Prepping « Robin Writes

All of our vehicles have an emergency bag behind the seat or under the floor. And I’m not talking about salt or litter for winter, or flares, or the typical things people consider an “emergency car kit.” This is not for your vehicle, but for you.

Think about the important things you’d need for survival: water, food, shelter. Of course, just like a car kit, this is dependent on weather, so you’d probably want to seasonally change things up.

Next, think about where you could be stranded and where you have to go—how far is it? What are the conditions between here and there? Would you normally be alone or with your family or group? How many?

Because there are two of us and we usually aren’t more than a few hours’ driving distance away, under normal conditions, I keep four bottles of water in each vehicle. That’s half a gallon, which is only enough, under emergency conditions, for one person for half a day—that includes washing and cooking, neither of which you’re probably going to be doing if you’re focused on getting home.

The biggest consideration, of course, is how long it will take you do that.

With a three-hour drive on country roads, we’d probably still have a three-hour drive. If you’re in the city and trying to get to those country roads, you might have to add a lot of time to that commute. Even if you’re just going to the ‘burbs, it could take close to a day—particularly if you’re reduced to walking.

A three-hour drive, walking, could take two days or more, which is why our kits also contain water purifying tablets. Much easier and lighter to transport than water itself, and in the country, you’re much more likely to find water sources. If you live in an urban area, I’d recommend two gallons per person.

We keep granola bars, dried fruit, and beef jerky, hiking staples, in our vehicles. You’re going to need energy, and the convenience stores and gas stations and fast food joints are likely to be shut down or looted during a SHTF event. Or be in the process of being looted, which is a whole other issue.

You won’t be full, you won’t have an actual meal, but you’ll be able to keep going.

Right now, you’re probably picturing a nice, sunny day, about 70 degrees or so. Think about that heatwave the last couple weeks—could you keep going when temps are close to 100? No, and you shouldn’t try. That extends your travel time, and especially your water intake. You could travel at night, which means you should also keep a flashlight and batteries in the car, and check/test/replace as needed, as well as matches.

You could also keep a sun hat (or rain hat) and a couple bandanas in your bag. Bandanas can cool you off, bind a wound, keep smoke or gasses or smells away, and filter water, among other uses.

We have two reflective blankets in each vehicle, because, on the other side of the coin, it could be 20 degrees. Plus, you can make a dandy shelter, fairly warm. Bandanas again: they’ll help warm the air you breathe and keep frostbite off your face. We also, at all times, keep various gloves in our vehicles; work gloves, winter gloves, they can all be used regardless of season.

We also have knives in our bags. Get one, learn how to use it, keep it sharp. Its uses are endless, and not only potentially for defense: cutting branches for a shelter or fire, making a splint in case of injury, cutting cloth, opening packages or cans, and so on.

You don’t have to Tetris a ton of things into your car, but you do have to have the basics, just in case. Just in case of what? A blizzard, a heat wave, mechanical failure, an EMP, SHTF, even a major road blockage from an accident. Remember, though, that you may have to pack out whatever you can carry, so make sure you pack smart and light—and make sure you’re in good enough shape to carry what you need.

My husband asked me yesterday what I thought would happen, vis a vis SHTF, regarding the upcoming election. Well, that’s a loaded question . . .

Some of you will likely be offended by what I have to say, some won’t, but I’m not directing this personally to anyone. Not even really going to discuss the candidates. So, read on:

If Trump is elected, I suspect things will be quite dicey during the time between the election and inauguration—remember, that’s nearly three months. And as president, Trump can still only do so much, as a lot depends on Congress and to which side the aisle is tilted.

I think that we’ll see more protests and more violence.

Now, if you’re not in an area where these things tend to increase, i.e., urban, you might think you’ll be just dandy. However, while physically safe, you can be hurt in other ways.

If protests block supply lines, such as trains and highways, groceries and other items may be hard to come by . . . if folks walk out on their jobs, any kind of industry, there may be a shortage of goods to transport.

If you are in an urban area, and can’t leave, keep your head down. Try to be unobtrusive as you go about your business. Avoid crowds. Check exits wherever you go. Keep up on the news. Be aware.

If Clinton is elected, the exact same things could happen for different reasons.

Reconstruction after the Civil War comes to mind. Some not-so-nice characters flocked to the South and began telling folks all manner of things: not only that they were as good as the “rich white people,” which they were, but that they could do anything they wanted, take whatever they wanted.

And lest you think I’m talking about only the former slaves, there were also many other poor, non-slave-owing people who’d felt slighted and snubbed all their lives.

Crime was rampant. The Klan was formed.

Just like “most” Muslims are peaceful, “most” Christians are not fanatics, “most” gun owners are not crazy, and the list can continue ad finitum, “most” protestors are indeed peaceful.

But some are not. And whenever you have a large crowd gathered, there are often enough nutjobs present to really start some fireworks. Mob mentality.

And that’s not just protestors. Think about, throughout history, how assassinations occurred, or how hangings in the old West were viewed as family entertainment. Too many examples to list.

I’m afraid some of these characters are going to start thinking that everything is now going to be just rosy, how they can have and do anything they want.

What I’m trying to say is that the difference in the election outcome is that these things may not end upon inauguration. With Obama in the White House for the last eight years, and civilly, things going downhill faster each year in respect to the overall vibe in our country, a Clinton administration could quite easily continue this. I don’t see, and of course this is all conjecture, any of that changing with a new president of the same party.

Maybe not even with a president of a different party.

Yes, I’m a conservative; no, I’m not voting for Clinton. Other than that, I can’t say—not that I won’t, I can’t, not yet.

As for protestors, since this may come up, and has, actually, I don’t have a problem with peaceful protests, but I do have a problem when they are so large that, proportionally speaking, there are more nutjobs present with a violent agenda.

That said, I think protests accomplish very little.

Change is necessary, yes, but change doesn’t happen because a large number of people march around or have a sit-in; change doesn’t happen immediately because you demand it, or even because it’s right. Change takes time, and is often more effective if implemented from the inside.

In other words, work hard, take care of your family, make sacrifices of your time and money, become educated—formally or otherwise, be open to discussion, and work over time to effect the change you want.

You know, that whole “catch more flies with honey than vinegar” thing.