Introduction
Over the past many postings, we have considered the evidence of possible things to come. "The Quickening" series of reports is but one. We've also noted events via our In-Depth series as well (the FEMA camps, etc.) Other future events are just merely suspicions – as it is nearly impossible to tell how things will unfold – even with such things as Bible prophesy (Revelations) or even Nostradamus (December 1503 – July 1566).
While we will avoid getting too political in this forward (or for that matter in the report), politics is one of several elements that plays a central role in the storm – both for Americans and those worldwide. We have seen how governments can tighten its grip, and become oppressive in the course of human history. More and more world governments seem to be in the stages of doing that now (and not including the likes of Hitler, Stalin or Idi Amin). Governments are, typically and by sheer nature, paranoid. If they last too long in power without some sort of reckoning of balance (See Thomas Jefferson on The Sovereignty of the People from University of Virginia Library) and/or become large and bloated, or even over extend themselves, then they exist for their own sake and make strides to survive to that end, rather than serving the will of the people – government for the sake of government, rather than the governed. They become one large, lumbering behemoth.
Unlike some who proclaim total calamity and doomsday prophesies, we do not advocate revolution and violence, and certainly not anarchy, or the overthrow of any government. Instead, we advocate preparedness in the event government is in no longer in a position to serve, protect and defend. Hurricane Katrina is but one example, and not due to any lawmaker, cabinet official or even the president. It was a systematic breakdown by a lumbering government too large to see its own feet.
The concept of our form of government is not broken (the Republic known as the
We, spawned by several entities within government, have been lulled into a sense that the government will take care of everything and everybody. While it is correct that governments being governments have massive resources, but, if you really believe government can and will save us all in hard times, then you will be in for a cold jolt of reality when times get even harder.
Choices and Dilemmas
To say dark times loom on the horizon would be an understatement. One can only see the difference between now and 30 years ago; one can only look at how events have transpired to make our world a very different and even more frightening place than ever before. We, as a nation, and much broader, we as a people in every city, town in every nation are clearly at a crossroads. Humanity is at a fork in the road – forget the Mayan calendar and 2012, forget the ambiguous sayings of Nostradamus or Sir Isaac Newton. There are as many interpretations for these subjects as there are days of the year. However, with topics like the economy, employment, the environment, wars and conflicts, diseases, food and water shortages, etc., it’s pretty obvious to us as to where this may be all headed. Perilous times, to be sure. Now it becomes a question of when and how.
Discernment of what and how may be coming down the road does not always include the when. Basic journalism teaches reporters to ask the four W’s: who, what, where, why and of course, how. The whens are never asked by those who learn by rote (a learning technique which avoids understanding of a subject and instead focuses on memorization).
It is impossible to know when there will be global shortage of the basic necessities of society; pin-pointing the break down of society, of culture, or least of all nations and governments is tricky. There are so many variables to add into the mix: terrorism, weather and climate catastrophes, yes, even earthquakes. But through talking with many, while remaining positive about the future, the consensus feel, think and believe a breakdown is looming on the horizon. Again, at the risk of sounding too political, just when we think we’ve seen just about enough of everything – thousands of foreclosures, tens of thousands stranded in a major city with no resources after a natural disaster, or millions unemployed while others get rewarded for bad behavior, and still disease and starvation on a massive scale – something breaks our consciousness in half again. And some of these incredible events happened here in
We’ve seen how a country like
Haiti is not alone in this lack of readiness and the problems about getting help to the survivors make an urgent case for a new humanitarian business model that emphasises preparation instead of depending entirely on emergency aid flown in after the disaster hits.
Scenarios From Headlines
We have considered many scenarios while putting this piece together. And there are many ways for a society to come apart – an overwhelming attack of terrorism, the calamity of a natural disaster, a bankrupt government, or a collapsed economy. Any one of these or a combination thereof can contribute to the lack of services and utilities, infrastructure too broken to fix; and, so they can all have the same striking, end result.
