Securing Your Home #2 without mention of weapons

[Inquisitive Lurker]

You live in the midwest / northwest. That has to be like one of the safest places of earth. Sounds like the opposite of productive but very much still paranoid. I would seek some help if you are really that worried about your neighbors. Maybe you should talk to them someday and you will realize that they aren't trying to kill you or still your tv. And the cops aren't trying to take your guns either.

Crime occurs everywhere but that is not my main concern. My main concern is the police and other authorities. That's why my homes are castles. That's why I tint 3rd floor windows and hang lace curtains in front of them, so no one can see or hear in (via laser microphone). That's why I have a white noise generator in my office despite those preparations (also it's relaxing). Security and Privacy go hand in hand. If the police get an arrest warrant, I'll have time to decided if I'm going to surrender, negotiate, or go down fighting. If police get a search warrant, they'll have to destroy the door to get in. In my cottage I expect that would take a good hour. They'll probably resort to a window and huge bolt cutters to get through the steel bars. At my loft, they are going to have to get a plasma torch and cut out the lock, and then still have to deal with the steel bar. Hours! If they come with a surveillance warrant (bugging), they are screwed. There is no way in that won't leave an elephant in the room behind.

You know that saying "I love my country but fear my government"? Well, I don't even love my country.


P.S. I have no fear of my neighbors. My neighbors back when the "incident" happened were cool, and left me alone. They didn't even call the police when I fired the "thing." I was the only one to report it. It was a nice suburb that I lived in.

There was one detail about the "incident" that I left out. I wasn't supposed to be home that night. I was supposed to be in Seattle, WA doing some work, but the project got canceled. The only people that knew I was not supposed to be there was my work and the post office. Odd coincidence which I've never gotten my mind around. My guess was this was a professional thief with a source at the post office who would inform him of mail holds.

[Pawn Power]

Zav

I think he's more well-prepared than paranoid. He's a radical Leftist in the United States, and given that country's history with Lefties, I think that his perceived paranoia is quite logical.

It is a rather the contrary to logical. If you are comparing Inquisitive Lurker to Fred Hampton or something than you have a poor understanding of COINTELPRO and the subsequent history that followed.

[Pawn Power]

Crime occurs everywhere

No it doesn't. Your drive to Seattle was many many times more life threatening than any danger posed by crime in Wisconsin (or my neighborhood in Philly for that matter). Why don't you drive an army tank so drunk drives bounce off of you and into opposing traffic?


My main concern is the police and other authorities. That's why my homes are castles. In that case you don't have much to worry about because I doubt they care much about you (and if they do it is now it is for sell fulfilling reasons -- toting a bunch of guns around, tinting you windows, etc.)

And besides the point it doesn't really matter what you do. Do you think the most powerful military force on the planet which spends a trillions of dollars spent a year on defense is going to be thrown by an extra bolt lock and some tinted windows?

If the feds really wanted to get you (which I guess I should mention for the sake of you paranoia, they do not) do you think they are going to come swat team style into your "castle"? You be going to the store to get some of that fresh Wisconsin milk and will by picked right off the street and dragged into a van and flown to an undisclosed location (while all your locks are nice and secure).

And if they wanted to off you (which they do not) you would get a dose of carbon monoxide poisoning or have some car trouble and it would all look like an accident.

Your playing a pointless game and if it makes you feel better -- go for it. But don't pass it off as useful advice in safety of something because it isn't.

If people are concerned about their safety than the best thing you can do is join and organization, have close relationship with your neighbors, and use media to document and broadcast your political, social, and community actions.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

No it doesn't. Your drive to Seattle was many many times more life threatening than any danger posed by crime in Wisconsin (or my neighborhood in Philly for that matter). Why don't you drive an army tank so drunk drives bounce off of you and into opposing traffic?

I never went to Seattle, I told you the project was canceled. And I fly, I don't drive cross country.

And your hypothesis runs contrary to fact. Crime does happen, in my very nice city in my very nice neighborhood in my very nice apartment.


In that case you don't have much to worry about because I doubt they care much about you (and if they do it is now it is for sell fulfilling reasons -- toting a bunch of guns around, tinting you windows, etc.)Again, hypothesis contrary to fact. They obviously did care enough about me to get a no knock warrant and search my apartment. I still have a scar on my forehead from where they knocked my head into the wall. Just above my left eyebrow.

And all this was BEFORE I turned the apartment into a fortress.


