Body armor is one of those things that defensively-minded preppers think of as a mandatory prep. Considering the number of guns in the United States and around the rest of the world, ballistic threats to your safety are extremely likely.
But quality body armor is very expensive and is not necessarily available over the counter in some places.
With all of the other survival necessities that we need to buy and maintain should we still prioritize the purchase of body armor? Is it worth it?
Body armor is always worth it when bullets are heading your way, but whether or not it is worth it to you dependson many factors.In urban areasor placeswhere gun violence is common body armor is a smart investment.In high trust areas or where guns are uncommon, body armormaynot be necessary.
There’s much more to consider when it comes to body armor as a personal safety or emergency prep. We will unpack some of these concerns in the rest of this article so that you may make a fully informed decision.
The Need for Armor is Situational
The fact of the matter is that there is no clear cut need or requirement for body armor in the context of most people’s lives. Yes, you can make an intelligent and informed assertion that body armor is a mandatory requirement for certain professions or in certain environments.
Police, security guards, ATM service personnel, armored car drivers, bouncers and, regrettably, an increasing number of EMTs depend on body armor due to endemic threats and either the areas they work or the nature of the profession itself.
Even in inherently non-violent or non-aggressive settings or professions equipping body armor is a smart choice.
Folks who work on public or private shooting ranges or teach firearms classes are well advised to wear body armor since being around live weapons pretty much all the time means that the chances of an accident increase proportionally, even though no one is trying to deliberately shoot them.
For a civilian who is just trying to be prepared, be it for everyday threats or major paradigm shifting events like a societal collapse or the localized loss of law and order, it is a more difficult question.
If people are going to be shooting at you, or there is a good chance that you could be shot at, body armor will certainly be welcome, that much is sure.
But it isn’t a panacea.
In Some Situations, Body Armor Makes More Sense
There is no easy diagram that will tell you when you should wear body armor versus when you shouldn’t.
I know that is what a lot of people want, no doubt, and still some other people wear body armor pretty much all the time if there is any inkling that they might be living in threat conditions that are higher than baseline. Alas, things are just not that simple as usual.
Generally speaking, the only environment that I believe body armor is 100% mandatory is in a dense urban environment where the threat of gunfire is going to be pretty much constant and could conceivably come from anywhere.
Combat in built up areas is hazardous in a way it is difficult for lay people to comprehend, and incredibly complex to boot. Though there is an abundance of cover to stop bullets there are equally as many lines of fire to get around that cover.
Considering you’ll be working and surviving on your own or as part of a small group, body armor is cheap life insurance.
However, in other environments particularly forests or jungle body armor makes less sense.
Body armor is alwaysheavyandclammy, and this greater encumbrance will eat up your energy reserves even faster, and double that again when you are already heavily laden with other supplies, gear and ammunition.
Other environments where body armor might not be the best choice include mountains and swamps.
Not All Body Armor Is Created Equal
Another fact that is overlooked by those who are not familiar with ballistic armor is the fact that body armor is not created equal and must be proportional to the threat you are facing. The rating and type of body armor will largely dictate how it can be worn and under what circumstances.
For instance, comparatively lightweight, thin body armor that can be easily worn and concealed under typical clothing is usually only up to the task of stopping intermediate handgun projectiles. .22LR, 9mm, .38Spl. and the like.
It won’t stop superfast or extra large magnums, any rifle projectiles (except perhaps .22LR) and will prove to be very little impediment, if any against shotguns.
On the other hand, large and bulky hard armor plates, be they ceramic or steel, are up to the task of stopping high velocity rifle fire, perhaps even multiple projectiles, but the weight and bulk of these plates necessitate a heavy duty carrier that will make it effectively impossible to conceal except perhaps under the largest parkas.
If your objectives require you to remain discreet, chances are your armor will not afford you much protection against more powerful or larger guns.
Your Objectives Should Dictate Your Equipment
I’ll leave you with this, reader. It is essential to be honest with yourself, and you can only do that after making an accurate and equally honest assessment of your objectives against your threats and the context that you will encounter them in.
If you want to have a fully-equipped plate carrier that has on board extra ammunition and medical supplies so that you might quickly don it if you’re home or business becomes besieged, I would say that is a reasonably prudent determination especially if one lives in an urban area or any area where rifles are common.
On the other hand, keeping the same rig as part of your EDC while you run errands in a low threat, high trust environment is just about the peak of LARPing.
Conversely, if your town is trending towards higher and higher crime rates with muggings on the rise, and you present a particularly valuable target to an enterprising mugger, a low profile vest capable of stopping the handguns most commonly employed by these muggers with an additional stab and shank resistant package is absolutely prudent if you are serious about obtaining a good outcome should you be targeted for a mugging and unable to avoid it.
Considering an entirely different scenario, if your plan is to leave your home in a bedroom community outside of a major city before the mongrels come swarming your way in search of food and supplies after a societal collapse, and you’ll be heading into deep country in the woods, body armor is likely going to be little more than a hindrance.
You’d be better off devoting those weight savings toward moving quicker with less burden or perhaps even carrying more supplies in its place.
There is no hard and fast correct answer to the question of body armor. It is always great to have when you are getting shot at, but its benefits always come at a cost, both financially and operationally.
Conclusion
Body armor is a good investment and worth it if one is in an occupation or the threat of gunfire is a constant or is in an area where gun violence is endemic.
For everyone else, the usefulness of body armor is situational and must always be weighed against other objectives and operational requirements.
Careful analysis of your own requirements will help inform the determination of whether you should invest in a set of body armor or not.
via Modern Survival Online https://ift.tt/MAJajTFZh
Are you ready for winter? Ready or not, winter is taking aim at this country, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to get your winter preps done. Checklists are a great way to ensure you don’t miss anything.
stuck in snow
If you live in the North, you’re probably well ahead of the game. For us down here in the South, it’s about time to get going before another snow and ice storm hits, like last January. And, if you’re like me, you love to see a checklist with things you can go ahead and mark off right away, because you’ve already done it!
Home Winter Prep Checklist
Here are some of the ways you can prepare for cold temps, snowstorms, and lots of snow!
Stock up on your alternative heating options — firewood, gas for generations, etc. Don’t forget about matches, lighters, fire starters, and all the other accessories needed to keep warm.
Make sure you have plenty of water. You’ll need water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene, and for pets as well.
Rotate your food storage if needed, and stock up on cold weather treats to have on hand. Hot chocolate, marshmallows for the kids, and plenty of beans and seasoning for chili are a great start.
Get more batteries. You know you’ll use them.
Check your gutters and downspouts. Clean them or have them cleaned.
Make any repairs to your home that will ensure you stay warm and safe during any winter storm.
Trim any tree limbs that could fall on the house if the weight of ice caused them to break.
Winterize your pipes, appliances, windows, and doors. Check insulation and install storm doors if needed.
Stock up on inexpensive games and toys for the kids to squash cabin fever. Or, put away some of the toys the kids already have and bring them back when the “I’m bored!” whines begin.
Get a weather radio. Set it to notify you of any winter weather advisories, watches, or warnings.
Understand the risks in your particular area. If you’re used to snow, ice or wind chills might be a bigger concern. If snow is uncommon, like in the South, where it tends to shut everything down, you’ll need to be ready to head to the store BEFORE the masses hit the streets.
Sign up for weather alerts that are specific to your area. This is also great for spring and summer severe weather.
Have a game plan for getting the kids home from school if it is canceled early. Also, go ahead and think about what you’ll do with the kids if school is called off for a day, and you still have to report to work.
