NR Preeper guide pt 5

[NorthernRaider]

SIMPLE METHOD OF CACHING

One of the best and easiest methods of hiding your emergency equipment is to cache it in some safe location away from your home or retreat. Its always prudent not to put all your eggs in one basket.

The commonest method of caching is to bury or hide it at a place that
A, you can easily find again
B, it cannot be easily found or accidentally uncovered by someone else
C, it is in a position where it can be retrieved during a crisis without
Exposing you to danger
D, It is not likely to become exposed due to erosion or land slip or
Agricultural activity
E, it is not likely to become covered over by development or flood water

There are many locations for you to choose from, some will suit you some will not, it’s up to your own personal choice and the environment you live in. I hid my caches by burying them next to manhole covers, inspection pipe covers in rural locations along the various bug out routes I have chosen.

One of the best types of caching container I have used is the one made from plastic drainage piping, I buy a 4 metre length of 8 or 10 inch diameter heavy duty waste water piping and 8 blanking end caps, I chop up the pipe into 1 meter lengths and use either pipe welding solvent or external grade silicone sealant to seal an end cap onto one end of the pipe, I then fill the pipe with whatever I choose (maps/ rations/medical kit/ tools/ fuels/etc)
Then I add some moisture absorbent crystal sachets to the contents and seal the top on.

One point of note, you don't always need to bury the tube in a vertical position if the area is reasonably undisturbed and is not likely to attract the attention of animals you can bury it about 18 inches down, put a few rocks on it to hold it in place then back fill the hole, remember to put back the turf or whatever was on the surface so it blends in with its surroundings.

A FEW MORE USEFUL ITEMS

MISCELLANEOUS
• Batteries AA/C/D
• ___ Batteries CR123A
• ___ Candles
• Gas Bottles 7KG
• ___ Parachute cord
• ___ Cigarette lighters
• ___ Porta-Loo Chemicals
• ___ Duct Tape
• ___ Cable ties
• ___ Chemical Light Sticks
• ___ PV Panel / charger
• ___ Tarpaulin


PAPER / PLASTIC PRODUCTS
• Aluminium Foil
• Plastic Wrap
• Garbage Bags
• Zip loc bags
• ___ Baby Wipes


FOOD

Food Security, is it time to?

Have you noticed the constant steady supply of news stories from across the world about problems with food security?

Droughts in Russia and Ukraine and parts of the US in the last 3 years causing wheat and other grain prices to more than double, and at times the grain itself being in short supply. In India and Indochina rice crops were so bad they stopped exporting rice overseas, Australian droughts then floods left much of their export crops ruined. Food safety issues from Foot & Mouth (again) Salmonella in European eggs (again) various food poisoning outbreaks from wholesale suppliers in the UK. Salmonella and other problems from various sources affecting Bean sprouts, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Celery, Water Cress and other salad foods all in recent months. Some citrus fruits over treated with blight control chemicals etc. Reports (unconfirmed) of farmers in southern Europe and North Africa fertilising salad and other fresh food crops with UNTREATED human waste instead of treated and pasteurised which is safe. And it was topped off with the EU and European food standards agencies flailing around without success trying to identify the sources of the outbreaks.

Then if you look further afield reports of grossly excessive use of pesticides on some South American crops, the continued excessive use (according to some) of the use of steroids in beef cattle (USA) and antibiotics (UK).
Followed by the current break news stories coming from China and its satellite states about food stuff actually killing children, melamine found in baby formula, other poisons found in Bamboo shoots and noodles exported to Japan, Meat that glowed in the dark, Bread buns injected with die to make them look better, Poisoned milk and dairy products being openly sold etc.

Down Vietnam way the sea food industry rocked almost weekly about tiger and king prawns being injected with chemicals known to cause cancer to make them grow bigger. Fish coated with formaldehyde (normally used to preserve dead bodies) to make them look fresher.

So we have some very serious issues facing us over what and how we feed our families as its clear many “Official” government approved food production systems are seriously flawed.

That of course is compounded by the HUGE increase in the costs of basic food stuffs from Milk, Cheese, Bread, Flour, Rice, Fresh foods, Fruit Juices, Root crops etc. I note on a personal basis our local COOP store and the local small Tesco has been struggling at times to keep even the essential supplies on the shelves at affordable prices.

Guys even most supermarkets own label budget brand foods are rocketing in price and apart from the extra impact on our wallets I find myself asking

“What economy steps and measure will the big farmers, producers and chain stores take to keep their products looking like bargains?”

Will they dilute fruit juices and milk even more?
Will they add more preservatives to make the shelf life longer?
Will they use bulking out agents to fill out the products that bit more?
Will they use lower quality ingredients to keep the product “affordable?”
Will they start using more hormones and growth boosting chemicals on the raw materials?

The old adage of “We are what we eat” is starting to become rather alarming as I as a father find myself getting more and more concerned about food security, food safety and food availability in this worrying economic climate, so we have to start asking questions and looking for answers on how we can regain control over our food supplies for our families.




Is it time to start buying only from local growers and suppliers, small holders and allotment holders
Is it time to stop buying cheap imported veg from Southern Spain and North Africa?
Is it time to stop buying farmed sea food from Asia and get to know your local trawler men?
Is it time to stop buying Asian grown long grain rice and only buy Californian?
Is it time to buy only locally grown free range or semi free range chicken and eggs
Is it time to start keeping your own Chickens and Rabbits?
Is it time to stop buying store baked bread and just buy flour to make your own?
Is it time to turn your yard or garden in part at least over to growing your own food?

Stockpiling and caching supplies of plentiful affordable food when it is on offer is only one preventative step we can and should take, especially for WTSHTF scenarios, but even on a normal day to day basis the issue of food security has moved much further up the list of “ To Do’s”

I think we must now at least look very close at the labels on the fresh foods to see where they come from, and where possible try and source locally grown food from known and trusted sources.



BULK BUYING AND STORING FOOD

Ok just remember when you start bulk buying food such as tins or dried goods try to not buy all from the same batch or stock number or even the same shop, If the batch is tainted you could lose a huge amount of your cache in one go.

NEVER buy all from the same production date. Do try and buy stuff with the longest shelf life,
Never pay on a credit or debit card, use cash only if at all possible. Always buy a few items at a time from different shops, this stops the authorities from logging for future confiscation under emergency power laws the large amounts of food you are buying. Try and buy little and often from various sources.

