Blast,

Thanks for posting this link. I've read it several times during the past two weeks and still learn something new each time.

It's a gripping story - I can't believe how plausible the scenarios seem to be with characters that I really cared about (go Karate Man!). There were a few surprises (such as a lack of pets - no one has any dogs in the neighborhood; how sad) and quite a few realistic villians - How many of us know a "Barney" or a "the boss - Mr. Davis"?

I first wished that I lived in a community like Silver Hills; then I realized that the responsiblity is mine to help create an atmosphere of self-reliance and neighborly support in my existing area.

Again thanks!

There's a lot of truth in that statement and I've been quietly working on this in my neighborhood for a long time (eight years!).

However, "Lights Out" made me realise my neighborhood is undenfendable from any attacker. It has too many entry points, to many hiding spots, and no wells (though swimming pools might be a source of water). Our houses are very close together allowing fire to pass quickly from one to the next. The houses themselves would offer no protection from rifle bullets. The list goes on and on. It has me somewhat depressed. All we really have is a great bunch of people, but they aren't bulletproof.

We had our first test two years ago when Hurricane Rita was expected to hit. The way everyone responded was like a dream. Teams of people went house to house to help board up windows and empty the yards of possible flying debris, people with 1st aid training ID'd themselves to others, walkie-talkies were passed out to each house if someone needed help, everyone's bathtubs were filled with water, copies of water treatment/hurricane prep/1st aid stuff were passed out to everyone, and those with generators set up sharing schedules with other neighbors. We were ready for the worst, which of course meant nothing happened.

I love our neighborhood but the first group of MZB's will pick us like ripe apples.

-Blast

I rate it very highly. It was very easy reading!

The 1st section is the story and it incorporates what needs to be learned/done in the story line.

The 2nd section has the reference information that the story teaches, plus the instructions/templates for the Kearney Fallout Meter (KFM).

The story line also gives some excellent examples of the different types of human behavior that will be exhibited under such stressful coditions.

Blast,

I came to the same conclusion about my neighborhood vs. the MZBs. We have too many entrances, we're too close to Dallas, we all have small lots (too small for useful gardens), we don't have wells and were too far from one of the area lakes (fish and water supplies).

That was one of the disappointing things about the novel. The characters live in the perfect spot for self-defense being surrounded by farmland. Additionally, they have exactly the contacts (i.e., gun shop owners, hardware store owners) they need to have at key points in the novel. Perhaps I'm just jealous of the characters.

I disagree Blast!! Think about the basic tactics lessons that was in "Lights Out". I live in the same situation that you do. The real problem isn't defense. The two real (insurmountable) problems are: FOOD and FEMA!

On defense: map out the neighborhood and and look at your access points and other weak areas. Build a defensive team (1st string/35 & older years) that patrols those areas/points. Build 2 reaction teams (2nd string/18-34 year olds) that responds where the initial attack is coming from and a reserve to counter a flanking attack, build a last ditch team (3rd string/women & all of the 15-17 year olds) to protect each homestead and provide bodies for OP's & LP's.

Water can be used from the swimming pools to flush the toilets & provide drinking water. Rain water can be corraled back into the swimming pools and/or buckets/barrels.

VERY LITTLE FOOD can be cultivated on the average subdivision lot. That is the problem!

Energy availability will be another issue. Gas, Diesel, firewood, etc.

As mentioned in "Lights Out", the presidents have signed various executive orders & PPD's that allow, in time of emergencies, for all civilian resources to be confiscated (to be doled out to people in shelters) *(More than 3 days groceries and supplies in a household constitutes "Hoarding")* and 10 concentration camps (I mean "evacuation/detention camps) have already been constructed around the country, during the last 10 years (mostly in National Guard Camps) (the govt claims that they are for teaching the military how to survive in POW camps although no one has ever trained in them), and a $350 million contract was awarded about 8 months ago to build 10 more camps. 1 of those camps are to be built outside of Natchez, Ms (the locals are fighting it). FEMA "Crisis Relocation Plan" is just as the description in "Lights Out". If you remember some comments I made a few months ago about the New York City "Crisis Relocation Plan" that came into being in the late 70's and what a complete farce it was and is.

My solution to the problem is to first organize the neighborhood and dig in. Sometime along that line, if serious trouble erupts in town and I feel that Martial Law is about to be enforced, I will advise my neighbors to prepare and plan for Bugging Out. My first stop is just to the west of my present location in order to regroup and reassess. Then the next move is to get to Northwest-Central Arkansas where I have some supplies cached and people who have need for my skills, Library of knowledge, and those resources that we bring with us (includes walking, talking, thinking, bodies). I have put several realistic contingency plans together and I periodically review them (just completed a review of all contingency plans, wrote a few more to cover other aspects of those situations).