Your playing a pointless game and if it makes you feel better -- go for it. But don't pass it off as useful advice in safety of something because it isn't.Some people are more "active" than you, and need to learn to take precautions.


If people are concerned about their safety than the best thing you can do is join and organization, have close relationship with your neighbors, and use media to document and broadcast your political, social, and community actions.All of which does nothing to protect your safety from the authorities.

[Pawn Power]

Ok, this conversation is basically over. I'm sorry, but I can't talk sense into you.

It is obvious from your responses that your don't do any really political/community organizing so I don't care as much if you entrap yourself (which is what I think you are doing with your paranoid actions).

[Inquisitive Lurker]

I do other types of organizing that are far more effective.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

One is liable for all those pellets. Sounds like you need to work on your aim.

Let's see how well you do, half asleep, kneeling on a bed, shooting from the hip, in the dark, at a half-silhouette.

And for the record I think 2 hit him. 2 out of 7. That's the whole point of buckshot. With 00-buckshot (oh great I'm discussing weapons again. Hannah Kay, please see thread in Member's Forum where Psycho states it's the creation of weapons (like zip guns) that is banned from this forum, and think about unlocking the other thread and merging these two), each shot is the equivalent of a 9mm slug. Pull the trigger once and you empty the equivalent of half a clip.

[tracher999]

nice post man:cool:

[PhoenixAsh]

Well....you are overly paranoid. IMO. You have bolted yourself up and left the world outside. The only thing that would have been slightly and remotely usefull considering you are basically waiting for hours while the cops are trying to enter your house is missing: an escape tunnel

[Inquisitive Lurker]

...considering you are basically waiting for hours while the cops are trying to enter your house...

They have come before, it is likely they will come again. I will have my fun thwarting them. The authorities think they can sweep down and inflict their will on anyone. They will find that is not the case with me. All I have to do is look in the mirror and see the scar above my left eyebrow and I grin maliciously. You know I didn't get a cent from that raid? They had to repair the door, but the assault on me was deemed an appropriate response given the substance of the search warrant.

And do you see the State getting more or less zealous in it's investigations (persecutions) of it's citizenry?

And I don't wait for the cops to come. Once I am in my house or loft, I am completely at peace, knowing I am protected. I make phone calls from my office in complete security (using an untraceable disposable phone of course). I occasionally debate upgrading to a satellite phone which can't be tracked, scanned, or tapped, but so far I haven't done this. I surf the internet anonymously, and send encrypted email with impunity. I am able to do what I do with no fear. I sleep like a baby.

[tracher999]

They have come before, it is likely they will come again. I will have my fun thwarting them. The authorities think they can sweep down and inflict their will on anyone. They will find that is not the case with me. All I have to do is look in the mirror and see the scar above my left eyebrow and I grin maliciously. You know I didn't get a cent from that raid? They had to repair the door, but the assault on me was deemed an appropriate response given the substance of the search warrant.

And do you see the State getting more or less zealous in it's investigations (persecutions) of it's citizenry?

And I don't wait for the cops to come. Once I am in my house or loft, I am completely at peace, knowing I am protected. I make phone calls from my office in complete security (using an untraceable disposable phone of course). I occasionally debate upgrading to a satellite phone which can't be tracked, scanned, or tapped, but so far I haven't done this. I surf the internet anonymously, and send encrypted email with impunity. I am able to do what I do with no fear. I sleep like a baby.

cops are non human bieings lolz:D

[PhoenixAsh]

They have come before, it is likely they will come again. I will have my fun thwarting them. The authorities think they can sweep down and inflict their will on anyone. They will find that is not the case with me. All I have to do is look in the mirror and see the scar above my left eyebrow and I grin maliciously. You know I didn't get a cent from that raid? They had to repair the door, but the assault on me was deemed an appropriate response given the substance of the search warrant.

And do you see the State getting more or less zealous in it's investigations (persecutions) of it's citizenry?

And I don't wait for the cops to come. Once I am in my house or loft, I am completely at peace, knowing I am protected. I make phone calls from my office in complete security (using an untraceable disposable phone of course). I occasionally debate upgrading to a satellite phone which can't be tracked, scanned, or tapped, but so far I haven't done this. I surf the internet anonymously, and send encrypted email with impunity. I am able to do what I do with no fear. I sleep like a baby.

O...on the contrary. You are full of fear. You do not do the things you do because you do not have fear....you create a sense of security because that is what you have lost...and you live in the knowledge that it will happen to you again.

