There have been previous conversations here where some folks felt that Authority (police, army, etc) might/would attempt to take the supplies (esp food) from individuals or families that have prepared, to spread it out among those who didn't see fit to prepare.

Exactly how likely do you think this is?

Personally, I don't think it's very likely, but if I am overlooking something fairly obvious, I would like to hear about it.

First, even though a store like Costco could keep a list of what you buy, or a Power Behind the Store might see fit to do it, or some entity kept track of every bar code scanned by every store by everyone who purchased as much as a candy bar, I think it's hardly likely.

Second, even what some of the hardest-core people on this or any other survival site might collect, it would probably still be a fairly miniscule amount if divided among thousands of HaveNots.

Thirdly, if conditions warranted such an intrusion, one might suspect that much of the infrastructure was down enough to hinder such searches and seizures.

So, how likely do you think this scenario REALLY is?

Sue (maybe cynical and paranoid, but not THAT cynical and paranoid)

Not gonna happen. Commercial and government resources are simply vastly more logistically available, at least until we are reduced to roving bands of spiky haired mutants roaming the shattered wastelands.

Agree with Jeff.

I think that if it was going to happen, we'd have already seen it happen in some of the flood/natural disaster responses we've already seen.

I don't think they could have kept it a secret if they had, so I don't think it's happened before, and I don't think it will happen in the future.

I think Jeff has it exactly right.
If they are going to requisition food supplies they need truckloads, trainloads, shiploads. Not a few cases of tinned beans here and there.
It would be the warehouses, feedlots and grain silos that would get used.
In North America the biggest problems would be setting up the soup kitchens and the transportation instead of getting enough food to feed people.
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I saw a band of spiky haired mutants once, not quite bluegrass music, but not far off.

I think you have it right. The key to understanding this is scale. What might be seen as a vast cornucopia for a family of four is insignificant for the thousands, possibly millions, most states have to worry about. Get to the national level and your vast larder doesn't even register. In the end any family, or even community, supplies are just not worth the time, trouble and diesel fuel to go get them.

A community of any significant size will be looking at major stockpiles. Like the Walmart or Costco regional distribution center, grain silos, warehouses. And if previous custom hold the people who own the resources will be compensated.

I wouldn't worry about the National Guard kicking in my door to haul away by supplies of Beanie-Wienie and generic aspirin.

Though, and I am fairly certain I am INcorrect, I believe some unsavory LEO after Katrina did do some confiscation most likely for personal gain. Fairly certain they confiscated firearms. I would love to be wrong on both points.

I'm more worried about the UPS or FedEx guys going "wait... I know who has order lots of stuff!"

That why I hate mail ordering preps.

Such confiscation would also be a highly risky business. I would assume that at least half of the neighbors around me are well armed, and that a lot of them would open fire in the event of a home invasion during a community crisis, whether the invaders claimed to be police/official or not.

Exactly.

Not to mention:



Uninvited "guests" tend to get their @$$ shot off around these parts.....