Print some checklists or spreadsheets to catalog your survival inventory. It’ll give you something to do when you can’t play checkers for the millionth time.
Make notes of things that do and don’t work if you experience power outages or other quasi-end of the world situations.
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Procedures
Make sure your car has plenty of anti-freeze, and that you’ve got more tucked away in your garage. Go ahead and check your other fluid levels as well.
Check your windshield wiper blades. Replace them if they look worn or haven’t been doing a good job.
Take a peek at your tires. Check the tread to make sure you’ve got adequate grip on the roads. Switch to snow tires if you live in an area where they are needed.
Check your filters, spark plugs, and batteries. If you aren’t mechanically inclined, have an auto mechanic give your car a once-over.
Make sure your all your lights are in good working order. Check the headlights, taillights, and blinkers.
Maintaining and prepping your vehicle for harsh and unforgiving winter weather is crucial to your success, and most especially if you are already in the middle of a crisis. Winter weather breakdowns are common, but it is still something that you can ill afford when lives are already on the line.
Make it a point to inspect and prepare your vehicle using the following checklist before the grip of winter fully tightens. Now as always, the time to get ready is before you need to!
Check Battery Health, and Consider an Upgrade
Most readers already know that cold weather is hard on batteries, and many of us have come out of the office or to our driveways in the morning to discover that they have given up the ghost and no longer have the juice necessary to start our vehicles.
This is because low temperatures slow down the chemical reactions taking place in a battery; the very same reactions that make them function!
If they slow down enough, they will fail, and this is of course proportional to the health and charge status of the battery. A battery that is at the halfway point of its life or already lacking a good charge will suffer far worse and likely fail when the temperature plummets.
car battery
Accordingly, make sure you have your battery health inspected, not just the charge status, and consider upgrading to a newer battery and particularly one that is cold weather rated if you live in an area known for bitter, freezing weather.
Do Tires Need Rotating or Replacing?
Tires are another obviously critical component for safe travels in the winter time. You should always inspect your tires regularly, rotating them when necessary to prolong life through the evening of typical wear patterns.
You should also consider switching out your normal, everyday driver tires for specialty mud and snow or all weather tires that are better designed to maintain traction even when roads are slushy or covered with snow.
Tires of this type have deeper, wider grooves that will provide a channel for snow and water to enter, ideally allowing better contact between the surface of the tread and the road beneath. These tires really do make a difference, so consider it!
Inspect Belts, Hoses and Connections
Cold weather makes rubber and plastic brittle, and that means that critical belts, hoses and other connectors can seriously degrade or even fail entirely when the mercury starts falling. This is most often a show stopping event when you were out on the road, and you’ll be waiting on a tow should it occur.
But you can greatly reduce the chances that you’ll fall victim to this mishap by inspecting all of your belts, hoses and connectors that are made of rubber or plastic carefully for signs of degradation or impending failure. You might be able to squeeze out a little more service life and warmer weather, but cold weather will prove to be a severe test to any component so degraded.
You can change it now, and change it cheaply, or pay through the nose for a tow and emergency repair. The choice is yours!
Check Tire Pressure
Pay close attention to your tire pressure when the weather gets chilly. Lower temperatures means a reduction in air pressure even if your tires are leak free. Every 10°F that the temperature falls you’ll lose about one PSI in tire pressure.
You’ll need to increase tire pressure accordingly to compensate if you want to stay safe on the road, but do keep in mind that your tire pressure will increase again as you travel and your tires start to heat up.
Don’t forget to reduce air pressure again as appropriate should you move into warmer climates or experience warmer temperatures any given day of the week.
Inspect Undercarriage for Corrosion
Winter weather impacting civilization means that roads will be salted pretty much everywhere you go, and this salt mixes with water and snow to form a corrosive slush that will readily build up on the undercarriage of your vehicle.
The most modern vehicles have coatings which help prevent serious degradation, any existing damage will be exacerbated by this corrosive salt.
For this reason, it is a great idea to go through the chore of inspecting the undercarriage of your vehicle for corrosion and having it attended to even if it is just a spot treatment before winter weather arrives and the salt trucks take to the roads in advance of it.
It doesn’t take too many winters of steady salt exposure for your undercarriage to start looking like a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean!
Check Antifreeze Mixture
Lastly, but not least, take the time to verify that your vehicle has plenty of antifreeze mixture in the radiator and that the mixture is correct for the temperatures that you can expect to be operating in. an incorrect mixture might not be the end of the world, but a low antifreeze level could be disastrous.
If the mixture is wrong, either drain it and correct it yourself with fresh mix, don’t try to adjust the one that has been in there a while, or pay to have it professionally drained, flushed and replaced. This is not a big deal for most vehicles.
Winter Vehicle BOB Considerations
Take a look in your BOB or GOOD bag/container. Is there anything you need to add to it?
Add extra blankets to your BOB, and throw an another blanket in your trunk or backseat.
If you have warm-weather clothes in your bag, switch them out for warm clothes. Don’t forget extra pants, shirts, socks, and boots, in case what you have gets wet from snow or rain.
Add extra socks to your car or bag. Extra as in, in addition to what you just put in there.
Double and triple check to be sure you have enough warm clothes and blankets for your kids.
Check the date and quality of the food and water in your car or BOB. Now’s a good time to rotate things out if you haven’t done it recently.
Add some small toys or crayons and paper to make sure you can keep the kids occupied. Travel in winter weather can take longer than normal, even if it is safe to travel.
Your Winter Gear Checklist
Home
Food
You might not think it necessary to carry some emergency rations in your car as part of a well-rounded winter survival kit, but you might want to rethink that assumption.
Recent events have shown us that it is an easy thing to get stranded on a highway or the interstate as a result of intense winter weather, and if the thought of spending 24 hours in your vehicle sounds maddening, imagine how much worse it could be with a grumbling stomach.
Beyond this entirely common occurrence, consider that if you get well and truly stuck or crash in an out of the way place you might need to rely on those rations for energy if you are going to attempt self rescue.
Any food you keep in your car for the purpose must be completely shelf stable and not prone to bursting or otherwise becoming damaged should it be subjected to freezing temperatures. Say what you want about military MREs, but they are perfect for this task as they are designed to withstand temperature extremes and remain completely edible with no preparation.
Water
If you need food, you’ll definitely need water, and this should come as no surprise to any prepper. However, this obviously will prove to be a challenge in winter weather since your water can freeze and burst whatever container is holding it.
To combat this endemic problem you have a couple of options. The first option is to load the water into your vehicle after you warm it up prior to traveling, placing it in the cabin where it will stay warmer longer.
The second option is to carry water in containers that you fill yourself, and leave enough space for the water to expand as it freezes so that it does not burst the containers. This necessitates thawing the water before you drink it.
Alternately, you might consider carrying a small metal camping mug or saucepan for collecting snow that you can melt.
First-Aid Kit
Much of the time when you find yourself in a life-threatening emergency it is in the immediate aftermath of an event that could cause you or someone else serious injury. This is a problem in and of itself, and further complicates your efforts to survive the bigger picture problem.
The solution is keeping a first aid kit on hand at all times in your vehicle and your home. This kit should be set up to deal with minor injuries like burns, cuts, various ailments and so forth as well as trauma that could be typical of a slip trip and fall or automobile accident. Tourniquets, splints, gauze, hemostatic agents and painkillers are a good idea.
Remember that this stuff won’t do you any good if you don’t know how to use it, so make sure you get trained and stay sharp!
