Even though you’ll have a well-tested food and water production system, medical alternatives, and adequate security for your bug in location, that doesn’t mean you’re really ready for anything that may happen.
No matter whether you get caught in the crosshairs of an earthquake, flood, hurricane, or military takeover, a simple problem can quickly increase into a life threatening one.
Here are nine additional special situations to consider if you’re bugging in. They will seem “normal” or relatively easy to resolve now, but they won’t be the same during a catastrophic collapse.
Fires
From kitchen fires to cigarettes left burning in bed, there are many ways that a fire can start and then escalate out of management. At this moment, chances are to call the fire department and get professional help as quickly as possible.
EMP attacks that result in large stranding can stop fire trucks from getting through, while hostile takeovers area unit possible to focus on hearth, police, EMTs and alternative community stabilizers. Also, a rise in the number of fires caused by numerous means will result in much longer waiting time, because crews are already at their limits or beyond.
Can you prevent these fires? Yes, you can, and here are just some ways in which to prevent fire crews from reaching your bug in location:
- Get a fire alarm that does not rely on batteries or microchip circuits. You can convert a LED based sensor to incandescent bulbs and tubes, however it can be complicated and expensive. Alternatively, store away several smoke detectors in an EMP proof bag or Faraday cage so that you can take them out and use them as needed.
- Always know where fuse boxes and other key electrical nodes are in your home. If there is an electrical fire, the first thing you will want to do is shut off power coming into your area.
- When dealing with a fire that may involve electricity (for example if an electric stove or even something powered by batteries) never try to put the fire out with water. Instead, try to suffocate the fire with a towel. When you spray water into a flame, live wires that have been compromised can cause the electricity to arc right through the water and into your body.
- Keep a few fire extinguishers on hand. Keep them up to date and make sure that you know how to use them.
- Take courses in fire prevention and practice all skills that may require using fire.
- Keep a respirator and fireproof garments on hand in case you need to leave the building.
Power Is Restored but Your Building Has Hidden Wire Related Damage
Many specialists believe that once the lights go out, it’s unlikely that they’ll ever be turned back on. Never underestimate power companies that are constantly looking for ways to upgrade and higher manage any given crisis situation.
While some areas could take months or maybe years to recover, there are still others that might get power back in a matter of days or weeks. At face worth, consider yourself lucky if power comes back right away because you think that you will be one step nearer to resuming a normal life.
Now contemplate a situation wherever you’re in the outer bands of a serious earthquake or cyclone, you may really get power back within one to two weeks. During that time, you may not understand that rains and shifting land masses can have a devastating impact on foundations, walls, and different components of the building you’re living in. even though the buildings have survived, wires running inside the walls might have been stressed or damaged in some way.
And once the power goes back on, loose connections or different hidden damage on wires that feed the heating and cooling systems, or high voltage usage areas may not be obvious till it’s too late. Once sparks begin flying or components begin overheating, a fire is likely to occur. Unlike fires that begin in a kitchen or different obvious location, you may have little or no advanced warning.
If you’re in a major crisis scenario, the most effective thing to do is instantly pull all the fuses or throw all the circuit breakers. No matter how long it takes after the power is restored, don’t re-install fuses or reset the breakers till the building has been cleared by a licensed electrician.
While there are several components of survival situations where you can get by on DIY and home based solutions, searching for the wiring in your building isn’t one of them. This is one area where you’ll want professional help that can’t be obtained through any other channel.
Under-City Collapse Zones
Many people are unaware of it, but the tunnels and conduits below the cities are actually in far worse shape than the roads and bridges. Some experts say that this problem can truly trigger a huge social collapse or different major crisis within the next few years.
As long as these underground passages still wear and erode, it becomes harder and harder for them to support the weight of heavier cars, increasing amounts of traffic, tar and asphalt.
After an earthquake or flood, these areas could simply collapse and get rid of roadways and foundations of town buildings. In fact, even if the building you’re in is relatively new or well maintained, there should be forgotten tunnels or alternative underground structures close that have the potential to undermine the foundation of the building.
The best way to prepare for this problem is to avoid it altogether by obtaining out of town. If you can’t do this, then prepare a bug in /out bag and be able to leave at a moment’s notice, or if you must, stay in a broken building till you can make your escape. Learn the way to get out of stuck elevators, navigate through rubble, avoid electrocution from live wires in the rubble or hanging from the walls, and check floors for safe passage.