Yes, I agree with you that the police is stepping up repression and that this should not go unopposed, the question I ask myself is if this really solves the problem or if this just hampers you in your ability to enjoy your life.

It seems to me that everything you do is based around security, around the fear of being caught, around the fear of being treated the same like you where before. And that may all be very justified but do not tell me you do not live in fear.

You already live in a prison. Not only the bars on your window....but also the bars in your mind.

Bolting yourself from the outside world may deter the occasional burglar. But when the police are after you they will get you....it may take them a while...but they will get in, they will arrest you and they will prosecute you for making it harder. Its the nature of the bastards and the system they protect.

That is all well and nice. Cudo's for you. But when you spend those hours thinking if you fight back, burn evidence or whatever....wouldn't it be a better idea if you actually...you know...evaded arrest by escaping?

[Inquisitive Lurker]

The police may arrest me, but they won't be able to charge me. That's what happened the first time. They found nothing, couldn't hold me. They may manage to search my homes, but they will never be able to get me on anything. They can monitor me all they like, and they never will be able to get anything. That's freedom. Freedom to do whatever I want with no repercussions or exposure.

There is no fear involved. I maliciously await the day my defenses are tested.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

That is all well and nice. Cudo's for you. But when you spend those hours thinking if you fight back, burn evidence or whatever....wouldn't it be a better idea if you actually...you know...evaded arrest by escaping?

From my flat in Oregon there is no escape. I'm 30' up in the air, and even if I ducked out a window with a rope ladder, they position police on the perimeter for just such an event.

I've been arrested several times (for questioning), but never charged. When they do come for you, they position backup a distance away, around the corner, or coming up both sides of the street. If the police knock on your door, you can bet you ass there is one at the back door, and one on each side of the building, plus a cruiser blocking your driveway.

From my cottage in Wisconsin, there is also no escape. This is a stone building with concrete foundations, standing alone on a square acre lot. What am I going to do, dig a tunnel to the garage? It's 50 to 75 feet, possibly 100' if I am to avoid the cars. Then up through the concrete slab? And a covering of some kind? Then slip out the back garage window into the woods? That's excessive in my book. Jackhammers, chisels, mortar, steel drainage tunnels to support the excavation. And some sort of movable concrete slab to lift up. An invisible manhole. Plus I'd have to dig through solid clay. You're talking about 700 cubic feet of clay! Please.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

cops are non human bieings lolz:D

They are human beings, they've just chosen the wrong side. In the struggle, they are enemies, and are to be treated as such. But they are also to be given the chance to convert or surrender.

[Ele'ill]

It sounds like you're micro-managing the struggle on an ultra-personal level. As of right now all your 'fortress' is doing is giving them justification to destroy your effort put into it and get you anyways. Quite likely they'll just find another way- or even more likely it just won't happen the way you think it's going to happen- to nobody's credit. I think you could use a couple games of Stratego or Chess to satisfy your craving for planning.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

If I have any craving it is for DIY. Doing things, building things, modifying things. For example, I generally modify my car in some way every other month. Which reminds me I have something to superglue.

[Decolonize The Left]

As far as not-ridiculous home safety goes, for about one dollar you can buy a doorstop which, upon entering your home for the evening, you can place under the front door on the inside. This is a low-cost, easy-to-use, non-lethal form of added protection which can buy you ample time should someone try to get into your home through your front door. This is a well-know tactic for those who travel often (as it is best used in shoddy hotels where the lock is not secure) and costs next to nothing. It is also easy to transport and carry.

If you feel as though you need to own a firearm, a 12 gauge shotgun is widely regarded as the best home self-defense weapon (often coupled with a sidearm pistol of some sort). I will say here that any weapon you own you should be trained in the use of and always keep it secure should there be children or folks coming in and out often.

But most importantly, learning some form of self-defense is the best route for personal safety. Do your research and pick the form most conducive to your learning ability and physical style and practice and train. This, coupled with a pocket knife, are the most important aspects of protection.

As far as knives go, rather than owning a big blade which can be taken from you and subsequently used against you, you are best off getting a small blade where the handle is a loop of some sort that you can put your fingers through. This type of blade can be used easily at close range and will be very difficult to pry from your grip.

- August

[Bitter Ashes]

Yup. This is still making me feel uncomfortable. I'm seeing "exposed!" stories in the newspapers in my mind and doors getting kicked in the night and that's even with ignoring the brewing flamewar.