You might consider making some acquaintences around Lake Livingston and/or Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Those are far enough away from the cities, withing a reasonable transit time, and there are defensive areas there as well as cultivatable land.

My stepdad a few years ago brought up to me his plan of outfitting the neighborhood as a mini community. The focus of the book made me reevaluate his position and compare it against my sister's location (which is ideally placed with it's own well, small close-nit group in the middle of PA farmland).

He didn't quite bite so I printed out satellite photos and drew up a diagram to prove my point

He admitted he hadn't even taken into account that they might shut off city water. Just goes to show even the die-hard preparedness nuts can miss a simple detail like water.

I kind of agree with you on FEMA, but as far as food goes, I think our neighborhoods is quite well prepared for several reasons.

1. A river runs through it. Okay, actually along one side, but I liked that phrase. Along this river on either side is thick pine woods filled with feral hogs, deer, raccoons, possums, beavers, armadillos, squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs. The river has bass, sunfish, catfish, crawfish, alligator gars, turtles, clams, cranes, herons, ducks and assorted other fish/fowl. The woods are filled with all sorts of edible plants just about year-round. Blackberry and dewberry picking starts next week!

2. One of my hobbies is gardening and I've helped a lot of neighbors design their landscaping. Once everything is planted I casually mention how all the plants I had them put in are actually edible (hibiscus, daylillies, canna lillies, elderberry trees, loquats, sago palms, etc..). I have a post on my blog about this particular subject.

3. There are tons of Sago Palms in the neighborhood (see #2). Each one is LOADED with starch, enough to last many, many months.

4. It's Houston. We have lots of bugs all year long...

5. There are many open lots available for planting, including a 100-foot wide buried pipeline easement and a 150-foot wide powerline easement. Both strips get plenty of sun and the power and pipeline companies have kept them well mowed/groomed. We'd have to be careful digging, but that's okay.

6. I know of five families (including us) on just my block who have vegitable gardens in their backyards. Crops include zucchini, tomatoes, corn, sunflowers, egg plants, okra, spinach, strawberries, peas, beans, onions, peppers (bell and hot), limes, lemons, bananas, figs, and pecans. I'm sure more than just us five have gardens.

7. Stray cats. Lots and lots of stray, feral cats. A few years ago I trapped THIRTEEN of them and took them to the animal shelter. The numbers has sprung back up.

8. Birds. One thing my trips to China have taught me is that if it has wings it's food! A simple but effective bird trap can be found here. It may take a lot of grackels/robins/sparrows/magpies to make a meal, but at least around here there are lots to begin with.

True, it'd still be a lot of work and attitude changes but I think our neighborhood could feed itself. Harvesting plants/animals from the woods would be dangerous at first as many other would probably set up squatters camps there. I suspect the mosquitoes, heat and occasional flooding would drive them out pretty quickly though...

Food is around, you just have to look and be open-minded (sometimes very open-minded).

-Blast

_Pulling Through_ is awesome. I read it hard copy years ago, and then bought an electronic version from Baen last year.

At least my comments have gotten you to reassess your present location.

The river that you spoke of is also a natural defensive barrier. That is one entire "front" that assists you in the defense of your neighborhood. It will keep you in water and provide food. Damn it up with a spillway and you can make a waterwheel connected to a generator for limited electrical power supply.

One largely overlooked factor in most neighborhoods are all those front yards that get plenty of sunlight and could be turned into another garden space. "The Mother Earth News" ran an interesting article on that subject about 6 months ago. "Mother" is also a very good source of material to have around. I have 30 years of them in my garage library.

In my case, I'd have to trim some trees way back to reduce shaded areas but that will provide firewood as well as more productive ground.

Sometimes you have to "step outside of yourself" and look at the landscape from another POV in order to fully assess all the pros and cons of your own situation. Tunnel vision is easy to acquire and can lead to disastrous decision making.

As I said before, My plans would be implemented in stages as the need arises. Necessity is the mother of invention! There is no substitute to having good Intel. Planning for the gathering, evaluation, and use of reliable Intelligence information is crucial to making correct decisions at the appropriate times. Advance planning is where the value of having a diverse group becomes very apparent. The more diverse the group, the better chance of covering all of the bases in all of the subjects that you will be required to think and plan for.

Between this discussion and the current state of world affairs, I have started thinking in terms of time and implementation of contingency plans.

I would definitely go into "post-hurricane" mode if the lights went out for unknown reasons. That would include the immediate investigation of any EMP effects. Trying to crank the cars, the electronically constructed radio's, my cell phone function, etc.

If I find that EMP has occurred or that there is a high probability that it has occurred, I would then go to post-nuclear (fallout preps) mode.

Then we would have other things to consider.