Earthquakes can be debilitating. An actual pandemic with a truly deadly pathogen would be catastrophic.

Tropical storms and hurricanes; but I live far enough from the coast to not encounter/endure hurricane strength winds. Tropical storms here have knocked out the electricity and other utilities that are on poles for two weeks in some spots. Water and sewer; I don't recall losing those for more than two days.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:.
“I have guns and lots of ammunition.” Okay, for what reason?

This is my Dad’s house. Jim Cantore was downriver broadcasting live that the water was still rising at this point:


Fortunately he was wrong. The next day:


Those are rubber backed bath mats and we did the same on the 16’ door wall, the front door, and the pedestrian door to the garage. Also put a can on top of a folded wash cloth over each shower drain to stop the septic system from backing up into the house. I’m glad I had read earlier that day about putting a sandbag in each toilet to prevent the same. I wouldn’t likely have check the shower drains before it was too late otherwise.

This is my brother’s house in the same neighborhood just before they poured the slab:





On the opposite side of each photo, you can see the roofs of each neighbor’s house. His floor lines up with the top of their walls. Those houses had 4’ of water in them.

We are reasonably concerned about hurricanes and floods. Preparedness, like security, is layered. Evacuation is the last layer and we are fortunate to have somewhere to go should it come to that.

Guns and ammo are not the first layer.

quote:

posted by sigarmsp226: ... Ice Storm or any other man made or natural disaster that could cause us to lose power and the ability to leave our home for multiple weeks.

This is my biggest concern as well, but in my 17 years here (northeast TN near the Appalachians), it has not happened. Even the 2024 Hurricane Helene (nearly 4 days of torrential rain and fairly considerable wind) didn't kill my power or damage my residence. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The odds of rioting when people's EBT balances suddenly show goose eggs are not zero, either. I don't worry too much about warfare, zombie invasions or anything of that sort.

Out enemies Russia? China or Iran taking down the grid. Chaos will follow. Cooking food will result in scared chopping down uoir doors. Keeping house secure 24/7 will be difficult, holding off 2-3 marauders stored ammo can handle, 20 coming from different directions would be impossible.

I am far more concerned about disasters that force me to vacate my home versus disasters that keep me in my home without a traditional power supply.

A bit concerning…

Why would you need or want your refrigerator connected to the internet?

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Why would you need or want your refrigerator connected to the internet?

Bizarre, no?

According to an account I saw, it’s because European countries in their never-ending attempts to control all aspects of what everyone does requires tight monitoring of refrigeration temperatures to ensure food is stored properly. To help comply with the recording requirements all refrigerators owned by large companies are linked via the Internet to central locations to permit efficient inspections.

I am constantly bemused by the extent that we humans have allowed such systems to become vulnerable to malign actions by evil people—not to mention just plain old malfunctions. And lest we forget, what about “smart” appliances we individuals commonly have? The last time I replaced my garage door opener the technician tried to convince me I needed to link it to wi-fi so I could open and close the door when miles away. No thank you. When I believe that’s a good idea, it’s time for a bottle of 25-YO Macallan and a snowdrift on a –25° winter night.