Buying a just in case SHTF chunk of land.

[Thebastidge]

Like I've said before on this forum: real security is dynamic, not static. No matter what the security measure, if there's not a person there responding, the only thing it will do is slow the theif down. They WILL eventually get around it, given enough time.

 

[Grunwald]

Concealment is a big part of the security solution. If they cannot see it (find it) then they cannot take it. If you own your own land that you plan on using as a shtf refuge, and want to really prep then take your prepping subterranial.
Once you hide it, keep your mouth shut about it. Your security will vanish if you show it to all your buddies.

 

[8ball]

If the SHTF event is an earthquake, many of us will be stuck in the metro areas, as roads, bridges and waterways will be inaccessible. The PNW is probably the worst terrain possible for that. Look at major earthquakes and you'll see that travel becomes impossible very quickly.

If it is some type of event that causes a sudden evacuation e.g. a pandemic then if you survive through the traffic jams on the way to your bug out location, it's likely most places within a few days of foot travel will be overrun with refugees.

The long slow decline event isn't much better - as someone mentioned above, most people aren't going to survive camping in the woods for years.

 

[Thebastidge]

If a civilization-wrecking event occured (asteroid strike, massive solar storm) , the competition gets cut down drastically in the first 6 months. That's about how long it would take for all but the tinest percentage of civilization's surpluses to be be completely gone. By then all the fuel's gone, all the canned goods are gone, the seasons have turned and everything edible has been scrounged, the pets have been eaten, and the squirrels have gotten a lot more wary. People starve in massive droves the first winter. We'd better hope something like that doesn't happened.

Earthquakes are still a regional problem. It's unlikely that this would be an emergency lasting more than days or weeks, and then life goes on. It happens in California every few years and it hasn't collapsed their way of life yet. People cope, and generally rise to great kindness and nobility.

Long decline is the more likely scenario. This is the scenario where your biggest problem is other people.

 

[mrblond]

One of the biggest things people tend not to think of is Yellowstone being a super volcano that has been due to blow for a while. That would be a civilization changing event, much larger then a major earthquake or tsunami. Only think I can think of worse would be a major impact