Last month, we posted an in-depth piece about the possibility of a monster earthquake hitting the east and
Worse Case Scenario #1: A magnitude 8.4 earthquake has rocked a major American city, one in which you live. What do you do? Think of yourself or your family in that situation. Early reports tell of massive casualties from collapsed buildings, the roads are blocked by debris, bridges and overpasses destroyed, no water from the tap, no power, mass chaos. The state’s Emergency Management protocol would kick-in and start coordinating with the local governments. Most likely the National Guard would get sent in accordance to FEMA and Homeland Security protocol. But, keep in mind, the numbers that re-enforce the Guard aren’t limitless. So they call out the Reserve – also not limitless. If the damage is so widespread and covers, say 8 states, or 10 states – surely personnel would be stretched thin. And we’ve yet to consider the problems concerning logistics. The same as or worse than the problem of logistics we’ve seen in
Another word about extra troops coming from a December 1, 2008 Washington Post report.
The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 trained to help state and local officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials.
The long-planned shift in the Defense Department's role in homeland security was recently backed with funding and troop commitments after years of prodding by Congress and outside experts, defense analysts said.
There are critics of the change, in the military and among civil liberties groups and libertarians who express concern that the new homeland emphasis threatens to strain the military and possibly undermine the Posse Comitatus Act, a 130-year-old federal law restricting the military's role in domestic law enforcement.
The Pentagon's plan calls for three rapid-reaction forces to be ready for emergency response by September 2011. The first 4,700-person unit, built around an active-duty combat brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga., was available as of Oct. 1, 2008 said Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of the U.S. Northern Command.
If funding continues, two additional teams will join nearly 80 smaller National Guard and reserve units made up of about 6,000 troops in supporting local and state officials nationwide. All would be trained to respond to a domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive attack, or CBRNE event, as the military calls it.Whether you're a conspiracy theorist and believe the military industrial complex will take over its citizens or you believe the military in all its experience won't be enough to save you, this is one scenario that will have to play out for real. Confidence and being over confident should never deter anyone from being prepared for when thing might fall apart at the seams.
Nine out of ten households don’t
have any kind of emergency bag.
Disaster experts say every home
(and car) should have some kind
of emergency kit.
You should also realize that there will be aftershocks, perhaps even more quakes. Remember, even though the planet is old, it is still moving. An earthquake at one fault or subduction zone can spur another one somewhere else. Unfortunately, accuracy is elusive. After decades of study, earthquake prediction is not an exact science, but scientists still keep trying.
So, have you thought to prepare for such a scenario?
We can almost see the email streaming in. Some would say, arm yourselves to the hilt, others would say pray, while others would say head for the hills and get out of dodge. Okay, great; at least you are thinking about the proposed scenario…
Arming yourself is fine. You have to protect yourself, your family, your belongings. Heaven knows, we’ve seen the worst in humanity when panic strikes in form of violence and looting, but we have also seen humanity at its best - from rescuers who don’t give up easily, and technology invented to save lives, to strangers nursing the injured and feeding the hungry. But guns only solve the security issue. You can’t chew on ammo to ward off hunger. And praying is great. We are advocates of lots of prayer, even when not in dire straights, but God gave you a brain to work things out. Heading for the hills may or may not be an option. If the roads are impassable, and say you do have supplies, can you carry them? Can the others keep up? If you live in places like
In the aftermath of an earthquake and you are indeed home or can get home – which is the first place many will go to if it’s still there – obviously check for damage: gas, water, structure. While natural gas is odorless, gas companies add odor so you can sniff it out. But be on the safe side. Get it cut off. If not, stay away for your own safety until you know that you’re not endangering yourself by entering.
Now that you have your homestead checked out and it is safe to return, check on supplies. If you know anything about disasters by now, you should be mindful of the fact that water is key. Availability of potable water will make or break any survival plans. People die from disasters not just from the injuries and lack of medical attention – they do not survive because of drinking dirty water or having no water at all. So, get several canteens. Try a camping supply store like REI or Whole Earth Provision Company. The U.S. Army version can be purchased at any Army/Navy Surplus.
So here’s the scoop on what you should have on hand. Keep an emergency bag, several in fact, for greater ease in stowing and carrying - some say keep it safe somewhere else other than inside your house in the event that you cannot get inside your home: perhaps a shed, underground storage. You can get these bags at any hardware store. Some like the tool bags, but backpacks offer greater carrier-ability. The sizes vary based on what and how much you put in them. Nine out of ten don’t have any kind of emergency bag. Disaster experts say every home (and car) should have some kind of emergency kit.
It’s In The Bag
Bag #1: The Med Bag – medicinal items - alcohol, peroxide, bandages; all the things you need to have on hand to cover everything from a bee sting to a laceration. Include incidentals like medical tape, gauze, scissors, various sizes of band-aids, anti-bacterial ointment, even tweezers and Q-tips®.
Bag #2: The Bag of Tricks – flashlights – various sizes from pin lights to Maglite®, weather radio/AM/FM/shortwave (to stay informed), duck tape, map of city/state with compass (a spare GPS), flares, waterproof matches/lighter, handheld citizens band radio (to stay in touch or call for help). Channel 19 is usually reserved for emergencies. And just as important: BATTERIES! There are radios that have a crank or use solar, so keep those in mind, too; H2O tester and purification tablets.
Bag #3: Food stuffs – peanut butter (high in protein), crackers, snacks to keep you going but will not spoil. Other food edibles can be stored in boxes along with bottled water.
Extra clothing is an optional bag, but you might at least consider having a couple of bags on stand by: extra tennis shoes, t-shirt, shorts/pants, windbreaker, hat, socks, maybe a blanket, a couple of hand towels and soap.
Incidentally, these are also good bags to have on hand in case of tornados, hurricanes, even a terrorist attack. The key is be packed, be prepared, be ready to move at a moments notice.
Worse Possible Scenarios - Continued
Worse Case Scenario #2: (We will combine some of these scenarios since what you need to think about only marginally varies based on the scenario.)
- Government collapses.
- People dead or dying from bio agent or other mass killing, an NBC perhaps, (nuclear, biological, chemical)
- Financial markets tank on a global scale. The hard-earned money you have in your wallet, your bank account, the assets you have once thought were wise investments – worthless.
Just because the government collapses doesn’t necessarily mean the Anti-Christ is going to show up at your door campaigning for “King of the World.” We imagine (and hope) state and local governments would step up to the plate and insure law and order are being enforced. If not, expect a Wild West mentality to prevail.
After the Taliban was run out of
Naturally, avoiding the gangs and warlords will be a top priority for you if you’re on the go. If you can’t avoid them and do have to deal with them, remember, they will want what you have – sometimes by force and if they something you want, money will be no good. While these times might make you wish you learned Texas Holdem, you will have to barter – either in merchandise and supplies, or you have precious metal to trade. More on that with “The Color of Money…”
Nukes, Bios and Chems
If people are dead and dying from an NBC, chances are good you’re number might be up, too if you are in the same area. If you have managed to steer clear of the suffering and avoid becoming contaminated, then you still might have a chance of getting clear altogether. Take note of the weather. Anyone who lives in a certain area of the world for long, generally knows in what direction weather patterns move. In the
The point is, you can avoid fallout by staying informed of the contaminated area, but if you try to outrun it, especially by getting on the road, you and about 2 million + of your closest neighbors might be sitting in gridlock right along with you. We do not agree with several government assessments with regard to taping windows with duct tape and plastic based on the fact that it would take hours to shield windows and vents on any modest size home. However, this we leave to your discretion, since there are few alternatives if you decide to stay put.
