No matter how prepared we are, supplies and space are finite. Providing for the needs of everyone showing up at our doorstep after the shtf is impossible, but the question remains who should be turned away and what will you do if they refuse to leave?How many people could you provide for and for how long? Most of us have only enough for ourselves and our immediate family. A family of four with a years supply, taking in just one extra person reduces their stockpile by 25%. Two extras and your down to six months at best. Three extra – you get the idea.
My family knows not to come to me looking for a handout. They are welcome to set up camp at my place if needed, but they know to bring their own food and supplies and to be ready to do their share of the work.
It’s true that there is safety in numbers, but only when everyone works together for the common good of the group. More hands make lighter work but there will be no room for slackers.
The thing with family is they often bring extended family and sometimes even their friends, who may not share your beliefs or work ethic. Should you take them in or turn them away? What will you do if they refuse to leave?
Most people think they are entitled and will feel no remorse or debt sponging off you, and if you don’t give them what they want, don’t be surprised if they try to take it by force. They may leave, but they will come back, possibly with armed reinforcements.
It’s best to keep your mouth shut and to look as poor and helpless as everyone else. Most people think I don’t have a pot to piss in or window to throw it out of. Hopefully they will pass me by thinking it’s not worth the effort.
In a sense survival is looking after number one, putting yourself first may seem selfish, but sometimes we need to make difficult decisions in order to stay alive. If it comes down to me or them – it’s them.
What will you do when unwanted visitors come to your door looking for a handout post collapse? Will you turn them away? Or will you pull the trigger if they refuse to leave? Could you live with yourself in the aftermath?
That reminds me; I need to finish digging that hole out back – never know when it could come in handy…
What have you done to prepare for new arrivals post-TEOTWAWKI
{ 57 comments }
Very tough question.
I would have a hard time letting someone starve if I have food.
I would not dispense from my house, but would arrange for them to pick up a “care package” at another location. I have put some food aside to be shared charitably. I would refuse to have anyone take up residence. The bulk of my stored food is secure, difficult to find if you didn’t know where it was. Two week supply kept in the house. If they came to take it by force they would pay a high price.
You’re right about everyone pulling their own weight, and about looking as desperate as everyone else.
Great blog!
wordherder
You’re correct – having the bulk of your storage food hidden in a secure location is a good idea. Remember the rule of 3 – always have 3 separate and independent sources of the life sustaining basics.
I’m not sure I wouldn’t mind sharing in the event that those coming along agreed to a daily list of chores that need to be completed, no questions asked. It wouldn’t matter if it were washing clothes by hand, hunting, fishing, preserving/canning food, pulling weeds in the garden, building a cabin/shed, etc. If you don’t pull your weight, you’re gone. Period. And, not for nothin’, if they get forceful and try to take or get lazy, they better be ready to be pushed back on, hard… The moment you let people in, you immediately need to create or have a symbiotic relationship to share in the responsibilities.
To me care packages invite others. People talk. Care packages can also put the recipients at risk as well. If they are given resources and do not know how to defend them or themselves, you may have opened them up to burglary, robbery, or worse. Just thinking out loud here… IMHO, if you build care packages, be discrete. You don’t want people to see your friends or family leaving with the care package. A looter may want to know where it came from… Taking your visitor, friend, or family in and putting them to work fast may be a real option if the new resources (people) can help reap greater reward in the long run. Not to mention if they are trustworthy, you’ve just help increase your OPSEC with a little additional training, assuming they need it.
Just a couple of thoughts.
Jack,
It’s sort of like the proverbial between a rock and a hard place. On one hand you want to help but you know doing so can put you and your family in danger. There are no easy answers.
make a list of jobs for them to do and a amount of food for the work when the works done at the end of week or day feed them, explain your in no better shape .If he did a good job and seems like a trustworthy type make a friend and a deal if not send him on his way .a few pounds of corn meal and beans not to have to shoot a man is a good deal .friends and good help is worth a few pounds of food to cull the dead beats.2lbs meal 1lb of beans a can of soup .if a man is desperate and you feed him the day he works and pay him this a man worth keeping will thank you and a dead beat wont cross your door again
gary in bama,
Let’s hope the dead beat doesn’t come back with several of his dead beat friends (armed) to take what you have. That’s the tricky part.
