For those of you who suppose that social collapse is nothing but a good idea for a horror flick, we’ve got news for you: even National Aeronautics and Space Administration thinks it’s attending to happen all too soon as a result of our society has reached the same stage all great societies do before crumbling to the ground. The point is that we’ve spent most of our natural resources, which will result in our unimpeded doom. But there are also other scenarios we might want to think about that will hasten our demise, apart from global warming, like a virus or perhaps a generalized power outage.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to understand to get yourself prepared for an occurring disaster that might ruin our society, and the way you’ll survive in those heinous conditions.
What are the worse case scenarios?
To be honest, the absolute worse that can happen is a nuclear bomb. But if that’s the case, we’re all dead, except those who’ve built impressive and durable bunkers with tons of provisions. However, there are some different things that may happen which we can be ready for.
A zombie virus
It’s true that medicine has advanced tremendously, but that facilitated the evolution of different dangerous things, since certain viruses have become immune to medication. It’s not far-fetched to think that we can be infected with something so strong which will control our minds, and remodel us completely.
Besides, there are all types of experiments being done we don’t know about that can facilitate the evolution of this kind of virus.
A power outage
If that happened, we wouldn’t have any access to:
- Food – Crops need to be watered, and irrigation systems will fail. But food also needs to be transported, and that can’t be done without electricity.
- Running water – You can’t have that without electricity, and generators work for a limited time.
- Heat – Most heating systems need electrical power to work.
Additionally, all the prisons in the world have electrical fences and power-activated doors, which would suddenly stop working: it would be complete chaos.
Global warming
That is something we’ve known about for a while, and it can likewise lead to a new world order since:
- There will be little food left.
- There will be little to no water available.
- The Elites will control the little remaining resources.
- Temperatures will change drastically, which means that even if you’re self sustainable, you’ll find it difficult to grow crops.
What do you need?
That being said, let’s take a look at the fundamental things you need to have or to look for just in case of our world ending up in total ruin. However, you can be sure that our society can become extremely unstable, there are bound to appear violent groups of looters which will attempt to steal everything they can find from shops, drugstores and houses, without being afraid to kill those that stand in their way. That’s why you need to think in advance regarding everything you must have prepared.
Water and food
These are some of the essential items for which you need to plan way ahead of time. Because folks can survive without food for nearly two months, but only 2-3 days without water. So it’s good to think about emergency supplies like drinking water or canned food, but that can last you for a month tops.
So the best thing would be to also get a water purification system, so that even if it rains and you find a muddy puddle, you’ll still get clean water from that. If you have a boat or different kind of water vehicle, you might also get a desalinization system for ocean water. The last thing you’d want is to die of thirst in the middle of an ocean.
When it comes to food, the fall of contemporary world will most likely take some decades to recover from, so it’s good to own some seeds too in your emergency kit. That way, you can plant them at a later date, once you’ve settled again so you can live a self-sustainable life.
A shelter
The shelter issue can raise some debates when considering which choice is best for you: a mobile shelter, a fixed one or both. A tent is always a decent plan to own, as well as a sleeping bag. It’s better to choose the items that can withstand the lowest temperatures; you never know wherever you might end up.
But in some conditions it would be higher to think about making a shelter on higher ground, like in a tree: most humans won’t think to look for somebody else there, and most non-human predators can’t climb up to get you.
On the other hand, fortifying your home or building an underground bunker can be a great idea too, since these are safer than a tent.
However, say there’s a zombie apocalypse going on and all your friends and neighbors have been bitten and transformed. Can you be sure it’s in fact safer to remain put? Sure, you’ll clean up the area, but new threats may constantly appear.
Besides this, think about your resources: if you stay in one place, you might use up the food you have and then be forced to move away. And what if looters find you out? Then you’ll have to fight them for what’s yours and it might not end in your favor.
Then why not get a boat? You can go out at sea, eat fish and drink desalinized water. Plus, you’ll see danger arrive from miles away. The problem is that you won’t get back to land, and you might also not be ready to travel very far away.
Still, nobody can guarantee that you’ll be ready to remain unbothered in your house for very long so it’s best to consider all your choices and be prepared to move.
Transportation
Here are your best options for transport in case of a total breakdown of society:
- Cars – These are great options for securing your supplies and for providing you a comfortable shelter. The downsides are that they need gasoline to work, and they’re also quite noisy. It’s good to have a car at least at first, as you’ll be able to travel for a longer distance in less time.
- Motorcycles – If there’s a lot of traffic and stuck cars that block highways, a motorcycle can be better for getting you out of a traffic jam. However, you won’t be able to pack as many supplies, and you couldn’t use it as a shelter.
- Bikes – A bike is the perfect idea when it comes to your moving at a steady, moderate pace, without making too much noise and attracting too much attention. If you don’t have a lot of luggage, that can be a great option. You can even use a bike through alpine or forestry roads where you wouldn’t otherwise have access with a car.
Where would you go?
You must have a plan in place for the simplest fleeing choices in case it all goes south. In fact, of these choices is reconsidered depending on the disaster that will cause our demise, but it’s better to ponder on some destinations now.
In the mountains
Is it better to go somewhere north, where you can live in a forest?
Pros:
- You can take better refuge in the forest.
- You’ll have plenty of wood to keep you warm during winter.
- You’ll find plenty of materials to build a cabin.
- You can find plenty of springs.
- You can find some animals you can hunt.