If an epidemic (or worse, a pandemic) strikes – and there is reason to believe that because of our meddling with antibiotics, a pandemic is only a matter of time – the best you can do is protect yourself - proper hygiene, not withstanding. It may even be important to know where your food is coming from. Bacteria like salmonella is no stranger to our shores. Stay informed with the CDC website, the FAQs on the LYSOL® Germ Protection Center and GlobalSecurity.org.
We don’t want to get too over-involved in the particulars of the scenario as we mainly want to focus on what you can do in the event you (and your family) are left behind. We’ve given you the benefit of a doubt that you have already survived the initial onslaught.
The Color of Money Won’t Always Be Green
Touching again on part C: money is worthless and no government to back up the currency. Many have invested in gold as a hedge against rapid deflation of money and protection against winds of inflation, a recession, or worse, global depression. But think about this a moment. If communications are down, banks are closed or non-functional, infrastructure is in the tank, what good is investing in gold going to do for you, if you can’t collect on it? Do you think these brokerage or investment firms are going to forget about their own personal survival and think, “Before we try to head home to get food and water for our family, we need to FedEx some gold coins to Johnny in Omaha so he can barter with the warlords for bread.” Nope. It’s not happening. While that little certificate might be proof in normal circumstances that you own a chunk of the precious metal market, it’s worthless in the face of a catastrophe. You might as well have Confederate money.
In fact, the circumstances will be identical to the Southerners after the Civil War: they had currency and gold bonds, but they were as worthless as the paper it was printed on.
So what do you do? Well, had you thought ahead, you might have made your own insurance policy. Some have talked about hiding their own gold coins or other valuables somewhere, while others have tucked away sundries to barter with. Items like salt, sugar and the like are valuable commodities after a destructive economic shakedown. Some doomsday survival experts say stock up on non-parishibles like coffee and sugar - extra for you, extra to barter with. But who knows how really bad it might get. Some observers predict that a loaf of bread will be worth a half case of soup, or one Coca-Cola might be worth one troy ounce of gold. And apparently, according to numerous published reports, your bank or credit union's safety deposit boxes are not off limits to government confiscation. However, SNOPES.com, states this may be a growing urban legend. It's sounds like a cliche and slightly prehistoric, but maybe the mattress or digging a hole for a metal box in your back yard might the safe rule.
Observation, Research and Common Sense
This piece is based on research, reading, common sense and logic. It also involved trying to image how devastating a catastrophic breakdown of government, finance, law and services that could throw our culture and society off its delicate balance. If you think of the scenarios other locales in the world have gone through, the best you can do is educate yourself on their plight and imagine what you would do if in that situation.
The watch words are staying prepared with what you will need as well as knowing your surroundings - know what resources you can draw from within your immediate area. The citizens of
The library was very much in tact after Katrina and would have been the most obvious place to look for information on what to do in their situation. Secondly, the hospitals were pretty much abandoned because of the evacuation. Hospitals have their own communication and power supply (and food/water) – many have large emergency generators and need not worry about losing power from the grid.
Barring a hurricane, flooding and the like, consider planning ahead, and not just packing some backpacks. Think of planning from right in your own backyard.
During World War II, there were shortages and rationing. Many planted
Analysis
Even with the complete breakdown of society and culture, we believe that people will begin again to form communities. Humans are social creatures. And while there will be cities and towns that will be guarded to keep out visitors and intruder alike, elsewhere, there will be locations of safe haven, instances of compassion, development of new communities and neighborhoods reminiscent of those from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
There are several links provided for you throughout this report; we have also listed them at the end. We encourage you to read more about what you can do to prepare, be it online or your local library. Even if you choose not to follow these suggestions, if it motivates you to form a plan and make preparations, then this report has served a viable role.
LINKS: Browse, Download, Print
The American Red Cross - Preparing for Common Disasters: a set of fact sheets
University of Illinois - Disaster Resources
FEMA - Plan Ahead
Ready.Gov - Plan, Prepare, Stay Informed
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