Preparing for the zombie apocalypse

JohnR1972JohnR1972
in General

I have worked in realm of data analytics for nearly 2 decades with an emphasis on supply chain management for the past 5 years or so. Without getting into the boring and potentially controversial reasons why, I think it is a good idea for everyone to be prepared for a certain level of supply chain disruptions later this year.

In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) used the metaphor of a zombie apocalypse to encourage people to make common sense preparations for any emergency such as having flashlights, candles, matches, some food, battery powered radio and other items assembled in the event of an emergency (power outage, severe weather, fire, flood, civil unrest, etc.).

I would encourage everyone to spend a few minutes at ready.gov to read through FEMA recommendations for general preparedness and make your own decisions about whatever precautions make sense for you personally.

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Comments

  • lesmis33lesmis33
    edited March 2024

    That being said, I should get some more canned food.

  • WestsideMarcWestsideMarc
    edited March 2024

    I’ve got something to say on this matter! First off great post and great topic @JohnR1972 !

    Zombie apocalypse aside I am an ardent believer in being prepared for disasters! I’ve done a lot of research on this in terms of freeze dried food versus dehydrated food, and freeze dried food seems to be the best way to go in my opinion.

    There are companies like  wise food storage that sell food storage kits that are hermetically sealed in these plastic containers that have a shelflife of like 20 to 25 years. I have these myself in my garage. You can also get those big 5 gallon bottles of Sparklets water that have a multi year shelf life and also I think it’s a great idea to have a little camping stove with a propane tank, the kind that you use with barbecues as well.

    These are very simple, inexpensive investments you can make and I honestly and truly sleep a lot better at night knowing that I’m prepared. Just don’t break into my garage when the shit comes down, and no I don’t have a dog in this fight. I am not in the business of selling these kits. I just believe in being prepared.

    Just because I’m a curious George, one time I asked a market clerk how many days of inventory does a market have if it were not restocked and I think he said like five.

    That’s just ridiculous.

    I mean look what happened just during Covid alone where people were hoarding, toilet paper and canned food and pasta, etc. Now imagine that bumped up a whole lot into another catastrophe of larger proportion.

    Remember, if the power goes down, which is always a possibility, even if there’s plenty of food markets will not be able to sell anything to you. Credit cards won’t work, registers won’t work, and even if you have cash, there’s no way they can transact even at a 7-Eleven, so bottom line be prepared and sleep better.

    Mic drop!

  • TxTomTxTom

    I agree, @JohnR1972 . Being smartly prepared doesn't mean running around in circles with your hair on fire. It just means be self-sustainable for at least 3 weeks.

    The government bureaucracy has plans to save itself, but not you. You'll be on your own.

    Someone said, "we're only four missed meals away from chaos."

    Within a 48 hour period our civilized, orderly society can descend into the "law of the jungle."

    Again, just some basic preparation will save you from panic.

  • SoosonSooson

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @lesmis33 - 😂
    The incontrovertible things that are still winding up to impact global supply chains is that both of the “world’s shortcuts” (the Suez canal and Panama Canal) are running at dramatically reduced capacity. Ship traffic through the Suez Canal is down due to military conflict / attacks and ship traffic through the Panama Canal is down due to drought and restrictions enacted to reduce the amount of water consumed per day running the lock system.

    Either of these issues would cause some disruption to global supply chains but they are compounding each other. A lot of ships that used to take the “short cuts” are now forced to sail South around Africa or South America. This means shipping times are extended by 10-14 days and higher shipping costs due to increased fuel consumption, labor costs and reduced capacity (ships can make fewer round trips per year if each round trip takes 20-28 days longer). It also means potential container shortages because shipping containers (aka Twenty Foot Equivalent Units or TEUs) are tied up longer on transcontinental voyages.

    There are several other factors I could list but I don’t want to open the flood gates to political issues so I will just say I expect additional factors to compound the ones listed above.

    Again, I am not saying it is time to panic. It is just a good idea to review FEMA recommendations about preparedness. AT&T had a service disruption around 2 weeks ago that impacted about 100K customers. Do you have a backup plan to communicate with loved ones in the event of cellular / Internet service disruption?

