Preparedness for when

jk0

SHTF at my local shops today:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/storm-katie-causes-chaos-woodley-11102036



Some scaffolding fell off some flats they are renovating. I couldn't get in to Waitrose (sloping roof on right) or Iceland which is across the road. Being out of fresh veg I had to go in Lidl. Nice & cheap, but very busy.

I still have plenty of tinned & frozen stuff if even Lidl is off limits.

greenbee

I like reclamation shops too GQ. And junk shops/house clearance places. I don't like shops. Or new things.

ETA - jK0's post is another reason to steer clear of shops. I read Monnagran's post on the Garden Fence thread and promptly called home to check for wind damage, but all seems to be OK thankfully.

pineapple

GreyQueen wrote: »

If anyone ever suggests going shopping as a pastime, as if it's some kind of big treat, I feel like saying that I'd rather have a root canal filling, that's how I feel about it.

Trust me - when you live in the middle of nowhere where a green pepper counts as exotic and the nearest new pair of knickers is 20 miles away - it is a treat :rotfl:

nuatha

NewShadow wrote: »

I've never met such a bunch of cheating cheaters :rotfl:

Ever heard of the Kobayashi Maru test? If you don't accept there isn't any scenario where a win/survival isn't possible, then you find a way to win - blame my corruption on being a life long science fiction and fantasy fan, there's a lot of my character and life that I can see those influences in, including being a prepper.

NewShadow wrote: »

Okay, different scenario.

You're traveling away from home - let's say you're going for an interview and staying overnight in a hotel outside the city. You left your car at the hotel, and you're using public transport (you were worried about parking). You only have what you're carrying on your person for the interview (be honest about what you'd be carrying/wearing).

You had your interview - it went well (congratulations), and you take a walk in the nearby park to cool off. You try to use your phone to tell your nearest and dearest the good news, but there's no signal and no 3G. You become aware of a lot of noise - voices shouting and vaguely what sounds like a loudspeaker. You can hear sirens in the distance. You can smell smoke.

What do you do?

I have several problems with the scenario, I wouldn't stay in a hotel outside the city, though I may use public transport or more likely walk from the hotel to the interview site.
If I headed to a park or elsewhere in the city after the interview it would be because I had a camera and kit with me. However for the purposes of this I'll assume I haven't (so that's spare clothes, food and emergency kit back in the hotel).
I would have an AtoZ of the city and have a satnav application on my phone (I use an old Windows mobile, the satnav program has full European maps pre-installed, but assume the satellites were down).
I'd have pre-planned several routes between interview and hotel, hopefully one of these would give me a route apparently clear of the disturbance, assuming not.
Initially I'd head away from the smoke and sounds, I'd track my route then when safe to do so I'd look at the AtoZ to work out a safe route back to the hotel. I'd pick up a couple of half litres of water with sport tops or possibly one water one lucozade sport. I'd replace these from another corner shop on route where feasible - I would be loathe to carry more than 1 litre at this stage, weight and carry-ability. I'd also buy some compact calories, my preference would by flapjacks, but breakfast bars or chocolate would suffice, if the weather was on the hot side I'd opt for minstrels if I had to buy chocolate. If I could find a working payphone, I'd update Herself, so she knew I was safe.

My phone has a radio, using a single ear-plug (stereo would mask environmental sounds) I'd check several radio stations to try to find out what was happening.

If I decided it was safe to do so, I'd head towards the hotel. My habit is to repack my bags in the morning, before breakfast and to leave the minimum kit in my room, so simply grabbing my car and going is an option - I'd route directly away from the situation. More likely (as in situation is not critical, I'd phone Herself with my planned route and ETA (and contingency destination). Checkout of the hotel then depart the area.

If I decide its not safe to return to the hotel, I find a route out of the city, coach would be preferable, taxi would be possible. Generally I'd rather not use trains, if the electrical supply goes down, the train stops, trains carry far larger numbers of people, the chances of panic starting and spreading in a confined space are something I'd rather not face.
Abandoning the car and its kit is preferable to putting myself in a low survival situation - in all likelihood, it can be safely recovered in due course. Assuming the problem is localised, one option having contacted Herself, is to arrange a contingency destination where Herself could retrieve me. It would have to be achievable within 48 hours so approx 60-70 miles maximum (on foot) and safe for both of us. Other transport options increase the distance.