Hey Gary, Where at in ‘bama?? I’m in the hartford area, r u near??
My family, friends, neighbors are taken care of. I can harbor 7 additional family members, they already know to come alone.
So what to do with all the zombies? I doubt many will come this way, but those that do will have to either engage in a work for food agreement, keep walking, or we may be truly charitable. I have no specific method for choosing how to handle these people, I’m going to rely on instincts and God for that one.
If they become hostile, we have about 30-40 in our neighborhood who are ready to defend/support one another – a few months ago I was questioning whether or not my neighbors were preppers or not. After enough conversations they finally opened up to me. It pays to befriend your neighbors.
If I had to take life to protect my family/friends/neighbors, I would do it.
Prepared N.D.,
Sounds like the perfect situation – I’m sure many envy you.
Just takes a plan, dedication, and a little luck.
Some of my preps are designed for those family members who don’t prep. Most of my family, however, endorses my preparation measures and some have even gone beyond what I have done. We have talked about various situations that might happen and we have plans to support each other. Where I live now, no none knows the extent of my preparation other than my family. I would be very hesitant to let others know what I have. I intend to look just as needy as all the rest when the time comes. Should someone come begging, I’ll be very careful not to reveal the full measure of my preps. They will know that I’m armed though.
W,
Smart move – proceed with caution.
IF someone manages to find our farm (12 miles off the beaten path, down a side holler), and IF they are willing to work for food, and IF they are respectful and polite in their demeanor, and IF my Australian Shepherd approves of them, then I MIGHT agree to let them share in a meal, AFTER they have helped with the work around here (there is always work on a farm). BUT, they eat outside. Realistically, I don’t expect many travelers/visitors. And if they are troublemakers, they will most likely be taken care of looong before my farm.
If there are children involved, I may soften my stance a bit (all except for my dog approving of them–I trust her judgment more than I trust mine!)
I’m with you about the dog! I have two incredibly smart border collies (they know what i’m talking about even if i spell the words food, ball, or walk!) and dogs are proven to have a more acute sense of danger (and weather) than humans.
+1 on the weather observation. My dog hates storms and can detect a storm 15-20min before I can hear the first rumble of thunder.
My Chihuahua hates teenagers – loves old people and small children. If anyone gets close or touches me they’ll be missing a finger LOL.
Well, a lot of people have trouble with teenagers too. (though strangely, I rather like them.)
And those little dogs can be killers! Those needle teeth! LOL
I’m with you about the dog! I have two incredibly smart border collies who i trust fully in regards to new people. Besides, dogs are more aware of danger than humans most of the time.
Well, I am in zombieland just outside NYC… While I have a BOL, it is not my ideal BOL, and mentioning I am a prepper here, invokes fear of rabid militia coming to your front door… Here it is a lone wolf situation or very close to it. Preppers are not common… Many of the preppers that I have met here are many miles between… In fact it has been discussed (of those that I have met and trust) that we create fallback points and caches with each other as we are so far apart, and can use each other on the way to our individual BOLs. Suburban survivalism at it’s best, I guess.
Getting to the rural BOL is the challenge and even then, it is a waypoint at best for the next location that should be more secure than the previous one… Some days I wish I was very remote, others, I relish I am near the city. Weird, I know, but it is the hell I created for myself.
Jack – I was in a similar situation years back. I bought a bug-out place up in the mountains (and still have it) because I knew that living in the city didn’t offer the best probability of survival. It became apparent to me after a while that getting there with a sufficient amount of stuff would be a problem. I made it my goal to get out of the city. It took many years, but I did it. Now, getting to my bug-out retreat is easier AND it’s no longer my primary plan. If you can, plan to get out of the city area. Anywhere near NYC after TEOTWAWKI will be well, not where I’d want to be. New York City is a great place to visit, but …….(as the saying goes).
