Poor Man Survival
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When Prepping Becomes Survival :
Overlooked Skills - Equipment For Extreme Emergencies
It is an
interesting phenomenon that very often people perceive prepping and survival as
completely different categories; readers might even have seen that distinction
on various websites they’ve browsed. That perception can create gaps in various
emergency situations, however. The “prepper” can become a hoarder, sometimes
assuming that all emergencies are of the slow-decline variety where one needs
only to ride out economic hardship or a literal passing storm. On the other
end, the “survivalist” can become the lone wolf ready at the first sign of
chaos to be equipped for full-on combat, but perhaps not so well-equipped to
shelter in place where community building becomes a central component of best
dealing with a stressful situation.
Sure, these
are generalizations, but I’ve met enough of my share of both types of people to
conclude that we would do well to address these potential shortcomings in our
evaluation about how ready we truly are for the widest range of potential
emergencies.
Overall, I
personally like the term “Self Sufficiency” to describe an adaptive mindset
that is best for any short-term emergency or longer-term disaster scenarios. To
illustrate this approach and what is often required of the human beings that
endure such hardship, let’s reflect on two recent events that highlight the
importance of having the skills and equipment from both prepper and survivalist
camps in order to best ensure our safety, especially when unexpected details
can evade even the most judicious among us.
Hurricane
Harvey
The sheer
physicality of a disaster like Hurricane Harvey is one that put even hardened
preppers and survivalists to the test. The historic rainfall and scale
quickly overwhelmed the ability for the government to be relied upon as a
source of rescue or refuge. Moreover, the duration of the impact offers a
glimpse into what might be required for even longer-term disaster scenarios –
environmental, war-related, terrorism, or even viral outbreak.
The need to
evacuate quickly is something that is often overlooked; or if it isn’t, it’s
assumed that it will be directed in some orderly fashion by town officials.
This was not always the case during Hurricane Harvey. Floods can happen
nearly anywhere, but the people of Texas learned that it wasn’t only the water,
but what the water carries along with it that can provide some overlooked
potential threats – like snakes, alligators, and fire ants. People who had boats were able to help
themselves and others, while staying a step removed from the hazards that could
lie beneath. This doesn’t have to be expensive either – an inflatable boat or
raft is certainly preferable than the risk of attempting to drive or walk out
of flooding areas.
While it is
also clearly important to have a go-bag at the ready for each family member that
contains provisions, first aid supplies, and weapons if possible, it’s often
overlooked that the water is filled with contaminants. Products that can
effectively provide chemical decontamination need to be quick, ready to use and available
in home, go-bags and vehicles.
The
aftermath of a storm like Harvey can be even more challenging than surviving
the initial onslaught. Reports of injuries, infections, mosquitoes and mold
infestation gripped
those who were left amid the remains and had to begin rebuilding in deplorable
conditions.
It’s also
worth mentioning that collapse survival does not have to be a solitary
endeavor. There were certainly many reports of communities spontaneously coming
together to gather provisions and provide some order amid the chaos. In fact,
people’s generosity is most often on display during emergencies, but it is too
often overlooked that much of the panic can be alleviated by forming your tribe
ahead of time; whether that be a core group of family and friends who are all
equally stocked and prepared, or even better to have your entire neighborhood
on board with disaster preparation and survival. Such community organization
can ironically be a key component of true self-sufficiency.
And don’t
forget to develop proper contingency plans for your animals! There were too many horrific reports of
stranded or abandoned animals that could have been saved with better
preparation.
Lastly, a
disaster of this scale can even disrupt communications. Here is an interesting
home-made item that is probably not in the average prepper’s arsenal: the “Cantenna” – check out how a router and a Pringles can might just be a
hidden gem to have in your community.
Ongoing Economic Collapse of Venezuela
Most people
have not lived through a true economic collapse of any duration. A stock market
drop of 1,000 points does not constitute a true emergency despite how ugly it
might look on paper for your portfolio. If you want a real look at how bad it
can get – quickly – I would point you to an ongoing series written by a man named Jose
Martinez who is documenting his
experiences during the widespread social and economic collapse in Venezuela.
It’s a harrowing account that perfectly illustrates some of the overlooked
skills and equipment that need to be employed as one shifts gears from prepping
to survival.
Jose describes
himself as a well-educated, middle-class, and a fairly recent adherent to the
prepping mindset. His prepping began in earnest with news that his first child
was on the way. It was at this point that he began to consider the various life
emergencies that could erupt. What if the car breaks down? What if the
electricity temporarily fails? Such considerations led him to have a decent
stockpile of food and basic first aid supplies, as well as a generator.
These were the concerns of someone who identified a need to be self-sufficient
and was taking action to become prepared for any basic inconveniences that
might affect his ability to provide for his family.
However, it was
becoming more apparent to him toward the end of Hugo Chavez’s tenure that deep
political problems were beginning to manifest. It was at this point that Jose’s
mindset shifted toward what he describes as “preparing for the worst.” He began
to acquire additional supplies, fearing shortages if a major crisis erupted. He
focused on newly defined necessities:
- A Duxtop portable induction
cooktop
- A cheap used game for the kids to
play and leave my computer alone so I can take up freelancing
- A HAM radio
- And a range of construction tools
for repairs and projects
It wasn’t too much
longer before the situation began to spiral deeply out of control … and
prepping did indeed turn to survival.
Post-2015
has seen food rationing, riots and looting, outrageous inflation, a collapse of
public transportation, almost non-existent healthcare, a world-leading murder
rate and an existential threat to nearly anyone who lives in Venezuela. This
final shift to flat-out survival has led to new adaptations in Jose’s daily
life. However, he also emphasizes that his situation is far better than most
“just because we made the necessary financial and food preparations.” Still, he
has had to fortify his home in new ways and consider personal safety constantly
when he leaves his home, which now includes a heightened skill to anticipate a
threatening situation before it becomes a grave danger.
- Steel-reinforced windows and grilles
- Steel shutters and backup barricades
- An unassuming door, ornamental, but
steel reinforced with 3 locks
- A microperforated steel foldable
door for the garage and to enclose the front yard.
- A concrete safe room stocked with
provisions and weapons … and preferably an escape route underground.
- A well-maintained vehicle, but
nothing flashy
Perhaps even
more important than the various stages of physical preparation and security for
survival is the fortification of one’s mentality. It begins first with being
prepared, then adapting to a shocking new reality — going through the stages of
anxiety, anger and anguish that Jose describes so vividly. It’s never
too late to begin considering these uncomfortable possibilities no matter where
you live; and, if you already are well on your way to feeling prepared, it’s
important to listen carefully to the stories of people who already really lived it.
Please also read the work of Selco who describes his year in Bosnia under a
total blockade: no products in or out, no utilities and no services. The
importance to have barter and trade skills in a situation where money has become
worthless cannot be overstated, as he says that it “only took a few weeks” of
total lockdown for this dynamic to emerge.
We would
love to hear your experiences if you have encountered these or similar events
in your own life. What caught you off guard? Had you known the extent of the
problems you were going to face, what would you have done (or bought) to better
fortify against what you faced? Or perhaps you were, in fact, completely ready
for what life threw your way – we’d love to hear that as well in the comment
section.
Kevin
Samson writes for Activist Post. Support us at Patreon. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Steemit, and BitChute.
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Bruce, the Poor Man, free thinker, social critic
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