The True Meaning of Preparedness
Living well afterwards rather than surviving a bit longer than your unprepared neighbour requires a well thought out approach and process which leads to an integrated preparedness plan
Having a three-day emergency kit and the FEMA handbook is only a start.We buy the kits and do not have to think about the problem. Buying tools, guns, shelters, other equipment, and a year's worth of food is certainly a better start to preparedness, but is only a part of the solution. You must stop and think the process through. You must understand what you are preparing for and plan your response.
True preparedness means living well afterwards rather than surviving a bit longer than your unprepared neighbours do or barely eking out an existence. To do this properly requires a well thought out approach and process that leads to an integrated preparedness plan with the specific objective of surviving a number of threats and prospering afterwards. The beginning of this process is determining the direct and indirect threats posed to you and your family. The locations of your home, work site, and retreat/shelter are critical in determining the relevance and severity of the various threats. Some threats are obvious, such as living in the Midwest tornado belt or downwind of operational missile silos. Some are not, such as living five miles from a busy interstate or rail line or 10 miles from an industrialized metropolitan area. These threats must take into account both natural and man-made disasters, war and terrorist actions and the related after effects. For instance, a chemical plant has a major leak of some chemical that is an irritant but not toxic. Is this a direct threat? Not really, but the ensuing riot that occurs in the downtown area (that was evacuated due to the leak) is certainly an indirect result and could be a threat to you and your family if you live nearby.
Most Likely Threats --- Your next effort is to assess your preparations based on the most likely threats. This is where stored food, tools, equipment, and shelters become important. You must also assess your skills and knowledge. Like with any survival situation, your knowledge and skills are more valuable to you than all the "things" you have stored. The assessment will provide the "list" of needed skills, food, tools, equipment, and shelter for the survival and the post-disaster environment based on a realistic assessment of the threats.
Planning and procedures for how you are going to survive the threats are as important as having the best gas mask on the market.
Few of us can live in an isolated area on top of our shelter and make a living. Many hope that they will have sufficient time and effective transportation to make it safely to their retreat. You need to make it more than a "hope." Your preparedness must consider "bug out" movement as part of your preparedness planning. You could be shopping at the mall when things go bad. This portion of the effort must also take into account what the unprepared folks and the government responses will be. Alternate routes and transportation methods must be considered. Providing secure transportation for you and your family to your retreat or safer area, before, during and after a threat requires planning. We have all seen the looting and riots that follow minor problems. It does not take a super computer to figure that a major event would provoke the same response, on a much greater scale. Ask the folks who tried to get out of LA when they had the last riots. Now magnify the effect with some terrorist and a nuclear device. It is not pretty.
Preparing For The Aftermath --- Well, we got you to your well-stocked retreat replete with manuals, plans and procedures and you survive. Now, what are you going to do? This is not a moot question; this is the true objective of your preparedness efforts. One must prepare for the "afterward" as thoughtfully and thoroughly as preparing for survival. This is where you must also assess your post-survival requirements so that you and your family can not only survive but also prosper. This effort will also impact all the goodies you can buy and the skills and knowledge you need. As an example, you have a wood stove for heating your retreat. If there is no source of gasoline and oil, how are you going to cut the firewood you need? Ever use an axe and bow saw to cut a season's worth of firewood? What about food when the "Year's Food Supply" is gone? What about your water supply? Your assessment must provide for the recommended skills, plans, procedures, equipment, and spare parts to these and a host of other "afterward" issues and questions. This is where "Murphy" will be there to mess up things. You must provide a large dose of "Murphy" repellent to insure your continued prosperity. There is a lot of information available on various parts of the preparedness equation.
People who are serious about survival must have a thorough, integrated and honest assessment of their preparedness. This assessment must include the probable threats, the materiel required, your and your family's needed skills and knowledge, and solid planning and procedures to meet and beat the threats and provide a prosperous future for you and your family. This assessment is not about feeling warm and fuzzy; it is about being truly prepared. Survival is not a game and losing is not an option.
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