Ignore the labels on the containers and mark what is in the tin / packet / tub and the necessary dates with a permanent marker pen. Labels can fall off or fade.
Don’t buy tins that are dented, scratched or look like they are overfilled (Over inflated) the contents could be off.

Try and store stuff completely out of daylight, with low humidity, and preferably some place really cool.
Rotate your stock on a regular basis, IE eat the oldest stuff first and put your replacement purchases at the back of the shelf after moving the older stuff forward.

If you are buying dry stuff like Rice, Flour, Pasta, wheat etc and it comes in packets then you really need to put the packets in sealable plastic containers to stop vermin and bugs, moisture and light ruining your food. If you can get at the food easily so can most bugs and vermin.

I believe that putting flour; rice etc in a freezer for 5 or so days kills off any weevil eggs that are found in nearly all grains etc. So buy it freeze it, then box it, but ensure that anything you do store or cache after freezing is moisture free first.

Cans should be flipped or rolled regularly if stored for any long periods to keep contents from settling out, Many people now store tins on their sides on sloping shelves so that when a can is taken for use the remaining cans roll forward and keep the contents mixed, added bonus of you end up using the older stuff first.

Don’t rely on food caches in freezers unless you have your own backup power supplies, Usually the first thing to go in a crisis or disaster is the electricity which means loads of rotting defrosted and thawed food to deal with.

In a crisis or disaster eat the fresh, chilled and frozen foods first before they go off, a skilled prepper may be able to convert joints of meats into Pemmican or Jerky, or even salt preserved pork type preserves.
The problem for many people when it comes to storing lots of tin cans is the mainstream brands of kitchen floor standing cupboard, (MAGNET, B & Q, Home-base etc) don’t have sufficient strength in the shelf supports for the amount of tins we wish to store.
On my own cupboards I have supplemented the plastic studs on the ends with 4 two inch angle brackets, screwed to both the carcass and the shelf. PLUS two more, 1 in the centre rear screwed to the backboard, and the other at the front on the centre support.( essential on 1000 mm units)

Also on a couple of my wall units I have added extra wall mounting supports underneath the unit to help the two wall unit hanger brackets carry the load.
Designs are available on the internet for inserts that allow you to store tins on their sides on sloping shelves that allow the tins to roll forward as used, thus ensuring the oldest tins are consumed first.


FOOD stuffs that have a long shelf life or can be reconstituted easily are required and it must be food you like. It does not put much of a strain upon your financial resources to spend an extra £ 2 a week on food to lay away for emergencies (unless you are a British pensioner).

Don't forget to rotate your cached food through your everyday supplies so you always have the freshest stuff in reserve. In many cases rural folk and those who are affected by restricted access to the shops keep a lot more tinned and dry goods than would normally be found in the average families town house.

I tend to buy tinned goods like baked beans, soups, vegetables, fruit, corned beef, tinned hams, peas, carrots, potatoes, tinned milk etc by the dozen, tins if looked after have a good shelf life and fairly easy to store. Do write on the end of
the tin with a marker pen what the contents are and its expiry date, just in case the label falls off during storage. I have added a shelf life list further towards the end of the book.

FOOD STOCKPILE LIST
DAIRY
• Eggs dried
• Butter tinned
• Spreads
• Yoghurt
• Cheese tinned

MEAT, FISH & POULTRY Dried, tinned, preserved
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Hot Dogs
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Beef
• Pork
• Ham
• Fish

FRUIT/dried/tinned
• Apples
• Bananas
• Berries
• Grapes
• Mixed fruit
• Oranges
• Pears

BEVERAGES
• Instant Tea
• Coffee
• Tea Bags
• Fruit Juice
• Soft Drinks
• ___ Water Filter elements
• Spirits
• Wine
• ___ Coffee Whitener
VEGETABLES tinned

• Carrots
• Baked Beans
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Peas

BREADS
• Flour/yeast
• ___ Pasta Flour
• ___ Bread Mix

DRY GOODS
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Biscuits
• Crackers
• Pasta/Noodles
• Beans/Lentils/Peas
• Rice
• Sugar
• Cake Mix
• Pancake Mix
• Gelatine

CANNED GOODS
• Sausages + pasta
• ____ Macaroni Cheese
• Tip Top
• Fruit
• Custard
• Pasta Sauces
• Soups
• Spag Bog Sauce
• Stewed Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Corned Beef
• Tuna /salmon

BAKING GOODS
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Corn Starch
• Salt
• Pepper
• Chocolate Chips
• Nuts
• Raisins
• Vanilla
• Dried Herbs
CONDIMENTS
• Oil
• Vinegar
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Salad Dressing
• Shortening
• Soy Sauce
• Jelly/Jam
•


FOOD SHELF LIFE

Product Optimum Shelf Life Opened Shelf Life
Grains
Whole Wheat Flour 5 years 6-8 months
White Flour 5 years 6-8 months
Hard White Winter Wheat 12 years 3 years

Spaghetti 10 years 2 years
Egg Noodle Pasta 2 years 6 months to 1 year
Quick Oats 8 years 1 year
White Rice 30 years Indefinite
Pearled Barley 8 years 18 months
Cornmeal 5 years 1 year

Elbow Macaroni 8 years 2 years

Vegetables
Potato Pearls 30 Years 2 years
Bell Peppers 7 years 6 months to 1 year
Mushroom Pieces 8 years 6 months to 1 year
Potato Chunks 12 years 6 months to 1 year
Sweet Corn 7 years 18 months
Tomato Powder 7 years 6 months to 1 year
Sweet Potatoes 8 years 6 months
Green Peas 7 years 1 year
Cauliflower 8 years 6 months to 1 year
Carrot Dices 8 years 6 months to 1 year
Broccoli 10 years 1 year
Celery 7 years 6 months to 1 year
Spinach 7 years 6 months to 1 year
Onions 8 years 6 months to 1 year
Fruits
Pineapple 7 years 1 year
Peach Slices 7 years 1 year
Rasbperries 8 years 1 year
Strawberries 8 years 1 year
Blueberries 8 years 1 year
Applesauce 7 years 6 months (refrigerated)
Apple Slices 30 years Indefinite
Banana Slices 5 years 1 year
Blackberries 8 years 1 year
Dairy
Instant Milk 20 years 6 months
Chocolate Drink Mix 20 years 6 months

Meats and Beans
Small White Navy Beans 10 years 5 years
Small Red Beans 10 years 5 years

