When the Stuff Hits The Fan (SHTF), what do most people do? Probably, most will sit in front of a TV, or access the internet, to see what is happening around them.
While that may help in some instances, it is not the only thing you need to do – otherwise, you will be wiped out by the lawlessness and other repercussions that come when SHTF. There are three things to remember when SHTF – food, shelter, and weapons.
Preppers spend their time getting ready for disasters that might unexpectedly come. As a prepper, you have to be prepared all the time or have a plan to get ready within a few days.
When SHTF, the indecisive, the sentimental, the macho, the fantasy-world planners, the uncreative, and those who panic a lot will be the first to succumb to whatever disaster comes. So, what should you do to stay alive for as long as possible?
Find out More About the Situation
The first phase in any operation is intelligence gathering – you do not want to rush to your bunker when there are earthquakes. In most cases, whatever you see or hear when SHTF, will depend on where you live and what time of day you see it.
In case an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) blasts across the country, you will need to gather more information from different avenues, including your neighbors, the TV, and the internet. Your neighbors might not only give you more details on the disaster, but you can also form neighborhood security teams, and they can teach you skills you never had.
To know if an EMP hit the entire country, and it is not just a power outage issue, you can check your electrical devices. If you have a metallic torch with a bulb and dry cells, it will not be affected. If all other electrical devices are affected, including your car, then know the EMP is a widespread disaster. If an EMP wipes out everything, having a Faraday cage will help you start your electronics.
Next, you will need to find out how widespread the disaster is. To do so, you will need a ham radio, which does not go off when the SHTF. The information you gather will help you know whether to move or stay where you are.
Be Ready to Move
If SHTF today, do you have the right gear to move for a couple of days? The first thing you need to do, wherever you are, is to ensure you have enough water to last you many days. At some point, however, you will have to move.
A prepper always has their things in their bags ready to bug out. That bag should not be more than 30 pounds – if you can, make your bug out bag 20 pounds or less. Ensure the bags are weatherproof so you can last in the snow or in water. You shouldn’t travel alone – ensure that everyone else has their gear ready. Be sure to carry enough drinking water in your bag to last a couple of days, and have a way to purify more.
Find Your Team and Those Close to You
It is not easy to reach out to everyone in your team or your family when SHTF. You can be ready no by buying ham radio with which you can reach out to your team. If you do not have the radio when SHTF, you might have to track your team through other communication means.
The other great way of getting to your team is having a predetermined location where everyone can check in once in a while – this way; you might all meet at the predetermined rally point.
In most cases, the rally point will be the home of one of the team members. You will need to change that immediately, you establish communication with everyone and choose a safer location.
Stay Safe
Lawlessness ensures in times of disaster. Whether you are in a team or you are all alone, having the right armory will help you stay safe. If you have a handgun or rifle not affected by the disaster, you can use it to scare away threats.
A rifle scope comes in handy for optimal stability when you shoot. In some instances, your bug out or rally location might in the woods where you need to fight off wild animals, and kill some for food.
If you are traveling as a team, you can set up a perimeter and be on the watch out for threats. The best place to start is to identify the skills of members of your team. Those who are good in arms can defend the rally point, hunters can get food, and anyone else can help keep watch.
Even if you are alone, pick a vantage point where you can see anyone or anything that approaches from all directions, as your hideout.
Trust Your Guts and Be Ready for Anything
It is tough to make friends in times of disaster – you should not trust everyone. Those who are not prepared for disaster will try and take advantage of those who are ready – and the confrontation will not be peaceful. Stay away from suspicious-looking strangers. Again, be ready to move in case anything happens. Be careful of the food you eat to ensure you are not exposed to food poisoning.
Conclusion
The only way to survive when SHTF is to prepare in advance – have all the right gear (clothing, bag, and boots), safe drinking water and non-perishable food, and a means to communicate. Learning self-defense and staying in shape will also help you significantly.
About the author
This article was guest written by Josh, a 3BY reader.
Carry enough water to drink for a week….if I am on foot….are you kidding……I have packed a couple life straws and water purification tablets……a five gallon bucket of water weighs about 40 pounds…..
