November 10, 2013
Most
Americans not trained for survival
Bill Howard's article in
the Times-News on June 8 should serve as a reminder most citizens of
civilized nations are woefully unequipped to provide their own food
and shelter in the event of a major disaster of almost any type.
He pointed out, as humans
developed greater specialized individual skills in order to become
able to earn a living in a capitalistic society, we lost the broader
general survival skills of earlier generations. In our own history
all the way up to the early 20th century, most people had multiple
skills they were able to use to help themselves survive. Families
knew how to hunt, gather, and grow their own food, prepare and store
foods for consumption, make clothes, even treat minor illnesses. It's
clear these skills helped many of the great depression era generation
survive in spite of little money to buy life's necessities.
It seems pretty clear most
of our current generation severely lack these basic survival skills.
Most of us do not know how to hunt, dress, store, or prepare any game
foods. Most of us don't really know how to raise our own crops.
You may have seen some of
the reality TV shows based on individuals preparing to survive any
type of disaster. Most of us likely laugh at the notion of these
so-called "preppers" spending time and money to be prepared
for a natural or man-made disaster...as if we really can't imagine it
happening to us or our part of the world.
Howard describes those who
are sincerely interested in making sure they are properly equipped to
survive as being survivalists...not "preppers".
In America, as in most
modern developed nations, the distribution system used to supply
most items needed for human survival has become so efficient, almost
every community literally has only a few days worth of food/water
available. This means any disruption of the supply chain will result
in almost immediate shortages of needed items. Panic buying then
ensues, making shortages even worse.
Take a long serious look
in a mirror and ask yourself...what will you do if some sort of
disaster happened, and the food/water supply runs out within a few
days? Do you have enough food...and more important...water to last
your family for a few weeks? After the initial survival period
passes, do you know how to gather food and water? Probably as
important, if you did have the foresight to plan for such an event,
do you also have the means to protect your supplies from others who
were less inclined to prepare?
I have been watching a
Netflix series about real survivalists in rural Alaska. It seems
clear, even most of these folks would also struggle to survive
because so much of their living requirements are brought in by bush
pilots. However, it's obvious from watching them, they have a much
better chance than most urban dwellers.
I'm thinking my first
option should be to adopt an Alaskan family who would be willing to
move south for better weather. We can provide a place for them to
live in exchange for their skills to keep us fed and protected from
the elements.
In large urban centers
where the majority of our citizens live, food shortages will produce
almost immediate rioting and bands of normally honest folks will band
together to go out and take food away from weaker groups who have no
way to protect themselves. As a local young local once told me...when
my kids are hungry and I have no food to give them...I will have to
go take it from those who have it. For those who have repeatedly
asked why a civilian should ever consider owning a semi-automatic
weapon...this may be as good a reason as any.
It certainly makes one
wonder about what we should be doing? Should we just ignore the
possibilities and accept our likely fate? Should we begin to learn
survival skills from experts? Should we begin to store extra food and
water? Should we begin to form local support groups pledged to help
each other survive?
If I had a young family
today and wanted to find a way to help us be better prepared for
survival I think I would strongly consider searching for a survival
training program to take my family through on our next family
vacation.
It certainly makes sense
to set up a supply of canned and dried foodstuffs...and even more
importantly...drinking water. Humans can live much longer without
food than water.
Picture you and your
family waking up tomorrow in a world in which the basic necessities
you have always depended on are no longer readily available. It's a
terrifying thought!
These are my opinions.
What do you think?
Mike Tower
PS I considered moving to
Alaska, except I realized I would remain unable to
find/kill/grow/prepare food--and I'd also be colder than you know
what.November 10, 2013
Most
Americans not trained for survival
Bill Howard's article in
the Times-News on June 8 should serve as a reminder most citizens of
civilized nations are woefully unequipped to provide their own food
and shelter in the event of a major disaster of almost any type.
He pointed out, as humans
developed greater specialized individual skills in order to become
able to earn a living in a capitalistic society, we lost the broader
general survival skills of earlier generations. In our own history
all the way up to the early 20th century, most people had multiple
skills they were able to use to help themselves survive. Families
knew how to hunt, gather, and grow their own food, prepare and store
foods for consumption, make clothes, even treat minor illnesses. It's
clear these skills helped many of the great depression era generation
survive in spite of little money to buy life's necessities.
It seems pretty clear most
of our current generation severely lack these basic survival skills.
Most of us do not know how to hunt, dress, store, or prepare any game
foods. Most of us don't really know how to raise our own crops.
You may have seen some of
the reality TV shows based on individuals preparing to survive any
type of disaster. Most of us likely laugh at the notion of these
so-called "preppers" spending time and money to be prepared
for a natural or man-made disaster...as if we really can't imagine it
happening to us or our part of the world.
Howard describes those who
are sincerely interested in making sure they are properly equipped to
survive as being survivalists...not "preppers".
In America, as in most
modern developed nations, the distribution system used to supply
most items needed for human survival has become so efficient, almost
every community literally has only a few days worth of food/water
available. This means any disruption of the supply chain will result
in almost immediate shortages of needed items. Panic buying then
ensues, making shortages even worse.
Take a long serious look
in a mirror and ask yourself...what will you do if some sort of
disaster happened, and the food/water supply runs out within a few
days? Do you have enough food...and more important...water to last
your family for a few weeks? After the initial survival period
passes, do you know how to gather food and water? Probably as
important, if you did have the foresight to plan for such an event,
do you also have the means to protect your supplies from others who
were less inclined to prepare?
I have been watching a
Netflix series about real survivalists in rural Alaska. It seems
clear, even most of these folks would also struggle to survive
because so much of their living requirements are brought in by bush
pilots. However, it's obvious from watching them, they have a much
better chance than most urban dwellers.
I'm thinking my first
option should be to adopt an Alaskan family who would be willing to
move south for better weather. We can provide a place for them to
live in exchange for their skills to keep us fed and protected from
the elements.
In large urban centers
where the majority of our citizens live, food shortages will produce
almost immediate rioting and bands of normally honest folks will band
together to go out and take food away from weaker groups who have no
way to protect themselves. As a local young local once told me...when
my kids are hungry and I have no food to give them...I will have to
go take it from those who have it. For those who have repeatedly
asked why a civilian should ever consider owning a semi-automatic
weapon...this may be as good a reason as any.
It certainly makes one
wonder about what we should be doing? Should we just ignore the
possibilities and accept our likely fate? Should we begin to learn
survival skills from experts? Should we begin to store extra food and
water? Should we begin to form local support groups pledged to help
each other survive?
If I had a young family
today and wanted to find a way to help us be better prepared for
survival I think I would strongly consider searching for a survival
training program to take my family through on our next family
vacation.
It certainly makes sense
to set up a supply of canned and dried foodstuffs...and even more
importantly...drinking water. Humans can live much longer without
food than water.
Picture you and your
family waking up tomorrow in a world in which the basic necessities
you have always depended on are no longer readily available. It's a
terrifying thought!
These are my opinions.
What do you think?
Mike Tower
PS I considered moving to
Alaska, except I realized I would remain unable to
find/kill/grow/prepare food--and I'd also be colder than you know
what.
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