Tough Question. Depends how much prepping I did on my end, winter or summer, single mom with young kids or MZB’s, are they just looking for a rest stop or are they locusts, will they work for food or just looking to trade? Only thing I can definitely say is that I shoot thieves. Did it in the past during a home invasion, can do it during TEOTWAWKI. Not easy taking another human’s life, but when I comes down to me and mine….
I have really thought about this one. If I turn people away that know I have supplies, would they return in force? If I feed one and send them on their merry way do they also return or worse, tell others that some kind stranger fed them and where. Most of all, the worst one would be I feed everyone that appears on my doorstep until every morsel is gone and the charity show is repaid with anger for not having stored enough to continue feeding them! Human nature, to stand out is to make yourself a target for the groups anger. There will come a time when you won’t be able to dig holes fast enough to keep up with demand.
I think I will base my actions an theirs. People are funny. When they are scared, in some sort of need they are, for lack of a better word, “kittens” but as soon as that fear is gone their true nature appears. That is what I will base my reactions on, 3 S’s or new member to the “family”.
just my thoughts…
I live in farm town. No one would be “turned” away. We would be expected to work, to bring what we have to the table and defend our community against the zombies from the big cities…if they even find thier way out here.
locked up inside a house with a shot gun is a lonely existance even after the shtf.
You seem slightly more grounded in reality than some of the other posters.
I have been in two situations where there was a problem with lack of law and order and basic supplies.
My observations are that the Golden Horde will stay near to the city. If they leave their city they will drift along the interstate highway. Their first choice will be to move to another city. Learning from the Katrina disaster, the horde will not want to miss out on free stuff.
Despite what some would have you believe, ten mile hike is about a days journey for most people on foot. The amount of water that someone can carry will limit how far they get away from the highway. Unable or not knowing how to purify water will keep most of the horde confined to established routes. 15 miles is about all most people will drive if there is no certain fuel refill or food or known destination.
After Gustave, my sister and BIL were delivering some food to his family(meat from my freezer) and stopped and had lunch at a resturant in a small town. There was no power in town but there was a generator at the restaurant. When they left they were caught in a traffic jam. The cause? The National Guard was giving away MREs and water! People will not leave the city where they know that the government will feed, house and clothe them!
Lorenzo, you are from the area and know much more than I, but I was living near a small city in Texas at the time of Katrina, and we had refugees from that storm, some of whom have never left. And it was the government that transported many of these people into our area, although many came by themselves using their own transportation.
Of course, this was an evacuation from an area about to face a major storm, the infrastructure was in place for people to travel, so this is not comparable to a SHTF scenario, unless the event plays out over a period of time, rather than being a sudden action like an EMP.
The large(to us in a small city), widespread influx of refugees in my area after Katrina is what planted the seed in my mind to move to a more remote area further away from major population centers, including regional centers of population such as small cities with 50,000 people. The largest city within 150 miles of my retreat has about that population.
Your experience gives you valuable insight into when and how people will move, and when they won’t, so I appreciate your remarks. This is the kind of thing I come to this blog to learn. Thanks.
Lorenzo,
I tend to agree with your analysis of the actions of the Horde. In a time of crisis, I believe that most people will want to stay close to that which is familiar, where at least they can face the crisis on familiar ground. Ultimately, people will be looking to survive and I believe that most people will only leave their familiar setting if they know of a specific destination that they can reach where there chances of survival are increased, such as:
- The disaster is local or regional and nearby areas are unaffected.
- The government offers to relocate them, as was done after Katrina (with implicit promise that they will receive food, water and shelter in their new location).
- They get word of a town, farm or other nearby place which has food available.
- They are familiar with a location within their range of travel where their chances might be better (such as a regular vacation destination. This is why I view popular vacation destinations as bad retreat locations.
- They have friends or family within their range of travel that might be in a better position than they are in. This brings us back to the main topic of conversation.
Imagine you are one of the unprepared masses shortly after a major disaster. If your home is standing (or even partially standing), then at least you have a place to stay and your belongings, even if the power and water don’t work. You also know your surroundings and presumably have a few friends in the area. These are all things that you will lose if you leave, so you better have something waiting for you at your destination if you plan to go.