Blankets
Good blankets are priceless when the temperature plummets, especially when you don’t have a sufficient source of heat, or your heat source is out of action entirely due to lack of fuel or other factors. Putting additional layers between you and the cold air is a prime factor in staying warm.
For emergency usage, you might consider heavy, sturdy wool blankets of the kind popularized by military service and outdoor explorers the world over, or invest in a space age emergency blanket.
Emergency blankets look for the entire world like an extra large piece of aluminum foil, but despite their seemingly delicate construction and feathery lightweight they work wonderfully to help keep the wearer warm by reflecting up to 90% of body heat.
You can make a good case for keeping both on hand at home and in your vehicle, but if space is at a premium consider the emergency blanket.
Cold-Weather Clothes
Cold weather means you need cold weather clothing. Obvious right? I hope so, but it bears repeating. Proper cold weather clothing outfits consist of multiple layers so that you may add layers to provide better insulation when you need them and remove layers to cool down so that you do not soak yourself with sweat.
Additionally, you’ll need appropriate socks, gloves and headgear to provide Total protection. This is something that is absolutely vital to have on hand whenever and wherever you might be deprived of climate control. No matter how warm your house is, it will get bitterly cold and very short order if you can no longer produce heat to warm it.
You should also keep at the minimum cold weather tops and bottoms along with headgear and gloves in your vehicle so that you’ll have a dedicated set if you become stranded.
Survival Candle
Multi-wick survival candles are an essential winter survival item. Aside from providing long lasting, reliable and simple light they can also meaningfully heat up a small space like a small bedroom, closet or the interior of a vehicle. You might use multiple, single wick candles for the same purpose but this will usually turn into a logistical challenge.
Survival candles are also designed to be extremely long and clean burning and have no fragrance whatsoever so they do not aggravate air quality and cramped quarters. The heavy duty metal containers and lids also provide a margin of safety and durability that is useful during an emergency.
Whatever kind of survival candles you choose, make sure you have a reliable way to light them in the form of matches or lighters.
Solar Charger
A solar charger wonderfully compliments your mobile devices by giving you true off-grid, portable electrical generation capability so long as you have unimpeded access to the open sky and the sun is up.
By orienting the solar cells directly towards the sun, UV radiation will be converted to electricity and either stored in an onboard power bank for distribution or directly piped into your device, be it smartphone, GPS or something else.
Harsh winter weather is notorious for knocking down our increasingly fragile power grid, so a capable solar charger makes a great addition to any winter weather survival kit. As always, you should test your kit ahead of time, particularly in cloudy or overcast weather, so you know what to expect out of it in less than ideal conditions.
Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is always a critical emergency tool to keep on hand every day of the year, but they are even more important during winter weather since house fires are disproportionately more likely to occur when people are running heaters, fireplaces and furnaces on high, to say nothing of an increase in cooking because no one wants to leave the house.
A fire extinguisher can save the day by smothering a small accidental Fire before it turns into a raging conflagration that will burn up your home and everything in it.
Make sure you have a properly serviced an adequately sized ABC rated fire extinguisher strategically placed in your home so it will be easy to access near the point where a fire is more likely to start, but not so close that it will be overtaken by the fire before you can get to it.
It is important that everyone in the home knows where the fire extinguisher is and how to operate it. In this regard, more, or bigger, is always better but ideally everyone that is of age should be able to handle it efficiently.
Vehicle
Maps, Atlas and Compass
It goes without saying, but your vehicle should always contain a reasonably up-to-date set of regional maps and a comprehensive road atlas along with a reliable compass.
I know that GPS systems today are ubiquitous and highly reliable whether they are built into the vehicle itself or married separately as your smartphone or some other device, but none of them will do any good if they are out of power or just don’t have any signal.
Especially considering How likely it is that you’ll need to detour to avoid the worst of winter weather or as a direct consequence of weather related accidents and traffic jams, having a reliable set of maps that you can reference could make the difference between getting to your destination and a timely fashion or becoming hopelessly lost trying to play it fast and loose.
Power Cell
Unless you are a prepping Luddite you probably rely on electronic devices for your everyday life and your survival preps as much as the next guy. There is much to commend these devices, but they are completely dependent upon electricity to function and once the power runs out the fun stops if you take my meaning.
You can help provide a hedge against loss of capability by keeping a fully charged power cell or spare battery on hand along with appropriate cables for your devices. The best of these can rapidly charge multiple devices at once several times and this could afford you life and sanity saving options during a long wait stranded in your vehicle.
As always, these devices might slowly lose their charge over time so make sure you keep an eye on them and keep them topped off before you need them.
Escape Tool
seatbelt cutter and window smasher 2-in-1 gadget
An escape tool is one that is purpose designed to help occupants of a motor vehicle get out of it as quickly as possible, even should the doors become jammed or blocked.
Typically consisting of an integrated, shielded seatbelt slashing blade and a spring loaded carbide tipped window breaking punch, keeping a pair of these within reach of the front seat passengers will help everyone get out in a hurry.
there are several other designs aside from the one described, everything from multipurpose mallets to small, credit card sized devices that clip conveniently onto a seatbelt harness. What matters is that you have one, know how it functions and make sure it is securely in place so that it is not fly around the cabin and get lost during a crash or collision.
Fire Extinguisher
The only winter survival item that is so good and important it is included on this list twice. All jokes aside though, you should have a fire extinguisher on board your vehicle at all times, and particularly during winter weather where loss of the vehicle could mean being without meaningful shelter should you become stranded while on the road.
A vehicular fire extinguisher must meet many of the same standards as the one you keep at home, namely it should be ABC rated, high quality and properly maintained, but now you need to keep it in an equally durable mount that will keep it ready for instant use but also prevent it from becoming a deadly missile during a crash.
Flashlight, Lantern, Headlamp and Batteries
As mentioned before, winter weather often means crashes, mishaps and mayhem on the side of the road, and hear more than most other places you are likely to be facing darkness without an adequate amount of ambient light or other sources of light to help you take care of business. You’ll need to provide your own light, and that means you’ll need the right tools.
I like to carry an abundance of electric light sources on board my vehicle, especially during the winter. The more the merrier. Lanterns can provide wide area lighting that also increases overall visibility, headlamps can help me get light where I need it when working on a vehicle or any other time I need my hands-free and flashlights once again are now as always a ubiquitous and useful choice.
rechargeable batteries and chargers
You also should carry at least one set of spare batteries for each of these devices. Specifically, try to choose lithium cells or another kind of battery that is less likely to lose performance or self-discharge quickly due to storage in a cold environment.
Jump Box
If you run afoul of a week or dead battery and don’t have any other drivers around to help you, you can give yourself a jump and get back on the road with a jump box.
Little more than an automotive battery with integrated, short jumper cables, a jump box is a convenient and reliable way to take care of one of the most common winter weather-related malfunctions under any circumstances. Easy to transport an easy to use, this is one of my favorite automotive preps.
One tip, though: make sure you choose a jump box that is adequate for pushing enough juice into the size of battery that your vehicle requires.
jumper cables in car trunk
Jumper Cables
Jump boxes are great, but they rarely supply enough juice over time for multiple jump attempts. When the chips are down and you really need to get a battery going again, jumper cables are ideal, and can help recharge a battery that is on its last legs with the assistance of another vehicle.
Good jumper cables will be extra long to make positioning the assisting vehicle easier, extra thick to make sure they give enough power,, feature a heavy duty coating and solid copper contacts for maximum efficiency.
This is another item you should always have a board your vehicle, but most especially during the winter time!
