Monday, October 14, 2013

Social Disorder. What the EBT fiasco taught me.


I was able to observe the mess that was the EBT mess this weekend and you can call me a nut if you want but I'm going full speed into prepping.

I've seen the issues that arise from hurricanes.  I've watched the run on supermarkets just before they hit and the mass purchasing of essential gear if/when the lights go out or roads are closed due to flooding or debris afterwards.

But the drama in the supermarkets from this EBT stuff was on a different level.  I walked into my neighborhood Wally world and within two secs was clutching my sidearm, was grabbing the wall with my back in 10, and within 30 seconds was doing a tactical retreat to my truck, all the while wondering why I had no overwatch, watching how I was bounding to evac and hoping that I didn't set off a trap on the way.

Lessons learned...

1.  Stay armed regardless.  I don't care if you're going out to grab the paper, have your G26/19 on your hip.
2.  If you have been delaying prepping and stated to yourself that its a fad, get past it.  This shit ain't fringe.  If you saw what I saw then you'd be aboard too.  The federal govt says that you should have two weeks worth of food and at the same time says that preppers are suspicious individuals.  Screw them.  Get a pantry that will sustain you for a month.  I'm going for more (won't tell you how long...opsec).
3.  Public places are public places.  I got into the habit of thinking about things like "nothing good happens after midnight" and if you're hanging out with "stupid people, then stupid shit happens" but that's wishful thinking.  We live in a society that appears frayed at the edges.  If something as simple as this could cause commotion then what happens during something more serious (what that could be, I don't know but imagine it).  If you're out in the public when the bad stuff goes down then you stand a chance of getting swept up into it.
4.  Grow your own food.  I don't even want to think about how fragile our "modern" just in time supply system is.  Its built to fail and it will.  When that happens and food supplies are disrupted by forces beyond local control then what will happen?  Not only can't you buy food but there is no food to buy.
5.  I don't know what Washington is thinking but this nation is a powder keg ready to blow.

Final lesson learned.

We're inches away from a mad max moment.

7 comments :

  1. This was far different from the Snow day runs on bread and milk, this was what a mass of people determined to make off with free stuff for any or no reason.
    Had the police not shown up nothing walmart could have done would have stopped this looter flash mob from simply walking off with everything in the store.
    It's not so much lack of intelligence as it is just plain old not giving a shit about being civilized,

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  2. Sol what are you talking about for those of us outside CONUS?

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    Replies
    1. honestly i'd concentrate on being as fit as possible (that applies to all of us everywhere) and....swords, bows, crossbows and any legal lethal weapon you can lay your hands on. quite frankly i'd be looking to get illegal firearms if i were you because societal breakdown will not give a damn about any aspect of the law.

      if you live in cramped quarters containers gardens, developing food storage and probably fortifying your house and cache your supplies might be smart depending on location.

      the masses are going to get into the streets and it won't be pretty. hopefully you'll be home, hopefully you'll be prepared.

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    2. No I meant EBT. I am in the UK if SHTF happens I am rightly royally screwed anyway. Far too many of us in too small a space. A bit like the LA Basin only bigger and a lot wetter.

      I shall have another google.

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  3. I have found it! Used to work on the IT side of retail. That is one big SNAFU. Not pretty.

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