The Rational Prepper

Intro
The Rational Prepper series is based on the premise that the best way to deal with bad situations is to avoid them.

Lessons From Helene
However, as Helene dumped two feet of rain in eastern Appalachia it became apparent that nowhere is completely safe from disaster.  Low lying areas were totally devastated and there is nothing anyone can do to prepare for such an onslaught.

The wider disaster is still unfolding.  Higher ground (which is most of the region) wasn't washed away but is now inaccessible due to destruction of roads and bridges and is without electricity or communication.

Electricity
As of this morning, over 400,000 remain without electricity in western North Carolina.

That many people without power is certainly serious, but the greatest problem is government incompetence.

Over 360 substations have been damaged or completely destroyed.  There is not enough replacement equipment available and it could take months before all these substations are repaired. Try to imagine going two or three months without electricity.

To make matters worse, the Harris-Biden administration has been sending critical equipment to Ukraine.

Communication
This is the greatest travesty of all.   In 2021 the Harris-Biden administration allocated $42.5 BILLION to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program to bring internet service to under served communities.  To date, it has connected no one.
www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/the-42-billion-internet-program-that-has-connected-0-people

A few years ago, the FCC revoked a grant under which Starlink would provide over 100,000 terminals to users in remote locations.  19,552 of those terminals were earmarked for locations in North Carolina that are now cut off from all communication.

Pathetically,  FEMA has just announced that they are bringing 67 Starlink terminals to the state.  67.

As an aside, 100,000 Starlink terminals would cost less that $100 Million, a mere drop in the $42.5 BILLION  Harris-Biden BEAD bucket.

The incompetence (or, perhaps, corruption) is beyond astounding.

Lessons - Resiliency
It is not practical to prepare for a once-in-100 years flood (or hurricane or earthquake).  The only option is to evacuate and hope there is something left to salvage.

That said, vast, adjacent areas (that aren't destroyed) may/will suffer from loss of infrastructure for a very long time.  I now believe that resiliency (i.e. multiple options to stay self sufficient) should be a key aspect for the Rational Prepper who becomes stranded by damaged roads. 

• Note: This is assuming you're stranded at a location that wasn't severely damaged.

Food:  Roads may be washed out or impassable ...you may not be able to get a store ... and if you do,  it will probably be picked clean.  Just a few weeks of shelf stable food (rice, beans, canned goods, powdered milk) might make the difference between desperation and getting by.

Internet:  Communication might be gone for weeks or even months.  Starlink is the only communication that can be relied upon.  Fiber/cable on poles will be blown away and underground utilities could be severed or washed away.  Cell towers will be gone.

Starlink can be run from the batteries in a car or RV.

Energy:  Electricity is a necessity.

• Yeah, I know our ancestors lived just fine without it ... they lived in a log shack, had a garden and chickens and a root cellar.  AND, they ate squirrels and rancid meat that would make us sick.  We are spoiled and soft ... accept it.

A whole house propane generator is the ultimate prep but most people can't justify the expense. 

Just a few solar panels are all you need to run a refrigerator, Starlink and a microwave.  But the sun doesn't always shine so a small gasoline gen is needed to provide a backup (and gasoline).

Water:  This is the most serious concern.  Municipal water might be interrupted or contaminated.  A well will continue to deliver water ... if you have the power to run it.

You might be able to collect rainwater or get water from a stream.  In either case, it may not be fit for modern, pampered humans to drink.  You will need some way to filter out debris or silt and some household bleach to kill bacteria and pathogens. 

Medicine:  I'm no expert on this.  If there's some med you absolutely need to live (like insulin) then you should keep an extra one month supply in the fridge (make sure you rotate your supply, expired meds are worthless).

Tools:  There are SO MANY tools.  However, if you live in a wooded area then a good gasoline chain saw (and a couple of spare chains) is a necessity.  A selection of cordless tools is a plus.

Emergency Repairs:  Like tools, this could be a big topic.  But I'm focused on a few weeks, not some Zombie Apocalypse.  Tarps and/or rolls of heavy plastic sheet might be needed to cover broken windows or a damaged roof.  Duct tape and staples.

Several heavy duty extension cords to get power where you need it.  For example, you might need to run the fridge from your gas generator ... never, ever run the generator inside the house!

Gasoline:  Yeah.  We all want to save the Climate by going electric, right?  (I'm being sarcastic).

Gasoline is concentrated liquid energy.  Electric cars and electric tools will be useless when the grid is down.

Gas gives you resiliency when electricity fails.   However, if your area is cut off then the supply will be quickly exhausted.   I should recommend that you always keep your tank full, but that would make me a hypocrite.  I don't fill up until I get down to 1/4 (about three trips back-and-forth to town).


I'm sure there are more items but, it's time to move on.