Air Compressor
Sometimes a tire will lose air pressure or go catastrophically flat when you are a long way from a service station that can air it back up again. Once again, you can take care of the problem yourself if you have a portable air compressor as part of your vehicular winter prep complement.
Typically plugging into the accessory power outlet, these compact air compressors don’t deliver much force compared to larger, workshop size compressors but will reliably inflate the average passenger vehicle tire given a few minutes.
This item is doubly important if your vehicle does not carry a full size spare tire! Compact spare tires are only rated for low speeds and short distances, and can prove to be highly troublesome on road conditions typical of colder seasons.
Folding Shovel
A folding shovel, often known as an e tool, is the perfect item for digging your way out of a stuck situation should your vehicle slide off the road or become a snow bound in place by precipitation.
Compared to using an improvised device or even more, your hands, a folding shovel will make easy work of the job and help you get going quicker while using less energy. Even better, these handy tools fold down to the size of a large hardcover book and can be easily carried about any vehicle, even a motorcycle!
Tire Chains
Tire chains are a highly effective but often forgotten mobility upgrade for passenger automobiles. Although they can be quite fiddly to install, nothing works quite as well to provide grip on the slickest and iciest roads. In fact, they are so effective that some perennially cold places require these to be carried aboard all passenger cars by law!
You should have a set also, and know how to install them. Even if they are illegal or restricted in your area, dealing with the aftermath of that ticket is far better than being stranded somewhere because conditions got so hostile that vehicular travel was tantamount to suicide. When the chips are down, you want the grip that tire chains can give you.
shovel, tow rope, duct tape, and more
Tow Straps
Tow straps are lightweight, affordable and largely safe vehicular recovery devices that can allow an assistant vehicle to easily and safely pull another one out of a stuck spot. Compared to chains, there are stronger, lighter and safer to use.
If your vehicle has external hardpoints for towing, or a specially adapted bumper that will allow such, these are highly straightforward to use, but for other vehicles it might require a little bit of know-how and ingenuity. Make sure you learn how to use these before the time comes so you don’t botch it make things worse!
Bag of Sand or Kitty Litter
Vehicles typically get stuck or even totally immobilized in winter weather because they lose traction. In essence, snow and ice acts like a lubricant between the tire and the pavement or underlying ground.
One old-timer trick that works as well today as it did back then is the carrying of a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk when expecting wintery conditions.
By scattering a quantity ahead of all four tires, or behind them if trying to reverse, you can create a patch of high friction that can help get your vehicle moving again. Although it is quickly dispersed it might be enough to get you out of a jam. Plus, this is one winter weather prep that costs so little you really have no excuse for not having it!
Flares
Anytime you are forced to stop on the side of the road, be it delays, malfunction or an accident you’ll be engraved danger of being struck by following or oncoming traffic. Countless studies have shown that this occurs because other drivers either failed to see the stopped vehicle and pedestrians or did not see them in time to avoid them.
Accordingly, the single best thing you can do to increase safety in this all together two common occurrence is to brightly illuminate the area around your vehicle and leading up to it. The best and most noticeable tool for this job is the humble emergency road flare.
These flickering, bright pyrotechnic flares are more noticeable than literally anything else you can buy and are reliable enough to operate in all conditions, from blistering cold to driving rain. They even come with little stands so they don’t roll away. Get some, learn how to use them and keep them in your trunk, no exceptions!
Ready For Winter?
What do you do to get ready for winter? What’s on this list that you hadn’t thought of or done? What can you add to this list to help someone else?
Every prepper buying now knows how important the ability to make fire is. For all the talk about utilizing primitive methods or retro tech, hardly anything is quicker and easier to do in a bad situation than simply utilizing a lighter.
a Zippo lighter
Lighters are indispensable tools in a survival kit, but compared to more primitive methods they are limited by the longevity of their fuel and components. This means that a smart prepper will ask “how long will my lighter really last?”
Zippos experience significant fuel evaporation and rarely last longer than a few weeks, with continuous burn time of about 10 minutes. Bic and other standard butane lighters have about an hour’s worth of fuel, and can last a couple of years unused.
Different kinds of lighter have different advantages for savvy folks, and it is worth knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each before committing to one or the other as part of your survival kit. We will talk about the perks and flaws of each throughout the remainder of this article.
Zippo Advantages and Disadvantages
The Zippo is an iconic lighter, and is firmly in the category of living Americana. But however cool and classy they are, these lighters are a century old at this point, and like every century old design they are definitely showing their age in the performance category, style notwithstanding.
Zippos function by utilizing a cloth wick that is routed through a stack of fiber batting in the fuel chamber. This wick delivers fuel to the chimney for combustion through capillary action and is ignited via a striker and flint mechanism.
Liquid fuel is poured into the fuel chamber over the batting where it is absorbed before being replaced in the lighter’s casing, or body. Flip open the top, flick the striker and presto, you have a flame emitted from that charming little chimney.
This design is simple, but because it is constantly exposed to the atmosphere and not sealed in any meaningful way the fuel experiences precipitous evaporation. In ideal circumstances, a full Zippo will be bone dry and useless in about 3 weeks, but almost no Zippo lives in ideal circumstances.
Being sloshed around from everyday carry and exposed to dry conditions means that most Zippos will dry out in as little as one to two weeks before they require refueling.
When fully fueled, you can expect anywhere from 100 to 200 lights from your Zippo before it starts to sputter. This equals about 10 minutes of continuous burn, though you should not depend on your lighter as a candle; prolonged burn can damage the chimney and striker.
Although all of this falls well, well short of the performance of modern butane lighters, Zippos do have some unique advantages, namely the fact they are capable of using multiple fuels, not just ronsonol. Zippos can be made to work using diesel fuel, kerosene and even rendered animal fat.
Pretty much anything that is liquid and combustible can be made to operate in a Zippo, and they’re simple mechanical design lends itself towards modification and user repair, important concerns for preppers.
Bic Advantages and Disadvantages
The modern Bic disposable lighter is no less iconic and ubiquitous than the classic Zippo, but it is still boldly a product of its era.
Made from a molded plastic shell and cheap, stamped metal components, Bic lighters rely on butane fuel kept in a sealed and pressurized vessel. Right up front, this affords the Bic lighter significant advantages in longevity over a Zippo.
When you flick the striker of the Bic while depressing the button a tiny stream of butane is released into the chimney where it is ignited.
Let go of the button, and the stream of fuel stops with the remainder being properly sealed inside the fuel chamber. It is this sealing mechanism integral to the design of the Bic lighter that provides such outstanding longevity, and you should expect a common disposable lighter of this type to keep its fuel no less than a couple of years.
Most Bic lighters will provide at least 1,000 lights before they run out of fuel, and 2,000 is far from out of the question. In fact, Bic lighters are so fuel efficient that a standard model can provide nearly an hour of continuous burn time.
However, you should never, ever keep a Bic lit for longer than about 30 seconds as the intense heat can damage the lighter and potentially rupture the fuel cell!
Although these lighters are disposable and non-refillable, this is hardly a concern considering their overall reliability and dirt cheap cost. You can keep a brand new package of Bic lighters in your bag or survival kit for less than the cost of a single can of ronsonol for a Zippo.
If your Bic lighter runs out of fuel or stops working, you can just ditch it and grab a new one. Although it is against the ethos of most preppers you cannot argue with the economy of these things.
The shortcomings of the Bic include being entirely reliant on a single type of highly refined manufactured fuel, butane, and their aforementioned disposable nature.