Yeah, that wasn’t right, we’ve adjusted it to match our bags.
One addition to “Prepare in advance”, IMHO, is to do the following:
– Go to Google Maps and print three maps of your area. Why Google Maps? They are fairly accurate and they are FREE!
-First Map: Print one of at least a one mile radius of your position.
-Second Map: Print one of at least 2.5 mile radius of your position.
-Third Map: Print one of at least 5 mile radius of your position.
Now, draw a 1 mile, 2.5 mile and a 5 mile radius around your location on corresponding maps.
Next: Put them in your vehicle. Now, every time you go somewhere, look for and mark on the maps things like gas stations, grocery stores (every kind of grocery store), water sources, questionable areas, vacant buildings, apartments, anything that grabs your attention. Then look at your area and see what isn’t questionable. Mark them also.
I have done this around my domicile. It has become an eye opener that makes me very nervous. Most apartment ‘complexes’ are trashy and remind me of the south-side of Chicago, over 200 occupied rusted out trailers in one area, abandoned vehicles, uncollected trash piled well over 6 ft high, and ‘people’ staring at me when I drive by. Five years ago there was none of this.
I have also plotted out the safest and fastest method of egress. If I have to go, “stop signs” don’t mean squat, and there’s only two between me and the fastest way outta here.
Summary. Read the above. Read it again. Then look around. If something don’t look right, it probably ain’t. Remember where you saw it. Don’t go back. Mark your map. If you have to bail outta there……..have a place to go. If you don’t have a place to go…….find one. Yesterday!
Even if you plan to Stand your Ground..
Go an buy a military utility trailer (better yet two with two vehicles)…. Size based upon your family and Mission.
I bought one 30= Years ago.. This is how it was equipped overall.. 1000lbs of Beans 500lbs of Rice 5 gal bucket of Condiments . 5 Gal bucket of Iodized Salt (I vacuum packed the items in smaller quantities inside the buckets) Case of Multivitamins , Vitamin C )… Basic Kitchen Set. 60 gallons of Automotive Fuel for a total of 103gal or 500 mil range . (150 gallons of water this and fuel has to be changed quarterly or more often depending upon weather).. RO system built in a cage with hoses and a hand pump, 50 gal Kerosene.
I would have switched to all Mogas for lanterns stoves and everything but I had the other kerosene systems and never made the transitions) Duffle Bag of clothes summer and winter for each member Soap, Toothbrushes.,. 3 Cases Toilet Paper ( I keep 12 on hand but they are too bulky to keep all in trailer) 2 Pairs of Winter and Summer Overalls each (have great utility for everyday wear. and should be included).. 3 Pairs of Gloves, 1 dozen wool blend socks. Three med towels per in Bag. Broke in shoes, boots and flip flops in bag.. Stainless 38/357, holster 4, speedloaders and 2-300 rounds (Used Taurus , test for reliability . Sleeping bag in WP Bag in each duffel. (sleeping bags are problematic in that they need to be stored uncompressed They can be the last thing put in a duffel. Basic Pioneering tools, Basic Mechanics Tools, Basic Electrical kit. Replacement Starter. Headlights, Ignition system.. Case of CR123 Batteries (Expensive). 7 day Go Bags for everyone. Advanced First Aid Kit… This is very important.. as is all medicines, 2-3 pair of back up glasses for those who need them in their Go Bags and Duffels.
Duplicate Land Navigation tools .. compasses, maps.. \
If I had had a better brain at the time I would have included plenty of Heirloom Seeds..
Basic training (made as a “Adventure”) Weapons, Land Nav, First Aid…
Long Guns were not stored in trailer.. just because there were economic limits to what I could keep out of normal use.. upon reflection I think I would keep 3-4 cases of Ammo and at least 3-4 long guns in the Trailer.. These do not have to be the best stuff you have.. they have to work and be reliable.. Not only hopefully you will remember your better arms but after a fight if you lose it wont matter and if you win .. You may gain some new equipment.
Lots of Lucks.