You better also have a way to get there. If the gas stations are all empty, you have whatever fuel is in your tank to get you somewhere else. It might be worth it to burn half that fuel looking for a better place to relocate to, but you want to be able to get back home if no place is better than what you left. If you are on foot, you will likely only be able to travel 10-15 miles a day (or less with children, injuries, or other impediments). If not already prepared, you won’t get very far before hunger, thirst and fatigue overwhelm you.
For these reasons, I believe that most people will stay close to home in the event of a major, widespread disaster. Some will certainly leave, but this will be a small percentage, perhaps no more than 10% of the population. This means that if you are in the city or suburbs, you will have plenty of company. Those far from the city and off the beaten path may see few visitors.
Best have some lime on hand for that pit…
I am less concerned about our place in the summer than I am in the winter. People won’t get easily across the lake in the summer but when everything freezes up and you can see chimney smoke across the lake… well as you say the pit may be neccessary. James Burke asked the same question in his series Connections… what in our safe little lives has ever prepared us to pull the trigger (obviously does not apply to ex-military or to gang members) but pulling the trigger on a live person and you ability to live with it afterwards requires training.
Some great points, LakeLili. I went hunting a few years ago in the mountains of Wyoming, miles away from the background noise most of us are used to hearing. The quiteness allowed me to hear coyotes howling miles away, and I even heard a rooster crowing, and when I asked my guide about it, he said that particular farm was miles away. My point is that your rooster crowing in the morning can be the dinner bell ringing miles away for someone willing to take advantage of you. And your chimney smoke can be seen for miles away as well. That is why I’ve made plans to not cook on something that makes smoke for a while, perhaps quite a while depending on circumstances.
As for using my weapons against someone who would attempt to take away my preps, I have no problem with that at all, since it would be a death sentence for someone to take your food in a time of crisis. That is why horse thieves were hung in the Old West, because leaving a man without a means of transportation was akin to murder.
LakeLili, I know you’re from Canada, and luckily haven’t been subjected to a lot of the violence people in major American cities have, and perhaps that is why you have the mindset you do. And I don’t mean to say that I would take any pleasure out of having to kill a looter, but my mindset is that I would do it, and not feel any remorse for a person who was trying to harm me or my family.
My concern would be how I would deal with a starving woman with children who showed up at my door, or who was trying to steal my chickens, or sneak into my garden. That is the scenario I dread. They could be used by the violent type to check your defenses, or they could spread the word that you have excess food to give away. That is why I pray every day that nothing like what we envision ever happens.
Lakelili, When I shot my burglar, I was not in Combat or a gang member. Even though I was in the Navy, I was on Staff Duty at a Naval School and was living off base. Living with it afterwards requires NO training, but in the U.S. today it does require a GOOD lawyer. Hundreds of homeowners without any formal training (read the monthly Armed Citizen column in the American Rifleman) shoot at home invaders every year in America, and some of them hit them. But it does help to have someone to talk to afterward, whether Pastor, Chaplain, Priest, Rabbi, Imam, Counselor, etc. But since the post is about post-TEOTWAWKI, I believe one must be prepared to defend one’s self, family and property, because the Bad Guys don’t give a damn about you and yours EXCEPT for what you may have that they can loot/steal/pillage/rape/torture/murder to get.
Bubblehead Les,
Well said: “Bad Guys don’t give a damn about you” – should be the Quote of the Day.
Brutes only understand brutality, and anyone who doesn’t treat them with brutality they see as a new intended victim because they’re soft.
People can adapt to harsh living conditions and tend to congregate around populous places (although we are predators we like to be in a herd).
We actually don’t need a lot to survive. Planning for a worst case scenario and living life like that doesn’t seem like living to me.
I recently watched a documentary that mentioned Kibera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibera).
An interesting appoach to this question is detailed at great length in One Second After by William Forstchen. In that novel, a small community in the hills must defend itself against the hordes, at first just refugees fleeing the chaos of the cities and then the MZBs. Food is given only to those who have skills that will assist the community, and eventually, food becomes so scarce that even community members must decide whom among themselves to feed. This was also the case in Lucifier’s Hammer (another TEOTWANKI novel). The decision concerning whom to help is a heartbreaking one. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation, we’ll have to say “no” at least until the end of the first die-off. Depresses me just to consider the issue.
