Responsibility. A word that carries with it a great deal of depth and gravity; a word that has clear meaning and potentially negative implications when it is ignored. Most of us would consider ourselves to be responsible adults. We go about our daily lives working to improve the world of our family and loved ones and be “responsible”.
We have the debt debacle we are currently facing because whole generations of politicians failed to act responsibly – too many felt that they could act without responsibility or consequence. Many of them approved funding of programs or made financial commitments that were not sustainable – because when the bill came due they would not be the ones paying it. When the problems with debt started to cause problems they’d be long gone…and many of them are gone…and that is now the problem…there has to be responsibility at both the national and local level…but I digress…
So – how responsible are you – are any of us – really in today’s society?
Most of us do our best to follow the rules – to serve as productive members of society…but what if the very fabric of that society fell away? What would we be left with? What would you do?
This 1898 photo from the National Archives shows Klondike outfits at Dyea, the starting point for the trail to the northern gold fields.
In my last blog post I outlined the clear scientific case for the need to be prepared and work diligently to harden our infrastructure against the potential effects of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) from either natural or manmade sources. The science is solid; our actions to plan and prepare for it are not.
Unfortunately it is inevitable that some EMP event, at some point in time will cause significant, if not catastrophic effects on our power grid – and therefore our way of life.
So – with this knowledge, how prepared are YOU?
I have spent the last week in Alaska – our great 49th state. The people here are, by nature, durable and resilient. There is no great transportation system here – many cities depend on weekly shipments of supplies. And because the state has abundant natural resources (coal, fuel, etc) it is an exporter and has a strong independent economy. They have a good amount of land that produces crops, not to mention abundant wild life that is protected, but could be used in an emergency. They are, as a state, highly self-sufficient.
The population of Alaska is about 750,000 according to the latest census. That means that in a state that is larger (and richer in resources) than Texas. There is enough space to provide a square mile of land per person to every Alaskan. Oh, and their infrastructure is much smaller and not as ‘complex’ as our power grid. Most folks here, due to geography and weather (the extreme winter cold), have become use to having stores and reserves due to the nature of the environment. I would hazard to guess that a major EMP event would hurt the state – but not have the grave devastation that the lower 48 would suffer.
If there were a large solar storm, producing catastrophic EMP, I would probably hope to be in Alaska; however, it is not likely – I will probably be somewhere within the continental US.
And in reality, most of us are not as well set or as durable as the people of Alaska. I do believe Alaska and its people would do well, based on the fact that they are better prepared due to the nature of their environment.
It is notable that during the Yukon Gold Rush of the 1890s the Canadian government required that each prospector bring with him one ton of goods (food or food stuff) that would allow for a year’s survival. Therefore each individual who came through Skagway, AK on his or her way to the goldmines would have to show that they could survive by having these resources.
No longer. We in the lower 48 live in a society in which “just in time” logistics rules the day. Pushed to its edge of efficiency and profitability, the system allows for everything from groceries to electronics to show up “just when they are needed”. So – what if this system stopped? What if the “just-in-time” system froze up?
In our large urban centers, where there are tens of hundreds of individuals per square mile, there is a total dependency on power to provide comfort, warmth and cooking – not to mention refrigeration for the large food stores.
So – ask yourself (and be honest) – what if you had to take care of you and your family for five days without power – could you? What if you did not have the ability to run down to a fast food restaurant or convenience store to buy what you need? How long could you live on what you have in your house without food or fuel from outside? A week? A month? Could you survive? What would you live off of? Where would your food come from if the supermarket had none and everyone on your block was equally hungry?
This is not the stuff of science fiction – this is the harsh reality that we EACH face.
We must each look at what would be needed to survive – for at least some period of time – in the likely event of a loss of power. Power is the lifeblood of our society – and without it there will be limited food resources – and large demand – in our urban areas therefore each of us have a basic responsibility – to ourselves and our family – to be prepared. What does preparation mean? Probably something different to everyone. Here is a basic guide (a website for basic survival knowledge) that I’ve looked at before:
Everyone should have a basic survival kit – an amount of food, water, medicine and other basic resources that are required to survive.
We have become too complacent and reliant on the wonders of technology and society. Let me be clear here- I am not saying doomsday is upon us. I am saying that each of us are responsible for our own wellbeing – and the wellbeing of our families – and to not accept this fact is folly.
EMP is not the only natural disaster that could result in the loss of power and, through extended loss of power, loss of access to food and resources – floods, hurricanes and other disasters can have similar effects. However, an EMP-caused power loss could be long and hard to endure. That is why it is imperative that we all look at how we should be prepared.
EMPact America’s weekly radio broadcast highlights food that can be purchased which can be stored for a long period and used in an emergency. Food, water and other resources should be available and in a kit for a quick getaway.
Now is the time for everyone – you and I – to think about what we MUST do to ensure the survival of our family and loved ones. So – as I asked in my previous post - How much is enough? How much food, water, technology – is enough? My next post will discuss the components of what a typical “survival kit” should have. And (if you are curious) yes – I do have a “go kit” or “survival kit” in my basement. I’ve had one readily available for years…you should too.
