Rural or Urban Preparedness Part III

Yesterday I addressed aspects of urban/suburban preparedness when you MUST stay where you are and make the best of things. However, ideally, a principle that I always share with urban dwellers is to prepare yourself in such a way that you can get out quickly with all of your necessary goods and provisions should things go south. Why? Because the urban area will indeed be the most volatile area you can be in a time of distress. There will be more looting, violence, crime and gangs simply because of the opportunity such a dense population will present. I addressed several of the liabilities of being in a densely populated in yesterday’s article.

Preparedness Keys

There are four keys to getting out of an unsafe environment to one that you can survive and thrive.

1)     Timing: You will need to be committed to watching things very carefully and be fully prepared to get out SOONER rather than later. Otherwise you’ll be embroiled in a crowd of panic and desperation. Pay attention to what’s going on around you. If it looks bad, get out. Don’t wait for the obvious announcements or telltale signs that all of the other foolish citizens are watching for. The longer you wait to leave, the more dangerous your situation will become. And yes, you will need to leave—sorry.

I don’t buy into the warrantless hypothesis that a country setting may be more dangerous than a city setting. Phooey. Rural settings are significantly less likely to be a target of an act of war. They regularly provide their own source of water, wood, and other necessities. Also, in a more rural setting I’ve easily got 20 yards of view out my window in which I can better protect myself (think rifle, folks). An unwanted stranger is a lot more obvious in a rural setting, which is usually more tight and protective. And a self-defense mentality thrives more abundantly in such an environment. Also, the roving gangs have to survive enough in order to even be able to make the trek. They aren’t going to be able to readily get what they want, folks. Guns and immorality may abound among them. But they are no match for a crazed and desperate populace.

I assure you that MS-13 gangs are not putting together a years’ supply of food, water, etc. right now. They aren’t prepared to travel 80 miles in the dead of winter either. And let’s face it—their jeans that hang down to their knees aren’t going to provide much protection against the elements. The truth be told, they are just as capable of desperation and acts of stupidity in a major crisis as an everyday citizen—worse, their decision-making process will be impeded by a lack of spiritual guidance, peace, and perhaps a mind and body polluted with illicit drugs. You will have a great advantage over such a gang if you are prepared properly and are soundly able to execute your plans.

Wars are rarely won solely as the result of a “stronger force.” They are usually won when the other side makes an error. Trust me on this one. The gangs will be making a LOT of errors before they are able to get organized and provide a semblance of a threat. But that’s where timing comes in. The longer you wait, the longer the opposition has to get fully organized and dam your plans.

2)     Portability: Be sure that as you store up your necessary provisions that you have them in such a way that they can relatively easily go with you in a hurry. No, I’m not talking about a simple grab and go type of thing. I’m talking about all of your preparedness supplies. It would be wise to even conduct a dry run of packing and going. This means that whatever it is you’re planning on driving in needs to meet the needs of the task. A Geo just won’t cut it, folks. This also means that having a list of what you’re taking with you in a hurry is important. Make sure it’s handy and that you’re familiar with everything on it and know where it all is. (This is another reason why I religiously use containers to store a great deal of my foods and other supplies. Grabbing containers is a heck of a lot easier than packing items hurriedly.)

3)     Travel Route: You need to plan an alternative travel route to your destination. Stay off of the main roads that everyone else and their dog will be using. This will be the most efficient use of your time and your fuel. It will also minimize the exposure you may have with nefarious individuals. This is another reason why it’s important to keep your gas tank at a minimum of half full at all times. Don’t broadcast to ANYONE where you are going or that you are “bailing out.” Just do it and keep your mouth closed about it.

4)     Pre-planned destination: This is the most important aspect. You MUST fully plan where you are going. Select a place where you can hunker down safely and with others that you trust. Part of the reason being is that you can’t possibly take EVERYTHING with you that you will need for a long-term survival. If you intend to get to Aunt Millie’s farm 80 miles away, then have some of your preparedness supplies already stored there. Be sure that you have planned every detail with Aunt Millie as well. Both you and your destination point must be on the same page in order for you to have legitimate safety. Try to select a place that is not readily off of the freeway. There are a lot of “rural” towns here in Utah, but they are immediately off the freeway. That means that they are more readily accessible to opportunistic criminals. Even less criminally minded masses need to be taken into consideration for your safety and survival. Desperate people do unthinkable things. So be prepared for it.

In the future, I will be specifically addressing defense preparedness in more detail. Till then, I’d start making sure that you have a place to retreat to and are prepared for such a task.

• Rural or Urban Preparedness Part I
• Rural or Urban Preparedness Part II
• Rural or Urban Preparedness Part III