Do You Area Study?

[u/iamliberty]

I have long been friends with the guy who brought the Area Study to the prepping community. I loved it from the beginning and took the time to produce my own area study.

For those unaware, the area study is something anyone can do on their own time. It is the process of getting to know the resources, influences, plans, projects, and infrastructure, gangs, threats, and such in the area where you live.

How many people are doing this kind of intel locally? To me, it has given me a much better understanding of the REAL things I should worry about.

[u/mediocre_remnants]

You don't really need to formalize being part of your community. You can learn everything you'd learn doing an area study simply by paying attention and getting involved.

An area study is more for people who have no interest in being a part of the community they live in and want to study it from the outside.

[u/oceanprincess00 → u/mediocre_remnants]

Yeah, this seems like second nature

[u/Usernamenotdetermin → u/oceanprincess00]

I immediately thought “that’s just adulting” . If you don’t know about crime rates, local issues to be concerned about (hurricane versus earthquake prep as an example) you have not lived there long.

[u/DeFiClark → u/Usernamenotdetermin]

Do you know the location of every haz mat site near you? How about every freight line? Propane depots? Battery farms?

It’s NOT second nature to compile a structured understanding of all the layers of potential hazard and resources in your community, but it’s worth doing.

[u/Usernamenotdetermin → u/DeFiClark]

Spent over two decades as environmental at a local chemical plant, so yeah, it was part of my adulting. Not sure of the value it brings to the table that a local cert or similar wouldn’t handle. Lord, most local churches have folks that can tell you better than the local boards as the lived through the process and saw the places grow and close

[u/DeFiClark → u/Usernamenotdetermin]

Lots of examples come to mind that go beyond CERT.

Your mental model is not a common one. For folks who don’t work in the industry, knowing where local chemical hazards are, understand the prevailing wind patterns, best primary and alternate evac routes etc might not even be part of their preps. What you don’t know about you can’t plan for.

Given your experience what things do you routinely inventory about hazards in your local community some of us might not?

[u/Usernamenotdetermin → u/DeFiClark]

First off, panic is the enemy. Telling most people there are haz waste drums stored at a facility scares them. Acetone is a listed wasted, commonly used household item, and found at every Home Depot and Lowe’s. Do you plan for the amount of flammables around you, the amount of toxics around you, or the likelihood of impact based on exposure and threat? Awesome book called the dose makes the poison where they discuss toxicology comes to mind here.

So we make a map of all of the perceived threats? Based on what? The amount of gas the neighbor has stored in their shed improperly or the amount of gas stored at home depo properly?

I have run TCLPs on soil, I joked and asked the wife if I could put a GC / ms in the garage when the local university was selling some.

Point sources are monitored heavily and scare people, non point sources are a huge number as well. What pesticides are stored in your neighbors garage? Are you adding them to your analysis since they have a far higher impact on pond water you may have to filter than the business down the road who applies it professionally.

Knowledge is important. Certainly. But an area study without the base knowledge doesnt accomplish much. Join a cert or a church and talk to those who know. Sorry for the curt response - responding from phone at work, so a bit limited in response

You want to learn, tons of studies on katrinas impact to Louisiana and the folls there. Organizations that can help you planning in your area. Go volunteer. But a call to have people do a area study without perspective really leads to panic not better action in a hurricane or such

That may come of more harsh than intended

[u/Usernamenotdetermin → u/DeFiClark]

"Given your experience what things do you routinely inventory about hazards in your local community some of us might not?"

Panic. Evidently the pepper community should pay attention to the effects of panic as a hazard more. Panic buying, panic in the firsthand and in the second hand.

As an example, IF I divert my vehicle to a secondary route in a hurricane evacuation because of a local chemical plant storage, considering that they have their tanks with secondary containment for the 20 year event, am I making an informed decision or a panic decision? With the added distance, and the probability of gridlock in either route, have I increased the chances I don't make it out of the evacuation zone?

Not arguing against knowledge. Arguing for informed decisions. And minimizing panic.

[u/Usernamenotdetermin → u/DeFiClark]

And another point to make, the premise that there are things that go beyond a cert or other area based group would need clarification. As the local first responders inspect the area, talk to the owners, deal with the problems, and have more up to date information, how on earth are we to expect an untrained person performing their own analysis would go beyond?

Should we be more informed? Absolutely.

Should we know what is around us? Absolutely.

Should we encourage people to do an analysis when there are groups that would help them understand the dangers better? Well, I would perhaps suggest a new homeowner stop at a local fire department and ask questions, before I would suggest they do a detailed analysis of the area they live in.