This is for people in the US. Our country is changing. How are you changing your prep? Here are just some thoughts.

-- Less FEMA or government aid. I think we will have to expect to be on our own basically. I could see two changes: (1) increase the amount of supplies for "bug in" scenarios, because you may have to be on your own for a long time; (2) some scenarios that were previously regarded as "bug in" now may become "bug out" scenarios, because you may have to be on your own for so long that it's better to just get out ahead of the disaster.

-- Epidemic outbreaks. Vaccination rate will get lower in the future. Many CDC scientists have been/will be fired, leading to more epidemic outbreaks and less effective government response. What can we do as individuals? Should we redo/update our vaccination? Do we need to stock up on supplies in preparation for another covid-like outbreak?

-- Less accurate weather reports. NWS, NOAA, etc. are getting downsized, and that will lead to less accurate weather reports. I'm not sure how to respond to this one. I rely on tornado, hurricane, & other types of warnings, and this is not something that I can do on my own.

Removed by chaosmagnet.

There may be other things I overlooked. Please feel free to add to the list & suggest responses.

Saw this referenced at another site and it looks like a 'good deal' if you want to stock up on "survival food" items.

https://www.amazon.com/Wornick-Inspectio...ef_=as_li_ss_tl

I figure tucking away a few MREs for trips or whatever isn't a bad idea and I like the self contained / complete nature of the packages.

So, an associate is looking for some recommendations for books for so-called "doomsday" prep, including one or two specializing in an EMP/Hacking attack. While I have done these sort of preps for clients, I haven't read many such books because back when I did, I found many of them filled with BS or unrealistic. He wants to see what's involved besides talking to me. Any recommendations welcome. TIA.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0w7xx0kk5o

"A 27-year-old university student who climbed Mount Fuji outside of its official climbing season was rescued twice in four days, after he returned to look for his mobile phone."

Really?? Twice?? For a phone? The trails are officially closed. *Facepalm*

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/pilot-recounts-ditching-off-mexico/?oly_enc_id=1916G9512189H7F

Worth a read if you fly over water. He was reasonably well prepared and was lucky besides. Appears his C-182 was unlucky in that he flipped over, but they both got out ok. Lesson learned, stay calm and you have to unlatch your seat belt. He wasn't able to retrive the life raft which was stored in the cargo area. Lesson is to place the life raft where you can grab it on your way out of the aircraft, If it had been secured in the back seat he could have done that.

I would guess from his description of his " personal GPS transmitter" originally intended for SCUBA use that it was a McMurdo FastFind PLB. Plus they had a Marine VHF radio. Best to have this gear on your person and attached via a lanyard. Also, a lanyard or waterproof pouch with a neck lanyard for your cell phone is useful.

Not sure what to make of the life vest issues they had. I have never had a vest fail to inflate after yanking on the inflation tab. Good that he recognized he had some issue and used the oral inflation tube. (In training we sometimes use an expended CO2 cylinder to simulate a failure to inflate)

I always include a buddy line so you can easily link with another survivor because it is much more difficult and tiring to stay together if you have to hold onto someone and impossible if you become unconscious.

Swimming with a life vest on is extremely difficult and tiring, The best practical way to do so is to go backwards using your arms to pull you backwards. Multiple survivors and link up laying to each others crotch and can actually get moving quite effectively as a "chain" of swimmers.

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