Whole Eggs 5 years 6 months
Taco TVP 10 years 1 year
Sausage TVP 10 years 1 year
Pinto Beans 10 years 5 years
Chicken TVP 10 years 1 year
Beef TVP 10 years 1 year
Ham TVP 10 years 1 year
Kidney Beans 10 years 5 years

Lentils 10 years 5 years
Bacon TVP 10 years 1 year
Basics

Orange Drink 3 years 6 months to 1 year
Iodized Salt Indefinite 2 years
Chicken Bouillon 2 years 6 months
Peach Drink 3 years 6 months to 1 year
White Sugar Indefinite 2 years
Powdered Sugar Indefinite 12 to 18 months
Baking Soda Indefinite Indefinite
Apple Drink 3 years 6 months to 1 year
Baking Powder Indefinite Indefinite
Beef Bouillon 2 years 6 months
Brown Sugar 6 months 3 months


HYGIENE PROTOCOLS

If you think the greatest risk to your groups continued existence is going to be starvation or violence then you are very much off the mark, it will more likely be a failure of your hygiene protocols that kill off most of you and the bulk of the country’s population. Sanitation failure, bugs, food poisoning, rodents, disease (common ones more so than exotic ones) will kill more than any other reason.

If you need to be paranoid about anything post collapse then it should be hygiene, hygiene in the home, hygiene in the kitchen, hygiene when coming into contact with strangers or late arriving group members.
In a crisis for example economic collapse you will need to consider the following protocols.

Patrols to fill in and disinfect all pools / ponds/ puddles that are not used by the group over a large around the retreat.
No footwear or clothes that have been used in patrolling/ foraging / agricultural work / cesspit digging to be allowed anywhere near the kitchen or food prep / storage areas.
Anyone on kitchen / food prep duties who leaves the work area must wash again before re-entering the work area, especially if going for personal ablutions.
All toilet habits must finish with a good wash with an anti-bacterial hand cleanser.
No one with so much as a sniffle to be allowed near the kitchen / food prep storage areas during the first 6 months of the crisis.
All visitors and late arrivals to be quarantined for at least 10 days during first 6 months of crisis.
All suspicious food sources (old tins etc) to be treated with absolute caution (food taster volunteers!)
Cleaning within the home / retreat is to be of a standard that would satisfy conditions for an operating theatre or strive to be as hygienic as possible.
Washing and cleaning of clothes, crockery etc that ensures sterilisation be adopted every day during the first year of the crisis.
All waste foods that are not being recycled / composted to be buried in a way that rodents and animals cannot dig them up.
All rodents like squirrels, and scavenging types of wildlife to be eradicated within a 500 yd radius of the home / retreat if possible.
All cesspits to be limed and filled in every two weeks.
All used bandages, dressings, nappies, sanitary products to be treated as though they are lethal and must be incinerated.
All water for consumption and personal hygiene MUST be boiled or chemically treated; never assume anything about the quality of water.
All fruit and vegetables must be washed with clean water.

The above suggestions are by no means complete and it’s your own responsibility to ensure that high levels of hygiene are maintained.
An outbreak of flu is an inconvenience to you now whilst you are healthy, but post collapse it will kill your young, your weak and old folk, Imagine what an outbreak of dysentery or gastro enteritis will do to your groups integrity, Measles, mumps, TB are going to crucify those who don't maintain their health and hygiene protocols.
Please don't forget that post collapse most forms of wildlife will be a risk to your group especially if rabies travels down the channel tunnel. The hairy tailed tree rat (grey squirrel) is as big a disease carrier as the brown rat, and don't forget feral dogs and cats they will have been feeding of all sorts of unpleasant carrion.
Post collapse most cute furry things are not to be trusted and should be incinerated.

HYGIENE MATERIALS LIST

LAUNDRY
• Laundry soap
• Laundry detergent
• Fabric softener and conditioner
• Stain remover

KITCHEN
• All-purpose surface cleaner
• Washing up liquid
• Disinfectant
• Floor cleaning agents
• ___ Bleach
• Glass Cleaner
• Nylon Scourers
• ___ Hand sanitizer
• ___ Water filter elements
• ___ Paper towels
BATHROOM
• Bath Soap
• Deodorant
• Baby Lotion
• Razors
• Shaving Cream
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste
• Conditioner
• ___ Baby Wipes
• ___ Toilet Paper


BASIC MEDICAL KIT

Sterile Packs, containing coated sterile field, 2 comp procedure tray, non-woven swabs, dressing towels, latex gloves, yellow disposable bag.
Gauze swabs
Sterile dressings assorted sizes
Field dressings
Band-aids / Blister dressings
Tapes
Alco wipes
Burn gel squares
Steristrips
Sterile gloves
Stitch cutters
Tweezers
Scissors
Spencer Wells Forceps/ Haemostats
Syringes for irrigation

Aspirin (liquid and tabs)
Paracetamol (liquid and tabs)
Ibuprofen (liquid and tabs)

Antihistamine cream and tabs
Anti-inflammatory cream and spray
Anti fungal cream and spray
Antiseptic cream
Anti-biotics, tabs, powder and liquid
Bonjela mouth ulcer & teething treatment
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) Tabs ( Colofac)
Eczema spray and cream
Insect repellent lotion and spray
Hydrocortisone cream
Acne & spot treatment ( Nicotinamide 4%)
Vaseline
Eye Ointment

Nasal decongestant (Otravine spray)
Diarrhoea treatment
Eye drops
Ear drops
Worming treatment
Re-hydration sachets (Dioralyte)

IF AVAILABLE
Broad spectrum antibiotics
Local anaesthetic spray and cream
Malaria treatment

Important do obtain

All prescribed medications for everyone in group
Spare sets of all prescribed spectacles, dentures, hearing aids etc
This kit is in no way complete or comprehensive, but it does provide a good basic kit to build from, watch out for expiry dates and rotate / replace as necessary



WINTER PREP CHECK LIST

House
Wood cut and dried?
Coal / Oil stocks ordered?
Gas bottles changed and refilled
Gutters cleaned
Fencing and posts checked
Window seals checked
Boiler (furnace) serviced
Doors /windows draught proofed
Drains free flowing
Locks oiled
Spare candles / flashlights / Chemical Light Sticks etc,
Emergency heating kit checked
Snow shovel
Spare fuses/ circuit breakers
Boarding up shuttering for broken windows
Weather warning radio



Personal
Extra food stocks got in case of snow / ice storm / whiteout
Prescription medicines gotten in
Winter clothing got out of storage and cleaned aired
Boots weatherproofed

