Apocalypse Survival 101: Assess the Situation
by C. Henry Martens
Apocalypse Survival 101Mental attitudeAssess the situationDefine the level of riskQuestions that need to be askedLocation, location, locationSkill setTimingThe realities in your support systemInventory of resourcesOdds versus priority
Apocalypse Survival 101: Assess the Situation
How bad is it? Quick, a horde of Zombies is crashing through the door! Or… has the drought been getting progressively worse and the first instances of water scarcity are beginning to produce bodies? Is there really a difference? What if you don’t see it coming? It could be happening right now, a slow, methodical creep that sneaks up and… catches you sleeping. On the other hand…
So what can we do to anticipate the higher probabilities and/or the rate at which something will happen?
First, let’s get real. Zombies are not one of the high priority scenarios. Since our governments were so full of themselves, steeped in their own success and pride, and sent a broadcasting probe into outer space with a blueprint of where we are and what kinds of capabilities we have, aliens are higher on the list than zombies. And we don’t even know if there are any aliens.
That is not to say all fictional critters are impossible. Certainly the ever changing organic life on earth is problematic. Plenty of sci-fi stories are written around bacteria, disease, plague, and general naturally occurring organic changes that humans may have trouble adapting to. I’m going to put this in the high probability category. Time and experience has proven that as populations get larger, more concentrated, lethal diseases are more likely. Be aware folks.
Is there an asteroid out there with the Earth’s name on it? Most assuredly. It is not a question of if but of when. At the same time the probability of a planet killer on any given day, or century for that matter, is low. But it is out there. This is something we hire governments to be concerned with. They aren’t.
Once the specific apocalypse is identified, that is when the real work begins. As we all know, a plan is better than being caught with your pants down. A stock of provisions is better than counting on foraging. A society of friends you can count on is better than expecting charity from strangers. The last can of Spam is better than a ton of gold.
Be hard on yourself. Know your strengths… but more important know your weaknesses. If you intend to fight to the end, learn to assess yourself and those you plan on being with, and be honest.
Can you use a weapon on another human being? If not, you better be prepared to hide. If not, you better have friends that you can count on to do the dirty work. Understand where that lack of ability, that lack of resolve, places you in the pecking order. Within the group, if you are in one, understand your value. If you can’t bring something necessary to the group, understand that and have a back-up plan. Know your exit strategy, what you will take with you, and have some idea where you will try to go.
Do you play poker? Can you read a face? If you can, do you have the guts to act on what you see? Is there a universal sign before someone pulls a trigger? Can you assess the situation? Do you know what eyes are on your gear? What hands covet your food? What values someone has for another person’s life? Do you treat those you know as trustworthy even though they have never proven themselves in a situation? Do you suspect all strangers? Read a good book on body language, and practice.
Be adaptable. Above all other things, be adaptable. No matter what you think will happen, it will be different. Be prepared.
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www.readmota.com
Apocalypse Survival 101Mental attitudeAssess the situationDefine the level of riskQuestions that need to be askedLocation, location, locationSkill setTimingThe realities in your support systemInventory of resourcesOdds versus priority
Apocalypse Survival 101: Assess the Situation
How bad is it? Quick, a horde of Zombies is crashing through the door! Or… has the drought been getting progressively worse and the first instances of water scarcity are beginning to produce bodies? Is there really a difference? What if you don’t see it coming? It could be happening right now, a slow, methodical creep that sneaks up and… catches you sleeping. On the other hand…
So what can we do to anticipate the higher probabilities and/or the rate at which something will happen?
First, let’s get real. Zombies are not one of the high priority scenarios. Since our governments were so full of themselves, steeped in their own success and pride, and sent a broadcasting probe into outer space with a blueprint of where we are and what kinds of capabilities we have, aliens are higher on the list than zombies. And we don’t even know if there are any aliens.
That is not to say all fictional critters are impossible. Certainly the ever changing organic life on earth is problematic. Plenty of sci-fi stories are written around bacteria, disease, plague, and general naturally occurring organic changes that humans may have trouble adapting to. I’m going to put this in the high probability category. Time and experience has proven that as populations get larger, more concentrated, lethal diseases are more likely. Be aware folks.
Is there an asteroid out there with the Earth’s name on it? Most assuredly. It is not a question of if but of when. At the same time the probability of a planet killer on any given day, or century for that matter, is low. But it is out there. This is something we hire governments to be concerned with. They aren’t.
Once the specific apocalypse is identified, that is when the real work begins. As we all know, a plan is better than being caught with your pants down. A stock of provisions is better than counting on foraging. A society of friends you can count on is better than expecting charity from strangers. The last can of Spam is better than a ton of gold.
Be hard on yourself. Know your strengths… but more important know your weaknesses. If you intend to fight to the end, learn to assess yourself and those you plan on being with, and be honest.
Can you use a weapon on another human being? If not, you better be prepared to hide. If not, you better have friends that you can count on to do the dirty work. Understand where that lack of ability, that lack of resolve, places you in the pecking order. Within the group, if you are in one, understand your value. If you can’t bring something necessary to the group, understand that and have a back-up plan. Know your exit strategy, what you will take with you, and have some idea where you will try to go.
Do you play poker? Can you read a face? If you can, do you have the guts to act on what you see? Is there a universal sign before someone pulls a trigger? Can you assess the situation? Do you know what eyes are on your gear? What hands covet your food? What values someone has for another person’s life? Do you treat those you know as trustworthy even though they have never proven themselves in a situation? Do you suspect all strangers? Read a good book on body language, and practice.
Be adaptable. Above all other things, be adaptable. No matter what you think will happen, it will be different. Be prepared.
Sign up to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
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