Hello All!

I hoping to connect with people with similar interests in preparedness. I have always been interested in preparedness, but I am now starting to make some more serious efforts toward preparing my family.

I am a resident of suburban Maryland, sandwiched between Baltimore and Washington, DC. I am the father of three boys who are, or will be involved in scouting.

Prepper Man

Wow, I was pretty sure that I was the only one in Columbia that was interested in preparedness. I'm glad that you posted! Curious to know how much you've gotten done as far as preparedness, I feel like I've only scratched the surface and yet here we are on the doorstep of hyperinflation or worse. What are your thoughts?

_________________
Waste not, want not, use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.

Welcome to both of you from your neighbor in Pa. Enjoy the forum.

_________________
And To The Republic For Which It Used To Stand

Welcome! Always happy to see new members here.

WELCOME!

WOW! You live in a tough area. Are you able to do any gardening or grow your own food at all?

_________________
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

Thanks for the welcome.

My little plot of suburbia will not produce much food unless I drop a lot of tall trees. Of course, if I drop any trees the homeowners association will be all over me.

My concern is less preparing for TEOTWAWKI than preparing for extended several week interruption of basic services. If I ever think TEOTWAWKI is on the horizon I just need to move.

As to what I have accomplished, some, but not enough. Basic food and water stashed. Would love to have a backup power system. Need to acquire more skills.

I know my county, Howard County, has offered CERT classes. I do not know what information you get from these classes.

Found this online from the Howard County Fire and Rescue site: http://www.howardcountymd.gov/FAR/FAR_CERTSessions.htm


Below are descriptions of CERT's individual training sessions.

Session 1: Personal Preparedness
Lecture Only

In this 3 hour session, students will learn the history of large scale disasters that have affected Howard County, as well as steps that Howard County has taken to minimize the impact of future large scale disasters. This session provides a review of individual supplies, training and the psychology needed during the time of a disaster. A certificate will be issued following the successful completion of this session.

Session 2: First Aid Part I
Lecture and Practical

This is an ASHI certified 3 hour combination lecture and practical session on basic first aid. Students will review anatomy, signs and symptoms of common illness and injuries, along with bleeding control techniques and shock management.

Note: Students are required to complete both Session 2 and Session 3 to receive ASHI certification.

Session 3: First Aid Part II
Lecture and Practical

This is an ASHI certified 3 hour combination lecture and practical session on basic first aid. In this session, students will learn fracture management, patient movement and advanced patient assessment techniques.

Note: Students are required to complete both Session 2 and Session 3 to receive ASHI certification.

Session 4: Disaster Recovery Part I
Lecture Only

In this 3 hour session, students will learn team organization and basic emergency incident management principles. A certificate will be issued following the successful completion of this session.

Session 5: Disaster Recovery Part II
Lecture and Practical

In this 3 hour session, students will review basic household utilities such as electric service, gas service, municipal water service, and how to secure them during an emergency should the need arise. Students will review basic portable generator safety and operating techniques, and participate in live flammable liquid fire extinguishment. At the conclusion of this session, students will be given information as to where they may obtain additional preparedness training, such as CPR. A certificate will be issued following the successful completion of this session

That's a great link, thanks for posting it! I will definitely be signing up.

We had 11 large mature trees on our .2 acre lot. Fortunately, one was diseased and we were able to convince the association to let us remove it, which gave us a narrow area that gets 6-8 hours of sun each day. I immediately built a 6'x18' raised bed vegetable garden, and in the 2 years since we've moved here, I've also planted a semi-dwarf cherry, dwarf pear, dwarf plumcot, dwarf Japanese plum, 2 miniature peach trees and 2 miniature nectarine trees. Also 2 grapevines, a strawberry bed and 3 varieties of raspberry. Now that I have filled every square inch of sunny area on my property (front and back), I'm getting ready to set up 6 Earthboxes in the driveway. Where there's a will, there's a way. If nothing else, we'll always have plenty of jelly. Now if only they'd let me keep chickens...

We are not supposed to have a clothesline but I put one in anyway, and then we had a fight over whether we could put up a tv antenna. Luckily the FCC was on our side and federal laws trump association rules.

One area that I'm very lacking in is self defense. I'm a stay-at-home mom with 4- and 7-year old girls. Where should I start as far as self-defense? Jui-jitsu? Self-defense course? Guns? Knives? My dad recommends a Mossberg 500 pump youth shotgun. I've read Fernando Aguirre's Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse, which emphasizes (to the extreme) guns, weapons, and self-defense. I'm a bit overwhelmed with this aspect of preparedness.

I'm about a quarter of the way through stocking my emergency food pantry, following the advice of Peggy Layton's Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook.

Okay, I didn't mean to write a novella, just wanted to let you know where I am at and what you think I should do from here. Any advice would be very appreciated!

_________________
Waste not, want not, use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.

I recommend guns for self defense. The reason is simple. The further away you keep the attackers from you and your loved ones, the better chance you have to survive.

I do not recommend fighting with knives. I have knives that could probably be used for fighting, but if you don't know what you are doing and have excellent strength, knife fighting is a good way to get hurt or killed. Ju-Jitsu or any other martial art isn't a bad idea for a last resort, such as if you are surprised or for some reason an attacker gets closer than gun range.

Overall, I recommend that you do know how to protect yourself in as many ways as possible, but do everything you can to keep an attacker away.

_________________
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran