Survival Psychology

You have enough prescription medications to last a year, enough medical supplies to outfit a small clinic and enough food and water to last four months.

Other than preparing meals and maybe purify water, there is nothing to do. What do you do other than stare at the ceiling after something big happens? On top of that, you are in the same boat as your gated community where some have prepared, whereas others have not.

Jeanette Isabelle

Read a book

Or write one. Your library of select books is a conversation across the ages.

Or master your acoustic musical instrument. The lyrics you have memorized are an asset beyond imagining.

Interestingly, you should mention that. I touched that subject in the "Castaway" thread when I talked about passing my story to the next person.

Jeanette Isabelle

My first reaction was similar to Montanero’s: “Finally a chance to catch up on my reading list!”

But I know myself better than that.

I would certainly self-activate for my CERT and start working to assist my neighbors. If that isn’t enough our partners (multiple fire and law enforcement agencies, plus a highway department) would likely ask us to activate to help with their various missions. If that got boring I’m a member of the local RACES/ARES group, and could undoubtedly make myself useful with that group.

If the emergency continues long-term, I’d most likely be spending my time going someplace else.

I don't know how this can come about; what I would like to see is our gated community coming together when we have an event that impacts the supply chain.

I, for example, have more medical supplies than what this household can use. I have a neighbor who is a nurse. However, she and her husband do not strike me as preppers. She can offer her services instead.

I understand the problem. Those of us who are preppers don't want to reveal that they are preppers because we have kinemortophobia (a fear of zombies).

To make this work, we need to somehow work with the zombies that we fear.

Jeanette Isabelle

I have worked with bystanders ("zombies") in a variety of emergencies with positive results. In general, people are willing to help, especially if there is direction and guidance.

On one climbing trip, my partner and I recruited and trained a group of strangers to the point that we were able to convey a victim, loaded into a Stokes basket, about 500 feet down a steep slope, all in about 45 minutes.

I have been impressed at how quickly nurses respond to unexpected emergencies, with great competence. That is probably why, in my younger days, I frequently dated nurses or RNs in training. Safety First!!

It is oversimplifying to divide the universe into preppers and zombies. There are many intergradations and variations. A lot depends on the situation and the specific situation.

Let's keep it simple. For whatever the reason may be, the supply chain has either slowed down or completely stopped. The situation is long term, up to a year. Power may or may not be on.

Jeanette Isabelle

Very true, but would also depend on our own view of the world. I personally fall into the more cautious category. Maybe has to do with my INTJ personality. Even in normal life, I would need time to be friends with new guys at work or around family. While some people I know, will invite you to dinner the first time you meet them.

Regarding the original question, first thing is to check the preps, check everyone , assess the situation, then make a plan.

Other than looking at the ceiling, I would focus on checking and maintaining the facilities that help us survive like water sources ..etc.

Preps should have already been checked before the incident happened. It's too late to make a plan unless you mean a plan to deal with a specific situation that had just happened.


Things like water purification were covered in the opening post.

Jeanette Isabelle

The incident may affect your preps. So checking after an incident makes sense.

Chisel, Max, some time does need to be spent after an incident takes place. What about after when you have a routine going?

Jeanette Isabelle

Mom is more concerned about zombies than I am; I can understand.

Mom does want to help; she is very cautious almost to the point where everyone, metaphorically, is a potential zombie. To summarize how this appears, it's like a high-risk rescue. You want to rescue those who are in a die situation; you have to be careful that you don't end up in the same condition in the process.

Jeanette Isabelle

OK, after making sure everything is OK, I would go around seeing if anyone needs help. I am not a skilled guy like paramedic for example, but I know a few bits about safety and would help others who need help especially the elderly or children. This is when a bit of knowledge about psychology is very helpful. If I judge someone as a jerk for example, I will try to steer away and not try to "help" them because that can end up with very negative results.