There are many levels. I suppose it's a matter of whose fan, yours or everyone's. If it's a pandemic, it's everybody. If I lost my job it certainly would be one for me but nobody else.

Thanks Perfesser,

I know what you mean, I'm self employed so every morning I wake up I'm unemployed until I find a job. This is not a crisis to me however to someone else it would be catastrophic. For me personally, I think of the fire in Slave Lake last summer, or of the tornado that hit Edmonton and Sherwood Park in the early 90s. I've not yet considered fire arms because I personally feel that I should address the risks that I think more likely. I don't have any special information or risk assessment skills, I'm just sort of playing it by ear.

Antsy

I believe the most realistic SHTF situation is a financial collapse that will be felt world wide.
I would like to say I am preparing by getting out of debt but no matter how I run toward this goal, I look behind me and see the tsunami that will probably over-take me first.
In short I think I will never be fully prepared for the day the SHTF but at least I will be a bit better prepared than many others.

I believe the most realistic SHTF situation is a financial collapse that will be felt world wide.
I would like to say I am preparing by getting out of debt but no matter how I run toward this goal, I look behind me and see the tsunami that will probably over-take me first.
In short I think I will never be fully prepared for the day the SHTF but at least I will be a bit better prepared than many others.

Just the realization that there IS a tsunami of some for coming behind you give you the mental preparation to be flexible and float on the crest of the wave. Those with no thought or idea will be overtaken unawares and simply be smasshed to the ground as it rolls over them.

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For sure a SHTF situation can be personal in nature, just ask the pour folks to the south of us who have lost their homes since the financial crash of 2008.
A societal SHTF situation is usually defined as a social unrest progressing to the breakdown social order and collapse of society

I have spoke with law enforcement about what levels of emergency would constitute me putting on my tactical vest and loading up.

If there was ever an event so large that the police can not respond, you must choose to batten down the hatches and secure your safety, or you 'bug out' to a safe location.

The protocols come down to the police protecting infrastructure like fire/police stations, city hall, etc and maintain civil obedience.

They do not care if someone is stealing your car in front of your house. It is likely not worth stopping it either as you will likely end up on the losing end or in jail for dozens of firearms violations.

If they kick in your door and you are there with you shotgun, you then must think about different alert levels.

Green means you quickly explain the situation and they should leave.

Yellow means they are ignoring you and taking your TV. Still not a threat to your safety.

Red is when you are 100% sure they are going to harm you, then you must decide.

good to hear that my ass is covered! im a firefighter haha. So right now im safer at the hall then I am in my own home. Now if only they would let me bring guns to work Id be content 😀

It is ironic but I think of the Bronx in NY, and the way of life there. If it got that way here in London, Then it would be time to leave.

Too funny Ranger... I haven't been to New York and will have to use my imagination. I think that for me, the SHTF event is likely a personal or regional event. Nothing of the "end of the world as we know it" scale, rather the point when enough is enough here. Society and culture is incredibly resilient. I was in Ecuador a few years ago when in Quito, the police arrested the president because of pay cuts and there was a stand off with the military. Embassy folks warn tourists, and for everyone else the machines of society grind on. I'm not saying that I will stick my head in the sand denying the possibility of anything worse, I'm just not going to forgo holidays and such waiting for it.

Keep your stick on the ice,

Antsy

I don't know how it will happen. I don't have a really solid idea of what it will be either. I do know that some unprepared ass hat is going to try to take what I have. So I am prepared well for that issue.
If I was a rich man I could prepare for any SHTF scenario. But that is unrealistic to me. I'm most concerned about EMP. At this point my family and I could live comfortably(?) for 3 months.

A good trial scenario is now happening in Prince Albert, SK.

Tornados took down high voltage towers. The city of 45,000 has been cutoff from electricity for 24 hours now.

Gas pumps & all stores are locked down. No street lights.

You cant go to the next town unless you have a full tank of gas.

Freezers are holding but they don't expect power for two more days.

Food is spoiling in the stores but tills & lights are out.

Looting is feared. Security is tough in pitch black.

Imagine months of that...how would you fare?

It is ironic but I think of the Bronx in NY, and the way of life there. If it got that way here in London, Then it would be time to leave.

In any disaster, population density limits your chance of survival.

28 Days Later is a brilliant movie set in London & Manchester. If you live in a NYC or London setting, you will want at least 3-days of supplies to lock yourself down and let the initial mayhem subside from people destroying themselves, or the military running clean and sweep ops.

Then be prepared to move with your bug out gear to an old fort or island in the country.

question... does anyone know the law concerning constructing a fortress in a wilderness setting? think of remote back country... then clear out a field on high ground and plop a scaled down version of a medieval castle on top of it. then bunker network underneith it. Legal?