Vehicles
top up / change antifreeze
tighten /adjust drive belts
tyre condition /pressures
Jet wash underside, valet / polish bodywork
check hoses
lube locks
change wiper blades
check M & S tyres condition if still in store
check your tyre chains
fit thinner oil if you live in very northern climes.
Check battery condition and leads
Check demister / de-icer systems
Degrease windscreen
Radio tuned to weather and traffic station
Sleeping bag/ survival blanket
Chemical light sticks / flashlights/spare batteries
Candle/ matches
Snow dye
Survival kit
Shovel
Snow mats
ShortWave radio
Hot drink making kit
Vehicle spares,
bulbs & fuses,
belts,
plugs,
leads,
oil,
coolant,
hose clips,
hose repair kit,
exhaust repair kit,
cable ties & duct tape
snow chains
wheel brace
spanners / sockets and screwdrivers
sockets
tyre levers & tyre pump




BASIC CLOTHING LIST
Clothing required per person

Underwear (pants, briefs, bras, tops)
Socks & Hiking Socks

T Shirts or base layer undershirt
Polo or Micro Fleece shirts / blouses

Cargo pants, jeans, shorts, work pants, travel pants etc
Leather or Nylon belt

Sweat shirts or Fleece mid layer shirt or sweater

Windproof Fleece jacket, gilet, light jacket, combat jacket etc

Waterproof Jacket and Trousers

Winter Coat/ Jacket/ Parka/ Puffer coat if needed

Trainers, Approach or Crossover shoes / boots, spare laces

Hiking or combat boots / spare laces

Hat, gloves, gaiters, if required.

Other items each person will require are a good quality Sleeping Bag and liner, A rucksack that will take spare clothes and an individual BOB kit.

Other individual kit would include a Towel, KFS, Mess tins, Work knife, Flashlight, Compass, Notebook and pen, personal medications and prescription glasses etc.



Products made from OIL

Imagine the effects of a world deprived of mineral oil and natural gas, it’s not just the fuel for your car, or the gas for your cooker you need to consider, but very many other products that are directly or indirectly made from hydrocarbons like oil, This is why you need to consider storing many other extra items as well as food, fuel and medicines.
Look at the list below and think how much you need supplies of these items and consider obtaining extra supplies of the things that are essential to your lifestyle.

Oil makes petrol, diesel, heating oil, bunker oil, grease, lubricants but also
Ammonia, Anaesthetics, Antihistamines, Antiseptics, Artificial limbs, Artificial Turf, Antiseptics, Aspirin, Auto Parts, Awnings, Balloons, Ballpoint pens, Bandages, Beach Umbrellas, Boats, Burns dressings Cameras, Candles, Car Battery Cases,Carpets, Caulking, Combs, Cordura, Cortisones, Cosmetics, Crayons, Credit Cards, Curtains, Deodorants, Detergents, Dice, Disposable Nappies, Dyes, Eye Glasses, Electrical Wiring Insulation, Fabric Conditioner, Faucet Washers,Fishing Rods, Fertilizer, Fishing Line, Fishing Lures, Food Preservatives, Food Packaging, Garden Hose, Glue, Hair Colouring, Hair Curlers, Hand Lotion,Hearing Aids, Heart Valves, Ink, Insect Repellent, Insulation, Insecticides, Laundry Detergents, Linoleum, Lip Stick, Milk Jugs, Nail Polish, Oil Filters, Panty Hose, Perfume, Petroleum Jelly, Rubber Cement, Rubbing Alcohol, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Shoes, Toothpaste, Trash Bags, Upholstery, Vitamin Capsules, Water Pipes, Yarn, Plastics, Lubricants, Gasoline, Diesel, Heating Oil. Specialised Medicines, Pop Bottles, Contact Lenses, Lenses for spectacles,Sun Block Cream, Soaps, UPVC windows, Polycarbonate, Polythene, Synthetic rubber, Nylon, Neoprene, Polyester, Sandwich bags, Pantyhose, Vaseline, Wiring insulation, Ink Cartridges, CD ROMs CDR/DVDR discs, etc.



BOOK READING LIST


Book list factual and fictional. One set for reference and planning, the other set for mental preparation of how to handle likely scenarios.


Aftermath, Charles Sheffield (Very Good)
After Doomsday, Poul Anderson
Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand (Hard to grasp)
Alas Babylon, Pat Frank (Truly a superb classic)
Amerikan sunset, Jennifer Ladewig (Drivel)
A Wrinkle in the skin, John Christopher (A character essay )
Black Sun, Robert Leininger Very good
Blood Crazy, Simon Clark
Crabs, Guy Smith
Comet, (The) Robert Charles Very Good
Damnation Alley, Roger Zelazny Better than the movie
Day after Tomorrow, (The) Whitley Strieber
Day by Day Armageddon J L Bourne (SUPERB BOOK)
Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham
Death of Grass, John Christopher
Deathlands, Jack Adrian
Deluge, Fowler Wright
Deluge, Richard Doyle
Drought ,(The) JG Ballard thought provoking
Drowned world, (The) JG Ballard interesting
Down to a sunless sea, (either version) David Graham (Truly great, another classic)
Earth Abides, George R Stewart 2nd only to Alas Babylon
Earth Winter, Richard Moran
Eternity Road, Jack McDevitt Interesting future shock
Empire of Ice, Richard Moran
Empty World John Christopher
Famine, Graham Masterson
Flood, Richard Doyle
Freeman, (The) Jerry Ahern
Heavy Weather, Bruce Sterling
Ice, Arnold Federbush depressing
Icefire, Judith & Garfield Reeth Stevens entertaining
Ice Quake, John R Spencer
Kraken Wakes, (The) John Wyndham
Last Ranger, (The) Craig Sargeant ( Rambo wannabe crap)
Living is Forever J Edwin Carter
Lucifer's Hammer, Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. (Becoming a classic)
Long voyage back, Luke Rhineheart( In the top ten of all time )
Long Loud Silence, ( The) Wilson Tucker
Last ship, (The) William Brinkley
Malevil, Robert Merle
Moonfall, Jack Mc Devitt
Night of the Triffids, Simon Clark (Good follow on from Day of the Triffids)
New Madrid Run, (The) Micheal Reisig
On the beach, Neville Shute
Out of the Ashes, ( Ashes series) William W Johnstone
Plague 99, Jean Ure
Plague of the dead (The Morningstar Saga) Z A Recht
Patriots, James Wesley Rawles ( A Brilliant piece of work)
Postman, (The) David Brin
Resurrection Day Brendan Dubois
Rift, (The) Walter J Williams
Savage Dawn, Robert Cole
Shiva Descending, Gregory Benford
Some will not die, Algis Budrys
Stand, (The) Stephen King
Survivors Terry Nation ( British Classic)
Survivalist, (The) series Jerry Ahern
There falls no Shadow, David E Crossley Part one of trilogy
Third Pandemic, ( The) Pierre Ouellette
This is the way the world ends, James Morrow
Thunder & Ashes ( Morningstar Saga) Z A Recht
Virus, Japanese Author ( lost from my collection)
When the City stopped, Joan Phipson
Wild Shore ( The) Kim Stanley Robinson Deep stuff
World in Winter ( The) John Christopher
Year of the quiet sun, Wilson Tucker Suprisingly Good
48, James Herbert
8.4, Peter Hernon good read
28 Days Later, Alex Garland


