Protecting your stockpile.....

[WV_mom_of2]

I was reading another forum yesterday and ran across a thread on stockpiling. The op asked others if they stockpiled and how friends and family felt about it. One woman posted that her friends and family made fun of her for it, ect. but she said that the plan among her family is that if something ever happened they would meet at her house and stay because she is prepared. That kind of bothered me because it seems that they are being lazy by not stockpiling and making fun of her for doing it. Yet if something happens they plan to take advantage of her and planning ahead.

If something were to happen in your area would you share your stockpile with family and friends? Or would you hide it and save it for your immediate family only? Would you be prepared to defend it if necessary?

I know if something bad happens here my brother will be on my doorstep immediately begging. He and his wife have 7 kids between them(he has three, she has four) and they barely get them all fed day to day as it is. She refuses to keep a job, never working at one for more than a month before quitting. They have large, expensive vehicles and take several trips a year(they've been on at least 4 vacations in the last year). They both smoke and drink. My brother has owed my parents over 10,000 for 3 years now and makes no attempt to pay a penny toward it. Before he married her I had to take groceries to him and his boys more than once and so did my mom. Even now he calls my mom begging for money to buy food, etc. He lives just across the hill from me so I know if a disaster struck he'd be here expecting me to feed them all. That makes me feel really strange. I would never want my nephews to be hungry. But at the same time part of me feels like I shouldn't have to be responsible for two adults who don't give a rat's behind whether they have food in the house or not as long as they have cigs and beer. And her kids could go to their dad's family. But that makes me feel mean and ugly! It really has me thinking and I guess I should put aside some extra things for them in case something does happen.

We are definitely prepared to defend ourselves and our property if we would need to. I hope it never comes to that though!

Just wondering how you guys feel!

[nodmicks]

If anything devastating ever happened we would end up with lots of family which is ok. We are the only family members with farm land , wood, alternative heat etc~ basically a hobby farm.. However I don't stockpile massively. Dh is a big hunter in a family of non hunters.
I wouldn't mind helping a bit (ok maybe I'm mind a few who are lazy but not the majority) because I'm sure the others have skills we don't and even if not they are family.

[loveless82]

Hiya,


My mom jokes with us about if the world coming to an end, she move in with us. She know that my hubby and I stockpile and are sort of prepare for anything to go wrong in the world. Now I always say that I'm not going to let anyone in, but I most likely will let my close family members.

[Russ]

we don't stockpile but Sherri I think your brother needs a talking to.

[nvmommyx6]

The majority of most that we stockpile is in a huge walk in meat locker 3 miles from here on my parents property! I have plenty here but the plan for anything happening is all at my folks property. Although we have more land, they are better set up for something along those lines!
As a retired cop my folks are totally prepared for anything both in defence and in survival!

[Lady_V]

No one really cares that I have a stockpile. They do call me 'Chicken Little' though.

We haven't advertised the pile to the neighbors... don't know all of them, some wouldn't care... some would be climbing through my windows!

Our families live far away, and my ex-inlaws think that as long as they have money... nothing bad can ever happen.

[mommy4ever]

My brother lives 12 hours away, so I doubt he'd turn up here.

My SIL and BIL would likely show up at MIL and FIL, who are also conscious minded and do stock things. I'm pretty sure we'd be left alone. We have alternative heat and cooking ability, not fantastic, but better than nothing. As do mil and fil.

I don't know that I'd turn anyone away, but by George, they'd be EARNING their keep. Especially my brother and wife(miss priss expects to be waited on hand and foot because she's now a mom of 4...big deal, I've been doing it for years, she's lazy and....well that's a whole new thread)

[Momof3girls]

I would help my family for sure. If neighbors were in need, I would help them as I was able to.

[jillywalnuts]

I think me and all my relatives would end up at my mom's. I'd take my stockpile and head for there, she has room, a well, woodburning stove. I think in comparison my stockpile will look pretty piddly.

[Jskell911]

I wouldn't mind sharing. Heck, I give away so much of it as it is. I figure if I have it and can spare it.... Besides they are family, ya know?

[joyofsix]

I come from a long line of stockpilers. I might even end up at my dad's since he and his wife have literally a room full or preserved food. I'd use mine first though.

[cheles2kids]

They do call me 'Chicken Little' though.

I loved this!

As to the OP question, we don't have much in the way of emergency prepardness, so I'm not sure what we would do.
We do have a small stockpile of groceries and we're still rebuilding it.
I want to slowly start adding in more items for emergency prepardness though. Batteries, candles and an alternative way of cooking is always a good thing to have on hand.

But I believe if we had a "slacker" family member, I would have to relent for the kids' sakes. I just wouldn't be able to turn them away, ya' know?

As for your brother? I agree with Russ, someone needs to give him a big 'ole kick in the hinney!
But I've known people like him, and regardless of what you say to them they just don't care, so whatta ya' do?

[MOMMYDEAREST]

I have a pretty good stockpile going on. I would definetly share it w/ my brother (single & 22), and I would share it with my sister & her 2 kids (even though she's a golddigger). My parents live to far away. I figure, the more, the merrier My neighbors are our best friends, so I would definetly share w/ them & their children!!

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Well, most Alaskans have at least a bit of a stockpile...it's not too hard for food lines to get cut off. I remember a few years ago the dock workers in Washington went on strike...no barges up here for about 2 weeks (our primary source of food). The shelves in the grocery stores looked eerily bare. We were prepared then...and are prepared now.

Most of our family isn't up here, so it's not really an issue for us... Though, if people were making fun of us for it...they'd get to fend for themselves. Sorry, probably a bit harsh, but they're grown ups and can plan just as easy as we can. (If we lived nearby we would definitely take in the kiddo's in the family if it came to that).

[Katybird]

If my family showed up at my door, I would gladly help them. In times of disaster or emergency, I want my family close.