Here's my opinion:
Depending on the crisis a total financial collapse will cause a run on the banks and grocery stores insuring looting and riots. The national guard and police will crackdown hard and why I suggest you don't buy guns now unless it's a private party sale or gun show.
We've learned in Katrina the police had all the information on applicants of gun owners and went to their homes to collect them. The constitution and your rights meant nothing as they eliminated all potential threats as private security firms like Black Water, just appeared.
I firmly believe they'll also try this first, depending on how widespread the problem grows they'll eventually retreat to a defensive posture to protect what local government can provide for them. Meaning, they are going to wait until the dust settles and then try again to restore order.
Obviously, this is my opinion off research I've done for years, but depending on the scenario it's hard to know how to prepare, most Americans are not prepared period.
The average American household can hold out for 30 days with the food they have in their home now. Water will be the main factor, but by quickly filling your tub, sinks, or whatever, you'll insure 30 days of clean water. If it goes past 30 days the system is truly breaking down and different problems will exist depending if you're in the city, burbs, or countryside.
IMO, the cities are best because people will abandon the burbs and the countryside doesn't have the resources you'll need unless you're from there. Besides, most people in this kind of scenario will stick to places they know and feel safe. Neighborhoods will come together for protection and resource sharing because Americans always come together and help during a real crisis.
The real problems start after 90 days when collective resources dry up and understand the government or lack off, can't help the masses. People will be forced to make tough decisions and when the true threats reveal themselves. In short, people start to die from lack of medication, hygiene issues, and lack of resources.
Segregation will start based off those strongest pushing "their" ideologies as the weak get pushed out to fend for themselves. It won't take long for the strong to go on the offense due to the lack of order and to test their new found power. Matter of fact, I'd bet rogue police and former military will be the first, like in post Soviet collapse.
Strategy:
Keep your mouth shut and blend as the alpha's play themselves out. I'd keep one firearm and minimal supplies because odds are they'll get taken from you anyway. A fortress mentality will insure someone storming the fort. So having bulk anything is just stupid, while arms/supplies should be hidden in a few locations. Just have a bug-out bag to insure your best defense, running.
Your health is the most important and due to stress, lack of sustenance, and disease, medication/vitamins should be at least number 2 on your list. Your ultimate goal is just survive long enough for order to be restored.
Civil War:
As crazy as this sounds, we're too divided as a country and a financial collapse would make the US susceptible to a succession, especially in the South and West Coast. To be honest, this is what I'm preparing for.
I've studied urban warfare for years and know the best strategies to survive. If this happens most of you are buying the wrong weapons. A shotgun is not going to help you or your $400 badass Romanian AK, because that's going to stovepipe after 300 rounds. Your AR is going to jam because you haven't put 1000's of rounds through it to loosen it up, or you left loaded mags in your closet/safe for years killing the spring tension.
Nothing wrong with having an AR or a proven
AK to trade or close protection, but your best bet is to have an urban sniper rifle because snipers are the most feared people on a battlefield, especially in cities. Stalingrad proved a 100 snipers could kill 950+ German soldiers, most being officers.
The setup:
Two 14 inch x 4ft long PVC pipes with rubber seal gaskets screw on ends.
Pipe 1: A
AK tantal with 4 mags, 500 FMJ, AK knife, Bic lighter, 4 MRE's, clothes, medicine, bandages, smokes, 4 small bottles of makers, chlorine tabs, thin blanket, and laced rubber shoes. Cost- $780
All items were shrink wrapped and in the pipe sealed, buried somewhere safe. No money because smokes and Whiskey will be the currency.
Pipe 2: A 6mm custom Sako synthetic, Leupold glass, range finder, 200 rds, knife, Bic lighter, 4 MRE's, clothes, medicine, bandages, smokes, 4 small bottles of makers, chlorine tabs, thin blanket, and laced rubber shoes.
Cost-$2,550
I selected the 6mm and the 5.45x39 because they are easier to carry and firmly believe a faster bullet does lot's more damage. Shooters argue that the 308 is the best sniper round for for accuracy, but a 6mm has a lower recoil and flatter (500 yard) faster bullet that's perfect for urban sniping.
Total cost: $3,500
Conclusion:
Although, I have lot's of silver coins that I'll be selling off this week, collecting silver and gold is useless because when economies collapse, history has proven many times these metal are soon outlawed.
Anyway, for $3500 I feel safe.
Long post but I was also meaning to write if for my blog too. :winkwink:
