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Friday, June 8, 2018

Just a reminder



You are on your own.

One thing last year's hurricane season demonstrated is that you are responsible or your own well being. That's especially true in the early days of a disaster. If a disaster is widespread, expect help to come much later and be much less effective. What you have left after a disaster is what you have to survive with. While response wasn't too horrible in most of Texas and Florida, the Keys were isolated for much longer. US possessions like Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are still a mess. The residents of those areas definitely know they are on their own.

I'm watching the weather closely this year. It's funny, I'm paying just as much attention to weather systems thousands of miles away as I am to local weather. Last winter my plans were altered due to the hurricanes down south. We'd planned on taking the sailboat to Keys, but decided to give them more time to sort out the wrecks, marinas, navigation aids, and the channels. I'm not sure exactly what we'll do if there's another bad season. Time will tell.

While hurricanes are fresh in my mind, I'm not forgetting all the other things that can wrong. All you have to do is to look at the rest of the world. Venezuela is a mess mostly due to poor governance. It goes to show that even a country with resources and smart people can be brought low. Brazil ground to a standstill by a truckers' strike. One of the things they were demanding was for the military to stage a coup. You can't make this stuff up.

Personally, I'm a big believer in bugging in, if you feel safe and have the resources to do so. On the flip side of that, being able to leave is if needed is a valuable option. I'm not just talking about having a bug out vehicle and a place to go. I'm taking about having passports and the means to the leave the country if necessary. That might sound extreme, but it gives you options. If you live near the border, going 50 miles to safety might involve an International crossing.

While I say you are alone, I only mean that in the sense that government aid might be slow in coming. If you have local resources like good neighbors, friends and family, your changes of surviving in good shape goes way up.

-Sixbears

6 comments:

  1. Yep, and get a passport that allows you more than the passcard which allows border crossing limitations. The latter is inexpensive, but limits how far you can cross. Because you just never know.

    Not only needed for emergencies, sometimes circumstances give you and opportunity to travel far away. Already having a current passport allows you the option to do so. Passports take time, approximately 2 months even when you have everything in order. Remember too - an emergency can shut down the government, which shuts down issuing them.

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    1. You can't fly with a passcard, which can be a problem if there is an emergency. It also takes just as long to get one as a full passport. I figured if I was going through the hassle, might as well pay a bit more and get the real deal.

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  2. Yup. Have passport and 4-wheel drive, etc. depends on what's happening.

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  3. We will bug in. If you are old enough to think about having a walker handy, it might be good to stay put.

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    1. We all have to figure out what is right for us.

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