If your Bic lighter is out of fuel or otherwise malfunctioning, there is not much you can do for it or with it except perhaps salvage it for a flint and a few other components.
Stop Fuel Evaporation to Improve Useful Life
Whether you choose a Zippo, a Bic or some other lighter there is one thing you can do to universally improve fuel retention by slowing evaporation.
By sealing the lighter inside an airtight container you can prevent the volatile fuel from evaporating in the atmosphere, or at least significantly slow down the process.
You can use heavy duty Ziploc bags for this purpose or even especially designed cases or holders with sturdy, gasketed lids.
Zippos and other classic lighters benefit far more from this than modern butane lighters, as you might imagine, and Zippos still don’t do very well if they are allowed to tumble around on their side or upside down as the fuel can physically condense and leak out of them.
But especially for short-term use or survival purposes this trick is just the ticket for maximizing what could be sharply limited fuel supplies.
Conclusion
A lighter is a precious addition to any fire starting kit. But lighters don’t last forever, even when they are unused. Fuel evaporates and the design of the lighter will significantly impact this rate of evaporation.
Classically designed lighters like the iconic Zippo suffer from rapid fuel evaporation, and you will rarely have a load of fuel last longer than 2 weeks before it is gone.
Modern butane lighters like the Bic however benefit from pressurized fuel cells and can remain reliable and usable for upwards of 2 years.
There is definitely room for both in a prepper’s arsenal depending upon your objectives and what is most important to you. Take the time to understand the variables and think through the consequences before committing to one of these lighters.
It used to be that pretty much only preppers were worried about widespread societal collapse in America. I would reckon that anyone who isn’t today at least a little worried about it is actually the crazy one.
There is no denying that the rifts in our society, cultural, economic and governmental, are becoming wider and wider every day, and it won’t be long before we can’t even see the other side.
Accordingly, you can expect things to change, and as frightening as this is to consider you should take some measure of cold and clammy comfort that this has all happened before to empires and societies all around the world.
Life will go on, and indeed society will go on, but in new shapes and in new ways. But some places are going to fare much better, in my estimation, than others.
This is because the death throes of the societal ways of old will be calamitous indeed. There will be destruction on a level unimagined by most people living today, and unfortunately many deaths as the contractions and new growths attendant to the death and birth of nations take place.
And the interest of giving yourself and your loved ones the best possible chance for success and new beginning, picking when and where you will ride out this process counts for a lot. We will talk about five such regions in today’s article.
Even the Safest Places Could Fall…
One distressing tendency I have noted in my long years of teaching personal preparedness is the tendency of many folks, seasoned preppers included, to “put all their eggs in one basket” when it comes to choosing a place to settle that will afford them the most advantages should society start to break apart.
This is understandable, but perhaps a bit misguided. Yes, we all have to put our chips down on the table and then the cards will be revealed; you have to make a stand somewhere!
But it is critical to understand that the safest, best possible place, any place, including that small town you set your eyes on, could still be affected by the forces unleashed during a societal collapse. To say it will be a time of unpredictability is an understatement!
The regions on the list below have been chosen because they have proven to fare better over time in times of distress than elsewhere and also because they have endemic advantages to people who are well-prepared and skilled enough to take advantage of them.
Also, they are “less suitable” for so many of the people we are trying to avoid in trying times, namely people who are completely dependent on modernity to survive.
Bottom line, you should go or move to any of the places on this list with confidence, but be prepared with a Plan B if trouble befalls the region!
The 10 Best Places to Be When the SHTF
Appalachia
river in the Appalachian mountains
Appalachia has long been a redoubt against outside forces. Although the Appalachian mountain range stretches all the way from the southern US up into Canada, the region properly known as Appalachia comprises several southern, southeastern and a few northern states, but we are particularly concerned with Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Tennessee, West Virginia and the western reaches of both Carolinas.
Although suitably rugged, the Appalachian Mountains are comparatively short and gentle compared to giants like the Rockies and are nothing compared to the steep ranges of the Alps in Europe.
This makes them easy to hide in and easy to hold, but difficult to traverse in the remotest regions for outsiders.
Even better, the mild, temperate climate throughout much of this region is nonetheless suitable for a variety of farming and growing, and plentiful wildlife and water combined with decidedly conservative cultures means that surviving the fall of empire in Appalachia is as likely to be as appealing as anyplace else.
The Ozarks
cows in the Ozark mountains
Also known as the US Interior Highlands, the Ozarks is a sprawling geographic region taking up a significant chunk of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri.
With gently rolling mountains, expansive forests and natural resources in great abundance combined with a relatively mild climate all year, the Ozarks will prove to be a sustainable and highly inhabitable retreat in the event of societal collapse.
Furthermore, the Ozarks region is fairly strategically located for our purposes, being not too far from major population centers in any direction that accessing trade or other necessities that would prove to be impossible, while being far enough away from most to dissuade adventurous or opportunistic pillagers and refugees.
The diversity of the region means that you can remain as communal or get as isolated as you want, and all the while have plenty of access to water, wood and more.
Agriculture is definitely possible and hunting is plentiful, all kinds of species in all. If there’s one bad thing we can say about the Ozarks it is that the area is fairly tornado prone, but not too bad compared to other places in the greater region.
The Mid-South
An area making up southern Tennessee and much of northern Alabama and Georgia, the Mid-South exemplifies excellence and agriculture and hunting with plenty of variation in biomes and geography.
Sweltering summers are just about the worst you’ll have to worry about when it comes to weather, and the entirety of this region is intensely conservative.
Excellent gun and property rights throughout means you won’t have any trouble setting up your own homestead for surviving SHTF, and abundant freshwater sources combined with higher than average rainfall compared to much of the country means that one of your most pressing survival needs will rarely go unmet.
Also, much of the Mid-South outside of the largest population centers is very sparsely populated, meaning you’ll have easy access to affordable land that you can furthermore customize more or less to your liking. If you really want to get away from it all, and do it while they’re getting is good, you’ll definitely want to check out the Mid-South.
Texas Panhandle
Palo Duro canyon in northern Texas
Texas is a greatly beloved state by freedom lovers, and if you didn’t know that, just ask any Texan and they will tell you!
Although not quite as free and libertarian as popular conception would have you believe, and suffering from blistering property prices and taxes alike in a couple of areas, there is nonetheless much to love about Texas from a prepper’s perspective, particularly northern Texas in the panhandle area, when it comes to surviving a societal collapse.
Land is abundant, people are few and the climate is surprisingly mild compared to the Gulf Coast and interior regions.
This is also a place that is famous for produce and livestock alike, and with the right skills or the right connections you can easily ensure that you keep access to a bountiful food supply.
Perhaps the only detractors from the Texas panhandle region when it comes to riding out the collapse of society is that it is uncomfortably close to the US-Mexico border in the grand scheme of things ,and the fact that teeming throngs of refugees might pour out of the population centers of the state to the south, meaning you might be dealing with more neighbors than you had bargained for.
Idaho Region
Idaho
Idaho is what I like to call a “sleeper” state. There is so much to love about it, but you hardly ever hear anyone talking about it unless they are making a joke about potatoes.
The people that I know who hail from Idaho, and those who have been long-term transplants, would probably prefer to keep it that way in order to avoid undo influxes to the population!
Idaho is an amazing state, both for its incredible climate suitable to growing a wide variety of crops to its amazing hunting opportunities and overall biodiversity, with many parts of the state being sparsely inhabited indeed.