All good reading stuff for making your mind more accessible to the possibilities and permutations. Most of these books are very thought provoking and make you think about some concepts you otherwise mare have overlooked.
My Favourites are ALAS BABYLON and Patriots, and Day By Day Armageddon


Factual and reference

Archery Steps to Success. Hayward / Lewis
Build the perfect survival kit 0-87349-967-0
The Survivalists Patrick Rivers 0-413-31650-5
Earth Shock Basil Booth & Frank Fitch 0-7221-1778 7
The Nuclear Survival Handbook Barry Popkess
Tappan on Survival Mel Tappan 0-916172-04-x
Survival guns Mel Tappan
The Survival Retreat Ragnar Benson 0-87364-275-9
The Modern Survival Retreat Ragnar Benson 0-87364-980-x
The Survival Nurse Ragnar Benson 1-58160-075-5
Apocalypse Tomorrow Duncan Long 0-87947-089-5
When Technology Fails Mathew Stein 1-57416-047-8
The Coming Global Superstorm Bell and Strieber 0-7434-0888-8
Life after doomsday Bruce D Clayton 0-87364-175-2
Surviving Doomsday C Bruce Sibley 07219-0780-6
Outdoor Survival guide Hugh Mc Manners 0-7513-0644-4
Travel Vans John Speed 99920-1-158-0 (The book for building BOVs)
SAS Survival guide ( pocket size) John lofty Wiseman 0-00-470167-4
Beneath the City Streets, Peter Laurie: 0586050558
When All Hell Breaks Loose Cody Lundin (VERY VERY American)
TRAVEL VANS John Speed (Building SUVS/ Campers)


Adopting the GREY MAN Philosophy
© 2011 Northern Raider / UKSG 1999
Part one The Problem

In many occasions over recent years many governments (AUS/UK/US especially) have attempted to combat terrorism by implementing laws that too often erode the personal freedoms and civil rights of the general public.
The laws in theory are to help the government gather information and
Intelligence on people THEY consider COULD be threats to the state or law and order.

They have taken such steps as limit or even ban the ownership of fire arms to
law abiding members of the public and introduced laws that circumvent the concept of INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. In the UK they wanted to hold “SUSPECTS” up to 3 months without trial or charge, they tried to get permission to wiretap or monitor peoples private communications WITHOUT GOOD REASON.

In some notable cases people have been prosecuted on multiple occasions for holding certain beliefs that the state disagrees with such as saying “Many parts of the UK’s Asian community are systematically grooming and abusing young white girls”

The political activist who said those words was acting on information fed back to him from multiple parts of the UK, A TV station also discovered this to be
Truthful as did a government enquiry at a later date. But for expressing those words he was hounded by the EQUALITIES COMMISION and taken to court for restating those beliefs, the TV station was banned from airing its findings. He was cleared on all counts at every trial. He spoke words the government did not like as it tried to portray Britain as a harmonious balanced multi-cultural society, they hounded him and tried to portray him as a “CRIMINAL” . Yet in the last week it transpires ALL of what he said was true and a senior former government minister and two very senior police officers have admitted publicly the abuse and grooming IS happening.

In the US many American people believe the hastily introduced “Patriot Act” is being used and abused be government officers to erode rights and liberties, and the fact that the nation held in esteem globally as being the good guys when it comes to justice are actually torturing suspects and holding them illegally in foreign prisons is unjust.

Many other such examples exist but the point I am trying to make is What if a government or one of its agencies suddenly decides your Group, Church,
Collective, City, State, business or community are “Possible criminal or terrorist organisations?” (Remember Randy Weaver?)

Environmental activists, Fuel price protestors, Anti-war activists, certain
Church groups, Militia groups, Home Education Groups, etc have ALL been treated as possible terror groups in the very recent past.

Currently it is just far too easy for law abiding citizens to be suddenly designated as Anti- social / Anti British / Criminal activists or possible terrorists.
Since 2001 the USA has encouraged its citizens to keep and maintain emergency / disaster kits to sustain the people for 72 hours up to 6 weeks. The UK finally followed suit after decades of calling any citizen who built retreats or stored food as hoarders and black marketers, BUT if suddenly there was food or fuel shortages hitting the UK or US just how long before the government decided privately held fuel and food supplies was hoarding AGAIN and make ILLEGAL ?

Perhaps you are part of the community either side of the Atlantic that feels both the US and Europe have reached maximum sustainable population levels and object to any more migrants on numerical grounds or the affect foreign cultures are having upon your own indigenous culture?. The trouble is on both sides of the Atlantic are very many power liberal thinking politicians who feel anyone and everyone should be welcomed in and fed, clothed and housed at your tax payers’ expense. Equally there are many right-wing big businessmen who want plenty of cheap migrant none union workers to come to help keep wages down.

Your desire to keep the status quo and to protect your homeland, culture, environment and faith group makes YOU their enemy, and given the chance they will twist the law to have you classed as a criminal or enemy of the state.

It’s just too easy for survivalists and preppers to be classed as “Criminals” by those in power who disagree with our free spirited and independent lifestyle.


Adopting the GREY MAN Philosophy
Part two a Partial Answer

I am not going to even attempt to suggest I have a one size fits all answer because I don’t have one, but I can offer some advice on how to remain as low on official radar as possible.

Wise preppers don’t plan on bugging out by foot from inner city areas dressed as Rambo in full cammos and carrying a Mini 14, or plan on wandering round the boonies in hunters orange jackets. Rather they choose to dress as boring, drab, unattractive and uninteresting as possible to the authorities and predatory gangs as they leave town, and to blend into the countryside as much as possible when out in the boonies. They become Grey men doing their utmost to go unnoticed as possible.