Crazy Hare – I’m glad you cited One Second After by William Forstchen. It covers the subject of this post very well. I think you’d agree that reading this book is a must for anyone who has thought about “Planning for New Arrivals Post-TEOTWAWKI”.
I have planned for all my loved ones, and they know it. If they come to me with nothing I will share. If they bring those they love, we will all do our best and pray God will guide. Hopefully, they will bring what goods they can. Absolutely they will all work.
They have already been told, and will be told again when they show up, this place and everything in it is mine, I am the Queen. This is no democracy.
Anyone who doesn’t toe the line or becomes offensive to the community will be shown the gate. If they refuse to leave they can be tazed, duct taped, and delivered to the nearest cross roads. If they return (especially armed, or with backup,) They will be treated like any brigand.
Strangers in desperate need will be given a minimum of what they need and directed on to the nearest place of charity.
I know, I may run out. I may become a target. That’s the chances life always gives you, even in good times. I’ll just work hard and do my best.
I think I would have a hard time shooting someone. I might be able to do it in a life or death situation but who really knows what they’ll do until that time comes? I don’t thing refugees will be the problem anyway. The real problem will be the “town committee”. In a total shtf situation a small group of “elected” officials will convince everyone that they need to go door to door and collect whatever supplies they need “for the good of all”. How do you tell the sheriff and his “deputies” NO? If you shoot them you have essentially violated their laws and the whole town will be on you like flies. You’ll then be shot or hung. I think it’s better to lay low. Look like you have nothing to give. Have a small quantity of food for them to find but keep the real stockpile well hidden. God help us all if we ever have to experience any of this ……
The scenario you describe is my worst fear. Natural disasters I can handle. Thieves and looters I can probably fend off. But when the town committee comes to your door, wrapped in the rule of law (whatever they determine that to be), you’re pretty much screwed.
In general, laying low is the right idea. Even better would be to get preppers in the positions of mayor and sheriff. The best way to fight the government is to become the government.
That’s a good idea but I don’t know anyone who is dishonest enough to qualify for office!
That’s my biggest complaint about modern politics. It seems rigged in favor of the person who is most willing to lie, cheat and steal their way to the top. I am more hopeful that we can at least get more honest people into local political positions.
This subject brings to mind that I know, without a doubt, those that would be under desperation or greedy and would take what I have and that is with force. I have, too many times, met (especially) men who have little heart and are those that are not hesitant when they want what they want and they do whatever it takes to get what they have their eyes set upon whether it be that of food, clothing, money, etc. When it comes to deciding whom will or will not eat, whom will be taken in, etc., I must say that I absolutely would not feed and I would not give care packages to anyone no matter how discreetly I think it could be done. Best thing I can think to do is to provide books about survival to others but there’s a danger in that because when I do then they or others may get the idea that I am well taken care of and begin to congregate and become suspicious and then decide to go on a ‘finding spree’, and that means they would break in or even do unreperable damage in more ways than one. Right now, nearly everyone has a chance to put away food, water and their own supplies in secret and not-so-secret places and therefore there should be no reason that they are not prepared when the time comes. I know that there will be some who’s things were stolen, damaged and so forth but like I said, everyone currently has an opportunity to learn how to survive with and without their home and to be able to eat what nature has available. If we don’t know how to live in the wild, without the support of man (stores, restaurants, farms, etc.) then what good is preparing (while living in homes and only able to use those resources) going to do for us? For example, I know that where there are yards or areas where pesticides haven’t been used, I can dig up, clean, roast and eat dandelion roots and leaves, I can eat Salal berries, willow trees (all willows) inner limbs contents and that it’s good for some ailments, pine nuts, wild-growing rose hips for vitamin c content and to prevent certain illnesses, and other plants that many are not aware they can eat and survive from. Knowing which plants are good and which must be cooked ahead of time really beats having to rely on others when they are likely not going to want to help, nor will. Why even think to be a burden for/to/upon others when there are lots of alternatives out there. A few snails cooked right, a few ground worms added in after their ‘poop’ has been removed, a little oil and iodized salt in the old survival pot from my pack can sure make a nice and tasty meal. A nice garden snake, non-venomous of course, with a little dandelion leaf and onion and/or garlic powder/salt/pepper/seasoning salt can make an elegant wilderness dining experience for two. Mice and other critters, large and small, can be raised or caught fairly easily. I prefer to catch my prey because then I do not have to worry about finding or having food available to feed it when that may not be feasible. River or roof rats get fairly big and they have the ability to feed three or four people. I have been looking around for a small patch where I can grow potatoes that only I will know is there and one for onions, one for carrots, one for other root vegetables, one for berries and other fruits and so on. I want to, at the very least, be able to eat the basics and with a little work, practice and preparation, I just may be able to do this. I’ve been preparing to get some mushroom plugs, the kind where a stump or log is used for and holes are drilled in and see how growing them that way goes. Anyway, many are without restraint these days and they will stop at nothing to get what they want especially when it comes to food. When things get bad, I think I’ll head into the woods until it is safe to come out and just enjoy the nice wilderness break and the freedom it truly does provide.
