“Never Unprepared!”
“There’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you’re prepared for the worst.” — Stephen King
Clean water. Non-perishable food. A safe shelter.
Nefarious acts, natural disasters and negligence have caused unimaginable human suffering throughout history. Genocide, plague, and extinction events stoke our greatest fears. Conventional hardships, however, evoke more realistic concerns that should provoke considerable vigilance. Blizzards, gale-force winds, torrential rain, and drought are high-probability problems that require proper planning. Self sufficiency isn’t an option. It is, instead, our personal responsibility.
Global Political Instability
Evil empires governed by madmen have eradicated millions. Psychopaths have perpetrated unspeakable atrocities that are both ghastly in deed and pandemic in scope. The Holocaust, Holodomor, and Khmer Rouge are barometers of intolerance that illustrate the far-reaching and significant impact of hate.
Chemical-laden artillery, nuclear capabilities, and advanced munitions have the potential to create misery on a scale we have not yet seen. Still, we feel safe; impervious to conflict on U.S. soil. We dismiss and disregard threats that reign down from extremists and rogue nations. We are naive in thinking our military might and the intelligence community can prevent every insurrection or terrorist plot. Time will tell.
Mother Nature is a bitch.
In 2004, a tsunami struck low-lying areas bordering the Indian Ocean and took more than 230,000 lives in 14 countries. The storm surge from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 rose 20 feet, affecting 90,000 square miles and 15-million Americans. Months after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rican residents were without electricity and struggled to locate potable water.
Skeptics claim climate change is a fallacy. Those views, unfortunately, are tainted by greed and clouded by ignorance. Too often, monetary gain takes precedent over and supersedes scientific fact. Despite overwhelming evidence, our behaviors remain the same. Will future generations forgive our passive inactivity?
You can’t fix stupid.
Widespread deprivation and destitution is often the result of an unintentional or careless act. The voluntary disabling of the very systems intended to prevent a meltdown at Chernobyl, for example, caused the catastrophe. Similarly, design flaws accompanied by human error contributed to the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster in Japan. In 2003, a software bug initiated a widespread blackout that blanketed the Northeastern and Midwestern parts of the U.S. 45-million inhabitants in eight states were touched by the outage. Most were without service for days.
The aging United States power grid should concern us all. It, without a doubt, poses the most eminent but avoidable danger. Dilapidated substations and decaying transformers have been dismissed for decades. The inappropriate allocation of funds to more sensational, but less important initiatives, foreshadow the inevitable. Will you be ready when the lights go out?
Obstinate Outbreak
The Bubonic Plague
While many iterations of the “Black Death” occurred throughout the middle ages, the most prolific example began in Central Asia and swept through Europe during the 14th century. Unsanitary conditions and the existence of flea-infested rats spread the disease quickly. Scientists have also learned that the medieval version of the plague was airborne.
Gangrene, a form of necrosis, discolored the extremities of those affected. It ‘blackened’ fingers and toes and caused bleeding of the eyes, nose, and rectum. Mortality rates vary by source, but multiple experts indicated that up to 60% of the European population lost their lives to the epidemic.
Smallpox
An aerial pathogen with the ability to contaminate objects, smallpox incubates inside its host for almost two weeks. Fluid-filled lesions appear with a visible concavity in the middle of the sore. The bright red rash that ensues scabs over leaving horrific scars. Many that survived the infection were both mutilated by the blisters and also blind. A half-billion victims passed away as a result of the illness.
Tuberculosis
Drug-resistant mutations of tuberculosis currently exist, and the disease continues to take the lives of nearly 2-million civilians a year. Despite extensive treatment, those stricken with this form of the bug have a 70% mortality rate. The lungs literally liquify with blood and fluid build-up, ultimately causing respiratory failure. A simple sneeze or cough has the potential to multiply the number of carriers exponentially.
Influenza
Yes, the flu. A 1918 variant, the Spanish Flu, caused 50 million deaths. One-third of the population on Earth was stricken with the virus, and the average life expectancy dropped 12 years as a result. Young healthy adults were as vulnerable as children and the elderly. Every demographic succumbed to the illness. Luck, rather than isolation or quarantine, slowed and eventually stopped the outbreak. Most surmise that the virus mutated to a less lethal strain.
History has a history of repeating itself.
Unfortunately, population density and mobility have made us more vulnerable today than we have ever been. My fingers are eternally crossed that none of my before-mentioned premonitions come to fruition. The fact that they ever occurred is almost unfathomable. I am hopeful that medical, technological, and scientific advances lead to healthier, happier, and longer lives.
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” — John F. Kennedy
I don’t believe a zombie apocalypse or alien invasion will occur in my lifetime. I am not an extremist, survivalist, or ‘prepper.’ While optimistic, I am also an unapologetic realist. Regardless of the label you attribute to my position, there are a few simple precautions you can take to maneuver through the less treacherous hazards that you may legitimately encounter.
The situation, your location, and the extent of devastation will all play a role in determining your most appropriate response. Remaining composed, being thoughtful, and having access to necessities could mean the difference between life and death.
Many recommend a ‘Bug-Out Bag’ for evacuation, a ‘Get-Me-Home Kit’ for your vehicle, and fixed-site supplies to fortify and bunker down in your household. All will provide a level of comfort and security while you navigate through uncertainty.
“It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.” — Gerard Patrick Roeling
Alright, let’s discuss the essentials:
- Water Treatment or Filtration – Lifesaver Bottle, LifeStraw Steel, or SteriPen
- Fire Starter – Zippo Emergency Fire Starter, Exotac nanoStriker XL, or battery with a foil gum wrapper (Google it!)
- First Aid – I GO Compact Kit, ESEE Knives MINITIN, or Coleman All-Purpose Kit
- Protection – Firearm with ammo, fixed-blade or folding knife, and multi-tool
- Shelter – Ultralight tent, tarp, or blanket
- Visibility – Flashlight, mirror, or glow stick
- Technology – Satellite or cellular phone, generator, and emergency hand-crank radio
In addition to the items listed above, urban-bunker items should include the following:
- Dehydrated and canned food
- Stockpile of bottled water
- Non-prescription drugs and antibiotics
- Crops with viable production in multiple seasons
When confronted with adversity, do more than what the public service announcements suggest. Don’t just stop, drop, and roll! Don’t just stand in a doorway or hide under furniture. You’ve read the post. You’re going to make some changes. You’re going to set yourself up for success. Don’t worry. You’ve got this!
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin
Verum Meam 