This week, we have 4 preppers and 3 scenarios. As usual, we get some items that I agree with and are just sound opinions but then the planning and execution just suck. So many holes in the basics, the foundation that is where you have to start.

First up we have John Adrian. John is preparing for the unexpected event triggering panic in the stores and streets. His plan is to Bug In and does not understand why you would bug out. His house in the Pacific Northwest has one side on a rock cliff to prevent an assault from that side and all the monitoring and protection on the other side where the main entry drive is. He has ton’s of HD cameras with smart technology for self monitoring and notification back to a central monitor point. John is also a Ham Operator, so since information is like having another 1,000 rounds when you run out, Golden!

The entry drive has an auto gate that is heavy metal that is supposed to stop a 10 Ton truck at 50mph. At least that’s what they claim. He has two years of food and some 5,000 gallons of water. I didn’t get to see the food and water storage so I guess we assume that it’s stored right. He has a Pepper Spray fog unit that he invented once someone is in the house that will affect that area for 2-4 hours. Has explosive proof film on the windows so bombs and bullet damage is mitigated. Invented the Bed Bunker which is a safe on it’s back under your bed. Interesting idea and at 1,300 pounds, nobody is likely to walk off with it. Has a  training consultant who suggested the Beowulf 50 rifle and did a scenario with a frontal assault to get him to think about bugging out.

So let’s list the Good, Bad and the Ugly:

Good:

• He is planning for ANY unexpected Panic. This will cover many scenarios.
• Love the HD camera system, it’s early warning is great.
• Pepper Spray unit has potential.
• Film on Windows
• 50 Beowulf has it’s place.
• Ham Operator and Communications.
• 2 years of food and 5,000 gallons of water.
• Heavy duty gate
• Training

Bad:

• Perimeter Defense. Besides the gate, that’s the only thing there.
• I did not see nor did they mention back up power. One thing you will need when you have “gadgets and gismos”.

Ugly:

• No renewable food such as a garden and animals. You will starve without them and loose bartering power.
• Water Replacement options. Did not seem to be anything planned for when the 5k runs out.
• No 72hour/Bug out bag. First thing you put together, first thing you will use.

To summarize, John is the only person in this fairly large house and the only one on the property. The amount of early warning he has up could be added to, and should. Since he needs to have first strike advantage, he needs the info sooner rather than later. Pressure mats would alert him to intruders. A safe room if he cannot egress the home or property. A remote bunker on the property with provisions so that he could access his situation without fear of attack and  possibly retake his home should he decide to do so. More planning for attacks, more food and water re-provision resources. Would a prepper group who uses the property when the SHTF help defend the area? Maybe so. I like the house and location, it has so many possibilities and he has just scratched the surface.

Next up is Jeff Bushaw: Jeff is planning for the Yellowstone Super Volcano plunging thousands of miles into a nuclear winter with inches of ash. Jeff lives in Vancouver Washington with his wife and son and calls himself the shoestring prepper. He likes going to Storage spaces and bidding for the contents and getting “bargains” for prepping. He has food storage in mylar buckets and a 10 year supply of toilet paper. He mentioned having a bug out location but did disclose any info about that but said 1/2 preps are there and 1/2 at the current house.

He is also taking flying lessons in order to be able to bug out at a moments notice. They showed he and his son donning packs and gas masks and walking to the airport to get the plane. There was no mention of ownership of any aircraft.

So here’s the Good, Bad and the Ugly:

Good:

• Has a food supply in buckets with Mylar bags. Not sure how long he had.
• His son wants to be and is a part of their preps.

Bad and the Ugly:

• Combined these because I see lots of downside to this plan. Being a private pilot, I have some insight into this idea.
• I did not see any water stored or a plan to resupply it.
• No garden to supplement or resupply food.
• Paying for storage spaces in the hopes of finding prep materials is ridiculous, might as well buy lottery tickets. The arrows they found in the storage space were mixed and would not be accurate from any bow.
• Are you really going to walk down the street with packs and rifles in broad daylight after the event? NO.
• The winds would take the volcanic ash east, not west…..
• In using an aircraft, are you going to steal it? Most places do not rent one way, ever and you generally have to belong to a “Club” to even rent one. IF there was ash in the air, you don’t fly. Carburetors don’t like debris in them. This plan makes no sense at all. Why would you practice dead stick landings, you planning on one? That’s just something you learn to get your license….
  

My suggestion to Jeff is to leave the plane out of the evac, just fly because you love it. Plan on bugging in or bugging out or a combo since you have a place to go. And you eat everyday, you don’t shoot everyday, put a garden on your list.

Last but not least is Allen and Franco. Both are in the same town in Missouri, only on opposite ends. Both are preparing for an Economic Decline which will drive up the cost of all things including food, with the loss of the rule of law and anarchy.  Both have opted for Aquaponics with some differences in the ways they do it. It has become a rivalry of sorts between them about the systems they use and which one is the best. Allen has been prepping for 30 yrs and spent over 30k and Franco has been prepping for 3 yrs and spent 20k.

They both have put together systems that rival each other and both would get the job done. Both have done either worms or larvae to help feed the fish Allen has 3,000 gallons water stored and Franco has 2,000 gallons stored and Franco wants another 4-6k. I did not see any bulk food storage or other garden outside the aquaponics.  Allen seems to have firearms but did not see any security or advanced training and Franco does not believe in guns.

The Good, Bad and the Ugly:

Good:

• I like the Aquaponics by both. Great way to grow food.
• Were growing food for fish such as worms and duckweed.

Bad and the Ugly:

• Did not see enough long term bulk food, growing by itself is not enough.
• Water seemed short given aquaponics takes a lot of water even using recycling.
• Short on defense planning and security.
• Franko does not believe in weapons, so it’s just a matter of time for him…. dead man walking.
• Both family’s do not seem to support what they do or participate at all, that’s not good.
• Aquaponics is tough to get right and keep right. If you don’t monitor constantly, you will loose both fish and food. It’s such a tiny balance point.

I am not sure that being in the same town is any advantage other than to compare techniques. They have not combined forces, Nat Geo just got two guys with one camera crew…. If the loss of the rule of law is your primary reason to prep, you need to rethink how you are going to KEEP what you have created a lot harder.