SrvivlSalli: I suspect you mingt enjoy a novel titled Into the Forest by Jean Hegland.
I’m with you re: guerilla gardening and wild edibles/ medicinals.
What led me in that direction originally was the realization that government, esp. local, would most likely confiscate weapons and food. If you’re well versed in wildcraft you’ve got supplies that they can’t take.
see you in the woods!
Everybody out there who doesn’t think they could shoot a man who endangers them and their loved one– Go sell your guns and buy locks. If you get out a gun to threaten, and they don’t believe you’ll pull that trigger (You’d be surprised how many think a woman won’t.) and you don’t shoot, or wait too late, YOU will be the dead, tortured or raped and beaten one, and they will leave with your gun. If you can’t use it, don’t have it!
They still need something to hunt with and kill snakes :-)
Ok, lets say everyone would probably be ok with shooting a stranger that threatens them or their family but …… What about family? Lets say your sister shows up with her five hungry kids and her no good husband that has a couple felonies on his record. You know if you let him stay there will be trouble. If you turn him away you’ll get your sister and the kids upset. He may even be the kind to go and gather other thugs to come after you. Do you shoot him? Could you? Now what if that guy is a blood relative? Could you shoot someone that you grew up with? I just think when it comes to family most people could not pull the trigger. I plan to have some extras to give but not much.
That’s why they invented Tazers. Tell your sister ahead of time, though you love her, you think she could have done better. If her Bum deserves it, he’s out. If he comes back, you shoot.
Never turn him out. Take him hunting. Hunting accidents happen all the time. If you work him hard before the ‘hunt’ it would be feasible that he ‘just wandered off’. Looking for an easier existance. 3Ss. Shoot, shovel and shut up.
I have done some fast preparation in the last six months. It took me a little more than three months to get a year worth of food & water. I am still building my food & water prep. I have also aquired other items in last three months. So by the end of this year I’ll have two years worth of food & water. With that being said, I don’t think I could turn GOOD people away & let them starve, especially kids. Now, I live in Harlem, NYC. When the SHTF I am going to have people knocking on my door just for the sheer fact that I am a Firefighter & everyone knows it. They’ll think “He had a good job. He must have something in there”. Now “The Entitled” will catch quick trip in the ground but some of the “Unfortunate” I will help. I guess I am asking for a daily assault but can’t be selfish because I would someone to help my family out if I an “Unfortunate”.
I’d shoot him dead. But give my sister a heads up and or a choice. He goes or you all go. I am not going to jeopardize my family for one man
This is almost exactly the problem I am faced with. My sister, bro in law and their two young kids live a few miles away. I wouldn’t turn my sister away. We’ve always been close, plus she’s a hard worker and a nurse. I couldn’t turn the kids away. Besides, they’re small and wouldn’t eat much anyway. The husband isn’t a felon, but he is an ardent devotee of our redistributor-in-chief, which should at least be a misdemeanor. He is also an outspoken critic of our religious and political beliefs, which would make it very hard to live with him. Furthermore, he brings no useful skills to the party.