    My daughter and I have 7 Watt, handheld GPRS radios and we have tested them and found them to have about a 10 mile range with the built in antennas or ~20 mile range using vehicle mounted antennas.

    Most cities use water towers to provide water pressure to residents. Those towers are usually filled at night using electric pumps. If the power goes out for a few hours, it isn’t a big deal but if the power goes out for an extended period of time, people could run out of water. Having several days of water (a MINIMUM of 1 gallon / person / day) would only require a small investment today but could make a big difference in your ability to get through an extended power outage.

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery
    edited March 2024

    I'm probably the least outwardly like what most folks would consider a "prepper" lol. But being (perhaps sometimes overly) prepared is probably my fighting shot in the zombie apocalypse :lol:

    I grew up in a hoarder household, not because anyone were collectors but because my parents were raised extremely frugally (my mom in pretty severe poverty). Combined with untreated anxiety & depression, it led to the hoarding of anything that could remotely be used again in the future. It rubbed off on us kids, badly, and we all three struggle still despite therapy and moving away from home 🤷🏻‍♀️. We learned to buy in bulk, shop sales and thrift, repair and reuse to the extreme. While this taken too far is harmful, it's also very useful skills to have in the event of an apocalypse, and it taught us how to always be prepared for just about anything.

    Add to that my lifelong background in the performing arts, and I'm definitely that "mom friend" who carries around a Mary Poppins bag filled with anything you might need in an emergency or tight situation. With live performance arts you have to be prepared for just about any outcome so that you can adapt to events as they unfold in the moment without missing a beat. Always have safety pins, bobby pins, duct tape, scissors, small sewing kit, basic meds around because you can fix just about anything with them in combination - including many injuries, I learned as a dancer :sweat_smile:

    While logically I know a lot of this is a C-PTSD/trauma anxiety response to how I grew up, I'm not mad at having the skills and supplies around to support myself and others. And hey, if it means I'm able to survive a bit longer with the zombies despite my mobility and health issues, all the better :lol:

  • [Deleted User]Skweezer (deleted user)

    Every time I get irritated that I haven't adequately prepared for something, I remind myself that the consequence I'm currently experiencing is my payment for living a stress-free day-to-day life of procrastination and ambition-less contentment.

    If I was better at preparing and preventing fires, I wouldn't be such an expert at putting them out while remaining calm. Play to your strengths!

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @cuddlefaery - there are advantages to being the person who has the unexpected item (knife, zip tie, flashlight, bandaid, quarter, etc.) that can be used to temporarily solve a problem (or at least make it less of a problem). I carry a Mystery Ranch laptop bag because it is practically indestructible, has room for my first responder kit, and has a really useful aftermarket safety accessory available for it.

    @Skweezer - everyone has to find their balance when it comes to living a day at a time vs preparing for whatever may happen in the future. It is easy to error in either direction. For instance, how much food, water or batteries should a person have on hand? It all depends on how long you would like to be able to be self sufficient in an emergency.

    The general rule of thumb is everyone should make sure they have at least 72 hours worth of supplies because normally, outside help will be available within 3 days of any natural or man made disaster.

    The odds of experiencing a “disaster” of less than 3 days is MUCH greater than the odds of experiencing a disaster that last more than 3 days. If a person decides to prepare for a longer emergency (10 days, 30 days, or more) they will have the ability to help others as well.

  • WestsideMarcWestsideMarc
    edited March 2024

    I know I already weighed in on this before I just wanted to reiterate that these companies that sell these hermetically sealed meal kits are reasonably priced and because they are all freeze dried they take up very very little space in your garage, and again have a shelf life of 20+ years! That’s a lot of confidence packed into a tiny amount of space.

    We all have enough to think about on a day-to-day basis, and this is the kind of thing that people never really think about, they kick the can down the road into a perpetual cycle of procrastination. You can go online and pick out one of these kits in a very short period of time and it’ll be delivered to your door in no time. It’s super easy and a good investment in your peace of mind! I’m guessing you can probably buy emergency medical kits too.

