During the winter 1999's tempest in France, there were a few hectic days, with no electric power for thousands of houses for some days.
I remember hearing on the news, people saying they had to buy candles, at a price multiplied by 10 by local shops. Never heard those shops were prosecuted for raising prices like that in those circumstances.
So I guess that's what you call free trade or is it liberalism .... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

It occurs to me that a good way to extend food & water supplies is through modified hibernation.

In large community shelters, you could enforce mandatory rest and sleep periods for those individuals not necessary for maintaining the shelter and you could rotate the personnel so that everyone works.

Those whose turn it is to sleep and remain inactive could be given less food and water because their bodies will expend less energy and those that are working could be fed according to anticipated caloric output. Fat people (I am one of them.) could be fed proportionately less as their bodies have reserves to use.

This would stretch the resources of the group in the shelter and allow the supplies on hand to last longer. This same tactic could be used in a smaller family shelter situation, but would be hard because of the emotions that would tend to interfere. An autocratic entity in a large common group shelter would be able to keep a detached position and therefore would probably be more efficient.

Bountyhunter

"GOVERNMENT SPINMEISTER'S" do not wear jack boots or fly black helicopters when they work their "VOODOO" scenerios. They do that hard stuff only after they have taken over. The other stuff about them is true.

Reminds me of the time the late John Denver contracted for a large gasoline storage tank during the days of the gas crunch. He was booed because he had the money to do what most of those condemning him would have done themselves in those circumstances.

Hipocrisy and subterfuge will live forever, with or without "jack boots".

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid.

Do you happen to remember the reaction ( both here and on another forum) to my suggestion (that bounced back and forth between forums for awhile) that it was inappropriate for a short-term survival kit to contain food items (teabags, bouillon cubes, candy & glorified candy), or items related to food (snares, fishhooks, fishing line, cooking stuff, fuel)?

The reaction ranged from dismissal from those who thought I was ignorant or daft, to outrage from some who apparently had their core beliefs challenged.

To Doug's credit, he appeared to be willing to give the concept consideration (I gather- we've never talked about it directly)... which is more than it generally got.

Logic appears to have nothing much to do with it- I'm afraid the fact seems to be that the vast majority of modern Americans have never gone a day without a meal in their lives, and some significant percentage have apparently never skipped a meal. When these folks get hungry they panic, and think they're dying, with all sorts of imagined symptoms and rationalizations to go along with the contention.

I'm afraid your idea would quickly turn any shelter in the US into Riot City.

My short-term survival kit has two items of food. The first is a couple powerbars- Hypothermia is a real danger in an unexpected survival situation, and a jolt of calories at the right time can go a long ways towards good to reversing a downward spiral. The other is a couple teabags and sugar packets. I get this idea from the SAS book and the british- when things are going down the tubes, the ritual of putting the kettle on can really help clear your head and get you to settle down and think. After all, thinking is the most important thing to do when the unexpected happens. Plus, tea makes it more palatable to injest some warm water, which can also help with hypothermia.

I agree completely (as do many others including the guys at Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit) on the tea and my larger kits (the ones that actually include a metal container like a coffee can) now contain a couple bags of caffeine free/herbal tea for that very reason. I chose the caffeine free because I feel that stimulants are not wanted or needed in a survival situation... at least not for me. I haven't given much thought to the Power Bar concept, I guess since I live in a predominatly warm area. Although now with winter on the way, hypothermia prevention is a legitimate consideration even here.

I live in Minnesota. Hypothermia is a possibility in July. The tea I carry is caffeinated, because I'm addicted to caffeine- the last thing I need in a survival situation is a migraine.

Presumed Lost:

I understand your thinking, but you have to admit (The recent hurricanes being a prime example.) that people have and will come together in a genuine emergency.

Yes, some will panic and demand more and attempt to start a riot, but you throw them out with nothing and the majority will back you as long as you are fair. Also, remember I said an autocratic entity, so voting is not an option, only fair treatment for all.

From my earlier post, those with gastric bypass surgeries could argue they need more calories to sustain life, but that would threaten the common good of the majority.

Bountyhunter

Maybe they just didn't like his singing! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Vince

Norad45:

Naw, I think it was because they were short people bigots.

If he had been taller, they would probably have helped him dig the foundation.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />