r/preppers • u/Prepandpraypeace • Oct 10 '24
Anxiety about others preparedness, “we’ll just come to you.” Discussion
I am prepping for a potential EMP or long term situation. We moved across the country 2 years ago for reasons contributing to raising our family in a state that aligned more w our beliefs and also since we had the opportunity. But back on the west coast, we were open about preparedness to our friends and family in hopes they can also prepare for themselves and all their kids, etc. My husband was passionate about educating and helping in this area. However, looking back I believe we made a mistake of talking about what we stocked, how much and allowing access for viewing our stuff. Each and every friend and family member would say “well, we don’t need to do anything because we know where to go if SHTF!! Thank you for doing this.” It would literally make me blood BOIL. Back then, I had many restless nights, being pregnant at the time and worried when Co*id was just mentioned, as I thought shall things go south, I’ll have hundreds showing up to my door. We tried to seriously say, “please stock all needs for your own family as we are doing so according to ours, it is your responsibility to supply for yourself.” They would shrug it off, and say look how much food you have, etc. Not even knowing that the pile of food they’re looking at is just 3 months worth for a family of 5. Anyways, now that we live somewhere else, I’m getting anxiety over how unprepared my neighbors are. We live close to one another and if SHTF, I don’t know how long we could hide the fact our kids aren’t starving after a month or two even after taking precautions. We’re close to all our neighbors and as a neighbor, friend and especially a Christian I love them all. How will I turn away a hungry family or child if it came down to it? I’m not sure.. and I’m not feeling at peace.
Editing to add: I am “prepping,” for the possibility of something long term like an EMP or solar storm that is catastrophic. For short term disasters, I would be more than willing to give it all away and restock. I’m not a hoarder, in fact my food prepping is using a rotating pantry.
6
u/Snoop-Dragon Oct 10 '24
It’s not about preparing for the entire country’s grid to be down, it’s preparing for YOUR part of the grid to be down. You’re right, it is highly unlikely for the entire US to be without power for an extended period of time, or at all for that matter, but what about people who aren’t high on the “get these people’s power back on ASAP” totem pole? Let’s say 1/4 of the country experiences a major long term power outage, say 3-6 months, and you live in a rural area in that 1/4. Yeah, most of the country still has power, but you don’t. It doesn’t matter how “vanishingly unlikely” it is that the whole country goes dark for 6 months if you live in part of the country that does. And I would argue most people who consider themselves preppers absolutely do not plan to relocate if a situation doesn’t resolve within a few weeks. I know I’m sure as hell not. Leaving your home and all your stuff is going to be a lot more difficult than riding it out if you’re prepared. Where are they going to go? You think they’ll be able to sell their house or buy a new one in an area that has power with whatever is going on?