    Once you quickly check the food off your list then you can always deal with all of the other ancillary aspects later but this is the biggest and most important.

    Sorry to repeat, but it’s important stuff.

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    @Skweezer for what it's worth, I'm a queen of procrastinating until the absolute last second (thanks ADHD need for urgency dopamine hit in order to task initiate 😅). The trade off for constantly being late, not being able to conform, and being so disorganized is that I'm incredibly good at thinking on my feet, improvising, and problem-solving/creativity. We all have our strengths and weaknesses 🤷🏻‍♀️

    I may be well prepared, but it's all a huge barely organized chaos that weighs more than I wish to carry around or deal with most the time 😂 but when the time comes, despite not having a freakin clue where my glasses went (again), I could tell you that there's bandaids (large, small, and silicone) in my purse and the top right drawer in the bathroom, and where to find about 5 different joint braces (ankle, knee, wrist) in various random places even if they've been buried in a box for over a year 😅😅😅 c'est la vie

  • LionsFanLionsFan

    In addition to food and water, getting prescriptions is a key to a survival. 12% of the population is diabetic, as one example.

    Everything I get is obtained in a 90 day supply, however, it's all through insurance with restrictions on refills. Typically I can't get a refill until I'm down to my last 5-10 days. Periodically, my doctor needs to fax or electronically transmit a renewal.

  • LionsFanLionsFan

    Should we be prepared for looters? How?

    If you have a weapon, do you maintain an adequate ammo supply?

  • [Deleted User]Skweezer (deleted user)

    @cuddlefaery - that sounds a little more familiar to me. My ADHD wasn't treated until I was 40. The first aid kit is rarely stocked, but I know where like 15 bandaids are in random places around the house and in the car. My storage room doesn't look organized but I can find anything in there.

    The ADHD kinda blankets everything when it comes to expectations of adults. I guess what I was more describing is the peace that I've made with it. 🙂

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @WestsideMarc - good point. Auguson Farms has good products with long shelf life and they are available on Amazon. I would recommend storing it in a basement rather than a garage if that is an option (alway better to store food in a cooler, more stable temperature than in an environment that experiences large temperature and humidity swings).

    @LionsFan - excellent point about the need for meds. The best recommendation I have heard is to refill your existing prescriptions as frequently as you are allowed to which MAY allow you to build up a stockpile of 2-3 days of medication per month (depending on the exact terms of your prescription and insurance). Building up 2-3 days per month allows you to have an extra 3-4 weeks of medication over the course of a year.

  • WestsideMarcWestsideMarc

    @JohnR1972 definitely agree. We just don’t have a lot of basements here in Los Angeles. Lol.

  • JubalJubal
    edited March 2024

    Just in case one's emergency planning is inadequate lol . . .

  • KatotaKatota

    @Jubal Lol. Hmm, you gotta point but I'm more concerned with this⬇️ at the moment. 😉

    Yeah so when shall I start cutting the butt out of my good pairs of pants 👖 ✂️...???
    Lol 😄

  • KatotaKatota

    @Jubal Probably best to wait until summer is in full swing, eh?😜😆

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    @Skweezer yeah, though we suspected I was neurodivergent/had ADHD since childhood, my parents wanted to avoid labels and meds so I was not diagnosed until 35 in 2022 and started treatment a few months after that. Meds absolutely confirmed I have it, as the stimulants knocked me TF out 😅 I've since acclimated to it, but the past 2 years has been a wild ride of relearning who I am and how to do most things without masking.

    @LionsFan I've learned to stockpile most of my meds 2 ways to offset times when Medicare or the pharmacy has messed up, as some of my meds are REALLY not fun to skip. 1) you can try asking your doctor for samples, which drug manufacturer reps will leave with doctors to try to encourage them to prescribe. This has seen me through many a month where I had 20+ days of migraines but insurance only covers 9/month. 2) if you have any meds you can safely skip a day here or there, you can create a small stockpile by skipping a few days a month over time. Be aware of expiration dates, but also note that most meds expiration dates are arbitrarily set by the manufacturer as they just didn't test past that time period, or at worst they lose potency. Very few drugs become unstable or toxic in a reasonable amount of time past the date. You can look up your particular drug for more extended research that has been done by 3rd parties.