Interviews in my field aren't suit and smart shoes, suits are the other side of the industry entirely. I tend to be relatively conservative in my dress, so I'm likely to be wearing fabric walking boots, technical mountaineering trousers, currently a base layer and a fleece top with a shell jacket, a down gilet weaves in and out of current dress depending on forecast . All in subdued colours, tends to be blacks or possibly greys.
My everyday carry includes phone and power bank (incorporates LED torch) cash - sufficient, bank cards, driving license etc. A multi-tool, incorporating a knife and pliers. small wound dressings, prescription meds with additional pain killers, alcohol cleanser, gloves (currently 2 pair, one fleece and a pair of rubberised work gloves (thin enough that I can use fine instruments). A couple of USB pen drives with crucial personal and business files, all but the ID PDF's heavily encrypted. Approx 50m of paracord, dust filter mask, ebook reader, fire starting kit, pen and notepad. A half litre water bottle and lens cloths probably covers the rest of what I carry. My spectacles are the safety glasses version, depending on the general weather I may or may not have a hat shoved in a jacket pocket. I used to carry a Palm Pilot handheld computer and batteries, but when I moved to a more modern ebook reader this fell by the wayside and I use my phone's functions more.

The above is based on an interview I had two weeks ago, what I wore, what I had as my carry (though the above comprises my usual EDC or most of it).

mardatha

You live in a place like me Pineapple. I just nipped down the road to buy a new hall carpet and it was a 70 mile round trip

carriebradshaw

mardatha wrote: »

You live in a place like me Pineapple. I just nipped down the road to buy a new hall carpet and it was a 70 mile round trip

same here except it's 60 -ish each way!

Karmacat

nuatha wrote: »

Ever heard of the Kobayashi Maru test? If you don't accept there isn't any scenario where a win/survival isn't possible, then you find a way to win - blame my corruption on being a life long science fiction and fantasy fan, there's a lot of my character and life that I can see those influences in, including being a prepper.

I loved the way they focussed on that in the reboot, it was wonderful :j:j:j

I read my first piece of science fiction (a juvenile Robert Heinlein, I think) about 51 years ago

I have several problems with the scenario, I wouldn't stay in a hotel outside the city, though I may use public transport or more likely walk from the hotel to the interview site.

I love what you wrote nuatha - I haven't done the scenario myself cos I'm struggling with my own real life little shtf scenario (roof/Storm Katie) and I need all my emotional energy for that, but I love what New Shadow's offering, and the rest of you are coming up with :j

nuatha

Karmacat wrote: »

I loved the way they focussed on that in the reboot, it was wonderful :j:j:j

I still haven't seen the reboot films, suspect that might be this evening's viewing.

I read my first piece of science fiction (a juvenile Robert Heinlein, I think) about 51 years ago

you had a slight head start on me. Fairly sure Andre Norton was my first, Heinlein not long after

I love what you wrote nuatha - I haven't done the scenario myself cos I'm struggling with my own real life little shtf scenario (roof/Storm Katie) and I need all my emotional energy for that, but I love what New Shadow's offering, and the rest of you are coming up with :j

Good luck getting sorted, hoping the damage isn't too severe.
I'm distracting myself from some issues at this end - I hate waiting (and that's all I can do at mo) so being made to think is very welcome.

maryb

Here's one.

You are in a meeting several floors up in a city centre office. The fire alarm goes off and there is a recorded message telling you to stay at your desk and telling you what the evacuation signal will be if it's needed but telling you do not evacuate at this stage. Because it is a large modern office and you are in a meeting room there are no windows so you can't look out and see what is going on.

Another one.

It's winter and you are in a dreary team meeting. You left your bag and coat at your desk. The fire alarm goes off and the fire marshall shoos you out without a chance to go back to your desk and retrieve anything. It will take ages to finish the drill and you are recovering from a bad cold

craigywv

love it ,I go away for two weeks and come back to you talking about threesomes and cannibalism,i missed your deep meaningful conversations.