From a fan:

I have some points, as well as questions, I would like to make and ask. One thing that I have noticed is that there is a significant increase in people interested in prepping from all walks of life. Myself, I find this actually alarming that this shows how we are breaking down as a country. Now don’t get me wrong, prepping and self-sufficiency is very important, but back in the day a prepper was the Looney guy in the middle of nowhere and made fun of, and today that is much much different. So a question I have is what got people into prepping? What flipped the switch for someone to decide to get involved in this?

Something else I would like to bring up as it was pointed out to me from a friend who actually got me educated and more active in my own preparations, is to watch visiting sights or actively getting involved in blogs, forums, Facebook pages because there are predators out there. So with Facebook being the way that it is and how most of our personal profiles are made, I would be willing to bet that a predator who acts as a prepper with enough time and research could actually map out a supply route with known active preppers on Facebook, television, forums, etc. Really if someone has the time and the city is listed on a personal page, how hard would it be to look up phone book listing’s that provides addresses of the targeted person. Is this something that should be of real concern?

I currently work full time as an EMT for an ambulance company and majored in Emergency Management. Talking with one of the persons who do most of the emergency planning for the county that I live, she pointed out issues that came up during a drill. One issue is often not even thought of, and I believe would create a bigger problem, is that most dairy cows today especially ones raised on a larger scale are unable to milked by hand anymore. Electricity is a must for these dairy cows for them to be milked. After time and being unable to be milked would cause infection and eventual death. Dairy supply even locally would be non-existent unless you knew of a smaller supplier who may still operate the old fashioned way. Not everyone lives in a rural environment that is able to have goats, chickens, cattle, pigs and more.

A hobby of mine is cooking. So for the bigger dinners, I am often the one doing the cooking, which my wife often enjoys, with the exception of the cleanup, as I tend to make a mess. Anyways, something that I do once a year is have a big dinner and invite many friends and family to what I call “an alternative food dinner.” Recently, over Labor Day, I served and cooked up things like Alligator, Snake, Wild Boar, Turtle, Venison, Frog Legs, Bugs, Walleye and also a wild land salad from various plants not far from my home. During this, my aunt made a comment on how when she was young, with her many brothers and sisters, that how nothing would go to waste on a cow or pig. Stews were made, among other things. With that said, people today still find it hard to even consider trying foods that today are not on our daily menus. How hard do people think they would have to adjust to having to eat something like that? Would anyone know of some good recipes?

Another question is what do most people feel is the most likely scenario for a shtf event? How would things likely breakdown or what would breakdown first? What items would go off the shelves first? How long would it be before violence may occur during the event and how long will it last?

Something else to bring up, with my current knowledge and reading or watching the news, that across the country communities all over are laying off their police, fire, EMS workers. These are people that we have become accustomed to being able to be there when needed. In today’s changing world, that may not be the case anymore. I personally believe that some communities will have to go back to the bucket brigade for a fire or the guy with the pickup loads the patient in the back and takes to a hospital. However will anyone be available or be willing to help people in these communities? Volunteer departments, agencies, etc. are seeing an incredibly low turnout. Hospitals today are also experiencing tougher times especially with re-reimbursements decreasing from 5 to 20 percent. People may need to protect themselves more, but the law may not necessarily be on their side. Best way for me to explain that is “better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.”

During tough economic times a greater burden to wildlife I believe is occurring now. People who wish not to resort to violence or criminal activity will likely go into hunting. Populations of wild life are decreasing in many areas now so what is going to be the food source during a real scenario that causes power outages or something of similar effect for long term?

Having served in the army for 9 years, I have had security beaten into my head. I know that I or my wife would not be able to provide effective security for our 3 children as well as ourselves. Most sites that I have seen seem to talk exclusively about being on their own, but is that really practical? In others opinion I would like to ask what is recommended to stay alone or gather with friends, family, neighbors, etc.?

Something also as a how to such as how to make own gun powder, fuel, medicines, alcohol, oils, fabrics, metals, glass, and I am sure we all can think of much, much more. Educationally, I believe to include myself in lack of knowledge of how things were made 100 to 200 + years ago. We have taken for granted that this can easily be provided for us just by going to a store. In a SHTF scenario that would all change. Anyone have knowledge of how to make these items? I have seen more emphasis on hydroponics, but how do you create that product? Everything eventually gets used up and everything, including ourselves, has an expiration date. With the weather and climate changing, regardless of where you are in the country, we all have to deal with dramatic changes that will affect our alternative food source in our gardens, as well the wildlife that we rely on for our protein. We have relied on guns and ammo for so long that really do we possess the strength and patience to use a bow or crossbow for hunting long term? We have grown lazy and weak and I am talking about people as a whole, with the exception of a small few, but still that weak person might very well be a close loved one. So does anyone want the burden of their survival on your shoulders? No. But to educate and promote physical well being across the board, only helps us.

I hope this was useful if not then discard or delete this. If you happen to use it please do not use my name.
Scott