Dear Editor,
I was recently approached by a small delegation of people stating that they are frightened by the ceaseless friction and fear mongering in the American political arena. They said they had heard that I know a lot of people and that I teach preparedness and survival. They said they were trying to put together a mutual aid group of like minded individuals. One of them said he didn’t know whether to try to run away and hide or to try to arm his family and get ready for the “next civil war”. They asked if I would tell them “what to do and how to do it”
I explained to them that while both preparedness and survival are very complicated subjects, both are based very firmly on common sense and thoughtful examination and “what should we do” small group discussions and family planning sessions can be a good start.
Now, because I routinely provide this training, privately, as a portion of my family income, I do not give away information free of charge. I told them that I would provide, for no fee, ten of the simplest, most basic steps toward peace of mind, then after discussion amongst their group, they could decide if they want to delve more deeply into the subject. This following info is also free to anyone else who is really interested.
So……………here we go.
#1.Having a solid, well thought out attitude agreed upon by all your group is greatly helpful. Everyone needs to be a vital, functioning, contributing part. Every person should know their part.
#2. Shelter. If you have a roof over your head, DO NOT “Bug Out”. That is just abandoning all you’ve worked for. Stay and protect what you have. Work with your neighbors toward building a Neighborhood Watch & Aid group.
#3. Buy nothing you don’t absolutely need. Be very thrifty in all your purchases.Do purchase the best quality goods you can for the best price you can find.
Be an aware consumer.Save your money!
#4. WATER. Stock up. No matter if the weather is hot or cold, Arizona is always dry. Some officials recommend a gallon a day for each person. I say two gallons is better! Water is readily available in many places and in many sized containers. Buy what you can sensibly afford and store
#5. Here’s one that you need to give lots of serious thought. DO NOT SHARE! If your acquaintances and associates have been too lazy or careless to make- ready, are you willing to risk your family’s well-being to support those late-comers’ lack of interest and energy?
#6. Clothing is going to be vital to protect you from weather, thorns, bugs, poison plants, sunburn, and don’t forget winter. We are blessed to have mild winters here, but winter clothing can literally save your life. If you are on a very tight budget, shop thrift stores. Try to find and buy strong shoes.
#7. If you own an automobile, make the effort to see that it is well maintained and kept full of gas. Don’t drive anywhere unless you must. Plan your outings so you can accomplish as many errands as possible by walking.
#8. Try to buy foods that can be stored for long periods. Make a conscious effort to buy only foods you and your family normally enjoy. Try to not make a bunch of leftovers no one wants. If you can cook, try to be thrifty. If you cannot cook, PLEASE buy a good recipe book or look up recipes on-line. Knowing how to cook can literally save your life.
#9 Be very secretive, tell no one about what you have saved and stored for your future. You have no way of knowing if sharing info about what you have on-hand will remain secret with the person you trusted. Desperate times make desperate people who take desperate actions. Protect yourself.
#10. Be paranoid! Put another way, be situationally aware, know what’s going on around you. Keep your doors, and windows closed and locked whenever possible. Keep your car(s) and outbuildings closed and locked. At night, keep your blinds closed. Think that everyone out there is after what you have.
*BONUS*. If you feel the need to be armed, PLEASE make sure everyone in your house is trained in the safe handling and use of firearms.
Thank you.
I hope this helps you make sound decisions.
Jack Hommel