If I'm forced to make a call on this, then I will have to I suppose. I definatly feel that this kind of talk should be reserved for face to face with your neighbours/friends/relatives/comrades/etc and not here. I won't lock it though, unless it gets worse. By worse, I mean stuff like:
- Illegal firearms
- Specific methods to kill people
- Any slightest whiff of a mention about doing damage to anyone who isn't a burglar

That's not an exaustive list, but I'm sure you can see the point I'm trying to get at.

[genstrike]

I make phone calls from my office in complete security (using an untraceable disposable phone of course). I occasionally debate upgrading to a satellite phone which can't be tracked, scanned, or tapped, but so far I haven't done this. I surf the internet anonymously, and send encrypted email with impunity. I am able to do what I do with no fear. I sleep like a baby.

So, you're trying to be untraceable and posting on RevLeft?

[bcbm]

it is a well known fact that most badasses need to re-affirm on the internet that they are badasses

[bcbm]

I maliciously await the day my defenses are tested.

yeah that sounds healthy

[Inquisitive Lurker]

So, you're trying to be untraceable and posting on RevLeft?

Through an anonymous proxy in Milwaukee, yup.

[genstrike]

Through an anonymous proxy in Milwaukee, yup.

Makes you wonder what the authorities think of such ostentatious secrecy. They probably get a good kick out of it.

[Ele'ill]

Through an anonymous proxy in Milwaukee, yup.

Right, but since these thread titles and posts and even profile messages are visible from the google keyword search display page and since you've already stated that you have (own?) property in Oregon as well as where ever you are now (WI?), and the fact that you have a record (you do, right?) etc.. You've just given a whole bunch of really unique information out into the air. That's not very secure. Why not forget about fortifying your house and start by not publicly and loudly giving law enforcement a reason to be interested in you with those tag along details that make it hilariously easy to play who's who.

I think you'd get a release by playing weekend long paintball or airsoft scenarios with lots of people. Full of planning and execution.

[SHORAS]

That is the voice of (t)reason.

[Ele'ill]

That is the voice of (t)reason.

What?

[Zealot]

Not sure why Lurker is being flamed here, he has obviously had a bad experience and has made sure it doesn't happen again while sharing his advice on these forums. And believe it or not, crime DOES happen.

[SHORAS]

What?

I thought you made a lot of sense. I simply added the (t) cos you're a revolutionary, non? ; ] bad joke maybe.

[Inquisitive Lurker]

Right, but since these thread titles and posts and even profile messages are visible from the google keyword search display page and since you've already stated that you have (own?) property in Oregon as well as where ever you are now (WI?), and the fact that you have a record (you do, right?) etc.. You've just given a whole bunch of really unique information out into the air. That's not very secure. Why not forget about fortifying your house and start by not publicly and loudly giving law enforcement a reason to be interested in you with those tag along details that make it hilariously easy to play who's who.

I have no record. Been brought in plenty of times for questioning, but never charged. Never even picked up a Disorderly Conduct or Trespassing citation or arrest at the demos I'm been at. Never even got a speeding ticket even though I do 90 because I invested in a good radar detector. No prints on file, no mug shots, I don't exist. Just another face in the crowd. U3C. Upright, Uptight, Upstanding citizen.

Little tidbit about owning property. Titles to land, houses, lofts are held by municipalities (for purposes of property tax), and you wouldn't believe how many are still using paper. Computerization is new in this field. And even if it weren't, do you have any idea what size of task it would be to cross reference every title in every municipality in two states looking for matching names? It would be horrendous. And even if they did do it, they would get plenty of matches, people with the same names. You Social Security Number is not linked to your property, nor is your Date Of Birth.

An axiom a friend of mine has is "You're not an adult until you have to pay property tax."

[Ele'ill]

I have no record. Been brought in plenty of times for questioning, but never charged. Never even picked up a Disorderly Conduct or Trespassing citation or arrest at the demos I'm been at. Never even got a speeding ticket even though I do 90 because I invested in a good radar detector. No prints on file, no mug shots, I don't exist. Just another face in the crowd. U3C. Upright, Uptight, Upstanding citizen.

Little tidbit about owning property. Titles to land, houses, lofts are held by municipalities (for purposes of property tax), and you wouldn't believe how many are still using paper. Computerization is new in this field. And even if it weren't, do you have any idea what size of task it would be to cross reference every title in every municipality in two states looking for matching names? It would be horrendous. And even if they did do it, they would get plenty of matches, people with the same names. You Social Security Number is not linked to your property, nor is your Date Of Birth.

