I'm back!

[dangerman]

Hello all, remember me? I've had a year off doing pretty much everything after finishing uni. I've had a lot less time to do any serious faffing since getting my new job.

I thought a little re-introduction might be in order just in case there are any newbies on here, or any oldies who I didn't get to know very well.

I'm Dan - I'm a nurse and a sort of prepper. I like buying stuff that is of genuine use, also useless toys. I also love outdoors stuff and this is largely why prepping is so much fun for me.

Just a little update in my life over the last year - I've often told the handful of stories why I think prepping is important, my own experience of riots and flood evacuations, but over the last year another thing happened to reignite this little hobby. My family in America (which is where I am now until September) recently had to evacuate their homes due to the risk that the Oroville dam might collapse. That's right, they live in Oroville, Northern California.

When they evacuated, my family had already prepared. But like all American preppers that I've met, they've stacked their houses skyscraper high in food storage and guns and ammo, but not put an enormous amount of effort into evacuation strategies. Of course, there was a plan in place, but they found that when they needed to leg it, there was gridlocked traffic in every direction and a 20 minute journey to their nearest family safe house became a 3.5hr queue.

Food for thought there. I spoke to my family about it, we discussed different all terrain vehicles and motorcycle options, which I think may see further investment soon. It's also given more support for my system of a tiny BOB that's kept by the door. But the scary thing is that another family member who works for the water board told me that, actually, by the time the warning was given and the instruction to evacuate had gone out, the danger had practically passed. They told me that at one point they stood over the dam on a hill, looking at the town below, and believed it when they were told that the flood waters would travel for hundreds of miles. The flooding could have likely cost many thousands of lives. It was a ridiculously close call.

The dam has been open since the 60s. Most people who remember the town before the dam was built are very old now. They used to have to deal with regular flooding and have done nothing but praise the dam - anyone born since has never questioned it. It's just something that's always been there. Makes you think doesn't it? Well it did me.

[Deeps]

Good to see you back mate, should be plenty of reading for you.

[Arzosah]

Thanks for the re-intro post, thats very interesting. It just goes to show, there *are* situations where evacuation is the only sensible option. Horrifying about the bad timing of the warning, though - and glad to hear your family's all safe.

[korolev]

Hello !

That's certainly food for thought if you have to evacuate for anything that affects more than just a few houses; Imagine every house in the street loading up and driving off at the same time, probably be quicker on foot
I have been thinking about getting an old moped to play with when I retire, that might be a better bet for bugging out than a super tricked-up 4x4.

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome back.

Snip> But the scary thing is that another family member who works for the water board told me that, actually, by the time the warning was given and the instruction to evacuate had gone out, the danger had practically passed. They told me that at one point they stood over the dam on a hill, looking at the town below, and believed it when they were told that the flood waters would travel for hundreds of miles.

In light of this may I suggest surf boards.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Oh no not you again

Welcome back glad all is ok ,:)