Equally the enlightened survivalists Bug out Vehicle does not look like something out of a Mad Max movie or like some Paris Dakar Rally competitor.
Their vehicles are modified and customised to give the extra capacity and capability they carry extra fuel and water, better ground clearance ,food storage, etc but when possible it is fitted WITHIN the vehicle so as to make it look as normal and bland as the rest of the wheels in commuterville. Their vehicles become grey men’s wheels, unappealing low key as possible.

There is nothing governments like more than facts, figures, statistics and information on its people for tax gathering, pension planning, city utility planning, etc. But as this world gets ever more crowded, violent and hostile the governments also like to gather ever more information that can be used to control and manipulated people, this can be very bad for preppers and survivalists wishing to live on the edge of organised and micro managed society.

Some authorities like to record what LIBRARY books people of interest read, they like nothing more than seeing which books and manuals you have bought from ONLINE BOOKSELLERS. Bulk purchased a load of reloading gear? You should have paid cash for it because the itemised sales receipt is in the system, Buy little and often and pay cash.

The same common sense approach should be applied to buying food and fuel for your stockpile and cache, Buy little and often and pay cash when possible and buy from different stores. For heaven’s sake never use customer loyalty points cards as you simply provide TPTB a readymade list of all you have purchased for the last few years.

Generally if you buy online or with a credit card you are telling anyone who wants to know what you bought , when you bought it and how much of it you bought, That’s never a good thing for preppers.

For my fellow Brits do you REALLY need to keep a firearm? As soon as you submit the application for an FAC you become a person on interest to the authorities, they will check your medical history to see if you have any lunatic tendencies. They will flag your address on the database to be visited if TSHTF to seize your guns, and whilst they are there you can be sure they will rummage about look and possible find your supplies, You need to weigh up your need for a firearm for hunting after TSHTF and the risk you face in the authorities clearing you out when you need it most. I chose not to bother with a gun the risks were just too great for me.

Some areas even keep a list of 4x4 vehicles being kept so they can be requisitioned by the authorities in an emergency. You need to remain legally list as your vehicles owner, but you need to think about moving the vehicle to some other location if there is a likelihood in say a massive flood or blizzard because the cops may come for your 4x4. Again don’t let the vehicle look like It’s an all singing all dancing expedition vehicle as you can be sure jealous eyes are watching , Keep the Winch, sand mats, roof tent, sand mats and hi lift jacks hidden when possible until you absolutely need to deploy them.

As mentioned briefly in above, try and choose the type and colour of your BO
Kits clothing and baggage as drab and unappealing as possible, don’t look like Rambo in the city and don’t broadcast your position with bright colours in the countryside. Don’t wave expensive kit around, Conceal your radios, IPODs,
Micro lap-tops, and other goodies from anyone not part of your group.

To summarise, you need to become the most uninteresting, unthreatening and unappealing person possible, not only to the predatory scum but also the authorities. And NEVER become a refugee in the care of the government because they WILL redistribute YOUR stuff among more “needy” people, usually themselves who have the role of caring for you.


Surviving Public Transport Systems
© 2011 Northern Raider

Can we as Preppers ever really rely on public transport systems especially URBAN systems? In the UK the vulnerable PT systems are compounded by the fact most signalling systems for controlling trains, and electrical supplies for powering electric trains are now regionalised. This means the power supply for the train you are on could be being supplied from over 50 miles away, and the traffic signals and points switching controlled from over 250 miles away. EG a recent theft of copper cabling south of YORK stopped all trains moving as far north as Darlington and as far south as Stevenage.

As far as I am aware there is no reliable system of transport available to the public ran by state, councils or private sector.

Most if not all transport systems can and are often held hostage to

Trade Union Action*
Power Cuts*
Vandalism *
Accidents*
Theft of signal equipment*
Police Incidents*
Inclement Weather *
Fuel Shortages*
Terror Attacks*
Overcrowding*
Landslides / Subsidence / Rockfall etc*
Political commandeering of system*

All marked * can see an incident over 250 miles away from your location stopping your journey dead.

All types of Public Transport are ridiculously vulnerable to frequent disruption and breakdown in service.

Then add lack of cleaning, lack of street lighting, bad routing, and risk of robbery
etc and the unfailing attraction of stations and bus depots to thugs and criminals.

Poor or non-existent maintenance all affect cycle and walkways from being suitable for regular use over any meaningful distance, cycles at the very least need puncture proof tyres and suspension systems to be any use.

So are public transit systems ever going to be RELIABLE and FREQUENT systems of transport…….I think not.




That is also without considering the health risks we are exposed to on using public transport, from the spreading of infectious diseases such as untreatable
TB, Flu etc to picking up fleas and lice from incorrectly cleaned upholstery on seats.

Under and Over

Today we find many public transport systems run either underground or on elevated tracks which makes escape during an incident even more hazardous.

The prepper and survivalist has no other option in reality other than to use their own transport to get around, and as the population increases along with fuel costs, rising crime and civil unrest, the prepper is going to need to put more effort and resources into their own transport needs.

But if you must use Public Transport you need to plan and prepare carefully, a few suggestions are listed below.

We all at some time use trains, buses and planes and with a bit of forethought you can reduce any risks you may face to more manageable levels.

For example if you are travelling by train or bus ensure you have a current time table, and study it, because if for example the bus you want (say number
50) is cancelled just as you arrive in some strange town, you may find the 55 is going to the destination but by a different route.

Always check BEFORE setting off that the public transit system at your destination town is running.

Always have the phone number of a couple of Taxi companies in your destination town in case the public transport system fails.

When travelling at night or on systems that run underground or through tunnels always keep a mobile phone, pocket flashlight and a few chemical light sticks on your person and perhaps a spring loaded glass breaker. If the power fails you don’t want to be trapped in a vehicle in the dark with an ever more panicky group of fellow travellers.
A small AM/FM radio is recommended to keep updated on travel news as well.

If you are travelling by plane or train in the UK and want to take your “essential” tools with you then you face the problem of security checks.

One option is to POST your essential kit to your destination in advance of you
travelling, I often collect packages of “”Computers bits I forgot”” from the hotel reception desk.

If possible don’t fly or use mainline railway stations that way you reduce the risk of attracting the attention of the authorities and frequent baggage checks.