Also, the state is broadly homogeneous, culturally and politically, meaning it will start off being more stable than most places. Harsh winters can be a problem, but this is a relatively small price to pay for everything you gain otherwise.
One should be aware though that you are ultimately a hop, skip and a jump away from Washington and Oregon, both two infamous colonies of progressive craziness, craziness that might in time be heading your way or just result in a mass displacement of other freedom loving people who would rather avoid being burned at the stake.
Northern Yankeedom
Vermont homestead during winter
If you are like me, you probably want to get away from Yankee strongholds, not head towards them, but if you live in New England or have family up there, take heart because there are opportunities for excellent survival retreats that will likely survive the collapse of civilization.
In particular, Vermont and New Hampshire, though often regarded as quirky, liberal states, are in fact sparsely populated areas with incredible and abundant natural resources, both plant and animal.
Harsh winter weather will always be a problem, but one that is not insurmountable, and the state culture outside of leftist strongholds is one of largely traditional values and frontier independence.
You could do a lot worse than heading to the rural areas of either state so long as you know how to handle yourself when the cold takes hold.
Ark-La-Tex
Ark-La-Tex is the informal but popular name ascribed to the intersection of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana given to it by residents of the region. It also has a lot going for it, and brings a little bit to the table from the advantages of each state.
Highly biodiverse, and with excellent hunting and agricultural opportunities this region is a sweet spot that is free from the climate extremes that each state is known for.
It is neither blisteringly hot nor too humid, and can give you plenty of breathing room to stay well away from the coast and its dense population.
If you live elsewhere in any of these states and need a backup plan, this is a good region to head toward to keep your options open and maximize your return on investment.
South Central Alaska
Alaska is popularly thought of as a frozen hellscape, but you might be surprised to learn that the southern reaches are quite mild in the summer and the winters are not absolutely, positively grueling so long as you know what you are doing and prepare.
The best part about Alaska is that there are precious few people in total in this absolutely massive state, and self-sufficiency is truly a way of life. You need to make sure you are up to snuff before you move there, but you can take cold comfort knowing that this area will not tolerate the weak or the pretender.
And while it is a giant pain in the ass to relocate yourself accordingly, take heart knowing that throngs of refugees swarming the lower 48 will hardly have a prayer of reaching the natural bounty that this rugged, frontier environment has to offer its residents.
Wyoming
country road in Wyoming
Wyoming is one of the most sparsely populated states in the US, but one that has plenty of land and a strong conservative culture going for it.
Whether you into farming, raising livestock or something else Wyoming can accommodate it. This is a place where old world values rule the roost, and considering the lack of people most communities are very close and invested in each other.
Make sure you aren’t a carpetbagger if you want to thrive in Wyoming. Many places are incredibly remote and difficult to get to throughout the state, and it isn’t even guaranteed you’ll have cell phone service while you travel.
If you really want to get away from the mass of humanity during a societal collapse without leaving the lower 48, Wyoming is an excellent choice.
Missouri
lake in Missouri
Missouri is yet another state that has so much going for it when it comes to prepping. Biodiversity, fertile land, abundant wildlife and a livable, relatively mild climate year-round.
The fact that it is centrally located makes it even better, and it is also not particularly a crossroads for those who are traveling between major metropolitan areas, a perk for our purposes.
Another park, is that Missouri is crisscrossed with many rivers that could be useful in place of highways during a societal collapse allowing for relatively easy and unfettered travel.
Conclusion
No one wants to think about dealing with a societal collapse, and certainly nobody wants to think about dealing with a societal collapse or that collapse will do the most damage.
Choosing where to make your stand as a prepper in order to survive the death throes of a society will greatly influence your chances.
If you own property you will eventually have to deal with the problem of the stumps that trees leave behind once they are cut, or knocked, down. That is just the way it is.
a hollowed-out tree stump
Due to accident, damage or deliberate intervention one way or the other trees will eventually give up the ghost and that means you’ll need to deal with the aggravating, annoying stump they leave behind.
Some folks choose to embrace the stump, and use it as a centerpiece for a kitschy, folksy landscape installation. But if that’s not you, the stump can be a problem.
It is definitely a slip, trip and fall hazard and is also a major obstacle for any kind of power lawn equipment, and is more than capable of damaging your mower should you run over it by mistake.
Second order effects you’ll need to worry about include stumps serving as excellent homes for major infestations of termites, termites that might later migrate to your house. Wasps and other critters besides will sometimes set up shop and stumps too and prove very difficult to get rid of.
There’s nothing for it: The stump needs to go! But removing it from the ground can prove to be a backbreaking endeavor if you aren’t armed with a little bit of know-how and the right tools.
In an effort to save your hands and your back, as well as a ton of time, will be providing you with the 10 easiest methods for moving a stump from your property.
Stump Grinder
A dedicated stump grinder is by far the most straightforward and generally controllable method of stump removal.
These imposing pieces of power equipment often resemble a giant chainsaw or cutter boom on a small trailer, and each massive tooth on the whirling assembly serves to hack and chisel away at the tough stump that is uglying up your property.
Use with care, as this is definitely a dangerous piece of equipment but one that is capable of dealing with the toughest, gnarliest stump imaginable.
With a few passes and a little bit of back and forth pretty soon all you’ll have left to remember that stump by is a scar in your yard and a pile of wood chippings. You can easily fill in the hole and rake up what’s left of the stump for burning or other summary disposal.
If you don’t want to mess around with other methods you should seek out a stump grinder you can rent and you can handle this yourself. It is what most of the pros use, and that is called a clue.
Power Maul / Wedges
Perhaps second only to the stump grinder in efficacy, a power maul can efficiently and quickly reduce a stump to smaller, more manageable chunks in short order with less risk associated with operation than a stump grinder.
These large contractions employ a hardened steel wedge that is driven under immense pressure into the stump to split it similar to how firewood is split using a common powered log splitter.
You’ll still have to wrestle the larger chunks out of the ground, but in operation the power maul will easily sever roots and destabilize the stump in the ground, making your life easier.
A similar method can be employed using manual hand tools and simple, wood splitting wedges. By hammering these wedges into the stump one after the other you can split the stump all the same without need of a large, heavy machine.
It is still a serious workout, but you’ll have to put in far less effort than you would attacking the stump directly with axes and picks.
Stump-Rot
It is possible to employ the scientific approach when it comes to stump removal, and there are many purpose-formulated stump removing chemicals on the market you can choose from.
These chemicals work using a variety of methods, but typically begin to break down or dissolve the wood through some sort of chemical reaction, or even introducing wood-eating fungi to the stump.
The end result is that the stump and its roots are gravely weakened and far, far easier to extricate from the soil.
Depending on the specific product you might have to do a little prep work on the stump, either drilling a hole in it or cutting furrows into the uppermost surface. Some, though, work on the stump as it is, all you need to do is pour them on and walk away.
Do take care of when employing this method if any secondary contamination of your surrounding landscaping, yard or underground water sources would be an issue.
Burn It Out
One of the more popular options for those who can employ it safely, stumps are comparatively easy to burn out of the ground.
All you need to do is split the stump a little bit, add some accelerant or additional fuel to get the fire started, then light it up and watch it burn. This works best on stumps that are already very dry, or seasoned, since they will burn better.
Another viable method is to build a large fire atop the stump which will then be consumed as fuel from above. There are some problems with this method, namely it is less and less palatable the closer your neighbors are and is definitely a bad idea during times of high wildfire risk.
Also, it can be difficult to completely burn out a stump deeply underground, so if you want total removal of the stump and its roots burning might not be the best choice.
