Immediate Steps to Take When The Shit Hits The Fan:
And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic… (Matthew 24:6)
Every emergency response organization in the world, whether it be military, police, fire departments or the Red Cross, has written contingency plans that detail what to do when everything goes wrong. There’s a good reason for that; it’s because our brains tend to stop functioning at that time, as adrenalin floods our bloodstream as part of the “fight or flight” response.
That’s how we end up with people running out of a burning building, rescuing their parakeet, while forgetting their child or hiding their wallet in their boat that’s sinking. They’re just not thinking. They didn’t have a plan and they didn’t practice it until it became 2nd Nature.
Each type of disaster will have its own peculiarities, requiring specific actions. Our plans need to cover those things as well. But there are some actions that are an important part of any disaster response, regardless of what has caused it. For those disasters, the following list is presented as an outline to create your own action plan.
Assess the Situation:
Stop, Think, Observe and Plan (S.T.O.P.)
Keep your ears and eyes tuned in to current events
Understand what’s going on and whether it’s necessary to react
Continue to monitor and re-assess to determine if you need to react differently
Make the Bug in or Bug out Decision:
Determine if the situation is serious enough to put your survival plan into effect
Most times, it’s best to stay put in your home but use the “R.E.D.O.U.T.” assessment to decide to stay or go
Contact Nuclear Family and Survival Team:
It’s good to carry multiple methods of communication in case cell phones are not working. Texting might work even when voice is down
Communicate the decision to stay or go and next steps to take or not
Identify a meeting place if necessary. This/these should have been pre-planned in case communications are down
Gather the Family and Survival Team:
Implement the pre-planned “get home plan”
Every member should have a bug-out bag (or basic supplies) with them to help them get to the designated meeting place
Depending on your plan, your school student children may need to escape the school which will want to keep students inside
Meet up at the designated meeting place
Locate supplies stockpiles to be ready to use or pack for bug-out
“Last minute” supplies should not be a consideration IF you have been properly planning for an emergency but think of things that mey not have been previously considered (fill gas tanks, etc.)
Load Up & Bug Out (if necessary):
After everyone is together, make the final decision to bug-out or stay put.
if bug-out is the choice, pack up supplies in the vehicle(s) or on your backs
Plan to pick up supply caches you have hidden along the way
After your decision and plan has been implemented, contact your extended family members to let them know that you’re okay and your plan to proceed
Lock up your residence whether you are staying or evacuating
Consider boarding up windows and moving vehicle(s) to a defensive position
With everything ready, it’s time to batten down the hatches and go into survival mode. Whatever survival plan you have needs to be put into effect, including rationing of food and water, constantly monitoring the crisis event, setting up survival procedures and equipment, etc.
If things don’t turn out to be that bad, you can just call it a “rehearsal.” But if you’ve gotten this far, chances are that something is going to happen.
Be glad you’re ready for it!
Maintain Operational Security (OPSEC):
Consider that marauders and the unprepared may be looking for supplies and/or shelter. Leave nothing useful behind or prepare to defend it.
Have self-defense tools at the ready. Load firearms and always carry
Stay on the alert for danger. Monitor outside activity from the inside via cameras and strategic windows
[Reference Link]
Related Resources:
When Disaster Strikes - An Emergency Plan Outline
[14-Point Emergency Preps Checklist]
[11-Cs Basic Emergency Kit]
[Learn to be More Self-Sufficient]
[The Ultimate Preparation]
[5six7 Menu]
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