a train accident cut off access to her town. However she is preparing for a nuclear war instead of another train accident.

Exaclty the issue I had with it as well. If you are going to prepare like that, why limit yourself to one event? I think it would make sense just to say "I'm preparing for any event that will shut down the machine"

That being said, I think the whole theme of the show is to underscore just how many are unprepared for even a few days without having access to grocery stores or water. I hope this show encourages more people to have emergency supplies set aside so things don't get to crazy if the unthinkable ever happens.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Some in here may find this interesting. There was a list put up by a real estate company that showed 10 places that would be good during a zombie outbreak. Again, in reality they would be good for any event that "shut down the machine" but though this one in particular was perfect. Hell of a purchase price too.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/anti-zombie-strongholds-for-sale.html?page=2

What the pic doesn't show is an additional 6 or so lvls of the missle silo below the first two. Man would that be cool.

[You Need a Thneed]

From what I've seen of the show, different people prepping for different scenarios, but the preparations aren't necessarily helpful unless the very specific thing they are prepping for happens.

Personally, If mass calamity happens like one of those people are preparing for, I think I'd rather be one of the masses struggling then one of the few who are "prepared" that the rest of the masses want to raid for what they have. never mind the fact that for many of the "preppers", getting ready consumes their whole lives.

If there were some kind of event that killed 99% of the population, would I want to be one of the 1% who survived? Life would be so entirely different, and a complete struggle, orders of magnitude harder than before.

A stockpile of food and water helps you in just about any scenario. However, most of the security things that people focus on on that show wouldn't really help much. Rifle skills would help in case you need to hunt game for food or something, but against humans, it will only protect you against people that are a worse shot than you.

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\/\/\

Also a VERY valid concern and I totally agree. That being said, I still think I would want to make a go of it. You could always punch your own ticket if the going got to hard. I'd have to at least try first.

Yes, being prepped would make you a target. I don't see much value in stockpiling in your home as sooner or later people would be on to you and you would be in loads of trouble. Unless you home is a bunker like the link I posted. Then you are sitting pretty.

Hell, even if you had a cabin somewhere in the woods you could stockpile you would probably do ok. A major city is the last place I would want to be. I'd be so worried about the safety of my g/f.

[moncton golden flames]

A major city is the last place I would want to be. I'd be so worried about the safety of my g/f.

i agree, which is why i think people should have an evacuation plan. not matter what is causing the evacuation, knowing where to go, what to bring and how to get there is crucial to getting out of dodge.

[1stLand]

I have personally liquidated most of my hard assets and bought silver.
I also collect jars of pennies. Pennies are another precious metal that will be a sought after commodity in the event of the collapse of society.

[Flash Walken]

1stland,

In 1998, I had a discussion with a group of lawyers and professionals in Calgary about the impending Y2k crisis.

One prominent Lawyer confided that he had already made his plans for the coming apocalypse. He had sold his large Calgary home in favour of a smaller condo, had purchased a large property in/around Kananaskis country some where and stockpiled ammunition, food, water, batteries etc for what he assured us was Armageddon.

He also, somewhat sheepishly, said he had spent some time scouting his neighbours and their properties, potential vulnerabilities and useful items.

One item he purchased in bulk? Aluminum foil. No joke.

[MelBridgeman]

I've seen a couple episodes, some seem plausible and some seem out in right field.

One guy was from NYC and was sure a super volcano was going to errupt in Yellowstone and that ash was going to cover NYC and kill people off. At the end it said the likelyhood of that happening was like 2% or something small.

What was the one from Calgary?

Did they say the NYC scenario was 2 %? Cause when Yellowstone blows all hell will break loose. That sucker blows every 600,000 years and the last one was 640,000 years ago.

[Hockeyguy15]

Did they say the NYC scenario was 2 %? Cause when Yellowstone blows all hell will break loose. That sucker blows every 600,000 years and the last one was 640,000 years ago.

Yes, they said 2% and that it is very unlikely the ash cloud would cause problems for NYC. They weren't saying the volcano errupting was a 2% chance.

[Mazrim]

If anyone is prepping for zombies, then I'll start prepping for Reapers.

http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/files/2012/06/mass-effect-3-reapers-e1340809171528.jpg