It may be useful to attend city planning meetings and study the city budget and maintenance projects. Demand repairs to underground passages and help others in your area get together and demand politicians to fund these projects.
If you find politicians that resist because of the “cost”, then don’t hesitate to have their salaries, expense accounts, and pet projects investigated, likewise as the expense accounts and salaries of anyone under them. Chances are, you’ll find more than enough cash to repair these underground passages if other things are put aside.
Air Quality Problems
If you think air pollution and other air quality issues are dangerous now, expect to get worse after a significant crisis. While vehicles may not be running, there are bound to be more fires that aren’t brought under control as well as all types of toxins released into the air from industrial complexes. They can spew all types of poisons into the air if those supervising the machines are unavailable. Smoke inhalation is just one side of poor air quality. odorless toxins disrupt lung tissue and result in serious injury and death.
You need a good respirator on hand and sufficient replacement cartridges for the filter system, which should be capable of filtering out micro spores, dust, and most other particles. There ar all kinds of oxygen concentrators accessible on the market, but not all of them are EMP proof, and a good sized, durable unit will take a decent bit of electricity. Concentrators are still helpful to store away in an EMP proof box.
Also look for a system that will neutralize harmful gasses. In some cases, these filters use activated carbon, which you could replace or recycle once you know how to get into the cartridge and restore or refill the charcoal within.
If your budget is very tight, there are another DIY filtering mediums that you can try: layering coffee filters and activated carbon to create a mask that covers your nose and mouth. While this mask will be very uncomfortable, it’ll still reduce your exposure to a number of dangerous air pollutants.
Try to make a filter from the most effective air filters on the market for heating systems, they can filter out just about each particle that’s in the air. while these filters could cost two – three times as much as the cheaper ones, they’re well worth it. As with using coffee filters, attempt adding a layer of activated carbon for protection.
Regardless of the DIY respirator that you prefer to make, it must seal properly with your face without obtaining stuck permanently, so you’ll breathe well through the filter.
Tetanus and Other Vaccine Covered Diseases
No matter whether you step on a rusty nail, get bitten by a dog, or suffer from some other kind of puncture wound, tetanus will always be a concern.Fortunately, this fatal infection is easily prevented by a simple vaccine that you should have each five – seven years.
While this may appear relatively easy in the pre-crisis world, tetanus shots and other vital vaccines may not be accessible once society collapses. Sadly, this is also the time when you are likely to own a lot of injuries that will result in exposure to deadly diseases like tetanus. For right now, the most effective issue you can do is ensure you’re always up to date on your tetanus shots.
It should also be noted that diphtheria, polio, and many other diseases have vaccines that are given during childhood and provide lifetime immunity. Chances are, you have heard several things about these vaccines carrying mercury and many alternative harmful substances.
Before you suspect these claims and avoid vaccinating your kids, stop and think about how deadly some of these diseases are in these days, and how much worse and more prevalent they will be in a crisis scenario.
There may well be vaccine alternative forms that might be safer, but you will have to do some research to seek out them. As an example, if a child is allergic to a certain ingredient in any given vaccine, it may be possible to formulate a vaccine that doesn’t have it.
Vermin Control
If you live in a town or inner city area, then you’re most likely well acquainted with the local vermin control firms. This includes people who visit once a month to get rid of bedbugs, roaches, and different insects, as well as people who lay down traps and poisons for mice and different vermin.
You may be only slightly annoyed by an occasional rodent or insect in the pre-crisis world, however these animals can quickly overrun the area as a result of there are no natural controls to get rid of them.
Some folks suppose it’s inhumane to kill vermin and that they prefer to use live traps. Some say that the vermin are just passing through, attracted to food, or are looking for a secure place to shelter. Till you’ve been bitten by a rodent that was supposed to be just “passing through”, you may not understand just how serious this problem is.
Consider that rodents entering your home may very well be carrying rabies, the bubonic plague, and lots of different pathogens. Even if the animal itself isn’t infected with a specific illness, they may still be carrying fleas, ticks, and mites that harbor different dangerous diseases. As an example, ticks may be carrying lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and even if the animal seems healthy, it can still be a trojan horse.
