Disaster planning for regular folks (2015)

Mundane Risks vs. Apocalypse

• Commenters like the article’s focus on likely, everyday disasters (power outages, unemployment, illness) over “zombie apocalypse” scenarios.
• Financial preparedness (savings, insurance) is framed as higher‑value than exotic edge cases; some note over-optimization (e.g., extreme early-retirement frugality) can be its own risk.
• Examples: stored food rations proved most useful during unemployment, not catastrophe.

Lessons from War Zones (Ukraine)

• A Canadian commenter relays a Ukrainian friend’s “prep list”: generator, fuel storage, medical kits, solar + batteries, long ethernet runs, pumps, rifle, and even drone-based improvised weapons.
• Others question whether offensive tools (e.g., drone-triggered Molotovs) belong in civilian prep lists and why such long network cables matter; replies stress remote mounting of comms gear (e.g., Starlink) and multipurpose use of cable (power, alarms, comms).
• Debate over leaving versus staying to defend one’s country: some argue nothing is worth dying for; others counter that unopposed aggression just spreads and that atrocities make resistance morally necessary.

Gear, Energy, and Water

• Multiple detailed discussions on generators: sizing above expected load, using them to charge batteries efficiently, and fuel aging. Propane/dual-fuel setups seen as more stable than diesel/gasoline.
• Suggestions include two weeks or more of food, water storage and purification (tablets, filters, reverse osmosis), and considering iodine pills mainly for nuclear scenarios.
• Meal prepping and having backup cooking/power is framed as “stealth prepping” that pays off in daily life.

Violence, Weapons, and “Warlord” Scenarios

• Strong disagreement over how realistic roving warlord gangs are. Some see them as overstated fantasies; others note historical and current warlordism.
• Consensus that lone “prepper caves” are vulnerable; groups, fortifications, and numbers matter more than sheer weapon count.
• Guns are discussed as tools for hunting, deterrence, and last-resort defense, with advice to train or prefer simpler shotguns. Skeptics doubt one household can resist organized raiders.

Community, Social Capital, and Stable Societies

• Many emphasize relationships, trust with neighbors, and mutual aid as the most important preparation.
• Examples include neighborhood disaster planning, island communities coordinating trucks and boats, and historical cooperatives and monasteries as resilient micro-societies.
• Some argue social destabilization is driven by deeper energy/complexity limits rather than just “bad leaders.”

Psychological & Administrative Readiness

• Resources like Finland’s “72 hours” guide and Kiwix (offline Wikipedia) are cited.
• Psychological resilience advice overlaps with coping strategies for mental health crises.
• A “when I die” booklet with accounts, passwords, and practical instructions is recommended as a non-doomsday but essential form of disaster planning.