Use a Vehicle
Using the massive torque and weight of an automobile is a viable method for yanking smaller or weakened stumps right out of the ground. All you’ll need is some strong chain or sturdy towing straps and you can get it done with a minimum of fuss and a little finesse.
The trick to employing this method is first making sure you have enough purchase on the stump. A stump that is left standing a little proud out of the ground is easier to remove via this technique then one that is cut flush or has already been chopped and hammered until it resides somewhat below the surface of the soil.
If that is the case, you’ll need to dig and excavate until you can securely fasten the straps or chains around the stump. When the time comes to pull, don’t just step on it to yank it out, as this will create a dangerous condition if your attachment point breaks.
Instead, slowly and smoothly depress the throttle until the stump starts to yield, then use a slight rocking motion to finish the job. Four-wheel drive vehicles or ones with excellent torque are best for this operation.
Cover With Compost
This is the ideal method for lazy folks, or those who have plenty of time to spare for stump removal. All that is required is covering the stump with an active compost pile and letting nature do the work.
The same forces and microorganisms that act on the food scraps, yard debris and other detritus comprising the raw materials of your compost pile will act on the stump in kind, slowly but certainly breaking it down until it is less than mulch.
All you’ll need to do then is shovel it out or leave it where it is until you can repurpose it.
This method will take a considerable amount of time, depending on your local climate, the efficacy of your compost pile and the species of wood that the stump in question is.
Generally, you should expect to give this anywhere from 6 months to 18 months to render the stump sufficiently broken down for painless removal.
Hoist
This method is similar to using a vehicle to yank the stump free, only we are pulling in a different direction. Using a vehicle mounted crane, winch or even a manual come-along or farm jack of sufficient rating it is possible to extricate a stump by plucking it right out of the ground.
Once again this method is primarily dependent upon correct setup and ensuring that your attachment method, chains or straps, is both sufficiently strong and sufficiently anchored on the stump in question.
So long as the surface area of whatever your hoist is mounted to is adequate you should be able to gradually but certainly increase tension until the root system starts to fail and let go of the soil.
Hire Stump Removers
Sometimes our ego gets in the way of our objectives, and unless you’re certain you want to do it yourself or you flat out cannot afford to hire help, your best bet for removing a stump is oftentimes to simply call professional stump removers or an arborist to do it for you.
These folks have the know-how and the expertise to assess your stump in context and then apply the right solution to minimize damage to the surrounding area and labor.
Even if you are a gung ho DIY’er consider how much your time is worth. Is this a net gain or a net loss of productivity considering how much time and sweat equity you are likely to pour into the problem of removing that stubborn stump?
Chances are it isn’t a plus, and there’s nothing wrong with calling the pros to let them handle it.
Dig It Out
You might have noticed that I have listed these methods for stump removal in order, more or less, from easiest to most difficult, and that is why this entry and the following one are at the very bottom of our list.
And certain trying, desperate or austere conditions you won’t have any other option but to remove a stump with hand tools and back breaking labor. That’s just the way it is.
If that describes your situation, or you’re a masochist, you should try digging at the stump out before you try to chop it out.
With patience, cooperative soil and some extra time it is possible to excavate dirt out from under and away from the root system anchoring the tree in place.
Without the weight and pressure of the soil to act against you’ll find the only thing you then have to deal with is the weight of the stump itself. If you do a good job, it is pretty easy to drag the stump out of the hole and process it in a simpler manner.
Chop It Out
We have come to it at last, and this method is not necessarily easy, though it is almost always achievable. Sometimes that’s enough.
If you have exhausted all other options or there’s absolutely no other tool at your disposal except that ax you brought down the tree with you can keep right on chopping into the stump and the roots to eventually remove it for good.
You’ll need to be cautious using this method, as performing any sort of chopping on a workpiece that is at or below the level of your feet means that conditions will be ripe for an accident if you miss, or if your tool glances off what you intended to strike squarely.
This can easily result in a severe injury to your foot or lower leg, so pay attention and don’t let fatigue get the better of you.
Also take great care that you don’t ruin your tool if there is gravel or stones in the soil around the stump and its root network. If that is the case you are better off using a mattock or pickaxe instead of a felling ax.
Conclusion
You don’t have to put up with an unsightly stump forever after a tree comes down, and you can make a great case for removing it for purposes of safety, not just aesthetics.
Most people rightly estimate that stump removal is a total bear, but it doesn’t have to be if you use the right method and a little ingenuity.
No matter what kind of stump you are dealing with and what kind of terrain there’s bound to be at least a couple of methods on this list that will do the trick with a minimum of cussing and effort.
Plenty of preppers have a plan for seemingly all eventualities, including societal collapse and tyrannical government overreach, but I regularly see these plans fail to take into account the reality of the likely martial law scenario that will follow.
Though it is true you can still get along with the business of survival more or less as you would if martial law were not in effect, I’m of the opinion that most rappers drastically underestimate the likely impact on their plans.
When martial law is instituted many of your rights will disappear in a puff of smoke. Uniformed military personnel will now be in charge of civilian governance and also policing the civilians they are supposedly governing.
You might be a major fan of our military when they are bombing the daylights out of the enemies of this nation, but you’re probably going to like them a lot less when they are asking you for your “papers” and pulling you and your family out of your vehicle to perform a thorough search for contraband.
As time goes on and interactions become more frequent as the situation becomes more stressful or more desperate the likelihood that you will be injured or arrested will only climb.
Putting up any sort of resistance is likely to be the most foolhardy option for avoiding these consequences, so what is a prepper to do?
Your best bet is simply avoiding dense concentrations of military personnel whatever the situation. In this article we will provide you with five locations you should steer clear of in case martial law is declared.
Will The Military Keep Me Safe?
This is a bitter pill to swallow for patriotic, traditional Americans who believe in the rule of law, admire and respect our military and generally have faith in our institutions.
While martial law does not necessarily mean that our military has been turned against us, or set loose on us, it does mean that they are taking over entirely roles that are typically handled by civilian appointees or elected officials, not troops.
You don’t have to be a hardcore history buff to know this usually ends poorly for the civilians now under the charge of said military forces.
You can expect to see martial law declared whenever something seriously bad or very widespread happens in this country.
It might be a humongous natural disaster. It could be an equally widespread, coordinated or particularly devious terrorist attack, or what might charitably be called a man-made disaster. Heck, it could even be military action against the continental United States by a foreign nation.
And you can take it to the bank that civil unrest, rioting or subversive activity that no longer serves the government narrative will, eventually, result in martial law when things start to go too off track for the politicians who fomented it in the first place.
So no matter how you want to try and square it what this means for you, me and everybody else in this nation is that a military officer will now be administratively in charge of the area placed under martial law.
He might have others working alongside him or he might not depending, but the men and women under his command will now be placed in charge of law enforcement duties in the same area.
Considering how task-oriented the military is we have to consider what this means overall when civilians are now part of the problem or potentially part of the problem.
Sure, they will say they are restoring order, keeping the peace or stopping terrorism but this is only the most tenuous of excuses to get people used to the idea that the military, our military, will be using force against citizens.
Whatever you think about them and whatever your hopes about them honoring their oaths, given enough time, enough interactions or a good enough excuse it is highly likely that you are going to get the business end one way or the other.
This could mean you are arrested and detained without trial or representation, it might mean you are beaten or it might mean you are shot and killed, or even blown up. “Them’s the brakes”, as they say.
Avoiding the Peril of Martial Law
As you have probably guessed by now the best way to avoid these interactions that lead to bad outcomes is not to have them in the first place. You can reduce the frequency of interactions with the military during the state of martial law in a few ways.