Yes, I think it could greatly help out law enforcement and yes I do think they would go through such efforts and would do so with their feet up while drinking highball mixers with little umbrellas in them because they have the numbers they have the time and they have the incentive.




An axiom a friend of mine has is "You're not an adult until you have to pay property tax."

I don't understand what this is in reference to.

[Salyut]

Through an anonymous proxy in Milwaukee, yup.

wat

You should be SSH tunneling out to a proxy in Eastern Europe. Hell; I had a shell server in Frankfurt that cost me like two bucks.

Or using TOR at least. :bored:

Or war-driving.

edit:

I occasionally debate upgrading to a satellite phone which can't be tracked, scanned, or tapped, but so far I haven't done this.

Uhhhh. There are like two to three sat phone companies around (market overextended itself and imploded in the early 90's - fucked over a lot of NewSpace companies). They all work hand in hand with the government. I can assure you you can be tracked, scanned, and tapped (at the ground station) quite easily.

[Irish Left]

Maybe im missing something but what's this incident thing your on about?

Don't think your like to live in Ireland as a republican lol.

[Bitter Ashes]

I'm not sure what incident you've spotted but I'm guessing that it's to do with Inquisitve Lurker being in a bit of a huff because he managed to make the one thread in the last year of modding that I've had to lock.
Perhaps the ultimate and devestating power of the moderator tag has all gone to my head, but I'm thinking that this is a bit flamey too now. Dunno. I'm staying out of it. Anyone has a problem with what happens here send me a message with a reason. I might put a poll up tommorow about clarifying the weapons rule.

[Leftsolidarity]

I don't see why people are coming down on Inquisitive Lurker. I am a paranoid person also and would love to know that I am safe in my home from anyone that might do me harm. There is nothing wrong with that and am rather thankful that he has shared how he as done that.

[Pawn Power]

I don't see why people are coming down on Inquisitive Lurker. I am a paranoid person also and would love to know that I am safe in my home from anyone that might do me harm. There is nothing wrong with that and am rather thankful that he has shared how he as done that.

Another one from the midwest! Man, I thought Philly was be dangerous with our 130+ homicides this in the first half of this year -- but I guess I better avoid Des Moines!

[Leftsolidarity]

Another one from the midwest! Man, I thought Philly was be dangerous with our 130+ homicides this in the first half of this year -- but I guess I better avoid Des Moines!

Doesn't really have to do with where you live. I just like feeling secure.

[aaylas]

They are human beings, they've just chosen the wrong side. In the struggle, they are enemies, and are to be treated as such. But they are also to be given the chance to convert or surrender.

Well said. Act like a thug, treated like a thug, but thug or no thug, they were human first.


Not sure why Lurker is being flamed here, he has obviously had a bad experience and has made sure it doesn't happen again while sharing his advice on these forums. And believe it or not, crime DOES happen.

It does seem like people are using a lot of their time to flame him then offer their own advice on the topic.
Breaking and entering does happen. My roommates goes robbed at gunpoint earlier this year however the suspects got in because the backdoor was conveniently open (but I think someone from their party "left" it opened). So besides making leases with stupid roommates if anyone has ideas on keeping people out, much appreciated.

Anyways, thanks for the information. I would like to learn more about securing my place of residence if anyone has any ideas, without investing too much money into it.

An idea my grandmother used to do with our windows that opened horizontally, she would put a wooden stick, as thick as a broom on the place the window would slide to open, and I always forgot it was there, preventing me from getting the window open. Just a thought.

[Rss]

It's interesting to see that there are some comrades here taking security culture seriously. Of course, if one is not a threat to the system, such precautions are not necessary.

[Susurrus]

Does anyone know anything about underground construction?

[Bitter Ashes]

Does anyone know anything about underground construction?
Not really practical. Imagine your tunnels not as structures, but as skips of rubble and earth. A 6ft by 3ft/2m by 1m tunnel or shaft (very cramped) would only have to be 6ft/2m long before you've filled a whole 4 cubic metere skip which costs £120 a pop. I also defy you to find a way to dump that much earth without getting caught. Far too much for you to find a use for too.

Without even getting into the issues of supports, air pumps and water pumps a modest underground "room" of dimensions, of 4metre by 4 metre with a 2 metre tall ceiling, with a 6ft shaft or tunnel access will set you back £840.

These are very liberal price estimates based on a 1:1 ratio of earth removed to earth put in your skip. Remember that the pressure of having that 3 metres of earth above has compacted the soil. When you dig it out and put it in your skip, it will not be compacted and take up even more space!

