This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
I finished reading Aftermath A Story of Survival in record time – it was that much of a page turner. In case you’re not familiar with her, the author, LeAnn Edmondson, writes The Homestead Dreamer where she chronicles her journey to a more self-sufficient life. Before I get too far, let me just give you an idea what this book is about:
When the picture of a dog taking a dump shows up on every computer and cell phone screen with the words, “IT Happens,” Jimmy Walker knew things would never be the same again. What he didn’t know was just how bad it would be. Bugging out to his cabin in the Manistee National Forest, Jimmy figured he would ride out the storm there. He knew there would be trouble from the criminal element and those who had not prepared but hadn’t counted on the United Nations moving in and gathering people up to be ‘relocated,’ too. Banding together with others in the valley, Jimmy works to meet the threats that seem to come from all directions at once. (from Amazon)
The action starts soon enough when “all hell breaks loose” at the plant where our main character works. By the end of the first chapter when Jimmy has to make a decision which direction to go, I knew I was hooked. I could place myself right at the crossroads and trying to figure out what to do next if I were in his shoes.
I don’t want to give away that story but this gives you an idea. I like the straightforward writing style and the steady clip of the story. Mr. Apt Prepper read it as well and he also enjoyed the book. I will say thought that we had a few spirited discussions in the Apt Prepper household, as we did not always agree about certain actions in the book. Mr. Apt Prepper felt the group took too much time planning the details of their rescue efforts; while I agreed with the characters in the book on how they proceeded. He also felt the women in the group, tended to get the upper hand in the decision making, and was just fine with that. We both agreed we would love to read more about these characters and hope to see more of the author’s work.
Aftermath will take hold of your imagination and not let go until you finish it. It is a good read and I recommend the book.
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Since I live in Canada, I’ll write specifically about this country, but keep in mind that our two countries are closely connected both economically as well as geographically. My biggest concern is an economic collapse that could cause widespread job loses and shortages in goods being available to the masses. Added to that fear is the instability in world politics and the threat of a rogue country or group helping this collapse along. Our family is preparing first by moving to a place far from the big city and working to make ourselves as self sufficient as possible.
I have to say right now the biggest threat to our country is our economy. I have a feeling that things are about to go from bad to really really bad. How I have prepared is to get us out of debt. In 1 year we will own everything with no debt. House and cars. We have 0 credit card debt. I am also preparing by learning skills to grow and preserve my own food. Thank you for this opportunity to win the book!
Biggest threat today is our economy. There are so many factors that hang on a thread right now that any one or many could potentially cause our economy to collapse. Although there is a strong movement of people working to be prepared, it seems as though there is many apathetic people that are ignoring the signs. This only adds to the threat as mentioned in the book that many won’t be prepared but become our threat by attempting to take for us. This book sounds really straight forward.
Like those above, my biggest fear is the economy. I too agree that it “just doesn’t feel right”. We have worked toward paying off debt but still have a long way to go. I know that my piece of the family puzzle is to make sure that I can feed my family… as well as the extended family in the compound. I work to put back food, grow a garden and just generally have things that I think we could need in the future. My sister-in-laws think I am a bit off my rocker but they sure are happy to call to see if I have an extra can of “whatever”… Hoping that what I do will rub off. Thanks for the book recommendation! I will order the book as soon as I can!
I agree with other comments that our current economy is the biggest threat. I’m preparing by refreshing old skills, learning new skills and trying to get out of debt.
I have very few imminent concerns of societal collapse due to the economy. Whatever economic turmoil is in our future, it seems unlikely to cause an end to civilization. The greatest economic collapse in recorded history was The Great Depression. In the United States in a span from 1929 to 1934 unemployment went from 3.8% to 25%. There were runs on the bank, but society didn’t collapse. People didn’t riot en masse and tear down the basic fabric of society. The government didn’t unravel leaving the populous to fend for themselves in lawless chaos. Since then, the highest level of unemployment came at the end of 1982, when it hit 10.8%, though the 2008 collapse made a run and topped out at 10% in October of 2009. By the end of 2010 the unemployment rate has steadily decline and is currently at 5.5%, with 5% being optimal, economically speaking if not optimal for the millions of people that number leaves unemployed.
If a similar depression occurred today, our world would certainly cease to exist as we currently know it. Credit would dry up, we wouldn’t be buying or leasing brand new SUVs every couple of years and buying $250,000 homes on $50,000 salaries. We wouldn’t think $6 for a cup of coffee to be an acceptable expenditure of our money. We would stop paying attention to famous people who gained their notoriety through sex tapes, and pay better attention to what really matters, our families, friends, and communities. We’d stop buying frivolous things such as 65″ LED smart TVs and instead spend our money on the basics, the essentials. And finally we would no longer look down our noses at jobs like harvesting crops and mopping floors. I highly doubt, however, that we would tear ourselves apart.
I feel a more imminent threat nationally and globally will come in the form of natural disasters. While hurricanes are generally our most devastating regularly occurring natural disasters, and can cause localized collapses of governance, the rule of law, and economies, they are hardly society killers, much less planetary disasters. I believe it is important to be prepared for these short-term scenarios, but It’s the rare events one must really be scared of and prepared for.
So I’m concerned about surviving short-term natural disasters as well as long term disasters like the eruption of one of the super volcanoes, a polar shift, or a coronal mass ejection a la the 1859 Carrington Event. This is the most likely event in my book, and we barely dodged this bullet in 2012, and almost no one knows about it. What made the CME in 1859 so devastating, relatively speaking, was that the CME hit our magnetic field at the perfect angle for transferring the maximum amount of its energy to our planet. This had the effect of shutting down the Victorian Age’s telegraph network. The energy was so high in some places it set the equipment, and subsequently the building the equipment was housed, on fire. An even such as Carrington would be wholly devastating to our society today.
My preparations have focused on short-term survival here at home due to localized natural disasters and I am now turning my focus on long-term preparations, bugging out, and self-sufficiency in a world we would no longer recognize.
I don’t prep for just one specific event, as I like to be as prepared as possible for whatever comes our way. Having said that, an economic collapse seems likely, what with our government who likes to play games instead of trying to do what is best for this country and the citizens. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
I live in Canada, but the economy is the biggest threat by far. The latest tension with Russia and the possibility of ICBMs causing an EMP attack is a likely possibility as well though
biggest risk is the attitude of self entitlement and lack of work ethic in our latest generations of adults. Folks will expect to take, take, take until they take the bottom right out of the economy!
our biggest threat is the idiot in office. i am buying extra food and supplies when and as i can and trying to practice survival skills
Honestly, I feel big government is one of our biggest threats. People have come to rely on the government handouts and expect them. It’s laziness, really.
I suppose I could go on and on, but there is such a disconnect between people and where their food comes from, that they really have no idea.
My family is working towards self sufficiency by growing more of our own food and storing it they way it is meant to be stored. And then using it correctly.
I think the biggest threat is economic collapse. To prepare- I am storing food and water and other things, learning to be self sufficient, canning, growing my own food, learning to harvest wild edibles.
I think the biggest threat facing us today is stupidity of the human race. In general people are selfish and motivated by greed. I am preparing by learning as much as I can about as many things as I can and running every possible scenario in my head and teaching my kids what to do in any situation. As a family of 7 we all have different strengths and will work well together to keep each other alive no matter what is happening around us.
I think our biggest threat is terrorism attacks on our grid and water supplies. I am trying to get my spouse to listen to my concerns and allow me to make us at least a weeks worth of supplies stockpile.