I suppose that ultimately I would have to let him in. I just don’t have the heart to shoot him in front of his kids, nor do I think it’s in my best interest to take in his family and set him loose. I would make sure to be very clear that by accepting our hospitality he renounced all of his religious and political beliefs and that, agreed to work for his food and that of his family, and understood the hierarchy in the home: me, my wife, my daughter, my unborn daughter, my sister, her kids, the scum on the bathroom wall, him.
I also might take Morlock Mommy’s advice and keep a tazer on hand, just in case.
The problem with my sister and bother-in-law is that we’ve discussed prepping and they know what I have now and will have when the time comes. He has a brother who is also a habitual criminal and they have said if the shtf they’ll just hit the streets and take whatever they need. I fear if I let my sister and her kids in he’ll be a big problem whether I let him stay or not. If I let him stay I may just find him standing over me with a gun while I’m sleeping one night. That way he can “get more” for HIS family. I think it’s better to say none of them can come and that saddens me but my son and I come first.
This topic is one of my biggest concerns if a major event occurs. Outside of my own household, I have 10 family members (8 adults, 2 children) who live nearby. All of them know that we have food stored, even though we try not to discuss it). Only one of them (my mother) has made any effort to build up their own stores. Fortunately, the only other people who know we have food stored are people who have more stored than we do.
My wife and I have reluctantly realized that we will need to take in our family members if they come calling. First, we feel a sense of obligation to be charitable, especially to family. Second, they have always been generous to us. Some of our food storage is even food that they have given us. Third, I just don’t think I could blow any of their heads off. Instead, we have decided to try to store as much food as possible, with the understanding that more stored food is rarely a bad thing.
If and how I dispense food to others will depend very much on the nature of the disaster. For a short-term crisis where I can be confident that stores will be open again within days or weeks, I will help fairly freely where I can. I will give away small amounts of food or sell larger amounts in order to recoup costs so that I can replace my stores quickly. If food is likely to be unavailable for a long time, I will be much more selective in who receives charity.
For family, friends and strangers alike, there will be no free lunch. I will trade food for goods or services.
How will you know that it is short term?
The powers that be will always tell you that they plan to get the power on, trucks moving, food delivered in the next 24 hours. The majority of my preps so far, I was unemployed from 26 Jan 09 to 1 Apr 10 w/no unemployment benes, have been homestead improvement. 17 hens, one rooster, 33 pullets. Chicken coop that my sons call Chicken Knox. Fencing material, fuel storage, water storage, ammo, upgraded camping equipment. Planted 4 trees and 10 fruiting vines. My plans this summer are to work on Gobar gas, build a pig pen, enlarge the moat in front of my home (wife thinks it is a crawfish pond). I have made friends with a guy who has a pair of mules that he farms with. He will help me plow the front 5 acres this fall so that I can cut ditches and be ready to plant come spring. I have found several wild mulberry trees that I will dig up in December and plant in my chicken pen for their feed. I will also enlarge their pen.
My point is, the only change that I will make is I will no longer sell eggs or veggies or beef until power, trucks, food, are actually back, not promised but sighted.
Short term is a determination I make based on the nature of the problem. If the crisis is something we have faced many times before such as an earthquake, hurricane, ice storm, etc. and is regional in nature (as the aforenoted events are), meaning that society is functioning normally outside of the affected region, then I think it’s safe to declare the crisis a short-term emergency.
If the crisis is national or international in nature, is unprecedented in type or scope, or otherwise doesn’t have the look of something that will likely be resolved quickly, I will err on the side of caution.
If you feed them one time you might as well adopt them. It is not a tough question. In a full scale downfall of civilization you KILL THEM! Quietly if possible. If you have a problem with that, then making preps is useless. Charity does not apply to SHTF situations. So family can make fun of you and your desire to be prepared, and when the time comes get a hot meal and shelter. You don’t want to know what I think of that.
One possibility: Feed a family in exchange for labor on your BOL farm. Bartering labor for your food and knowledge of farming may be a win-win.
Comments on this entry are closed.