One of the major factors in a threat assessment has to be the duration of the event.

Assuming a threat is of relatively short duration (storm, flood, earthquake), and localized, the solutions would also be minor.
Some of Skunk's listed threats, like #3/4/5/6/7 I think would also fall into this category. You could simply stay at home, surviving on your stored stock of food and water, and wait it out or move out of the afflicted area until repairs are completed. The main governmental infrastructures would still be intact and able to respond in a relatively short time.

Now if the duration of the threat was long term and/or world altering, like Skunk’s #1/2, then the solution(s) would be much more difficult. I would include a worldwide economic meltdown, major pandemic outbreak, massive solar flares (Skunk’s #2) or a significant asteroid impact (see 99942 Apophis) in this threat duration category too. Any of the threats in this category couldn’t be solved in a short time span because the governmental infrastructure would be most likely have been crippled along with all other “normal” commercial businesses. Any remaining governmental resources would be funneled into support for the societal elite and not the everyday man/woman/child.

The first major die-off phase (within the first year of the event(s)), due to riots/gangs, starvation, exposure, lack of meds (I’ll be in this group), and disease, should be those who truly prepared for a major catastrophe and those that are able to control local resources by force. Those survivors of the first die-off that haven’t banded together and formed armed farming communities would form nomadic bands of scavengers as their local resources dwindle to nothing. The successful individual would be a rarity in this phase of survival.
The second major die-off phase (year 1-5) would be those scavengers that are competing for smaller and smaller bits of leftover pre-event resources. As the scavengers gradually die off becoming less and less of a threat, the farming communities would expand and be able to support a larger population.

By this time any ammunition and firearms that have survived would be too precious to be used for normal trade. Food items and personal skills would become the main local barter items. Seeds would be highly valued and used for bartering over a distance along with books and crafted items/tools.

To me, the most highly prized item in any threat scenario is health, knowledge and practical skill.

Last edited by Mastiff; 11/19/15 04:34 PM.

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