SURVIVALIST #28 Surviving the Storm

Regardless of where you live you can find yourself in the path of a severe storm that wipes out basic services and entire neighborhoods in the blink of an eye. I remember watching on TV how Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans in 2005. The devastation was hard to fathom, thousands of people lost everything they had, and many lost their lives. Last year I visited New Orleans and was shocked to see entire neighborhoods still in utter ruin a full decade later.

Ensure everyone is safe
The power of mother-nature is not to be taken lightly as every now and then she shows us just how inconsequential we really are. If you ever have to live thru a weather anomaly like a tornado, earthquake, hurricane, or blizzard you need to remain calm and make sure everyone is safe, including your pets. You may have to look under debris or travel, to find your children, spouse, or other family members. You can expect cell phone circuits to be overwhelmed and inoperable, and roadways could be largely impassable.

Storms like Katrina completely change the landscape and are very disorienting, you will have to focus on what needs to be done. Outfitting everyone with 2-meter pack sets is a good plan for emergency communications. (IMAGE)

Assessing the Damage
Now that you have found everyone you are responsible for, and helped your friends find their family members, it is time to assess the damage. Focus on how lucky you are to still be alive. Material things can be replaced in time, your life cannot. When assessing damage, be on the lookout for such things as natural gas leaks, broken sewer lines, etc. If flooding has occurred, then there is a good chance toxic substances have contaminated the water.

If it is safe to stay and assess the damage the easiest way to do so is to find your most important items first and move them to safety. For example, if you’ve lost your house, focus on salvaging material to make a temporary shelter. Items that are completely destroyed should be moved aside so you can continue your search for items of value. Don’t kill yourself moving things around, it is too easy to cut/puncture a hand/foot on broken glass/nails. Medical care may be very difficult to find after a large scale disaster so be careful where you reach and where you step. Wearing a good set of sturdy gloves is an absolute must.

Helping your friends and neighbors
After you get your family situation stabilized you should lend assistance to your friends and neighbors. There may be elderly folks that could greatly use your help. Oftentimes, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, emergency services will be stretched so thin that entire neighborhoods will be cut off from them. Networking with others to help provide for everyone’s needs will be very important. Not only is it the Christian thing to do, it will be important for you to make contact with people who can also help you in return.

Gathering what you have left
As part of your assessment you need to make a list of things you will need for your family. First aid kits, medical supplies, shoes, sun screen, firearms etc. The items you are able to rescue will be invaluable to your family going forward. Transporting them might be difficult, especially if the roads have become impassable.

You will need cash and any other valuable items such as silver, gold, salt, pepper, toilet paper, soap, ammunition, etc. Try to keep these items with you at all times. You will need 2 meals per day per person, and at least 1 gallon of potable water per person, per day for hygiene and drinking. Warm clothing, good solid shoes/boots, a hat, and a means of self-defense.

With a limited supply of goods and possibly meager or non-existent resupply, you are going to have to implement a rationing schedule for supplies immediately. If necessary you can go to one meal per day, per person, especially in warm climates. You will likely be able to barter for basic goods out of the items you were able to salvage.

Finding assistance programs
Eventually you will have access to assistance programs and one of the best things you can do is monitor the local radio stations for announcements and public service bulletins. Make sure you register with FEMA and the Red Cross so you will have access to any services that may exist. Any help is better than none at all so don’t be too proud to reach out and ask. Places like the Salvation Army, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters can offer assistance on a small scale so look them up too.

Lions, Tigers, Bears, and Looters Oh My
Any chaotic situation will bring out the thugs, thieves, and dregs of society, who want to steal and take whatever they want.

The only thing standing between your family’s survival, what’s left of your precious belongings, and a looting mob of malcontents, is you. Expecting everyone you meet to be honorable and trustworthy is unadvisable. Looters are generally cowards who get brave when they are in roving gangs. Upon review of disaster situations occurring over the past 25 years, one constant has been; those who have the ability and wherewithal to hold their ground and defend themselves, usually survive. Pretty much like dealing with a bully on the playground, if you stand your ground they will likely move on to someone easier to intimidate and coerce.

Another real possibility is wild animals, poisonous snakes, and reptiles. A good fire, a big dog, and firearms for everyone in your family or party, will go a long way towards protecting your belongings and lives. Implement a watch and man with 2 people per shift. It is a lot harder for 2 people to fall asleep than it is for one. Intruders lurking in the night will be more hesitant to attempt breaching your position if there is more than one person on watch. Make sure everyone standing watch is instructed not to start shooting just because they heard a noise. Firearm Safety is important.

Knowing your rights
It is important to review your rights under the law, specifically for the jurisdictions you live in. Typically speaking, crimes against property are not justified in using deadly force; however, those states that maintain a Castle Doctrine allow for the use of deadly force if someone breaks into your home. You have a reasonable belief that your life is in imminent danger because your Castle has been breached. This would also hold true if you are living in your new tent Castle.

Don’t expect law enforcement to do anything for you. Law enforcement does an ‘ok’ job of solving crimes, but they are absolutely horrendous in actually stopping crimes in progress. Lots of reasons contribute to this, mostly because it isn’t possible to read people’s minds ahead of them committing a heinous crime.

On a more sinister note, oftentimes the police can’t be trusted to uphold your constitutional rights either. During Hurricane Katrina dozens of police were involved in looting and terrorizing the general public, while those not involved got the bright idea to go around confiscating people’s firearms. Sounds illegal, but it happened to plenty of people after Katrina. Keep your guns concealed but close by, and if law enforcement personnel show up asking if you have guns, say no; sometimes your family’s safety isn’t best served by the truth.

Protecting your family and property
Try to keep a low profile and not advertise what you have. Keep your family close and be wary of strangers. Never share plans or supplies with complete strangers, and ensure your group follows suit.

You are going to have to be stronger than you have ever been before and more vigilant as well. The simple truth is; the world doesn’t give a crap if you or your family are in it or not. I believe that heroes are made, not born. They are made not because they are unafraid, but because they act bravely even when afraid. If you ever find yourself in the midst of a full scale disaster, say your prayers and do what needs to be done for the sake of those who are depending on you.

Original article by Mark Bunch, published in Survivalist Magazine #28
(Mark Bunch has practiced survival techniques and disaster planning for more than 30 years. He owns and operates a Gun and Pawn shop and Gun Club in Canon City Colorado.)

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