Think about leaving the lock knife at home in many cases a tactical hard alloy flashlight with a serrated bezel edge is a better defensive tool than a knife AND TOTALLY LEGAL.

If transferring from one transit system to another after dark and you are concerned for your safety (EG leaving a bus to enter a train station) ask the bus driver or station assistant to watch you until you board the bus or enter the safety of the station.

If the bus stop is not right outside the station entrance most bus drivers will if asked nicely stop the bus in front of the station to allow you to alight in safety.

When leaving the safety and bright lights of stations and bus depots switch on and pay attention to your surroundings, are you being followed? Is someone stood close to your car? Is the guy in the shadows a businessman or a thug? PAY ATTENTION.

On the train itself try and sit close to the guard / ticket inspector or in a carriage with other travellers in it. Don’t isolate yourself in an empty carriage because that is just what muggers look for.

When possible it’s prudent to carry with you a good LED powered flashlight,
Chemical light sticks, multi tool, pocket knife, a few disposable dust masks, a drink, route planner and time table, mobile phone, compass and a map of your destination town. (Especially a tactical flashlight with serrated bezel if you have to leave your knife at home)

Keep your purse/ wallet in your front pockets not in your bag or back pocket, this makes life much harder for pick pockets, also ideally you will keep your essentials on your person (cash, tickets, phone, flashlight etc) so that if your bag is stolen or snatched you don’t end up with no money, ticket or method of calling for help. When possible keep both hands free of luggage and keep should and grab bags to your front.

I keep my Fenix LD20 flashlight palmed or in the elasticated cuff of my jacket when leaving stations etc.

Cover up your Bling, PDA’s, Blackberry’s, I Pods etc You are not trying to advertise you have valuables on you to anyone.

Never get stuck in a city centre without access to a good pair of broken in walking shoes and a rain/ wind proof jacket.

When approaching a transit point such as a train station, bus depot etc, If you see a large group of youths, strangers, soccer fans, gangs etc hanging about and you cannot enter the station without risking trouble then go away and wait a while until they leave, Its better five minutes late on earth than fifty years early in heaven.

Remember as a Prepper the best method of transportation is one you are in control of, IE your own vehicle.
If there is a possible risk that those issues such as terrorism, industrial action, severe weather etc may leave you stranded it is wise to have with you as much information about possible transit routes out of the city as possible. And do consider making the journey some other time if possible.

For example a small road map, cycle route map, canal route map, rail route map, even a map showing the direction of electricity distribution pylons, storm drains etc can help you navigate your way to safety.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS if something does not look or feel right the chances are your instincts will keep you safe.



Tactical walking tips for bugging in or out


BEFORE SETTING OFF

Try on your Rucksack and Jacket, Jump up and down on the spot, if your kit rattles or bangs re-pack rucksack until its silent.

Ensure shiny items like watches, ear rings, earphones, belt buckles are covered up or taped over.
Make sure your specs and shades are the dull, matt coloured frames, not the shiny ones.

Do NOT take hand luggage; you must keep both hands free for climbing, roping, using tools etc

Keep your EDC essentials on your person not in your rucksack (Knife, Compass, Lighter, Flashlight, Multi Tool, Bandana, Hats, Gloves, Watch, and Shades etc) should you have to abandon your rucksack.

Daytime departure, take a look out the windows from well within the room moving to the right of the room to look left down the street, and vice versa. Do not stand in the window and silhouette yourself. Ensure as best possible departure will go unnoticed.

Nigh time departure, extinguish all lights and fires before looking out of the windows, move slowly at night as human eyes detect movement more than detail in the dark. Ensure as best possible departure will go unnoticed.

Turn off cell phones, pagers etc before leaving.

Use simple hand signals to relay information to other family members, raised arm means stop, raised arm and a crouching stance means stop and take cover, arm extended to left means move towards the left, arm extended to right means move to right. Keep the signals few in number and very simple.

READY TO GO

Turn out lights if it is dark, open door or window PARTIALLY and LISTEN for threats.
Send out one person to scan the immediate area for concealed threats.

If area good to go rest of group to follow, silently and at least 3 to 4 ft apart (6 to 8 feet if tactical situation demands more defensive stance).

WALKING

Walk where possible in the shadows, look up for hazards in surrounding buildings, Look down to avoid items that may make noise like twigs, gravel or broken glass.

Pause frequently to listen, you generally will identify more threats by sound than vision, breaking glass, raised voices, gun shots, vehicle engines, running feet, barking dogs etc

Watch what nature does, if you see a flock of birds, or a rabbit, or deer for example suddenly take flight that tells you something has frightened it, and it may NOT have been your party.

Look left and right SLOWLY in a steady scanning motion, Human eyes detect motion more than shapes when its dark and you have more detector rods and cones in the sides of your eyes than you do at the back. Scanning side to side as you walk you will detect MOVEMENT before shape.

The last man in the group needs to keep stopping and quietly observing the rear to see if you are being followed.

Avoid using flashlights to navigate with, rely on your own night visions, Human eyes take 35 minutes to adapt to the dark but only seconds to lose night vision if a fool turns on a flashlight. Not to mention the risk of advertising your position to the whole area if you do use a flashlight.

Where possible avoid public places and spaces where cops, troops or thugs may gather, try and stay in the shadows.

Avoid districts where scavengers may good looking for food, loot etc

When passing through hilly neighbourhoods never walk along hilltops or ridgelines, stay under the ridgeline and don’t silhouette yourself.

If faced with an obstacle such as a hedgerow or wall try always to go round or under it, not over the top or through a gate because again you are just exposing your position.

In the short term most highway and rail bridges are really places to avoid, both official check points and predators WILL target them. Look for alternatives.

RESTING & EATING
No cooking fires to be lit during the day unless you can guarantee you won’t create any smoke.

When cooking at night site the cooker in a hollow or hole so it does not give off light giving away your position, Beware of the odour of cooking food also giving away your position.

If in a group ONE PERSON COOKS, the others spread out and keep watch for approaching scavengers, Silence is golden as you will hear them approaching long before you see them.

You need to remember the cook will probably lose his night vision so if you have to bug out someone will need to help him until his eyes adjust.

Ideally eat in shifts, half eating half keeping watch, pack away camp cooker etc BEFORE eating in case you have to bug out in a hurry.

Take every scrap of rubbish with you or bury it, fill in your cooking hole / fire pit, leave no clue to your passing through.