The first way is to not misbehave, but this may be more difficult than you think when “misbehavior” or “suspicious activity” is dictated by people far, far higher in the chain of command.
One way is the only hang around places where, frankly, enforcement of martial law is not taking that seriously; boondocks, remote postings of low importance, etc.
Another way is to only go to places where the military is either absent or has only token forces present. Fewer troops mean fewer people to interact with and that will only ever be good for you under the circumstances.
If we combine this advice we might succinctly say that there are certain places that we definitely want to avoid whenever martial law has been declared.
These are going to be places that are either diligently occupied and guarded because they are important to the government or the overall mission of the military, or places that can expect to see a significant quantity of troops on the ground at any given time.
Often both of these factors will exist coincidentally, with a large, focused and aggressively diligent contingent of troops protecting areas of particular importance.
There are a few areas that you can be reasonably certain will be enthusiastically locked down by the military if martial law is ever declared. You should scratch these places off of your potential list of locations to head toward unless you have a damn good reason. You can get details on these places below in the next section.
5 Places You Should Avoid During Martial Law
Centers of Political Power
Politicians are the root of nearly all evil in our modern world, and they are ultimately the ones who will instigate and facilitate the implementation of martial law.
Accordingly, they will do everything they can to make sure that their useless hides, their workplaces and all of their interests are buttoned down tight against any rowdy bands of citizens who might like a word with them over their decisions.
You likely don’t need me to tell you this, but if you are just trying to keep your head down and keep yourself and your family safe from being hassled (or worse) during a period of martial law you need to make it a point to avoid all capitals and other seats of political power.
This also includes cities near such places where politicians are likely to live or otherwise reside.
Make no mistake the men and women enforcing martial law as their duty will have had it made clear to them, in no uncertain terms, that any screw-ups, FUBAR’s or SNAFU incidents on their part will result in them wishing they had never been born. For that reason they will be extremely diligent in their duties, probably to a fault.
As a subcategory in this section you should also make it a point to learn where in your state or region exist places that could be considered political “fallback” points or shelters in case of trouble.
Locations and installations that are intended to ensure the continuity of government will probably be proactively locked down and guarded vigorously by the military in case martial law is ever declared. Avoid all of these places and save yourself some grief!
Hot Spots
Hot spots, or what you might call conflict areas, war zones and “active” AO’s are any place where there’s ongoing civilian strife in an area under the effect of martial law. Whoever is fighting and why is not likely to matter very much. It could be factionalized participants fighting among each other.
It could be one or more loosely organized collectives fighting against the military or the government that sent them. It could even be total chaos with a town or city descending into a “law of the jungle” type existence where no one can be trusted and nothing is safe.
Whatever it is and whatever the reasons the military is going to want to lock that activity down, pronto. The only way the military gets anything done is through the application of force so you can expect “peacekeeping” efforts to be intense and ongoing.
Use of less-lethal and lethal force will be likely and more or less constant as the situation intensifies, and troops are going to be a bit more gung-ho about dealing with people who have threatened them, hurt them or their comrades, or even killed some of them.
For you and me this means it is going to be far easier and far more likely that we will be injured, detained or killed outright.
But why would this happen if we didn’t do anything wrong? That’s tough, because all the government knows is force and the application thereof if it wants to get things done.
You might be hoovered up as part of a mass arrest, shot because your description is similar enough to that of a suspected perpetrator that the young, nervous private or lance corporal on duty is taking no chances or even preselected for detainment due to your dodgy social media history full of spicy reactionary memes.
I don’t care who you are and what you are about: if you want to avoid an unhappy fate you need to avoid these hot spots when martial law is declared, and if your area starts to brew up get out!
Logistical Hubs
Some facilities and installations are important no matter what is going on and what we are facing as a country, or rather, what kind of problem the government is facing since they are the ones who start them all.
Think of places that are massively important when it comes to manufacturing, refining or storage of raw materials, distribution, power generation and transportation. All these seemingly innocuous places that fade into the background during normal life but make “normal life” entirely possible.
Rest assured the government knows how important all of these places are if they want to actually have something to rule over that is not just a pile of rubble populated by pre-industrial age warring tribes.
So no matter where the obvious and loud problem is you should count on them sending the military to secure these places right out of the starting gate.
For any industrial or commercial site, or any place responsible for the creation or distribution of electricity, if you don’t work in one of these places or are responsible for guarding it you had better not come anywhere close to it if you don’t want to be shaken down within an inch of your life or even arrested out of hand as a terrorist infiltrator.
Transportation hubs like airports, docks, train stations and so on are a little bit different as you may or may not be able to access them abusing as a civilian depending on the current travel restrictions, curfews and the like.
Even if you are allowed to use them you can count on thorough, detailed inspections that mandate the showing of papers and the rigorous inspection of all of your luggage or other cargo. Once again, if you are a person of interest or associate with a person of interest this is a great way to get caught in the net.
Choke Points and Natural Boundaries
Choke points and natural boundaries are places that the majority of people will have to use if they want to move in or out of an area, or places that mark a sort of transition point where one region, district or place begins to change or merge with another.
These are always great locations to setup checkpoints, barricades and inspection stations, and for controlling who gets to come and go as well as identifying and tracking who is coming or going.
Consider that the military will have a vested interest in collecting as much data as possible and nabbing as many targets of opportunity as they can once troublemakers have been identified.
This has long been standard procedure in our low-intensity conflicts abroad, and you have my guarantee that they are by now very, very good at it.
If your survival plan should take you in or through any one of these areas you might be best advised to detour if at all possible.
Take the greatest possible care before committing to the use of any bridge, solitary road or highway, or other such feature or place in your travels as it is entirely likely you’ll be stopped, questioned and have all of your possessions rifled before you are allowed to move on, assuming you are.
Military Installations
When the balloon goes up and the military is deployed with martial law and the dispensation thereof as the mission their overall readiness and defensive posture is going to change in a significant way.
Military bases, depots, training grounds and installations of all types are going to increase their state of readiness even if they are far, far away from the area currently under martial law.
Though civilians won’t necessarily be the enemy they sure as hell won’t be trusted, and they definitely won’t be trusted to do anything even remotely suspicious near an area of military importance.
To say that the military will be observing any potential interlopers or troublemakers with intention is an understatement. Even traveling near such an installation could be enough to get you picked out for inspection, interrogation or detention.
Keep in mind that you won’t necessarily be able to just stick a pin in the map wherever there is a large military base to populate your no-go list.
Military camps, staging areas and other places both temporary and semi-permanent will be springing up as a result of the martial law declaration and even if you accidentally blunder into or near one of these places you will not be shown any mercy or leeway under the circumstances.
This is one time where it will pay to listen to scuttlebutt and rumors about where the military is going and what they are doing for the duration so you can be sure to head in the opposite direction.
Conclusion
Things will already be pretty grim if martial law is declared at all in this country and the declaration of such will do nothing to help you survive and live your life.
Placing the military in charge of civilian affairs, particularly law enforcement, is a ticking time bomb towards abuse, and even with the most benevolent troops in place this will do nothing but increase the chances that you will have a bad interaction eventually, either through accident or through shifting political priorities.
Assuming you don’t have a hill you want to die on your best bet for evading trouble is simply to avoid places where the military will aggressively pursue their objectives or are found in great numbers.
You can get off to a good start by marking all of the places listed above off of your list of potential destinations, and count on these other places instead that may be safer.