I really wouldn't bother to be honest.

[RedSquare]

1. Mortice locks and mutltiple bolts on doors
2. Exterior solar powered floodlights
3. A peephole or cheap CCTV camera covering entrance
4. Blinds, Blinds, Blinds. No plain view.
5. Locks on all exterior structures, and gates preventing rear/side access.
6. Burglar alarm of some sort, nothing too fancy or too expensive, just loud.

It's not cheap, but such measures keep out burglars and anyone interested in gathering information for whatever purposes. If someone wants to get in though, they're going to get in.

During the conflict in the North of Ireland, a lot of activists involved in socialist republican groups whose lives were under threats often installed steel cages inside their doorways or on their stairwell, in the event of loyalist paramilitary assassination squads or police raids, the cage stopped them in their tracks although the cops would just summon for cutting equipment and cut the bars till they could enter.

[Rss]

Not really practical. Imagine your tunnels not as structures, but as skips of rubble and earth. A 6ft by 3ft/2m by 1m tunnel or shaft (very cramped) would only have to be 6ft/2m long before you've filled a whole 4 cubic metere skip which costs £120 a pop. I also defy you to find a way to dump that much earth without getting caught. Far too much for you to find a use for too.

Without even getting into the issues of supports, air pumps and water pumps a modest underground "room" of dimensions, of 4metre by 4 metre with a 2 metre tall ceiling, with a 6ft shaft or tunnel access will set you back £840.

These are very liberal price estimates based on a 1:1 ratio of earth removed to earth put in your skip. Remember that the pressure of having that 3 metres of earth above has compacted the soil. When you dig it out and put it in your skip, it will not be compacted and take up even more space!

I really wouldn't bother to be honest.

Make sandbags or hesco bastions? :lol: I'm interested of underground construction as well, climate is getting too fucking hot for me. Please post more, if you can.

[Susurrus]

Not really practical. Imagine your tunnels not as structures, but as skips of rubble and earth. A 6ft by 3ft/2m by 1m tunnel or shaft (very cramped) would only have to be 6ft/2m long before you've filled a whole 4 cubic metere skip which costs £120 a pop. I also defy you to find a way to dump that much earth without getting caught. Far too much for you to find a use for too.

Without even getting into the issues of supports, air pumps and water pumps a modest underground "room" of dimensions, of 4metre by 4 metre with a 2 metre tall ceiling, with a 6ft shaft or tunnel access will set you back £840.

These are very liberal price estimates based on a 1:1 ratio of earth removed to earth put in your skip. Remember that the pressure of having that 3 metres of earth above has compacted the soil. When you dig it out and put it in your skip, it will not be compacted and take up even more space!

I really wouldn't bother to be honest.


I'm sorry, but what's a skip? Also, I was planning to do it myself, so only materials will cost(or be dumpster dived). Also, as for the dirt problem, I live on an island.

[Bitter Ashes]

I'm sorry, but what's a skip? Also, I was planning to do it myself, so only materials will cost(or be dumpster dived). Also, as for the dirt problem, I live on an island.
this is what a skip looks like (http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/upload/img_400/DSC00055.JPG)

The point I'm trying to make is that you're not building walls, you're clearing all the space between the walls of tonnes and tonnes of earth that must be disposed of, which is an unavoidable and hefty expense.

As for making sandbags, you'd have a mountain of the damn things and probably find no use for that many, nor would your local networks.

[ellipsis]

what about burying an existing structure i.e. a bus or a trailer? I mean beside dirt disposal.

[Bitter Ashes]

what about burying an existing structure i.e. a bus or a trailer? I mean beside dirt disposal.
Dunno. I wouldn't trust it myself. These structures have been designed to be self supporting in one atmosphere, with a sensible allowance on top to accommodate for a couple of people stood on top without totally collapsing. You can't just load another roughly 100lbs per foot of weight per foot (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/earth-soil-weight-d_1349.html)below the surface it is, without consequences.

Even if you did manage to work out that it could take that pressure without just crumpling up like a crisps packet, you'd probably be the most terrified individual ever if your lights so much as flicker, because your pumps would shut down and the whole thing would cave in at any given second.

Of course I could be totally wrong and caravans could actually cope with 16 tonnes propped on their rooftops, for each metre down but it seems a bit unlikely to me.

Nice idea, but not that easy I'm afraid. Plus of course you've got the earth disposal to worry about.