  • liveninpjsliveninpjs

    Know and be friends with your neighbors. Lol or know which ones to avoid during a zombie apocalypse. But seriously, there are many (especially the elderly) who will need help from those around them. You can only spread yourself so thin, but having a plan of who to help first (and how) is worth the mental exercise ahead of time.

  • TheDave90TheDave90

    I have this mug, always hoped it would have a purpose 😂

  • UREverythingUREverything

    Its called a go bag. Everyone in the household should have tone for an apocalypse or any basic run forest run scenario

  • KatotaKatota

    It's called a go bag

    Ohh, yeah I had one those packed and in the car...About 15 yrs ago, when I was pregnant. 😁👍

    So I'll treat the Zombie Apocalypse as if it was my "2nd pregnancy". I love it!😄😍

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited March 2024

    So I'll treat the Zombie Apocalypse as if it was my "2nd pregnancy".

    @Katota What if you have to “abort” the mission? You could be in legal hot water now days.

    But as of today you could go to France and abort the mission because they made it a constitutional right there. Viva La France!

  • TxTomTxTom

    That's ironic.

  • [Deleted User]MaverickLegend (deleted user)
    edited March 2024

  • KatotaKatota

    @BoomerSooner 😆😆😆 Oh shut it, Boomer! 😆😆😆

  • KatotaKatota

    😆😆😆

  • KatotaKatota
    edited March 2024

    @BoomerSpooner Lol!😆

    Ahem...😌

    Lol!

    ☝️😄

    Ahem...Serious now, well sort of.😌👍

    putting on camouflage helmet/warpaint

    There will be no "aborting the mission" Sargent Boomer, for I shall fight through the Zombie horde 🧟🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️with a heart full of courage 💪and a belly full of grit ⏳️and a womb full of baby🤰... Lol!😁 Chopping off heads 🪓and taking names! And when this baby is "battle born" (by your hands👨‍🍼, so prepare to catch this kid 👐) on the field of splattered zombie brains🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟 and zombie parts, YOU will be in charge of raising up the next Zombie killing generation. For my fight has ran its course here...Can I count on you, Sargent?✊️😁

    And Sargent, I want a Viking funeral (eventhough I'm not a Viking😄) and play The Cranberries "Zombie" it's a fitting farewell song to guide my warrior spirit to divine glory!😁😇

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @lesmis33 @WestsideMarc @TxTom @CuddleDuncan
    In my second post on this thread I mentioned in addition to the Suez and Panama Canals, there were “other factors” I did not want to get into because of the risk of this thread turning political.

    The bigger reason I didn’t want to get into those other factors is because some of them had not yet been made public. Today, one of those other factors was made public in the Wall Street Journal.

    80% of the cranes that load and unload ships at American ports were manufactured in China. Devices have been found on many of those cranes that allow those cranes to be remotely accessed, raising concerns that China may have the ability to cripple American supply chains by disabling those cranes and reducing our port capacity by 80% overnight without a shot being fired.

    Again, I am not wanting to make this thread political or tell anyone it is time to panic. I am just pointing out the POTENTIAL that the United States (and possibly other countries) could see a dramatic supply chain disruption in the near future if upwards of 80% of our port capacity is taken offline through a cyber attack.

    For comparison, in Fiscal Year 2018/2019, the Port of Los Angeles (the busiest port in the Western Hemisphere) unloaded 4.9 million cargo containers of imported goods. In Fiscal Year 2019/2020 (the peak of COVID disruptions) they only unloaded 4.4 million cargo containers. In other words, the COVID supply chain disruptions were the result of a 10% reduction in imported cargo. A cyber attack against our ports could potentially be 8 times worse.

    https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/espionage-probe-finds-communications-device-on-chinese-cargo-cranes-867d32c0?st=mtfbzihgzlgpx2j&reflink=article_copyURL_share

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