When it comes to urban survival situations, there’s no doubt that some folks secretly believe they can hold their noses or one thing while noshing down on stewed or roasted vermin that they caught within their apartment. Sadly, these are the exact same people who may become very sick because they consumed infected meat.
In short, if you think the current food provide is deadly, you merely haven’t seen anything till you have a look at the diseases that may be transmitted by inner city and city rodents and different vermin. Needless to mention, pets that consume these animals or come into contact with blood from them will also be sickened.
Since the presence of vermin presents a serious danger without providing any benefits, you’ll need to know how to keep vermin away as well as eliminate those who make their way into your living area. Here are some strategies that you can use:
- Use peppermint, spearmint, and hot pepper to deter rodents
- Make sure that food and water are tightly covered so that vermin don’t smell it and try to get at it.
- Learn how to use a rat/mouse trap and keep a hammer on hand. No matter how much you may hate the idea of dispatching rodents, it is absolutely necessary to make sure they are dead before you put them in the trash. You should also keep rubber or latex gloves on hand so that your skin never comes into contact with the varmint or its fleas, ticks, or mites.
- There are many different ways to trap mice including using water filled pails and planks. Be sure to find a method that works for you and then make sure you have at least 5 – 10 traps plus supplies on hand so that you can eliminate vermin as needed.
Loss of Vital Information and Communications
In their finer moments, many of us who are tired of the rat race somewhat mischievously say that they will bug in during a significant crisis because without communication devices, they’ll finally get some peace and quiet. When you can’t communicate with the outside world, you also cannot get help to manage fires and different emergencies that ar more likely to come up. Additionally, if you have survival stores and tools on hand, but don’t know how to use them, correct instructions may not be available.
Practice with all of your tools and provides can mitigate these issues, but the loss of conventional communications can still create a very dangerous situation. At the very least, you must keep a signaling mirror on hand and know which pipes in the area can be banged on to draw as much attention as possible from the outside. Learning Morse code and other simple signal languages may also be of some help.
Exposure to Unexpected Toxins
When you live in an apartment building and haven’t any access to the boiler room or other maintenance areas, then you truly haven’t any idea how many toxic chemicals may be around you. Aside from airborne toxins and fumes, there are also ones that may seep into any water that creates its way to shower and sink faucets.
These toxins can simply cause physical symptoms as well as mental ones. You can use the guidelines above for air quality to avoid airborne toxins. If water continues to be available, don’t drink it till you have run it through at least activated carbon and bone char filtration.
Do not merely assume that boiling water will remove chemical toxins. At best, if you boil water, the toxins will leach into the air and then wind up getting into your lungs each time you breathe.
If the toxins have heavy metals or other are not readily boiled off, then they’ll merely concentrate more and pose a lot of of danger when the water is boiled. In all situations, boiling water should be the last step in the purification process because it is used as a method to get rid of bacteria and different pathogens.
Personal Mental and Emotional Faculties
Have you ever watched an action or thriller kind movie or tv show and admired the bravery and resilience of the characters? Now stop and think about what real folks in real situations suffer emotionally and mentally throughout dangerous situations.
For example, even the most effective trained soldiers, enforcement officers, and medical professionals suffer from PTSD and different disorders that stem from being in a major crisis situation. Don’t merely assume that you are “tough enough” or “strong enough”, etc. to get through a crisis without major changes happening to your perceptions and skill to accurately evaluate and then appropriately answer the world around you.
At the current time, there’s little tangible data related to emotional and mental prepping for a crisis situation. Without a doubt, if testable and viable means existed, chances are troopers, enforcement personnel, and others in high stress occupations around the world would already have this as part of their training.
The fact that so many do suffer from PTSD and other disorders says there’s not any effective resolution. As such, you will need to do some experimenting. Some modalities that may be effective, but often scoffed at by the scientific community include prayerful meditation, binaural music, self-hypnosis, reiki, and NLP training (neurolinguistics programming).
It is fair to say that once society collapses, you will find it fairly simple to look back and see where your plans weren’t sufficient, and what you should have done. By then, it’s more than likely to be too late.
If you’re bugging in and live in a city area, the best thing you can do is constantly be aware of things that you currently take for granted and ensure ou know how that all will change in a crisis scenario.