Cons:
- You won’t have very good visibility in the forest; you’ll need to hike to a peak for that.
- You may not be able to plant your seeds.
- You may be the victim of a surprise attack, if you don’t have a good fence.
- The weather isn’t very pleasant, so members of your group may not survive.
At a farm
Maybe you have a farm yourself, or someone in your family does. This option entails advantages and disadvantages as well.
Pros:
- You’ll sleep in a home, in a bed.
- You can grow food.
- You can grow cattle.
- You can build a community.
- You can have better visibility.
Cons:
- You can get too comfortable and in denial about the world ending.
- You may become an easy target for both humans and non-humans.
- You may not find enough firewood.
- In case of drought, you may not have enough water.
At the sea shore
This is one of the choices that definitely needs considering.
Pros:
- Warmer weather, you don’t need to worry about getting enough firewood for the winter.
- You can fish and eat other seafood as well.
- You can swim when you need to cool down.
- You can sleep in a tent or on a deserted ship.
- You’ll have very good visibility.
Cons:
- You might not find enough fish.
- It might be too hot in the open sun.
- You might not have enough water.
- Sleeping in a tent can prove perilous.
- You may have good visibility, but your enemies can spot you easier as well.
Group or no group?
That being said, you need to assume whether you can survive better alone or in a group. Obviously, folks are pack animals and we can only thrive when we’re in a society, however that’s true in the long-run. In the short-term on the other hand it’d be better to survive either alone or in a small group. Let’s analyze these choices one by one to see which can be more suitable.
No group
This may not be an possibility for you to begin with, but you may find yourself alone if everything comes crashing down very fast, and you can’t find your friends or loved ones anywhere.
The best thing when you’re alone is that you don’t have to worry regarding protecting others or being a burden to them. You can move at your own pace and make the decisions you think are best for you, without having to argue or consider everybody else’s opinion.
On the other hand, you might not have all the know-how regarding surviving without modern comfort for very long. Do you know how to create bullets or the names of chemical compounds used in the basic drugs? Do you know which mushrooms you shouldn’t eat? Some folks may need valuable insight which may save your life.
Besides, even if you do move swiftly on your own, you need to prevent and make camp at some point. If you’re alone, you can’t possibly keep watch all night, thus that’s a definite minus.
Big group
If you’re in a huge group and you’re the leader you may end up with a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders than you can possibly predict. If you’re not the leader, you might have to sacrifice yourself for the good of the community if you’re asked to. So you may be more protected, however you’ll end up taking more risks as well.
The destruction of modern civilization will require a rebuilding of society, so in a huge group you can accomplish that more simply, if you survive. You may find folks with totally different talents who can protect you better, and can assist you find or grow more resources. You’ll also be ready to build things quicker if you work together and keep at least the semblance of a civilized world.
In the long run, you’ll also find different communities to trade with and establish helpful relations that can help you live longer.
Small group
This is a good plan, at least for the start. You may really talk with some of your close friends or family, and draft up a plan of who you can take in case it all comes crumbling down around you.
Who do you need?
- A leader. Firstly, you need someone with great organizational skills who will think about the group’s wellbeing above everything else. A leader is someone you can count on to always asses thoroughly the pros and cons of any given situation, and make the best decisions possible, even if they aren’t pleasant.
- A survival expert. You need a person who can survive in the wild, who knows how to build a shelter and a fire, who will find the best tracking routes, and likewise knows a thing or two about hunting and using weapons.
- A scientist. Someone who knows how to grow crops or manufacture medicine from basic chemicals, someone who can make things happen with little resource is definitely a person you want on board. If they have some sort of medical training as well, they can keep you up and running for longer.
- A pacifist. You need someone to keep the group grounded, because in stressful conditions triggered by the world’s end spirits are bound to get a little higher.
Who don’t you need?
- People who complain a lot. Unlike the pacifists, these people will amplify the stress and make you argue instead of reaching a fast, effective conclusion.
- People who take unnecessary risks. Leaders can make hard choices, but they always think about minimizing risks. People who don’t do that will put you in danger instead of helping you.
- People who aren’t willing to learn.Instead of helping you get to the best resources, these people will become dead weight very fast.
- People who can’t respect the power structure. These people will only think about what’s right for them and will lead your group to anarchy.
- People who are willing to betray you to save their own skin. Needless to say, these people will definitely not work together with others, and they’re just using your group instead of helping you.
Do you know how to defend yourself?
Knowing how to defend yourself makes the difference between life and death in the case of a worldwide disaster. Because with the disappearance of soldiers and police, rogue groups that won’t think twice about killing you for a bottle of water will emerge.
So you need to:
- Get fit– Strength training, running or swimming are great ideas to increase your muscle mass and help you stay in good physical shape.
- Learn how to use a gun– You’ll need to learn how to pull the trigger to scare the bad guys away and protect what’s yours.
- Get weapons– Knives, guns, rifles, hammers, hatchets – whatever you can get your hands on. Nevertheless, if you’re trying to be stealth and not make a lot of noise, you shouldn’t use firearms.
- Learn hand to hand combat techniques– Nobody will play by the rules after the world ends, so make sure you know the best moves to win even in a dirty fight.
To sum up, we don’t understand what might happen to us or when, but we could as well expect it to: history has taught us that each great civilization is destined to fall at some point, and we’ve surely turned Mother Nature against us.
As such, it’s always best to be prepared for the worst case situations, have a plan in place for everything, and learn all you can about survival and self-sustainability.
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