SLEEPING

We all need rest and the young and elderly need more rest than healthy adults, you all must sleep when possible. Human biorhythms run in two hour cycles, so to get the full benefit of sleep people need to be fully asleep in two hour sections. This really means in a stressed situation after a day of bugging out each member will need three hours in his sleeping bag, and hour to wind down / distress and two hours sleep. So whilst at least one person stands watch, the others should rest in three hour sections. All gear must remain packed in rucksacks and boots etc kept close to hand in case you have to make a swift and stealthy exit from your campsite.



Summary

How long can the UK continue like this?


Let us take a brief look at the state of play in the UK today and try and gain an insight into the problems we are likely to face in the near future.

Environment,
Because of our porous borders and loose immigration policy, plus the change in social trends we at this very moment need to build approx. 2.85 million new homes in England and Wales to meet CURRENT needs.
Where are we going to put them? We are already building houses on flood plain that are unable to obtain affordable flood risk insurance, and the few remaining green bits of land in our cities is fast disappearing under concrete.
What quality of life will there be for millions of people living in a giant concrete termite colony bereft of hope and aspiration? The middle classes and professionals have already seen the graffiti on the wall and they are leaving the cities in ever increasing numbers.

Not to mention the grievous state of the housing market where ever more people find themselves priced out, and even for the few who can afford to buy they cannot get affordable mortgages.

More housing, more schools, more utilities, hospitals, shops, roads and JOBS will be needed to house the expected 10,000,000 extra people due to arrive in the UK by 2020, who is going to pay for it all? Not the government it is bankrupt and the tax revenues only just managing to pay the massive welfare bills. Where on earth are they going to live?

Currently all the UKs utilities are running at capacity or at peak times over capacity and having to buy in power from Europe, suppliers of gas, electricity, water, sewage etc are struggling to cope with current demand and competition from developing nations who also want oil, gas, coal, timber, petrol etc, this drives up the prices even more and creates instability in the supply chain.
On top of this most of the UKs nuclear and coal powered generating plants are due to be closed in the next 5 years whilst their replacements won’t be available for 12 years, and parts of the south already have major issues with supplying enough water to the region.

Agriculture
Farmers are under huge pressure from all sides to increase production and reduce costs this brings them into direct conflict with the environmentalists. Even WITH all modern farming techniques and automation the basic food essentials are getting prohibitively more expensive for more and more people. Plus the increasing wealth and increasing populations in places like India and China are seeing these nations competing against us to get access to those finite resources. Of course the ever rising cost of oil drives up the cost of fertiliser, fuel for tractors, fuel for delivery trucks, fuel for grain driers etc

Food is getting far more expensive very quickly but thanks mainly to the economic collapse of 2008 wages are not rising to meet those increased costs. The cost of wheat for example has risen by over 70% in 18 months. Imported foods are going to get more expensive and as the last of the nation’s wealth is frittered away we won’t be able to buy anyway.

Employment
Society is seeing the not so beneficial effects of automation as it drives permanent change to our society, On one hand we see the benefits of cheap mass produced goods such as training shoes, leisure clothing, flat screen TVs, game stations, computers, furniture, car parts, camping gear, DIY materials etc but on the other hand less and less people have the jobs and wages to avail themselves of these cheap, mass made, generally imported goods. Only 40 short years ago in the UK around the same time as containerisation caused shipping costs to fall by 90% we in the UK had an economy that was around 80% involved in manufacturing. Today in the UK that figure is 18% and declining at about 1% every decade.
The wealth of the nation and our manufacturing base is bleeding away with the arrival of every container ship from Asia to dock in a UK port. It’s a bit pointless having shops full of nice cheap quality imported goods if no one has a job to earn the spending money needed to buy those goods!!!



Summation

So fuel, food, water and power is getting very expensive very quickly, but unlike in the past wages cannot hope to keep up with those increases.
Houses are becoming unaffordable and mortgages unavailable, plus rents rising alarmingly (over 20% in 3 years on average)
However this is compounded by the UK and EU discovering that fewer people than ever before are ever going to find work as those jobs no longer exist.
.
The huge increase in long term unemployed plus growing numbers of well-educated graduates forced to accept minimum wage jobs and the huge numbers on migrants from Africa and Asia driving up our population to record levels is only going to get worse.
This in turn places a greater stain than ever on housing, schools, healthcare etc and the inevitable increase in racial and ethnic tensions in our now severely overcrowded cities.

Highly unemployed numbers equates to higher tax bills to those still in work but overall revenue to the tax man declining. This means the welfare state cannot be sustained and huge cuts MUST follow, that will ensure civil unrest will follow soon after.

As time goes by and demand from other developing nations increases all our basic essential commodities oil, gas, water, cars, food etc will become far more expensive, and the days of guaranteed availability 24/7 of power and water supply is ending with it.
More and more people are going to find they can never get a decent paid full time job as thanks to automation and cheap imports the jobs will be gone for ever.

Only the wealthiest and politically powerful plus their hangers on will have any worthwhile quality of life and the security associated with it. For the rest of the nation poverty, hardship and hunger is a distinct possibility, in our cities crime, violence and civil unrest will become normal. As recent events across the world have shown us almost any event can and does trigger civil unrest and violence on unprecedented levels. London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester showed us all that most clearly in August 2011.

Let me be clear about this NO political party in the UK of any persuasion has the will, motivation, desire or capability to deal with this growing crisis, they are ALL sitting playing their fiddles as society begins to burn, And of course don’t forget it is those same politicians who created this mess. Tories and Bankers, Liberals and Coops, Labour and Trade Unions, NONE of them have any answers that are palatable, and ALL are focusing 100% on insulating themselves from the mess.

Options

Prepare, get out of the cities whilst you can, start to grow more of your own food, join coops and allotment groups, learn practical traditional skills (knitting, weaving, leatherwork, animal keeping, homeopathy, home steading, food preserving, ironwork, carpentry etc) Try in part at least to go OFF-GRID get multi fuel stoves and cookers installed, consider a 12 volt DC PV system for the house, look at roof water capture treatment and storage. Learn and practise bush-craft, field-craft, martial skills, shooting, archery, fishing, boating, horse riding, first aid, amateur radio licencing etc.

Start a library of quality informative how to books, obtain a range of decent hand tools, get far more involved in prepper/ homestead / off-grid / survival groups, forums and communities.

You have to take far more responsibility for your own destiny than ever before, it’s going to be you personally who has to source food, fuel, medicine and materials in the future.
If you think the government has the will or capability of protecting, housing and feeding you I’m afraid you are very sadly mistaken.